Award-winning Caribbean beach destination dropped from cruise itineraries due to new safety fears
Cruisers headed to the Caribbean are steering clear.
Royal Caribbean is updating its itinerary to drop an award-winning port from upcoming sailings due to safety concerns regarding escalating gang violence and political instability.
3 Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas in the vicinity of Labadee, Haiti.
© 2011 Michel Verdure
Labadee, a private Royal Caribbean destination on the northern coast of Haiti, will be temporarily removed from cruise routes, and excursions to Haiti have been suspended.
'Out of an abundance of caution, we have temporarily paused our upcoming visits to Labadee. We have already communicated with guests directly,' Royal Caribbean said in a statement to Travel + Leisure.
3 Labadee, Haiti, will be temporarily removed from Royal Caribbean cruise routes.
Foto-Jagla.de – stock.adobe.com
Labadee has long been a popular stop on Royal Caribbean cruises, with access to Haiti's beautiful beaches as well as more adventurous activities such as zip lining over the ocean, a rollercoaster, waterslides and a water trampoline.
Haitian vendors — who depend on tourists and cruise stops — were notified of the decision last week. This is the second time in one year that the cruise line removed Haiti from its Caribbean stops.
Royal Caribbean also suspended stops to their private beach resort last summer through September 2024, at the time pointing to the 'safety and security of our guests, crew, and communities.'
3 Labadee has long been a popular stop on Royal Caribbean cruises.
Thenhan – stock.adobe.com
It's unclear at this time when or if the cruise line will resume trips to Labadee, which was deemed the best beach for families by T+L in August 2024.
Royal Caribbean's sister line, Celebrity Cruises, already removed the stop from its itinerary weeks ago, The Miami Herald reported.
The U.S. Department of State has issued a travel advisory to Haiti with a Level 4 rating, meaning do not travel. The agency cited 'kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and limited health care.'
'The U.S. government is very limited in its ability to help U.S. citizens in Haiti. Local police and other first responders often lack the resources to respond to emergencies or serious crime,' the advisory warns.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox News
3 hours ago
- Fox News
Pizza, chocolate and donuts among the foods you can bring on flights, says the TSA
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has issued a reminder to flyers about the foods they can and cannot bring on board planes. TSA posted a "breakfast travel tip" on Monday on its X account, noting, "We don't suggest leaving this delicious pastry behind." The post featured a photo of "The Simpsons" character Homer eating a donut pasted into the corner of a security checkline. "Donuts are g2g[good to go] in carry-on or checked bags, no matter what toppings you choose," the post said. "How many you decide to bring is up to you." TSA then added a link sharing guidance for traveling with certain food items. Sixty different food items are listed in terms of the items travelers may pack in their carry-on bag or checked luggage, with some restrictions on particular items. Travelers may pack pies, cake, pizza, solid cheese and chocolate, cooked meat, cookies, crackers, candies and cereal. "Solid food items (not liquids or gels) can be transported in either your carry-on or checked bags," reads the TSA website. TSA advises that travelers should separate such items "that can clutter bags and obstruct clear images on the X-ray machine." Even live lobsters can be packed — as long as they're in a clear, plastic and spill-proof container. "A TSA officer will visually inspect your lobster at the checkpoint," reads the restriction. "We recommend that you contact your airline to determine your airline's policy on traveling with your lobster before arriving at the airport." Tamales are allowed with no restrictions listed. Coffee, creamy cheese, canned foods, gravy, ice cream and hummus are allowed to be carried on if the items weigh less than 3.4 ounces. While fresh fruits and vegetables are allowed, there are special instructions related to them. "Passengers flying from Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands to the U.S. mainland cannot take most fresh fruits and vegetables due to the risk of spreading invasive plant pests," the TSA says.
Condé Nast Traveler
6 hours ago
- Condé Nast Traveler
10 Queer Travel Books to Read This Summer
There are few experiences that match the same liberating and transformative feeling of travel. In literally moving outside of our daily routines and surroundings, perhaps the greatest souvenir we bring back home from our journeys are the new parts of ourselves we uncover. And from beach reads to guidebooks, travelogues to adventure comics, reading intuitively feels part and parcel with our travels as a safe space we can tap into to explore ideas. But whether through cultural stigma, discriminatory legislation, or a lack of accommodating resources, the obstacles can be complicated and various for LGBTQ+ travelers. Through sharing stories of how queer people move and exist in the world, the ability to travel feels just that much more available knowing there's a greater community of people who understand and still claim journeying as a right rather than a privilege. By no means a comprehensive list, our suggestions for LGBTQ+ reads are more of a sampler of the vast and growing library of queer books on travel. From the eerily beautiful highways of West Texas to a river boat in Phnom Penh, this compilation of some of our favorite queer books plots out a humane and exciting vision of the world one paragraph (or comic panel) at a time.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Cruise Ship Waiter Saves Passengers from Shards of Glass Raining Down from Shattered Window
A large glass panel shattered aboard Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas on June 8 The falling shards narrowly missed passengers thanks to a warning from one of the ship's waiters Employee Nitin Kumar reportedly noticed the glass cracking and sprinted to alert guests seated on pool loungers below Royal Caribbean and passengers praised Kumar for his actionsWhat could have been a devastating situation was avoided by a quick-thinking cruise waiter. On Sunday, June 8, a cracked glass panel installed above the pool deck of Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas gave way, raining down shards on the lounge chairs of the deck below. Luckily, the seats were empty thanks to one of the ship's crew members who saw what was about to unfold. The ship had departed Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey, en route to its first stop in Florida, docking in Port Canaveral, when the incident occurred. Travel content creator Tytti Tuliainen captured the shocking scene in a video that showcases the large chunks of glass crashing down. On social media, guests praised one of the ship's waiters, Nitin Kumar, for jumping into action, warning passengers just in time for them to get out of the way On a Royal Caribbean subreddit, Kumar's heroic story prevailed. One commenter, who was allegedly aboard the ship at the time of the crash, wrote, 'Nitin saw it cracking and sprinted down to the pool deck and told the people in deck chairs to move. Fifteen seconds later this happened. Dude saved some lives for sure.' Royal Caribbean also took to their social media account to recognize Kumar for his assistance. 'Thanks to the fast thinking of one of the best Nitin, these seats were vacant when the safety glass gave way,' the caption read. 'You are truly an asset to Royal Caribbean and a hero to the many people you removed from harms way. great job!" No reason for the accident has been confirmed, but one social media user noted it occurred while the ship was "turning 180 [degrees] to dock" causing significant "vibrations." Royal Caribbean has not immediately responded to PEOPLE's request for comment. Read the original article on People
