What Tourists Should Know About Royal Caribbean's Cancellations Before Booking A Cruise

If you are one of the lucky future Caribbean cruisers looking forward to turquoise waters, poolside drinks with little umbrellas, and that glorious moment you step aboard a Royal Caribbean ship, read on. Let's say you've picked the perfect itinerary, maybe one including a stop at one of the cruise line's exclusive private island paradises. But what happens when the destination you booked suddenly vanishes from the map — before you've even left home?

Royal Caribbean's recent changes in the planned port calls to its private destination of Labadee, Haiti, have become a significant point of concern for travelers considering a Caribbean cruise. The cruise line notified passengers that following the evolving situation in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, it's cancelling visits to Labadee through April 2026 "out of an abundance of caution", according to an email to guests cited on the company's blog. 

Since most travelers book their cruise far in advance, and have already planned the highlights of what they would like to see and do onboard and at each port, skipping a destination is bound to feel disappointing. Understanding these changes, why they occurred, and what travelers can expect in their place may soften the blow, and is part of the essential information to know for cruise enthusiasts planning future trips.

Labadee is a private resort operated by Royal Caribbean, located on Haiti's northern coast, more than 100 miles from Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince. For years, it's been a popular stop, offering a resort-like experience and shore excursions for guests without needing to leave the company's fenced-off ecosystem.

The primary reason behind Labadee's cancellations is safety. Haiti is under a Level 4 — Do Not Travel advisory by the U.S. State Department, reissued on July 15 after the addition of a terrorism indicator. This means Americans are strongly advised not to travel to Haiti, including its coastal areas. Anyone booking a cruise that originally included Labadee should be aware that this advisory could continue to affect future sailings.

According to Cruise Industry News,  Celebrity Cruises, which forms part of the Royal Caribbean Group, also informed its guests about the Labadee cancellations. Travelers received notifications months before their scheduled cruise departure concerning scheduled sailings between December 2025 and April 2026.

Royal Caribbean's website indicates that it can change or cancel an itinerary without prior notice without any obligation to provide a refund or compensation. The cruise line, however, typically offers refunds or onboard credits as goodwill gestures. For example, any booked cruise shore excursions at Labadee are fully refunded or credited to onboard accounts. Additionally, Royal Caribbean sometimes enhances time spent at other ports on the itinerary to compensate for the cancellation. For instance, the Freedom of the Seas November sailing will be calling at Grand Turk, Turk and Caicos, instead of Labadee.

The cancellations highlight an ongoing debate in cruise travel: should you book the ship, or the itinerary?. If you're choosing a cruise solely for one specific port, you're setting yourself up for potential disappointment. Itineraries can and do shift for a multitude of reason — weather, political unrest, mechanical issues, even a medical emergency. The open seas are ever-changing, and cruising requires a dash of flexibility.

As an alternative approach, choosing a ship for its onboard features ensures you'll enjoy the journey, even if ports change. Are you excited about catching the shows, lingering over dinners, making new friends, or toasting the sunset with champagne on the observation deck? Royal Caribbean offers some of the largest cruise ships in the world, resembling floating cities with endless options for shopping, dining, sports, and entertainment. If a port gets cancelled, you will have even more time to explore all the incredible onboard amenities. When it comes to cruising, you can choose to consider the chance to unwind and reset as your real destination — and cherish everything else as a bonus.