Grand Cayman is emerging as a beneficiary of itinerary changes by major cruise lines, as Royal Caribbean and its affiliate Celebrity Cruises reroute sailings away from Labadee, Haiti, due to escalating security concerns. Cayman joins a list of alternative ports, including CocoCay and Nassau in the Bahamas, Falmouth in Jamaica, and Grand Turk in Turks and Caicos, now being added to cruise schedules as safer alternatives.
Labadee, a 260-acre private resort located on Haiti’s northern coast near Cap-Haïtien, has been exclusively leased by Royal Caribbean Group since 1986 under an agreement now extended through 2050. Operated by Royal Caribbean and accessible to its affiliated cruise lines, including Celebrity Cruises and Azamara, the Haitian port is meant to offer cruise passengers a secure, all-inclusive experience.
But the broader security situation in Haiti tells a different story. The US Department of State has maintained a Level 4 ‘Do Not Travel’ advisory for Haiti since September 2024. The alert warns of widespread kidnappings, armed robberies and sexual assaults, noting that “crimes involving firearms are common” and that “U.S. citizens have been victims and have been hurt or killed”. The country has been under a state of emergency since March 2024.
With no clear timeline for the resumption of cruises to Labadee, ports like Grand Cayman are set to see increased traffic.
Royal Caribbean cruises reroute
Royal Caribbean initially suspended visits to Labadee in March 2024 amid mounting security concerns. The private resort was reintroduced to select itineraries in October 2024, and for several months, Royal Caribbean International resumed routine stops with multiple vessels such as the Explorer of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas either calling at or scheduled to call at the destination.
However, by April 2025, the cruise line once again pulled Labadee from its itineraries, reportedly impacting nearly a dozen ships, many departing from Florida ports. As of May 2025, Royal Caribbean has extended the suspension through the summer season and beyond, citing persistent security concerns due to escalating violence and political unrest in Haiti.
In response, Royal Caribbean is rerouting affected sailings to alternate destinations, including Grand Cayman, and in some instances, extending port stays or adding sea days.
Guests booked on an Oasis of the Seas’ July sailing were informed via email, “We have been monitoring the evolving situation in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and out of an abundance of caution, we’re swapping our visit to Labadee for a Sea Day.”
Grand Cayman is among several ports absorbing traffic from the Labadee cancellations. According to Roylee Moore, acting manager of cruise operations at the Cayman Islands Port Authority, the reroutes have already brought four additional calls from the Adventure of the Seas between May and August, each with the potential to bring over 3,800 passengers. Moore noted that more calls could follow, though no further additions have been confirmed to date.
Celebrity Cruises change itineraries
Celebrity Cruises has also removed Labadee, Haiti, from the itineraries of several sailings scheduled between April 2025 and April 2026, redirecting up to 10 voyages aboard the Celebrity Apex and Celebrity Beyond. Grand Cayman has emerged as an alternative port, alongside Grand Turk in Turks and Caicos, as the cruise line adjusts its routes. The move follows earlier cancellations of Labadee calls during the winter 2024–2025 season.
Among the affected sailings, the 3,950-passenger Celebrity Beyond has dropped Labadee from two scheduled cruises departing in April and August 2025. Meanwhile, eight sailings on the 3,521-passenger Celebrity Apex, set to depart between December 2025 and April 2026, will now follow updated schedules. One of those sailings, a January 2026 “Universal Orlando Resort Stay with Key West, Bahamas & Labadee” will now include a stop in Grand Cayman in place of Labadee.
The changes are being communicated directly to guests. Emails sent to booked guests in February 2026 read, “To provide you with a better guest experience, we have made the decision to cancel our visit to Labadee, Haiti. Instead, we’ll visit George Town, Grand Cayman …”.
The email also included a revised itinerary.
Cayman, already experiencing a 12% rise in cruise arrivals during the first quarter of the year, stands to benefit as more ships are diverted from Labadee. As cruises reroute, the full impact on Cayman’s cruise tourism for the remainder of 2025 and into 2026 remains to be seen.