Private islands have become a massive part of Royal Caribbean's strategy.
The company has invested more than $250 million in its signature destination island Perfect Day at CocoCay while it has also been building out private-island-style beach clubs in Nassau and Cozumel.
Perfect Day at CocoCay has consistently been the cruise line's most popular port and that makes sense because it gives passengers a choose-your-own-adventure beach day. You can opt for a classic beach experience, enjoy some free barbecue and tacos, or choose to visit the added-fee waterpark or ride the zip lines.
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Visitors can pay extra for the upscale Beach Club or the adults-only Hideaway Beach or opt only for the included activities, like a giant pool and multiple beaches.
Royal Caribbean also has a private island in Labadee, Haiti. It has not been visiting that island — really a private section of an island — because of political unrest in the country and a U.S. State Department warning against traveling there.
"Do not travel to Haiti due to kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and poor health care infrastructure," the federal agency warned. "On July 27, 2023, the Department of State ordered the departure of family members of U.S. government employees and non-emergency U.S. government employees. U.S. citizens in Haiti should depart Haiti as soon as possible by commercial or other privately available transportation options, in light of the current security situation and infrastructure challenges."
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Royal Caribbean plans a return to Labadee
Royal Caribbean stopped calling on Labadee in March due to the optics of stopping in a country about which the State Department issued such a serious warning. In reality. Labadee is a fenced off private destination that's many hours from any population center.
Canceling Labadee as a destination was at least partly about optics, but the situation has somewhat improved and some airlines have returned to flying in and out of Haiti. That has led Royal Caribbean to email some passengers to say that it plans to return to its private island in Labadee.
“Labadee is one of our fan-favorite private destinations and we are ready and excited to return to Labadee in October 2024! It’s time – and we know you’re just as hopeful as we are for a successful return to Labadee," CruiseHive shared.
That report followed multiple people sharing the same news in various Royal Caribbean Facebook groups.
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Labadee has been listed on the Royal Caribbean website beginning in October and the cruise line confirmed its plans.
“Airports are open and all airlines have already returned. With the positive presence of peace-keeping officers, and relief efforts for Haitian residents, we expect the full return of tourism soon," the cruise line wrote.
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