Tuesday, April 2, 2024

Labadee Haiti Cruise Port Guide: Review 2023

cruise to haiti

Visitors browsing the shops to purchase unique items to take home as a memento of their trip would be well advised to explore the Artisan Market. For shopping, head to the Artisan Market, a general store, and the Artisan Village, an open-air market. You’ll find standard souvenirs and a few handmade Haitian goods to choose from. Dip your toes into the turquoise water as soon as you get off the ship at Dragon’s Beach.

Labadee, Haiti

Royal Caribbean International Cancels More Calls at Labadee - Cruise Industry News

Royal Caribbean International Cancels More Calls at Labadee.

Posted: Fri, 22 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Shopping on Labadee is available at Artisan Market (fixed prices store for handmade goods) and Artisan Village (outdoor market with negotiable prices). As an exclusive destination, at Labadee can dock and disembark passengers/crew only liners from the fleets of RCI-Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises. The first liner that visited Labadee since the COVID crisis started (March 2020) was Harmony OTS - on January 27, 2022. Adventure is the name of the game at the fan-favorite, aptly named Adrenaline Beach, where you'll find plenty of activities to amp up every moment. If you're looking to fuel your competitive fire, you can take part in a beachside basketball or bocce ball match with your friends and family. And if you work up a thirst, you'll be happy to know you're always within reach of a tasty, refreshing drink.

A little history about Labadee, Haiti

Although there isn't a shuttle bus in Labadee, most cruise travelers walk the gangway into the pier, not realizing there are a few very convenient ways to explore the resort. Some cruisers may not realize how easy it is to walk around and how Labadee is very accessibility friendly. There news reports of violence and killings in and around the capital of the country, Port-au-Prince, due to gang activity. Barefoot Beach on Labadee is an RCCL private beach property with exclusive access for Suite passengers and Pinnacle members of the company's "Crown & Anchor Society" loyalty program. For touring Labadee, RCI provides complimentary shuttles all along the resort island. Purchases can be made via SeaPass (boarding cards), except craft markets selling locally-made merchandise for cash.

The Biggest Reason Cruisers Miss Their Cruise Ship in a Foreign Port

cruise to haiti

In 2019, 160 cruise ships spent a day at Labadee with 720,000 passengers (and crew) enjoying the resort facilities. Visitors to Nellie’s Beach can enjoy a range of activities, including water sports like kayaking and paddleboarding, as well as lounging on the pristine white sand. The beach also features a floating aqua park, where visitors can jump, slide and bounce on a variety of inflatable structures. Passengers visiting Labadee might be struck by its unique location—situated on a peninsula, Labadee is unlike many other private cruise destinations which are on cruise lines’ own private islands. Regardless of its proximity to the mainland, Labadee is tucked into Haiti’s lush green hills, and feels just as secluded as other privately owned cruise destinations. Royal Caribbean is currently deciding between an alternative destination, such as its other private resort, Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas, or an added sea day.

A cruise to Labadee will lead you to adrenaline-amping adventures everywhere you look. There are high-energy activities for all levels of daredevils throughout the island — all you have to do is choose which thrill to chase first. From ziplining across the ocean to jumping on floating trampolines on the water, your heart is bound to race with excitement. For a truly unique view of the island, take sightseeing next-level by parasail or zoom around the shoreline on a speedboat. Each cabana has max capacity 6 people, 2 lounge chairs, a large indoor seating area. In 2017 (August through October), Royal Caribbean made enhancements to Labadee's Adrenaline Beach.

Labadee doesn’t have a pool because you really don’t need one

Any purchases you do make at the resort – excluding the shops – can be done using your Sea Pass, with the cost added to your cruise account. But that doesn’t mean you can wander without a care – the merchants will still try to sell you items for more than they are worth, and they can be very pushy too. Be firm if you don’t want to buy something, and don’t be afraid to haggle. You will be travelling at 40 to 50mph, meaning you’ll be in flight for around 45 seconds in total. The excursion itself takes a lot longer, though, because you need to go through the safety briefing and get harnessed up. Merchants selling souvenirs in Labadee operate under the permission of the cruise line – anyone who tried to scam you would very quickly lose their license and be unable to sell their wares.

cruise to haiti

In 2009, RCI upgraded the facilities at a cost of $55 million which included building a deep-water dock for visiting cruise ships. Although the private resort is fenced off from Haiti, 100's of local residents are employed by Royal Caribbean to work at the resort. Surelly, measures to prevent Coronavirus in Labadee will be implemented and enforced prior to cruise ships docking. But it doesn't hurt to have more updated info and travel advice - more about Covid-19 at the bottom of this article. Because Labadde is an area for the exclusive use of Royal Caribbean cruise ships and its sister brands, private online services and local tour operators do not offer shore excursions in Labadee. The cruise port in Labadee has a 0.25-mile (400 meters) pier extending south into the ocean.

Other Tips for Visiting Labadee

While Royal Caribbean's other private destination of Perfect Day at CocoCay was one of the first places cruise ships visited when the restart began in 2021, Labadee had yet to see a ship visit. Royal Caribbean's Labadee is a 260-acre private beach resort carved out of Haiti's rolling, densely forested north coast. It's located some six miles from Cape Haitian, a city of 190,000 that's played a prominent part in Spanish and French colonial history. According to RCI, Labadee was discovered in 1492 by Christopher Columbus -- but it wasn't until 1986 that the line leased the peninsula of property from the Haitian government. Today, as in the 15th century, the geography -- an undulating coastline creating a series of lagoon-like bays, all protected by a reef -- sets the scene for the visit.

Royal Caribbean cancels more cruise ship visits to Labadee, Haiti for next few weeks - Royal Caribbean Blog

Royal Caribbean cancels more cruise ship visits to Labadee, Haiti for next few weeks.

Posted: Tue, 19 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Don't miss the floating bar

At Arawak Aqua Park, located in Columbus Cove, you can bounce across giant floaties shaped like icebergs before splashing back into the bay's calm, clear waters. There are also some trampoline-style floaties and inflatable slides that shoot you right into the sea. It's the ultimate in-water obstacle course and offers hours of fun in the sun to guests of all ages. Just hop into your bright green single-rider car, strap in, and get ready to feel the wind in your hair as you race along the track over stretches of beach and jungle.

You can pair tasty drinks with beautiful views of the sea and the Dragon's Breath Flight Line at the Dragon's Pub. It's located at Dragon's Breath Rock, near the tip of the Labadee peninsula. Grab a seat on the pub's stone terrace and take in the island's rocky, windswept coast while enjoying some snacks and your favorite libations.

Once travelers arrive, paved trails make it easy to navigate the resort by foot or by wheelchair. The Dragon’s Breath zipline is a must-do activity for thrill-seekers, spanning the entire length of Labadee. Whether you’re an experienced zipliner or a beginner, you’ll never forget the island and ocean views from this nearly 3,000-foot zipline adventure. Although Labadee is a private destination for Royal Caribbean ships, Haiti has sovereignty over the resort. Guests may be taken to an alternative destination such as Royal Caribbean’s private resort, Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas or may get another sea day. All guests booked for the original Labadee visits will receive automatic cancellations and refunds of any pre-paid activities to their onboard accounts.

Each ship has its own replacement option, as choices of where a cruise ship can go instead depend on factors contingent on that day. She also covers travel, lifestyle, food and beverage for Indulge Magazine, the Miami Herald and PureWow. She's traveled extensively around the world, enjoys building unforgettable itineraries and loves introducing readers to lesser-known destinations. Guests visiting Labadee are able to take rent cabanas at Nellie's Beach or Barefoot Beach (suite guests only). Labadee, Royal Caribbean's original private destination, remains a family-favorite place for a great beach day. For the first time since the cruise industry shutdown of 2020, Royal Caribbean returned to its private destination in Haiti at Labadee.

Visitors to the port can choose from a variety of land and water-based activities, including zip lining, kayaking, snorkeling, and beach lounging. Any drink package benefits you purchased for onboard use will work at Labadee as well. Whether you bought the Deluxe Beverage package for unlimited alcoholic beverages or the Royal Refreshment package for unlimited soda, don’t forget to take advantage of this!

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