Labadee, Haiti: What It Was Like Visiting Before the Travel Restrictions

When we first saw Labadee, Haiti listed on our cruise itinerary, we honestly didn’t know what to expect.
It’s not somewhere you can plan a regular vacation to.

Labadee is a private peninsula leased by Royal Caribbean, so unless you’re on one of their ships, you’re not visiting.

But we’re happy we had the chance.

Now, with the U.S. State Department issuing a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory for Haiti and cruise lines pulling stops from Labadee, we’ve been reflecting on just how grateful we are to have experienced it when we did.

Although Labadee is a secure, cruise-operated area, it remains part of Haiti.

The U.S. State Department issues travel advisories at the country level, not by individual destinations.

So even if Labadee feels isolated and safe, the broader instability in Haiti, including crime, civil unrest, and limited emergency services, means it falls under the same Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory.

What Is Labadee, Haiti?

Labadee isn’t your typical Haitian town. It’s more like a private resort area, blocked off from the rest of the country.

Cruise lines, specifically Royal Caribbean, have operated it as a port of call since the late 1980s.

Think turquoise water, ziplining over the beach, a craft market, and floating beach mats under the Caribbean sun.

It’s owned by Haiti but managed like a tropical playground. The cruise line handles all the logistics, security, and operations, so while you’re technically in Haiti, the experience is exceptionally curated.

Our Experience Visiting Labadee

We spent the day soaking up the sun, wandering through the artisanal market, and chatting with locals who sold handcrafted goods.

We passed on the zipline, but the beach was peaceful and the setting was stunning.

It felt like one of those “wow, we get to be here” days.

We know not everyone feels comfortable visiting a gated-off port, and it’s a conversation worth having.

But we also know that the local vendors we met depended on cruise visitors to support their businesses.

We made a point to buy from them, and we left with more than just souvenirs; we took home stories to share.

Is Labadee, Haiti, Safe to Visit Now?

Currently, it’s not. The U.S. government advises Americans to avoid all travel to Haiti due to ongoing safety and security concerns.

In response, Royal Caribbean has suspended stops to Labadee until further notice.

If your cruise was scheduled to include Labadee, your itinerary has likely already been changed.

You can check the current advisory here.

What to Expect if Labadee Is Removed from Your Cruise Itinerary

If Labadee is taken off your cruise itinerary, most cruise lines will offer a replacement port or a sea day.

Some guests have received onboard credits or been rerouted to places like Grand Turk or Puerto Plata.

Here’s what we recommend:

• Keep an eye on your email and app for updates to your itinerary.
• If you’re booking future cruises, stay flexible, especially for Caribbean sailings that involve ports like Haiti or Jamaica, which can sometimes be impacted at the last minute.
• Be kind to the crew, they’re figuring it out just like you are.

Why We’re Grateful We Got to Go

Travel is unpredictable. It reminds us that the chance to explore any place, even for a day, shouldn’t be taken for granted.

We’re grateful that we got to see Labadee, meet the people there, and learn a bit more than we knew before.

We hope it becomes accessible again in the future and that when it does, more travelers get to experience it with open eyes and open minds.

FAQs | Frequently Asked Questions