Royal Caribbean suspends its calls at Labadee until 2028

Royal Caribbean has announced that it is suspending all calls at its private destination of Labadee, on Haiti's north coast, until April 2028. The decision comes because of the ongoing violence in the country and will affect nine cruise ships.

According to a post on the Royal Caribbean blog published on October 30, 2026, the company has revised the itineraries of 44 cruises that originally included a stop at Labadee. The visits are being replaced with other ports or extra days at sea.

Tourism Minister Stéphanie Smith, who is currently in Cap-Haïtien to attend a fair devoted to the diaspora, was confronted with the new announcement. The low turnout at the event highlights the contrast between the government's ambitions and the reality on the ground.

Impact on tourism

Royal Caribbean's suspension of calls until 2028 is seen as a heavy blow to the development of tourism in Haiti. The minister has been criticized for her limited ability to persuade international operators to keep operating in the country.

Historical background

This decision marks the second consecutive suspension of calls at Labadee in less than six months.