Labadee Haiti

Labadee, Haiti, hammock and beach

 Labaee, Haiti was the last stop on our cruise aboard the Celebrity Eclipse last December.  Labadee is a private port that is leased to Royal Caribbean International.  Royal Caribbean spent millions to turn Labadee into a private paradise, with white sand beaches, palm trees, and even hammocks. Visiting Labadee will not give you a window into the "real" Haiti, but it is a great place to relax for a day. 

What to Expect

Celebrity Eclipse at Labadee, Haiti

The only way to get to Labadee is as part of a cruise port stop.  Your entire experience on Labadee will be controlled by the cruise company, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.  Local Haitian musicians will provide music while you enjoy the white sand beaches in a hammock or beach chair.  Waiters take drink orders right on the beach.  A cafeteria-style lunch will be provided.  If you like to shop, there is a small market where local artists sell their painting, carving, jewelry, and other crafts.  For the kids, there is an aqua park.  A zip line hangs high above the beach for adventurous souls.  As long as the sun is shining (Labadee weather is nearly always great), Labadee is a Caribbean paradise. 

Sunset over Labadee

I had mixed feelings about visiting Labadee.  Haiti is the poorest country in the Americas.  At the time of our visit, there was an outbreak of cholera killing thousands of Haitians.  The country had not fully recovered from the devastating January 2010 earthquake.  Labadee is separated from the rest of Haiti, both physically and economically, through use of fences and a private security force.  You cannot visit any other part of Haiti if your cruise line stop in Labadee.   However, by visiting Labadee, you will provide Haiti with much-needed tourist income.  Royal Caribbean has provided Haiti with their largest source of tourist income for the last two decades. 

There is a small flee market in Labadee in which 200 locals are allowed to sell their wares.  The poverty of these artists is apparent in their appearance and marketing techniques (one told us "Please buy something.  I must sell something today").  We did buy a couple of amazing paintings, but could do little else to help these people.  I hope that increased tourism can help build a foundation for Haiti to begin to road to recovery.   If you are comparing Caribbean cruise itineraries and port-of-calls, Labadee is a worthwhile stop!

Just the Basics 

• Transportation: The only way to reach Labadee is by cruise ship.   
• Labadee Activities: Sing up through your cruise operator for the Aqua Park, History Tour and  Zipline.  Shopping and swimming are free!
• Labadee Accommodation: None.  There are no overnight stops in Labadee.
• Website: http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/ports/group/home.do?portCode=LAB 
• Advice: Spend some time shopping in the market to support the local Haitian artists.