Ava McDonnell
Royal Caribbean International has officially suspended all scheduled cruise ship visits to Labadee, Haiti, through at least April 2026, due to the security situation in the country. The decision affects over 35 upcoming itineraries and is especially significant in Florida which serves as the launch point for the majority of impacted sailings.
The cruise line stated that the decision was made “out of an abundance of caution,” citing the ongoing instability in Haiti, including violent crime, gang activity, and civil unrest. The private resort-style destination, Labadee, is isolated from Haiti’s capital but the broader national crisis has led to increased safety concerns for everyone.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we have temporarily paused our upcoming visits to Labadee. We have already communicated with guests directly,” stated Royal Caribbean via Southern Living.
Florida is home to the cruise line’s global headquarters in Miami and three of the busiest ports in the world:
- PortMiami
- Port Canaveral (near Orlando)
- Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale)
Both Florida travelers and the state’s tourism economy will be directly affected by the suspension. Travelers can also expect rerouting and schedule changes due to this major change.
Several ships home ported in Florida — including Symphony of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, and Adventure of the Seas — are among those now rerouting to alternate destinations. To accommodate the change, Royal Caribbean is substituting Labadee with alternate ports such as:
- Nassau, Bahamas
- Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
- George Town, Grand Cayman
Guests who had purchased excursions in Labadee will receive full refunds or onboard credits. Royal Caribbean has been notifying impacted guests directly about updated itineraries.
The U.S. Department of State has issued a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory for Haiti due to the risk of kidnapping, violent crime, and a lack of government control in several regions. A national state of emergency remains in effect, and international efforts to stabilize the country are ongoing.
Although Labadee itself is fenced and privately operated, Royal Caribbean stated it is no longer confident in the broader security environment and has chosen to suspend all visits until further notice.
The company says it will continue to monitor government guidance and the on-the-ground security situation in Haiti before making further decisions.
For now, Florida’s cruise industry remains at the center of this rerouting effort, as ships adapt their Caribbean routes and port logistics to ensure passenger safety.
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