Making the most of Labadee
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Cruise ships use Labadee's pier, which can serve Oasis-class vessels and was completed in late 2009.
Labadee is fenced and secured, and visitors cannot leave the property. Inside, passengers meet residents employed by Royal Caribbean and approved traders selling goods at the Artisan's Market.
The destination takes its name from Marquis de La Badie, a French settler who first arrived in the 17th century. Its spelling became "Labadee" to simplify pronunciation for English speakers.
Labadee, also called Labadie, is a harbour on Haiti's northern coast. The private resort is leased by Royal Caribbean International.
A dedicated security team makes this completely visitor-focused resort safe. A controlled group of Haitian traders holds exclusive permission to sell products and operate businesses there. Advertising sometimes portrays Labadee as a separate island, but it is actually continuous with Hispaniola and fenced away from the surrounding district.
Sandy beaches and coral reefs create an excellent setting for relaxation and enjoyment, whether kayaking, snorkelling, parasailing or simply lying on the shore.
Parasailing provides an exhilarating bird's-eye view from 400 feet above the beautiful Labadee peninsula.
A kayak excursion crosses enchanting Bay of Labadee, combining remarkable scenery with an introduction to Haitian culture.
Ride a wave runner along Labadee's scenic shoreline for an exciting outing and a view of the ship that few other passengers experience.
Remember that the districts around Labadee, and Haiti more broadly, are extremely poor. This creates an unsettling contrast between cruise-ship luxury and severe poverty only a few miles away, and is given as the reason visitors cannot leave the resort.
Getting around
Fencing separates the site from the surrounding area, and passengers may not go beyond the property.
The entire resort is accessible, with beach wheelchairs helping wheelchair users move around easily. Anyone unwilling or unable to walk can board the free tram at Dragon Tram Station for Columbus Cove Tram Station at the resort's far end.
Nearby places
At Buccaneer's Bay, passengers can reserve cruise-line-sponsored trips beyond Labadee, including Amiga Island escape, snorkelling tours, Paradise Cove, cultural activities and a local-village tour, deep-sea fishing and a speed boat adventure. Parasailing and jet ski activities can also be booked there.
Money
The currency is US$.