⚡ Quick Answer: Is Labadee Closed?
Yes. Royal Caribbean has suspended all guest visits to Labadee, Haiti through December 2026. The cruise line confirmed on January 13, 2026 that no ship in its fleet will call at Labadee for the rest of the year, affecting 12 ships and more than 65 sailings. Labadee is not permanently closed — Royal Caribbean’s lease runs another 24 years — but all visits are paused due to Haiti’s ongoing security situation. Affected cruises are being rerouted to ports like Nassau, Cozumel, Grand Turk, and Costa Maya.
Through Dec 2026Visits Suspended
12 ShipsAffected
65+ SailingsRerouted
April 2025Last Visit
📍 Why Is Labadee Closed?
Royal Caribbean paused all Labadee visits out of an abundance of caution due to ongoing civil unrest, gang violence, and security concerns in Haiti. The situation has been deteriorating since a widespread government collapse in 2023 and 2024. While Labadee sits on Haiti’s northern coast — roughly 85 miles from the capital of Port-au-Prince where conditions are most severe — the cruise line decided the safest choice was to suspend all guest visits.
Labadee has always been a controlled, private, resort-style destination guarded by a private security force, where guests never venture into the broader country. But even that model couldn’t insulate operations from the wider instability. The U.S. State Department has maintained a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory for Haiti continuously since July 2023 — its highest warning level.
Importantly, that Level 4 advisory applies to the country of Haiti itself, not to a cruise ship calling at a private destination. Since Royal Caribbean is no longer sailing to Labadee at all in 2026, guests on affected sailings are not making a Level 4 trip — they’re going to a replacement port entirely.
🗺️ What Port Replaces Labadee on Royal Caribbean Cruises?
The port replacing Labadee varies by ship and by sailing. Royal Caribbean is handling substitutions on a sailing-by-sailing basis and notifying affected guests by email. Here are the most common Labadee replacement ports:
Nassau, Bahamas — the most common replacement
Most Florida-based Eastern Caribbean sailings pick up Nassau. Royal Caribbean recently opened its new Royal Beach Club Paradise Island here, giving guests a curated private beach experience. See things to do in Nassau with kids.
Cozumel, Mexico
Several itineraries swap Labadee for Cozumel — world-class snorkeling, beach clubs, and Mayan ruins. See our Cozumel family cruise guide and things to do in Cozumel with kids.
Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos
A frequent substitution for routes that originally paired Labadee with other Caribbean stops. Beautiful beaches right at the cruise center.
Costa Maya, Mexico
Some Western Caribbean itineraries swap in Costa Maya — free pier pool, calm beaches, and Mayan ruins. See things to do in Costa Maya with kids.
Falmouth, Jamaica & others
Other replacements include Falmouth Jamaica, Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic), Grand Cayman, and Cabo Rojo. A handful of larger Icon Class ships add an extra sea day instead of a port. See things to do in Jamaica with kids.
💡 Do you get a refund if your cruise skips Labadee?
Yes for shore excursions. Royal Caribbean automatically refunds prepaid Labadee shore excursions — typically as onboard credit to your SeaPass account, or back to your original payment method within about 14 business days. Your overall cruise fare is not refunded, since the sailing still operates with a replacement port or an extra sea day.
⚙️ Will Labadee Reopen After 2026?
There’s no confirmed timeline for Labadee reopening. Royal Caribbean has not committed to a 2027 resumption, and its statements signal it doesn’t expect a quick resolution to Haiti’s instability. However, there are reasons to think Labadee will eventually return: Royal Caribbean’s lease on Labadee still runs another 24 years, giving the company a strong economic incentive to bring the destination back once conditions stabilize. The cruise line also continues to bring humanitarian supplies to support its crew members based in Labadee.
For now, the practical takeaway for families is simple: if you’re booking a 2026 Royal Caribbean cruise, don’t count on visiting Labadee. Check your itinerary carefully and assume the replacement port is your actual destination.
💡 The silver lining for families
Many families find their Labadee replacement port is actually a better fit for kids. Nassau has the new Royal Beach Club, Cozumel and Costa Maya have world-class snorkeling and Mayan ruins, and Grand Turk has beautiful beaches steps from the ship. Royal Caribbean is also opening new private beach clubs to fill the Labadee gap — more on that in our guide to Royal Caribbean’s new private destinations.
Got a new replacement port? Get the pack.
The Passport Pal has port packs for Nassau, Cozumel, Costa Maya, Jamaica and more — the exact ports replacing Labadee. Download and print before you sail. Under $4.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Labadee closed on Royal Caribbean in 2026?
Yes — Royal Caribbean has suspended all visits to Labadee, Haiti through the end of December 2026. No ship in its fleet will call at Labadee for the rest of the year, affecting 12 ships and 65+ sailings. Labadee is not permanently closed (the lease runs 24 more years), but all guest visits are paused due to Haiti’s security situation.
Why is Labadee closed?
Royal Caribbean paused Labadee visits due to ongoing civil unrest, gang violence, and security concerns in Haiti. Although Labadee is about 85 miles from Port-au-Prince where conditions are worst, the cruise line cited an abundance of caution for guest and crew safety. The U.S. State Department has had a Level 4 Do Not Travel advisory for Haiti since 2023.
What port replaces Labadee on Royal Caribbean cruises?
It varies by ship and sailing. The most common replacement is Nassau, followed by Grand Turk, Puerto Plata, Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Falmouth Jamaica, Costa Maya, and Cabo Rojo. Some Icon Class ships add an extra sea day instead. Royal Caribbean notifies affected guests by email.
Will Labadee reopen after 2026?
There’s no confirmed timeline. Royal Caribbean has not committed to a 2027 resumption. However, its lease on Labadee runs another 24 years, giving strong incentive to reopen once Haiti stabilizes. For now, don’t book a 2026 cruise expecting to visit Labadee.
Do I get a refund if my cruise skips Labadee?
Yes for shore excursions — Royal Caribbean automatically refunds prepaid Labadee excursions, usually as onboard credit or back to your payment method within about 14 business days. Your cruise fare is not refunded since the sailing still runs with a replacement port or sea day.
New port on your itinerary? 🚢
Get Passport Pal port packs for Nassau, Cozumel, Costa Maya, and every other Labadee replacement port. Printable, under $4 per port.
Build My Journal 👉The Labadee closure is disappointing for families who were looking forward to it — it’s a genuinely beautiful destination with beaches, zip lines, and an alpine coaster. But your replacement port is very likely somewhere your kids will love just as much, if not more. Check your updated itinerary, grab the port pack for your new stop, and turn the change into an adventure.