Royal Caribbean is bringing back a beloved cruise option

The past week has been a dizzying array of itinerary changes, cancellations and ships stuck at sea. Passengers were unsure whether their cruise would depart as planned or return on schedule.

It’s been a great time of uncertainty and some questions are still unanswered. There are ships still stuck at sea, and many people on those ships have questions about their homes, their cars, and their loved ones.

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For people who spent their last days at sea, no itinerary was safe. Some ports were canceled due to weather, while others were skipped to give ships time to arrive safely.

Basically, anyone sailing in the Caribbean had to accept that whatever plan they had was unlikely to happen. In many cases, ignored port days were replaced with sea days, but sometimes new ports were introduced.

When that happens, it seems like the new port is rarely an improvement over the missed one. Many times it seems that you miss an interesting destination and take Nassau or Cozumel. There is nothing wrong with those ports, but any experienced cruiser has been to both many times.

However, some Royal Caribbean ships have seen their schedule change in a positive way, bringing back a beloved port that had been closed for over 7 months.

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Labadee is a private Royal Caribbean destination.

Image Source: Daniel Kline/ComeCruiseWith.com

Why Royal Caribbean closed Labadee

While Perfect Day at CocoCay gets most of the attention, Royal Caribbean has a second private destination in the Caribbean. The port has been closed for about seven months due to the political unrest in Haiti.

The US State Department was not subtle in its warning about the visit to Haiti.

“Do not travel to Haiti due to kidnapping, crime, civil unrest and limited medical care,” it said on its website.

In reality, however, Royal Caribbean closed Labadee because of the optics. When American airlines stopped flying to Port-au-Prince, it became a bad look for the cruise line to continue to stop there.

There was never any danger to visitors to Labadee because it is Haiti but not really Haiti. The cruise ship’s destination is about a 7-hour drive from the fighting areas. It is a gated destination that does not offer excursions outside the resort.

As US airlines resumed limited flights to Port-au-Prince, Royal Caribbean quietly made plans to return.

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Royal Caribbean calls Labadee

Adventure of the Seas made a scheduled stop in Labadee on October 8. This marked the cruise line’s first return to its private destination in seven months. Symphony of Seas was expected to make an unscheduled stop at Labadee on Thursday, October 10,

Although not an island, Labadee is considered a sister destination to Perfect Day at CocoCay. It’s a similar offering, albeit a bit more basic.

Labadee does not offer pools, a beach club, or an adults-only area like CocoCay. It has a more nature-based offering (albeit with an inflatable water park).

“Beach sea meets mountain coast on the shores of Labadee – a private Royal Caribbean destination on the north coast of Haiti. Here you’ll find pristine sands, coral reefs and jungle-covered hilltops, nestled by lagoon-like bays. There’s no shortage of places to relax and recharge on five stretches of beach,” the cruise line said on its website.

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The return to Labadee came a day before Royal Caribbean surprisingly shared plans for a new private destination, Perfect Day Mexico. Opening in 2027, the destination will be built using much of what the cruise line learned from CocoCay.

“Destinations are a big part of why families and adventurers vacation with Royal Caribbean, and in collaboration with the state of Quintana Roo in Mexico, we’re unlocking new and unparalleled ways to make memories in a destination known and loved for its natural beauty , warm culture, and great location. We look forward to revealing more soon,” said Michael Bayley, CEO of Royal Caribbean International.

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