Royal Caribbean Extends Labadee Cancellations—What It Signals

Royal Caribbean is extending its pause on calls to Labadee, Haiti, swapping the private destination for sea days or alternative ports as security concerns persist. According to Cruise Industry News on September 2025, the line will continue rerouting multiple ships and sailings, with refunds or onboard credits for prepaid Labadee excursions.

Why Royal pulled back from Haiti again

The U.S. Department of State continues to advise “Do Not Travel” to Haiti due to crime, civil unrest, and kidnapping risks, guidance that’s been in place since 2023 and repeatedly updated in 2024–2025. The line’s latest cancellations align with that posture. The company’s move extends earlier suspensions across its Caribbean program and reflects an ongoing risk calculus: a private peninsula may be secure on site, but reliable access, medical response, and overall contingency planning depend on broader stability.

Royal Caribbean has historically returned to Labadee when conditions allowed, but the current security environment makes that timeline uncertain. For now, the conservative choice is to keep ships away and simplify operations.

What changes cruisers will actually see

Per Cruise Industry News, Labadee calls are being replaced with sea days or alternative Caribbean ports like Nassau (Bahamas), Cozumel (Mexico), Grand Turk (Turks & Caicos), and Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic). Exact substitutions vary by ship and date.

If you booked Labadee shore excursions: Royal is issuing automatic refunds or onboard credit for prepaid tours.
If your itinerary now features a sea day: Expect more time onboard—and a busier pool deck—but fewer port fees and less transit friction.
If you get a replacement port: Nassau and Cozumel are high-capacity, easy-to-operate calls with abundant tour inventory; Grand Turk and Puerto Plata bring beach-forward vibes, though capacity can pinch on peak days.

Travelers should watch their Cruise Planner and email for official notices. Port changes usually post to booking portals before embarkation and are finalized by the time you board.

Quick stats

Advisory level: Level 4 “Do Not Travel” for Haiti — U.S. State Department
What’s changing: Select Labadee calls replaced with sea days or ports such as Nassau, Cozumel, Grand Turk, Puerto Plata — Cruise Industry News
Guest impact: Automatic refunds/OB credits for prepaid Labadee excursions
Timeline: Extension announced September 2025; duration not specified

Why Labadee matters to Royal’s playbook

Labadee is a crown-jewel beach stop on Haiti’s north coast near Cap-Haïtien, leased by Royal Caribbean since the 1980s. It’s designed for frictionless fun: controlled access, short tender rides (or pier when used), branded shore experiences, and revenue-positive activities (think ziplines and private cabanas). For the cruise line, private destinations are strategic—they deliver high guest satisfaction and onboard-spend capture without third-party port complexity.

According to Royal Caribbean’s past earnings commentary, private-island days tend to boost per-guest spend and NPS, behaviors that compound across short Caribbean itineraries. Swapping Labadee for open ports won’t crater demand—Caribbean sailings remain hot—but it likely trims some onboard economics versus a captive beach day. That’s one reason the line leans on nearby alternatives like Nassau and Cozumel, where scale and tour variety can still support robust spend.

The ripple effects across the Caribbean network

Expect a few knock-ons:

Port crowding: Nassau and Cozumel already juggle heavy traffic. More Labadee replacements push demand for berths and tours on peak days.
Pricing and promotions: Don’t expect across-the-board discounts. Capacity remains tight for marquee sailings. But you may see modest onboard credit offers on select affected dates.
Tour availability: Popular excursions (catamarans, beach clubs, ruins near Cozumel) can sell out faster. Book early if your itinerary flips.
Sea day dynamics: More time onboard can be a plus—no tender queues, no port rush—but plan for prime-time crowds at pools and signature attractions.

A reasonable counterpoint: Some travelers prefer iconic ports over private beaches. For them, a pivot to Cozumel or Puerto Plata could feel like an upgrade. The trade-off is predictability—private enclaves run on the cruise line’s playbook, which often smooths the guest experience.

What to do if your sailing was affected

Check your booking now: Confirm changes in your Cruise Planner and the line’s emails; app updates can lag, so verify across channels.
Rebook excursions quickly: Replacement ports often show fresh inventory within days of the change.
Track onboard credit: If your Labadee tours were prepaid, look for an automatic refund or onboard credit before sailing.
Manage expectations: Build in flexibility. Sea-day-heavy itineraries reward early chair strategy and timed dining/activity reservations.

Pros and cons for guests

Pros: Extra sea time; high-capacity ports with many tour options; less uncertainty tied to Haiti’s security outlook.
Cons: Loss of a signature private-beach day; possible crowding at alternative ports; certain Labadee-only experiences won’t have equivalents.

When could Labadee return?

There’s no hard date. The U.S. government’s Level 4 advisory and Haiti’s security conditions are the gating factors. Cruise lines typically wait for sustained, verifiable improvements before resuming calls. Even then, returns often start in phases—select ships, limited dates—while the line tests logistics and monitors risk. It’s the prudent move when crew safety, guest experience, and insurance considerations are all in the balance.

Mini timeline

2023–2024: State Department maintains Level 4 advisory for Haiti amid worsening unrest.
Early–mid 2024: Royal adjusts Labadee calls in response to security conditions.
September 2025: Royal extends cancellations of upcoming Labadee visits, rerouting to alternative ports or sea days and issuing excursion refunds (Cruise Industry News).

The bottom line

Royal Caribbean’s extended Labadee pause is a safety-first call that trades a headline private destination for a steadier operating play. Most guests will still get a solid Caribbean mix—just not the Labadee flavor. Watch your itinerary, move fast on replacement excursions, and expect the line to keep this stance until Haiti’s outlook materially improves.

In brief: 4-point summary

Royal extended Labadee cancellations, citing Haiti security conditions.
Labadee stops are now sea days or ports like Nassau, Cozumel, Grand Turk, Puerto Plata.
Prepaid Labadee tours are being refunded or issued as onboard credit.
No return date is set; decisions track the U.S. “Do Not Travel” advisory.