Royal Caribbean passengers compare private cruise destinations
In the months since Royal Caribbean reopened Labadee, its private cruise destination on Haiti's northern coast, many passengers have expressed concerns about the cruise port's safety.
Out of an abundance of caution, the cruise line suspended calls to Labadee for several months in 2024 due to safety concerns related to Haiti's political instability.In October, Royal Caribbean decided it was time to return to its fenced-off, exclusive beach area, which is far removed from the conflict in Haiti's capital of Port-au-Prince.
However, Haiti remains under a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory from the U.S. State Department. Naturally, this has made some cruise passengers wary about Labadee's safety.
But as more Royal Caribbean passengers share their positive cruise experiences in Labadee, safety in this private destination is becoming less of a concern.
Instead, passengers are becoming more curious about the destination and what it offers. This is evident in a recent discussion on Reddit in the Royal Caribbean community.'We are about to book a cruise that stops in Labadee. I did search the sub but everything about Labadee is people asking if it is safe. That is not my question as I can read the other posts,' Reddit user joelala1 explained.
'My question is around things to do. I understand it's a compound and private area, would you say the setting is similar to CocoCay but on a smaller scale?' joelala1 asked. 'Or do you need to pay for everything and pay to go to the pools or beaches? Just looking to see if this is the right stop to have on our cruise from a 'fun' standpoint for the kids.'
Some passengers who commented in the Reddit thread explained that Labadee is much like CocoCay used to be before the cruise line developed its private island in The Bahamas into Perfect Day at CocoCay, which features pools, a beach club, a water park, and other attractions.Labadee has some attractions but is set in a more natural mountainside environment. The private destination doesn't have pools, but it does have a splash pad for kids and plenty of family-friendly beach activities. E
xtra-charge attractions include a floating aqua park, a zip line that descends from a mountain to soar over the beach, and an alpine coaster ride called Dragon's Tail.
'Everything is included except extracurricular activities like zip line, alpine coaster, booze,' jbollam explained. 'It's exactly like CocoCay in terms of free beach activities, transportation, and food. A little smaller, a bit different geographically but it has its charms.'
'Although if you have the drink package, it will work on Labadee,' fuzzyshadow28 clarified.Several passengers who commented in the Reddit thread said that they loved the more natural beach setting and laidback vibe at Labadee. To them it's just as good for a beach day as CocoCay, if not better.
'Better than CocoCay— just for the mountains and views alone. Go to Columbus beach, the last stop on the tram. Haitians special place,' Firm_Communication99 shared.
Other passengers agreed. One cruiser noted that Columbus Cove is a great beach for families with kids because of its calm, shallow waters.Another passenger explained that the layout and less-crowded atmosphere are additional perks of Labadee.
'In my opinion Labadee is so much better than CocoCay; less crowded generally and way closer to the ship,' LewManChew said. 'I like that I can pop back to the ship from the beach much quicker.'
Labadee quickly won the hearts of some passengers who were initially unsure about visiting Royal Caribbean's private destination in Haiti.
'I have to say, all of my family was iffy on going to Labadee— it turned out to be all of our favorites! So beautiful, the water was so blue and it was much more tame than CocoCay because only one ship was docked,' Adventurous-Tank9421 explained. 'I feel like there is so much to do; we even did an excursion taking us to the actual village of Labadie (yes there is a difference haha). You guys will have so much fun! The locals are awesome.'
(There are currently no excursions being offered outside of Royal Caribbean's private area).
(The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.)
, or email Amy Post at or call or text her at 386-383-2472.
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