🚨Itinerary Shake-Up: Why Royal Caribbean Dropped San Juan and Labadee in 2025

If you’ve been eyeing a 2025 Royal Caribbean cruise with a stop in San Juan or Labadee - surprise! Those ports are officially off the table (for now). While cruise itineraries are always subject to change, this update has a few behind-the-scenes reasons worth knowing. From a pier incident involving another cruise line in Puerto Rico to ongoing unrest in Haiti, here’s what’s really going on—and how to pivot if your dream trip included these iconic stops.

Labadee, Haiti – once a favorite Royal Caribbean private destination.

What Happened in Labadee?

Labadee is Royal Caribbean’s private destination on Haiti’s northern coast. For years, it’s been a beloved stop for cruisers craving beach days, ziplining, and local flair. But due to the current unrest and instability in Haiti, Royal Caribbean has made the decision to suspend all stops in Labadee—for guest and crew safety.

At the time of this post, there is no set return date, and all ships that were originally scheduled to stop there have been rerouted. If you’re booked on an itinerary that once listed Labadee, you’ll likely see a replacement stop or extended sea day appear in its place.

What’s Going on in San Juan?

San Juan, Puerto Rico – temporarily off Royal Caribbean itineraries due to pier damage.

San Juan, Puerto Rico has also been pulled from upcoming Royal Caribbean sailings—but for a very different reason. In early 2024, an MSC cruise ship collided with Pier 3, one of the major docking points used by Royal Caribbean vessels. The accident caused significant damage, and as of mid-2025, the pier still hasn’t been repaired.

What’s the holdup? Well, there’s been a lot of finger-pointing over who’s financially responsible for the repairs—between MSC, local port authorities, and insurance providers. Until that gets sorted, Royal Caribbean simply can’t safely dock at that location. Other piers in San Juan are either too small or already booked solid.

Can I Still Cruise to These Places?

Yes—but not (currently) with Royal Caribbean.

Let’s start with Labadee, which is technically Royal Caribbean’s private island, similar to their more well-known stop, Perfect Day at Coco Cay. But instead of a floating waterpark and splashy attractions, Labadee leans more “laid-back beach day”—think loungers in the sand, jungle zip lines, and artisan markets with local flair. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing unrest in Haiti, Labadee is temporarily off the table for all cruise lines. There’s no official return date yet.

As for San Juan, you still have options:

• Carnival and Norwegian continue to include San Juan on many of their Caribbean itineraries.

• Celebrity Cruises (Royal Caribbean’s sister brand) may be able to dock using alternative piers, depending on the ship and schedule.

There’s been some chatter about other Haitian ports like Cap-Haïtien popping up in niche itineraries, but don’t expect them on most mainstream sailings anytime soon.

As always, I’m here to help you compare current route maps and find a perfect itinerary with the vibe you’re looking for—even if that means a different line.

Why This Matters

If this update teaches us anything, it’s this: cruise itineraries are flexible for a reason. Weather, politics, infrastructure, or even a single ship incident can cause major shifts. That’s why it’s so important to book with someone who stays in the know and can help you navigate the pivots.

Planning Your Cruise? I’ve Got You.

Whether you want help finding the best 2025 itinerary or need a hand making sense of what changed on your existing cruise, I’m your girl. Let’s get you rebooked, rerouted, or ready to roll—whatever’s next.

🛟 Don’t let port drama sink your vacation dreams. We’ve got options.

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