Contemplating the rising tensions in Haiti, some within the cruise neighborhood have been left scratching their heads as to why Royal Caribbean would proceed crusing to its non-public vacation spot of Labadee, Haiti.
After three separate business planes have been shot at in Port-au-Prince in early November, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) prohibited flights to Haiti – whereas Royal Caribbean doubled down on its determination to return to Labadee.
Nonetheless, the family-friendly model has since come ahead to assuage security considerations for visitors on cruises sure for the coastal peninsula – which is positioned on Haiti’s north coast within the Higher Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean Sea.
Royal Caribbean has been reaching out to present visitors by sending letters to their staterooms, which clarify that Labadee is over 100 miles away from the civil unrest at the moment unfolding within the capital of the Caribbean nation – and the space helps make it protected.
“Kindly word that the civil unrest going down in Port-au-Prince is 128 miles south of our non-public vacation spot, Labadee. The drive, on less-than-idea street situations, would take greater than six and a half hours,” reads one letter delivered to current visitors onboard Explorer of the Seas.
If any ill-intentioned teams or people ought to set their sights on Labadee, the peninsula’s location ought to give Royal Caribbean loads of time to take acceptable actions and evacuate visitors.
Along with being far faraway from the present chaos, the 260-acre resort is a controlled-access space with non-public safety in place – and is just open to Royal Caribbean visitors and workers.
The non-public seaside space can also be fenced-off with armed guards defending it – who’re often stored out of sight however are at all times searching for guests.
As a closely guarded space that’s separated from the overall inhabitants of Haiti, crime charges are a lot decrease and security is much less of a priority.
“The U.S. Embassy has acknowledged Labadee as a cruise-exclusive space with non-public safety, low crime, and a spot the place solely commonplace precautions are wanted,” Royal Caribbean confirmed.
The favored cruise model concluded by reminding visitors that security is at all times the highest precedence – and by promising to stay vigilant because the scenario inside Haiti continues to develop.
Crime and Unrest Stay Prevalent in Haiti
Regardless of Royal Caribbean’s reassurances, visiting the non-public vacation spot would possibly nonetheless really feel a little bit nerve-wracking – particularly as Haiti as a complete has been given essentially the most extreme journey advisory from the US authorities.
Because it has been for months, Haiti stays categorized as a “Stage 4: Do Not Journey” on account of “kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and restricted healthcare.”
Certainly, it has been a tough 12 months for Haiti – with a state of emergency declared in March after round 4,000 harmful criminals escaped from prisons in Port-Au-Prince and Croix des Bouquet.
Quickly after, Royal Caribbean did determine to droop all sailings to Labadee out of an abundance of warning – and didn’t return till October when the cruise line was assured it was protected to take action.
Learn Additionally: Are Cruises Protected? What You Actually Have to Know
That stated, Royal Caribbean has promised to proceed to observe the scenario – and is working with each native authorities and its personal safety groups with a view to preserve a transparent image of any potential security dangers.
“We proceed to observe the scenario very carefully alongside native authorities and our safety workforce…the security of our visitors stays our prime precedence,” continues the letter from the cruise line.
It additionally appears that the cruise line is exercising some further warning by limiting shore excursions in the meanwhile – with some saying their excursions to areas exterior of the principle resort, reminiscent of transportation and excursions of the close by Amiga Island, had been cancelled.
And naturally, any passengers who nonetheless really feel uncomfortable visiting Haiti are usually not required to go ashore. Company are at all times welcomed to remain onboard whereas in port and luxuriate in all of the facilities and leisure that their cruise ship has to supply as an alternative – and maybe with much less crowds.
