Celebrity Cruises has revised several itineraries for its vessels, notably removing Labadee (Haiti) from scheduled ports of call. This alteration affects multiple sailings of the Celebrity Apex and select voyages of the Celebrity Beyond. The cruise line communicated to booked guests that the decision was made to enhance the overall guest experience.
The impacted itineraries primarily involve the Celebrity Apex's 7-night "Key West, Bahamas & Labadee" cruises departing from Port Canaveral (Florida). Originally, these voyages included stops in Key West, Bimini, Puerto Plata, and Labadee. Following the adjustments, most of these sailings will now visit Grand Turk (Turks & Caicos) as a replacement for Labadee. Additionally, certain 2026 itineraries will feature calls at George Town (Grand Cayman) and Cozumel (Mexico).
While Celebrity Cruises has not provided a specific reason for the removal of Labadee from these itineraries, it is noteworthy that the U.S. State Department currently advises against travel to Haiti, issuing a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory due to ongoing safety and security concerns. Despite this, Labadee - a private resort owned and operated by RCI-Royal Caribbean - is geographically isolated from areas experiencing unrest and has maintained strict security protocols to ensure guest safety. Royal Caribbean continues to include Labadee in its cruise itineraries, with no current indications of altering their scheduled visits.
Guests affected by these itinerary changes have been notified, and Celebrity Cruises has assured them that the modifications aim to provide an enhanced cruising experience. The cruise line has also arranged for automatic refunds of any pre-purchased shore excursions for Labadee.
These developments underscore the dynamic nature of cruise itinerary planning, where guest safety and experience remain paramount considerations.