Labadee, Haiti

My Labadee Logbook

Labadee holds a complicated but beautiful place in my cruise memories. I first visited in 2018 on Independence of the Seas, and even now, years later, certain images remain impossibly vivid: the ship rounding the peninsula and those green mountains rising straight from turquoise water, the colorful wooden boats bobbing in the harbor, the zip line launching platform clinging to the clifftop like something from an adventure movie. Labadee is Royal Caribbean's original private destination — they've been operating here since 1986 — and it shows in the maturity of the landscaping, the sophistication of the infrastructure, and the genuinely warm relationship with the local Haitian staff who have worked here for decades.

The setting is simply more dramatic than CocoCay. Where CocoCay is flat and manufactured (gorgeously so), Labadee has real topography — forested mountains cascading down to rocky coves and sandy beaches, with the ship anchored in a natural harbor that feels ancient and earned. Walking from Barefoot Beach up to the zip line base, you pass through tropical forest with glimpses of the bay appearing suddenly between trees. It feels like a place that existed before the tourists arrived, because it did.

The Dragon's Breath zip line is the headliner, and rightfully so. At 2,600 feet, it's the longest zip line over water in the world, and the experience is nothing like the tame zip lines you've probably done elsewhere. You launch from the mountain, accelerate to what feels like unreasonable speed, and soar over the beach, over the bay, over the ships anchored below, with nothing but the Caribbean Sea stretching to the horizon and the wind screaming past your helmet. The whole thing lasts maybe a minute, but it's an extraordinary minute. Book early — Dragon's Breath sells out on most sailings.

The beaches are beautiful, and each has its own personality. Barefoot Beach is the main area with the most loungers and food service — lively, social, easy. Columbus Cove is calmer and better for families with small children (the water is shallower and gentler). Nellie's Beach is the premium option — exclusive cabanas with butler service and upgraded food, worth the splurge if you want to feel like royalty. I've done all three on various visits, and honestly, I've been happy everywhere. The water is consistently gorgeous, the sand is well-maintained, and there's rarely a crowd problem because the whole peninsula has been carefully designed to distribute guests across multiple zones.

The Dragon's Tail Coaster is another favorite — an alpine coaster that winds down from the mountain, half-ride and half-controlled descent, with beautiful views the whole way. The Arawak Aqua Park is floating in the bay with trampolines, slides, and obstacles for anyone who wants playground-style water play. Kayaking and paddleboarding are available if you prefer self-powered exploration. And the food has been excellent every time — the complimentary buffet serves Haitian-accented dishes alongside Caribbean standards, and the jerk chicken in particular is better than anything I've had at Jamaican ports.

I want to address the elephant in the room, because it would be dishonest not to: Labadee is in Haiti, and Haiti has struggled with political instability and security concerns, which is why Royal Caribbean has suspended visits periodically over the past few years. The private peninsula is fully fenced and secured — you are not interacting with mainland Haiti during your visit, and the security infrastructure is substantial. Whether that arrangement makes you comfortable or uncomfortable is a personal decision, and I respect both perspectives. What I will say is that when Labadee is operating, the local employees I've spoken with have expressed genuine gratitude for the jobs, the stability, and the cross-cultural exchange. The market artisans are talented craftspeople selling authentic work, not mass-produced imports. It's not a perfect solution to a complex situation, but it's something.

When Labadee is on your itinerary and operating normally, it's a genuinely special day. The natural beauty rivals anywhere in the Caribbean. The adrenaline activities (zip line, coaster, aqua park) are top-tier. The Haitian food and crafts add cultural texture you won't find at any other private destination. And that view — the mountains, the harbor, the ship floating in the bay — stays with you longer than you'd expect from a beach day.