RCCL Private Island ???

[Tony M]

I know that this is the DCL Boards, but one of the reasons(among the many) that we chose DCL over RCCL was the Private Island Stop(Castaway Cay) is in the Bahamas and not Haiti/Dominican Republic(Labadee). Does anyone know how things have been affected by the recent Haiti turmoil?

 

[SeaSpray]

RCI ships have not been stopping there for the last several weeks, and won't be going back anytime soon. It's really a shame, I've heard that Labadee is beautiful.

There was a lot of info on this over on www.cruisecritic.com on their Royal Caribbean message boards.

Some of the ships that were scheduled to stop there either had an extra day at sea, or stayed at one of their other ports for an extra day. Lots of cruisers weren't too happy about it, but in a case like this, it's totally understandable and responsible, on RCI's part. One of their security guards was shot a couple of weeks ago (a guard at Labadee).

 

[KennyK]

Last I heard and it was a major news item here in the northeast that RCCL had stop using their beach resort until further notice and I believe were using it as another sea day. I do not know if they have resumed using it now that tensions have improved in Haiti.

Kennyk

 

[thebets57]

We visited Labadee a few years back on RCCL. It was a wonderful day! Somewhere I read (I think on e-mail updates) that RCCL was temporarily suspending stops there due to unrest in the country. I'm sure if you call RCCL, they could give you details. As much fun as it was, it wouldn't be worth it if the cruise line didn't think it was perfectly safe.

 

[RLAlden]

Castaway Cay is much better in our mind...

 

[winnyis]

I went to Labadee in Nov 03 when I cruised on the Navigator of the Seas and HATED IT!!! It in no way compared to Castaway Cay. There were so many rocks on the beaches and in the water that my feet hurt so bad at the end of the day from stubbing them on rocks. Also the Haitan market was downright scary. They were pulling my and DH's arms and trying to get our kids to come into their stands. We got so agrivated we walked out after less than 5 minutes.


While I would defiantely cruise on a Voyager Class ship again... If we stopped in labadee I would stay onboard the ship and enjoy it all to myself....

 

[mrsfuzzmo]

Isn't Labadee considered a port stop and RCI's private Island COCO CAY?
Last I sailed on RCI (MOS) we were supposed to stop at Labadee as well (about 10 yrs ago) and we skipped it due to unrest there back then. BUT we still went to COCO CAY which was a gorgeous private island with all the amenities and beautiful beaches and bars and food and straw market, very much like, yet nicer than, some of the others I've gone to. Isn't COCO Cay used any more? It would be a shame if that were the case. We loved it there!

Mrsfuzzmo

 

[MO Disney cruiser]

Coco Cay is still a stop for some RCL ships. We were on the Sovereign last Septemeber and stopped at Coco Cay. It is a beautiful island, but Castaway Cay is better.