Labadee, Haiti Beach?

[Browniecrb]

Does RCI provide shuttle from the ship to the beach at Labadee. Also, any other information or tips about the beach would be appreciated.

 

Thank You

[jonbgd]

No you just walk off the correct end of the pier and you will be there:D

BTW it is alot nicer than I thought it would be

[one9marine]

Does RCI provide shuttle from the ship to the beach at Labadee. Also, any other information or tips about the beach would be appreciated.

 

Thank You

there is a dock now. there are several threads on labadee on the boards. it's a great beach day.

[GeraldOfHouston]

Does RCI provide shuttle from the ship to the beach at Labadee. Also, any other information or tips about the beach would be appreciated.

 

Thank You

 

The ship now docks at Labadee, and the beaches are within walking distance of the dock. There are small shuttles which do take you around the island.

[cb at sea]

It's not that big! The entire thing is "beach"....really....there are several beach areas,, with loungers, hammocks, etc....several places where the BBQ lunch will be served, restrooms.....

[read52]

We were there is July. You have to walk the pier which can be hot in July but once to the enterance they have shuttles to take you around. For people who have problems walking, they had wheelchairs with huge wheels that I was told could go in the sand.

[chirpy007]

I thought it would be my least favourite port but we had a lovely day. The jet skiing was great. Enjoy :D

[Ashland]

We have also seen a small golf cart being used to aid those with mobility problems taking them from the ship to the beach then there are the sand wheel chairs available for them to use..In addition we saw several sand wheel chairs being pushed back to the ship by workers..they seem to do all they can to accommodate those with needs...Enjoy Labadee !!

[maxs mom]

We were just there in December. Hadn't been there since 2004. My goodness....what an improvement! Wonderful beach day!

 

 

 

 

[lakelorain]

Just there in November for the first time. There are several beaches to satisfy everyone's needs. Unfortunately, we had a bad rainstorm. Hope to go back there again.

[Ocean Boy]

We were just there in December. Hadn't been there since 2004. My goodness....what an improvement! Wonderful beach day!

 

 

I agree. They have made a lot of improvements. They make the day much more enjoyable for those who dislike having a forced beach day.

[Mapleleafforever]

Do the beaches get really crowded?

[maxs mom]

Actually the crowds were pretty well spread out when we were there.

[spanner14]

We have also seen a small golf cart being used to aid those with mobility problems taking them from the ship to the beach then there are the sand wheel chairs available for them to use..In addition we saw several sand wheel chairs being pushed back to the ship by workers..they seem to do all they can to accommodate those with needs...Enjoy Labadee !!

 

Just beware, if you are in a wheelchair, they will take your own wheelchair from you and "park" it somewhere by security (if they still have security, bearing in mind this was before the pier was complete). Then they will transfer you to a beach wheelchair and a very kind man will insist on pushing you to your beach of choice (for me, this was the beach with the floating adventure inflatables).

 

However....they will then leave you there without a wheelchair and take the wheelchair away because they need it for other people - not so good! The wheelchair pusher also waits for a tip which I found REALLY embarrassing because we only had our seapasses with us as we had been told that cash isn't necessary on Labadee unless you intend to buy something in the market (we didn't).

 

I used my walking stick to walk the few steps back to the Land-train stop to return to the tender, but then we had to try to find my wheelchair. It was all pretty tiring and I know they had the best intentions but it didn't work out very well for me. Thought that might help other w/c users.

 

Apart from that (and getting stung by a jellyfish), Labadee was great - we all really enjoyed it. DH did the zipline and had a great time and the view from my sunbed was glorious. :)

[Ashland]

Just beware, if you are in a wheelchair, they will take your own wheelchair from you and "park" it somewhere by security (if they still have security, bearing in mind this was before the pier was complete). Then they will transfer you to a beach wheelchair and a very kind man will insist on pushing you to your beach of choice (for me, this was the beach with the floating adventure inflatables).

 

However....they will then leave you there without a wheelchair and take the wheelchair away because they need it for other people - not so good! The wheelchair pusher also waits for a tip which I found REALLY embarrassing because we only had our seapasses with us as we had been told that cash isn't necessary on Labadee unless you intend to buy something in the market (we didn't).

 

I used my walking stick to walk the few steps back to the Land-train stop to return to the tender, but then we had to try to find my wheelchair. It was all pretty tiring and I know they had the best intentions but it didn't work out very well for me. Thought that might help other w/c users.

 

Apart from that (and getting stung by a jellyfish), Labadee was great - we all really enjoyed it. DH did the zipline and had a great time and the view from my sunbed was glorious. :)

I have been to Labadee before the pier was built and sorry didn't notice at that time how people with mobility issues were being escorted...My above post was referring to what I saw with the new pier when we were there this past March..Seems like things have gotten better and easier now that there is no tendering..Enjoy Labadee if you happen to have another cruise that visits there...you might be surprised at how much it has changed !!!

[maxs mom]

I have been to Labadee before the pier was built and sorry didn't notice at that time how people with mobility issues were being escorted...My above post was referring to what I saw with the new pier when we were there this past March..Seems like things have gotten better and easier now that there is no tendering..Enjoy Labadee if you happen to have another cruise that visits there...you might be surprised at how much it has changed !!!

 

Totally agree......the changes are phenomenal!

[DanJ]

Just there a few days ago and saw what I can best describe as "golf cart trolleys", which carried maybe 20 or 30 people at a time. I also saw a few jeeps with 9 seats on the back. I also want to add that while we really enjoyed the island, I absolutely hated the gauntlet that is the vendor market. In the future we will walk back on the path closest to the shoreline from the waterpark beach rather than go through the market again. I was always told the people in Jamaica were pushy and in your face but Labadee was just plain ridiculous.

[Merion_Mom]

Just there a few days ago and saw what I can best describe as "golf cart trolleys", which carried maybe 20 or 30 people at a time. I also saw a few jeeps with 9 seats on the back. I also want to add that while we really enjoyed the island, I absolutely hated the gauntlet that is the vendor market. In the future we will walk back on the path closest to the shoreline from the waterpark beach rather than go through the market again. I was always told the people in Jamaica were pushy and in your face but Labadee was just plain ridiculous.

 

With the current situation in Haiti, in the aftermath of the earthquake (and also the cholera outbreak), they are more desperate to provide for their families.

 

Cut them a little slack.

[The Big Booper]

Amplifying Jane's pictures, the best beach is Columbus which is the furthest away from the ship.

 

Taken from Columbus -

 

 

Lots of JetSkies here -

 

 

And a water park for the kids -

 

 

 

Lots of tree cover at the beach -

 

 

If you want to avoid the pestering locals, just take the shuttle trams back to the pier which drives by the flea market areas -

 

 

But these are poor people who have been devested by the earthquake and cholera......

[jletsgo]

Just got off the Navigator today. We love Labadee....Here's your info....Labadee is royal's private island....Ship docks right at Labadee. Only Royal passengers on the island...Excellent beaches, barbecues and activities. If traveling with kids no matter what age, book the aqua park. We drove jet skis and did the Zipline which was amazing. Very efficient staff at all the activities. There is a straw market run by the locals that you can pay cash for and a Trading Post that you can use your seapass card to purchase souvenirs. Very convenient to get off and on the ship since its right there at Labadee. We actually did the ZipLine at 9am, went back on the ship to get our beach stuff, and was back on the beach within minutes. YOU"LL LOVE IT :)

[Merion_Mom]

Just got off the Navigator today. We love Labadee....Here's your info....Labadee is royal's private island....Ship docks right at Labadee. Only Royal passengers on the island...Excellent beaches, barbecues and activities. If traveling with kids no matter what age, book the aqua park. We drove jet skis and did the Zipline which was amazing. Very efficient staff at all the activities. There is a straw market run by the locals that you can pay cash for and a Trading Post that you can use your seapass card to purchase souvenirs. Very convenient to get off and on the ship since its right there at Labadee. We actually did the ZipLine at 9am, went back on the ship to get our beach stuff, and was back on the beach within minutes. YOU"LL LOVE IT :)

 

Very nice description of the amenities available on Labadee.

 

But it is not an island.

 

It is a peninsula in the country of Haiti on the island of Hispaniola, leased by Royal Caribbean.

[Ocean Boy]

Just there a few days ago and saw what I can best describe as "golf cart trolleys", which carried maybe 20 or 30 people at a time. I also saw a few jeeps with 9 seats on the back. I also want to add that while we really enjoyed the island, I absolutely hated the gauntlet that is the vendor market. In the future we will walk back on the path closest to the shoreline from the waterpark beach rather than go through the market again. I was always told the people in Jamaica were pushy and in your face but Labadee was just plain ridiculous.

 

I actually liked it. It was something to do for an hour. Any activity on Labadee that requires more energy than lying around on a chair sits pretty well with me.

[ryansmom]

The ship now docks at Labadee, and the beaches are within walking distance of the dock. There are small shuttles which do take you around the island.

 

Searching for how much time it takes to get around.... either on the tram or by walking around?

 

From the pier to Columbus Cove?

 

From one end of tram station to the other?

 

Looking at the map, it's hard to gauge how much time it takes to walk from one point to another.

 

Thanks!

 

[The Big Booper]

The tram is just a sectional small bus and it is not on rails . It does not move very fast so it will take around ten minutes while it meanders along the path from the pier to the furthest beach, Columbus Cove.

 

You have to walk along the pier to the beach area -

 

 

 

 

[Beth C]

I will admit I was quite leery about going to Labadee with the Cholera outbreak hitting the news in November but wouldn't hesitate for a moment to go back there - actually trying to find a cruise that will stop in Haiti as well as to St. Thomas/Maartin (are you listening RC??)

 

As for the beaches being crowded... ummm that would be a plain and simple nope!! Considering the ship docked with approx 8000 people on it it appeared like no one was off the ship. We had thought we were cutting it close getting back to the ship but as we were heading back Capt Zini was walking towards the beach towel under his arm & we couldn't leave without him! :)

 

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