News

Royal Caribbean suspends Labadee calls amid state of emergency in Haiti

Ship calls into Royal Caribbean International’s private resort in Haiti have been suspended amid mass unrest in the Caribbean country.

The line’s president Michael Bayley confirmed that no ships would stop at Labadee, on the northern coast of Haiti, for the next week at least.

In a Facebook post, he said that the company will “continue suspension on a rolling basis” with three days advance notice to passengers “as we monitor and evaluate the situation in Haiti”.

The move follows a state of emergency declared in Haiti until April 3 after prisoners escaped when gangs overwhelmed security forces at the main prison in the capital of Port au Prince, 128 miles south of Labadee, last week.

The company told travel agents in an email seen by Reuters that itineraries with stops in Labadee will be replaced with a call in Turks and Caicos, the Bahamas or an extra day at sea.

The Foreign Office warns against all travel to Haiti due to the “volatile” security situation.

A curfew imposed on Monday will run between 7pm and 5am until Sunday (March 17).

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said in an updated travel advisory: “There are currently no British consular officials in Haiti and our ability to provide consular assistance is severely limited and cannot be delivered in person in Haiti.

“British nationals may get consular services assistance at our diplomatic mission in the Dominican Republic.

“If you choose to travel to or stay in Haiti against FCDO advice, try to avoid all crowds and public events, and take appropriate security precautions.”   

Share article

View Comments

Jacobs Media is honoured to be the recipient of the 2020 Queen's Award for Enterprise.

The highest official awards for UK businesses since being established by royal warrant in 1965. Read more.