Royal Caribbean International has made the difficult decision to suspend calls to Labadee, its private beach destination in Haiti, due to the recent surge in violence and political instability in the country. The move comes after a series of attacks carried out by gangs, including the freeing of prisoners from two prisons, which has left Haiti in a state of chaos since late February.
In a Facebook post on Thursday, CEO Michael Bayley announced that the cruise line would be halting visits to Labadee for the next week. He also mentioned that the line would continue to evaluate the situation in Haiti and provide three-day notifications to passengers on affected itineraries regarding any further suspensions. Bayley referenced a Reuters report stating that although the capital, Port-au-Prince, was relatively calm on Wednesday after the prime minister’s announcement of stepping down, the situation was still unstable with the U.S. and United Nations withdrawing staff from Haiti.
Labadee, situated on a peninsula along Haiti’s north coast, is approximately 130 miles away from Port-au-Prince. The private beach destination has been a popular stop for cruise ships, offering passengers a chance to enjoy the sun, sand, and various activities. The decision to suspend calls to Labadee not only affects the cruise line’s itineraries but also highlights the impact of the political unrest on Haiti’s tourism industry.
Royal Caribbean International emphasized that they would be closely monitoring the situation in Haiti and evaluating the safety and security of the region before resuming visits to Labadee. The ongoing state of emergency in Haiti, declared on March 3, has raised concerns about the stability of the country and the safety of both locals and tourists.
The suspension of calls to Labadee by Royal Caribbean International reflects the challenges posed by the political unrest in Haiti. As the situation continues to evolve, cruise lines and other travel companies must prioritize the safety and well-being of their passengers while also considering the impact on local communities and the broader tourism industry.