Royal Caribbean won't be going to this Caribbean island all year
Royal Caribbean International ships won't visit the cruise line's private destination in Haiti through at least the end of the year.
"Out of an abundance of caution, we have extended our pause to Labadee through December 2026," its parent company, Royal Caribbean Group, told USA TODAY in an emailed statement. The company previously suspended calls to the Caribbean island nation through April 2026 amid ongoing violence in the country.
The cruise line last visited Labadee in the first quarter of 2025, after pausing stops there the year before.
Gang violence escalated in Haiti in 2024 , and the country has been under a state of emergency since March of that year. A U.S. State Department travel advisory lists it as Level 4, denoting a "do not travel" warning, its highest rating.
From ports decorated with centuries-old architecture to sunlit turquoise bays, a new eye-tracking study revealed the world's most beautiful cruise ports, with three Caribbean spots making the top 20.
The research, conducted by travel insurance experts at AllClear, used eye-tracking technology to measure which of the world's travel hotspots are the most impressive to arrive at by sea. They measured which cruise ports caught people's attention first, and held it the longest, revealing the world's most captivating coastal arrivals.
1. Valletta Cruise Port, Malta
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, our study's most beautiful cruise port is a masterpiece in harbour aesthetics. Its combination of golden limestone reflecting off the glistening water provides the ultimate, jaw-dropping arrival into this exciting Mediterranean city, and with the longest fixation time of any port in the study, Malta certainly earned its place as our number one. What cruisers will love: Walk into the historic town in just 15 minutes and explore St. John's Co-Cathedral with its Baroque artwork, or head to the Upper Barrakka Gardens for panoramic views of the harbour itself.
"Crimes involving firearms are common in Haiti," the alert said. "They include robbery, carjackings, sexual assault, and kidnappings for ransom. Do not travel to Haiti for any reason."
The U.S. Coast Guard also "has concerns about security in the ports of Haiti," the State Department said. "Until those are addressed, the Coast Guard advises mariners and passengers traveling through the ports of Haiti to exercise caution."
Travelers visiting Haiti should steer clear of crowds and demonstrations, arrange hotel bookings and airport transfers ahead of time – or have hosts meet them when they arrive – and make evacuation plans that do not require help from the U.S. government, among other measures, according to the advisory. A full list of recommendations can be found online.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Royal Caribbean extends pause on Labadee, Haiti stops through December
