RCI-Royal Caribbean International has further extended its suspension of calls to Labadee, its private destination on the northern coast of Haiti, removing the port from itineraries through December 2026 as security conditions in the country continue to deteriorate. The decision follows earlier itinerary revisions that had already excluded Labadee through April 2026, resulting in an extended absence that will exceed a year since the last scheduled call in April 2025.
The cruise line has indicated that the move reflects ongoing assessments of safety and operational risk associated with conditions in and around Port-au-Prince. Although Labadee is operated as a controlled resort-style enclave separate from Haiti’s main population centers, Royal Caribbean has repeatedly cited the broader security environment as a determining factor in its deployment decisions. Guests have been advised via itinerary updates that the company continues to monitor developments and adjust sailings as circumstances evolve.
As a result of the extended pause, affected itineraries have been revised, with Labadee replaced by alternative ports or additional sea days. Travel advisors have received updated port schedules reflecting these changes.
In one example involving a Star of the Seas sailing departing on May 3rd, 2026, the planned call at Labadee was replaced with a day at sea. The same itinerary revision substituted a scheduled visit to San Juan, Puerto Rico, with a call at Philipsburg, St. Maarten, and included adjusted port times for Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas USVI.
RCI has acknowledged that such changes may be received differently by individual guests, while emphasizing that safety considerations remain central to itinerary planning.
Haiti remains subject to the highest level of travel advisory issued by the U.S. State Department, which continues to advise against all travel to the country due to risks including violent crime, kidnapping, and civil unrest. The country has been under a state of emergency since March 2024 following a sharp escalation in gang-related violence, particularly in the राजधानी and surrounding areas. U.S. maritime authorities have also highlighted security concerns at Haitian ports, advising heightened caution for mariners and passengers.
The current crisis has its roots in long-standing political and economic instability, which intensified after the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. Since then, armed groups have expanded their control across significant portions of Port-au-Prince and beyond, contributing to widespread displacement and humanitarian strain. While international stabilization efforts have been proposed, including discussions around a new intervention in 2026, no clear timeline has emerged that would suggest near-term improvements.
Against this backdrop, Royal Caribbean’s decision to remove Labadee from schedules well into 2026 reflects a conservative planning approach, indicating limited expectations for a rapid change in conditions that would allow the safe resumption of calls at the destination.