Royal Caribbean cruises will avoid this popular destination until at least the end of May

Cancellations will disrupt planned itineraries, with some diverted to other ports

Chris Wilson
Tuesday 23 April 2024 12:55 BST
Comments
The island of Labadee was leased to Royal Caribbean in the 1980s
The island of Labadee was leased to Royal Caribbean in the 1980s (Getty Images)

Royal Caribbean has canceled all of its planned cruises to a popular Caribbean destination for the entire month of May.

The cruise operator will not sail to Labadee in Haiti amid the country’s ongoing political turmoil. Royal Caribbean initially suspended voyages to the peninsula in mid-March, and has now extended the cancellations until at least the end of May.

A company spokesperson said that Royal Caribbean cruises “are temporarily making adjustments to sailings visiting Labadee,” and the “Global Security and Intel Team is closely monitoring the evolving situation in Haiti.”

The “safety and security of our guests, crew, and communities we visit are our top priority. We will continue to monitor and reassess calls as needed, and will communicate updates with guests directly,” the spokesperson added.

Several planned itineraries will be disrupted, Ships including Allure of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas, and Symphony of the Seas had all been scheduled to dock at Labadee in May. Passengers may get another day at sea, or may alternatively head to Royal Caribbean’s private resort in the Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Though Labadee is a private resort leased by Royal Caribbean since the mid-1980s, Haiti still has jurisdiction over the peninsula. The country is currently in a state of turmoil amid the resignation of prime minister Ariel Henry and a surge in gang violence.

Rising levels of violence have caused many deaths, with parts of the country on the brink of collapse.

The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to Haiti “due to the volatile security situation.”

It said: “There are currently no British consular officials in Haiti and our ability to provide consular assistance is severely limited and cannot be delivered in person in Haiti.

It added: “If you choose to travel to or stay in Haiti against advice, try to avoid all crowds and public events, and take appropriate security precautions.”

Travel-related chaos has been extensive in recent weeks and months, with recent flooding in Dubai leaving dozens of flights delayed and canceled, and the ongoing situation in the Middle East causing concern among aviation passengers.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in