Royal Caribbean cancels more visits to its Caribbean port amid violence

There are more cruises that won't visit Royal Caribbean's private destination in Haiti.

The cruise line informed travel agents their ships will not make any scheduled visits to Labadee until at least May 2026.

It's a cruise line private destination operated by Royal Caribbean. The resort area is guarded by a private security force.

In emails sent to travel agents and guests, the change was made "in an abundance of caution" according to the cruise line:

"We have been monitoring the evolving situation in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and out of an abundance of caution, we're cancelling our visits to Labadee through April 2026."

Guests that purchased shore excursions in Labadee will be refunded the value to their SeaPass Account as an onboard credit.

The letter goes onto say, "We’re terribly sorry for the last-minute change."

Here's a list of the cancelled visits and what will be replaced with each instead: 

• Adventure of the Seas:
  • November 22 and December 6
    • We'll now enjoy a Sea Day instead of visiting Labadee. Additionally, we'll arrive in Falmouth, Jamaica, at 8:00 AM instead of 7:00 AM and depart at 5:00 PM instead of 4:00 PM.
  • December 20
    • We'll now enjoy a full day in Nassau, Bahamas, instead of visiting Labadee. Additionally, we'll arrive in Falmouth, Jamaica, at 8:00 AM instead of 9:30 AM and depart at 5:00 PM instead of 5:30 PM.

• Explorer of the Seas:
  • November 10
    • We've had to adjust the time we'll arrive at Perfect Day at CocoCay. We'll now arrive at 7:00 AM instead of 8:30 AM, giving you even more time to enjoy everything this beautiful destination has to offer! While we won't be visiting Labadee during this sailing, we'll now enjoy a day at Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos, instead.
  • December 22
    • We'll now enjoy our Sea Day on Day 4, and visit Nassau, Bahamas, on Day 5, instead of our visit to Labadee.

• Freedom of the Seas:
  • November 1, November 6, November 20, and December 4
    • We'll now visit Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos, instead of our visit to Labadee.
  • November 15 and December 18
    • We'll now visit Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, instead of our visit to Labadee.
  • November 29
    • We'll now visit George Town, Grand Cayman* instead of our visit to Labadee. Kindly note, we have also shifted the times we'll visit Nassau, Bahamas. While we'll lose no time in port, we'll now arrive at 7:00 AM instead of 8:00 AM and depart at 3:00 PM instead of 4:00 PM.
  • December 13 and December 22
    • We'll now visit Falmouth, Jamaica, instead of our visit to Labadee.

• Independence of the Seas:
  • December 7
    • We'll now enjoy a Sea Day instead! Additionally, we'll arrive in Falmouth, Jamaica, at 8:00 AM instead of 7:00 AM and depart at 5:00 PM instead of 4:00 PM.

• Jewel of the Seas:
  • October 31
    • We'll now visit Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos, instead of our visit to Labadee.

• Oasis of the Seas:
  • November 9, November 23, and December 7
    • We're swapping our visit to Labadee for a Sea Day. Additionally, we have adjusted the times in which we'll visit Falmouth, Jamaica, giving you some extra time to enjoy everything this beautiful destination has to offer!
  • December 21
    • We'll now visit Cozumel, Mexico, instead of our visit to Labadee, Haiti.

• Symphony of the Seas:
  • November 16, November 30, December 14, and December 28
    • We're swapping our visit to Labadee for a Sea Day. Additionally, we have adjusted the times in which we'll visit Falmouth, Jamaica and Nassau, Bahamas. Not to worry, you'll still have plenty of time to enjoy everything these beautiful destinations have to offer!

This is an extension of cancelled calls to the port that began earlier this year.  Previously, the cancellations had gone through October 2025, but a new round of changes were announced today.

Royal Caribbean last visited Labadee in the first quarter of 2025, after pausing calls to the destination in March 2024 and suspended all visits until October 2024.

Gang violence escalated in Haiti last year, and it has been under a state of emergency since March 2024. The U.S. State Department currently designated the country as a Level 4 "Do not travel" warning.

"Crimes involving firearms are common in Haiti,” the advisory reads. “They include robbery, carjackings, sexual assault, and kidnappings for ransom. Do not travel to Haiti for any reason."

No other cruise lines sail to Haiti.

More cancelled visits to Labadee could be coming

Royal Caribbean doesn't know what the future will hold for other visits, so it's a "wait and see" approach.

Political and civil strife in Haiti is not new, and the travel warnings have been in places for many years. 

Labadee, Royal Caribbean's private beach area, is a walled-off, exclusive beach on a peninsula in northern Haiti.

It's located 130 miles north of the capital, Port-au-Prince.

Why Royal Caribbean is continuing to skip Labadee

Haiti is experiencing gang violence that is targeting the country's government.

Gangs have grown in power since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. They now control 90% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and have expanded their activities, including looting, kidnapping, sexual assaults and rape, into the countryside. Haiti has not had a president since the assassination.

The first Kenyans arrived in Haiti in June 2024 and the force was supposed to have 2,500 troops. That Kenyan force has had issues with lack of funding and its current strength is below 1,000.

This week, the United States and Panama are proposing to replace the force with a “gang-suppression force” with a maximum of 5,550 uniformed personnel. 

The force would have arrest and detention powers and more military-grade capabilities and lethal equipment.