Royal Caribbean has extended its pause on sailings to one of its private destinations through next year.
The popular cruise line initially paused visits to Labadee, Haiti, in April 2025, citing political instability, and has now extended the suspension by another year. The destination, located on the country’s northern coast, is a private beach resort owned and operated exclusively by Royal Caribbean.
Labadee has historically been a popular stop on Royal Caribbean’s Western Caribbean itineraries, serving as a way for travelers to experience Haiti’s coastal beaches and partake in adventurous activities like zip lining. Since it operates separately from the rest of the country’s tourism infrastructure, it is isolated from much of the unrest elsewhere in Haiti.
In a statement provided to Travel + Leisure, Royal Caribbean said: “Out of an abundance of caution, we have paused our upcoming visits through April 2026. We are communicating with our guests directly.”
According the U.S. Department of State’s travel advisory, Haiti remains at a Level 4: Do Not Travel, the highest level of risk on its scale. The current advisory, last updated on July 15, outlines significant safety concerns related to crime and civil unrest. “Haiti has been under a State of Emergency since March 2024. Crimes involving firearms are common in Haiti,” the advisory states. “They include robbery, carjackings, sexual assault, and kidnappings for ransom. Do not travel to Haiti for any reason. Kidnapping is widespread. U.S. citizens have been victims and have been hurt or killed.”
The advisory also notes that local law enforcement has limited ability to respond to serious crimes and that the U.S. Coast Guard has issues warning about port security in Haiti. “There is widespread violent crime and organized crime in the country, and local law enforcement has limited ability to respond to serious crimes,” the U.S. travel advisory states. “The U.S. Coast Guard has concerns about security in the ports of Haiti. Until those are addressed, the Coast Guard advises mariners and passengers traveling through the ports of Haiti to exercise caution.”
Royal Caribbean has not announced when sailings to Labadee will resume, noting that future itinerary decisions will depend on developments in the region.
