Royal Caribbean Is Pulling Six Ships From a Popular Port In 2027
(KMDL-FM) Louisiana cruise travelers who have booked passage on Royal Caribbean Cruise Line in 2027 will want to know that the cruise line has cancelled a port call at its own private island. That means your plans of lounging on the beach, being served drinks with an umbrella in them, and the overall relaxing vibe of a private island resort will not be a part of your trip.
Some of Royal Caribbean's Most Popular Cruise Ships are Affected
The cancellation affects some of the most popular ships in the Royal Caribbean line. If you have booked passage on the Legend of the Seas, Independence of the Seas, Star of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas, and Allure of the Seas, those vessels have already cancelled a planned stop in Labadee.
To understand why Royal Caribbean is no longer stopping at Labadee, Haiti, their own "private island", you have to understand the geography of the place. Labadee isn't an island. It's a peninsula. It is surrounded on three sides by water, but on the fourth side the resort and cruise guests are "sequestered" from the locals by a very high, almost prison-looking fence.
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On one side of the fence is luxury and excess, and on the other side of the fence is abject poverty and hunger. The resort attempts to hide the fence from guests by using plants and other covers, but you can still see the masses on the other side.
The cruise companies won't say this out loud, but the most likely reason they are avoiding stopping at their own private island is a fear of violence. Gang violence in Haiti has been on the rise, and the U.S. Government has travel advisories to that effect.
If you've already booked your cruise, the cruise line has already adjusted your sailing to include some new stops instead of Labadee. Many of you will find yourselves in Costa Maya or Cozumel, Mexico, or perhaps Ponce, Puerto Rico, or perhaps Nassau in the Bahamas, or a stop at Grand Cayman.
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Regardless of where you're redirected, you'll find a lot of what you were going to find in Labadee. Namely, lots of sun, lots of sand, lots of folks with their hands out wanting you to give them money, and more than a few drunk people who should be glad someone else is driving. So, yeah, a typical Caribbean cruise.
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Gallery Credit: Billy Jenkins