Why is RC still going to Labadee?

[lovesthebeach2]

17 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

Thank you to @xpcdoojk and @Ocean Boy for their concern.

I don’t watch or read any news…..is something other than the Oscars (which I also don’t watch) going on in LA? 

[A&L_Ont]

13 hours ago, gone_cruisin said:

And then take the injured/sick person where?  A hospital in Haiti?

 

I get that RCL can isolate it's customers to the secured area (for the most part).  But what happens if someone gets really sick and needs immediate hospitalization?  Now the nearest hospital is no longer an option - would have to be something in the DR.

They were airlifted by chopper to DR when we were there in 2017/18.  

Edited March 12 by A&L_Ont

[A&L_Ont]

22 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

Thank you to @xpcdoojk and @Ocean Boy for their concern.

I sent them too, just not in print. 

[sfaaa]

3 minutes ago, A&L_Ont said:

They were airlifted by chopper to DR when we were there in 2017/18.  

No go. DR air space is closed.

[A&L_Ont]

4 minutes ago, sfaaa said:

No go. DR air space is closed.

I referenced 2018. 

[not-enough-cruising]

53 minutes ago, suegee0 said:

Back in 2013 in Labadee, our friends wanted to explore on their own. They were met with a fence with armed guards when they walked to the end of the resort area. I don't think Labadee has ever been really safe.

You haven’t been able to leave the compound for many years 

[Karma5]

I have  a cruise booked that goes there but I do not feel at the present time it is a safe place to be regardless of how far it is from the main focus of problems............

[not-enough-cruising]

23 minutes ago, sfaaa said:

No go. DR air space is closed.

DR air space is closed only to commercial air traffic. A medevac flight would be allowed under the current closure. 

[RoperDK]

44 minutes ago, chengkp75 said:

I very much doubt that RCI arms their security officers.  Most cruise lines do not.  Bahamas does not recommend that ships flying their flag carry arms.  How far out of port were you when this happened?  Because it was most likely USCG Sea Marshals, who have regularly boarded cruise ships since 9/11, and carry long guns.

This was on a Carnival ship. We were sailing out of either Miami or Port Canaveral.  I can't remember the exact date, but it was several years post 9/11.  It was still during the time when marine police boats kept civilian watercraft away from the ships while the ships were docked.  We were of course escorted by marine police out of the channel at the port as usual.  It was shortly after the escort left us that we were approached by the boat.  It looked like a pleasure craft with a handful of friendly, waving people onboard. They were probably either drunk or unaware of the requirement to stay at a distance. They were not heeding the ship's horns and were coming at us at full speed. It definitely caught my attention and I wondered what in the world these people were thinking.  Our cabin was forward so I could see the bridge wing clearly.  There were bridge crew with binoculars outside at first and then the long guns appeared.  The pleasure craft must have seen them and veered off instantly.  Interesting that the ships are not normally armed.  I assumed that they had weapons onboard for security.  I respect your knowledge, so I must have witnessed Coast Guard Marshalls instead of crew.  It is definitely something I vividly remember and I haven't seen anything like it since.            

[Ocean Boy]

35 minutes ago, lovesthebeach2 said:

I don’t watch or read any news…..is something other than the Oscars (which I also don’t watch) going on in LA? 

Apparently a Haitian jet ski invasion is on its way loaded with souvenirs from Labadee.

[chengkp75]

8 minutes ago, RoperDK said:

This was on a Carnival ship. We were sailing out of either Miami or Port Canaveral.  I can't remember the exact date, but it was several years post 9/11.

Panama is even more strict than Bahamas regarding arming crew, only allowing it in high risk areas (Horn of Africa, etc).  USCG Marshals still routinely board cruise ships for transit into/out of port.  In Hawaii, in 2004-2008, we had routine boardings on the NCL ships, and the USCG would raise eyebrows when they got into the buffet line with an M-16 strapped across their chest.  Funny incident, when our Security Officer was checking USCG ID's as they boarded (as is required under the ISPS Code (International Ship and Port Security).  One Coastie didn't have any ID with him ("I was going on the boat"), and Security told him he couldn't board.  Then came the "do you know who I am?" and "I'm in a USCG uniform", until his boss told him to get back in their boat and go back to base.  The USCG senior rating told Security that if Security hadn't turned the Coastie away, he would have cited the ship for an ISPS violation.

 

Most flag state nations don't allow merchant ships to arm, and many don't recognize using armed security forces onboard either.

[SailAwayInAugust]

This is so wacky -  Hand over heart, I thought this was satire!

[jean87510]

2 hours ago, bestcee said:

You do realize that these same threats exist at college in the US? Many schools have private police dept, and don't always work with the local police. It's bad public relations for college sexual violence information to get out to the public. 1 in 5 women and 1 in 16 men will be sexually assaulted at college on average. I'm pretty sure Labadee hasn't reached those numbers. 

Is there reports of cannibalism on US college campuses?  

[sfaaa]

18 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

Apparently a Haitian jet ski invasion is on its way loaded with souvenirs from Labadee.

Everyone should be worried. Lots of BBQ food joints in LA.

[watcher_62]

We made it back alive from Columbus cove. Some overly aggressive yellow shirt vendors almost we head to head with security over a wooden sword, but other than that all was normal. 

[rolloman]

3 hours ago, time4u2go said:

How do you know this? 

 

Why is that important? There is no need for me to divulge personal information.  Regardless of my knowledge on the subject...you have been here for a while, the signs are everywhere, for instance, how about news articles that point directly to posts or comments stated on this board? It does not happen by accident. As a matter of fact, I was reading a member quote in a news outlet article yesterday on this very topic.

[time4u2go]

10 minutes ago, rolloman said:

Why is that important? There is no need for me to divulge personal information.  Regardless of my knowledge on the subject...you have been here for a while, the signs are everywhere, for instance, how about news articles that point directly to posts or comments stated on this board? It does not happen by accident. As a matter of fact, I was reading a member quote in a news outlet article yesterday on this very topic.

Ok.

[BillOh]

Wow, the keyboard warriors are really fighting it out.  I'll just mention Royal has stopped visits to Labadee before when unrest was high, don't know what their criteria is and how it relates to now. 

[Ocean Boy]

27 minutes ago, rolloman said:

Why is that important? There is no need for me to divulge personal information.  Regardless of my knowledge on the subject...you have been here for a while, the signs are everywhere, for instance, how about news articles that point directly to posts or comments stated on this board? It does not happen by accident. As a matter of fact, I was reading a member quote in a news outlet article yesterday on this very topic.

So RCI is well aware of what we think about their pricing strategies?

[karena1]

We were just there Saturday and it was amazing!  We had a wonderful time.  Lots of people got off the ship and totally enjoyed their day.  We got out there before 8 and did not leave until almost 4.  It was so perfect!  Love Labadee.  

[ReneeFLL]

20 hours ago, Jetdriver787 said:

No you haven’t quite “got it?” The insurance companies decide on the terms under which they offer coverage. Rarely is general coverage offered in contravention of advice to not travel that otherwise conflicts with FCO advice. UK tour operators would invariably cease scheduled operations once that advice has been issued. 

What would happen if someone already had a cruise booked that went to Haiti? Would Royal allow them to get a refund since they could no longer get insurance?

[taglovestocruise]

Labadee, Ukraine, Red Sea, Taiwan, Yemen, Gaza, South China Sea, Iran, Too many to keep going. The end of the world as we know it... Best advice..Be sure to always get a drink package.

 

[gavvy]

23 minutes ago, ReneeFLL said:

What would happen if someone already had a cruise booked that went to Haiti? Would Royal allow them to get a refund since they could no longer get insurance?

 

If it was a UK-based agent they would have to give a refund under ABTA rules- but RCL is not part of ABTA and a law to their own- the short answer is Royal does not see an issue and you would have a hard fight to get a refund.

 

I think it could be tested in a court here as it's not made clear at booking the risk to UK people going to Labadee.   We have a small claims court here where you can easily take RCL too and would likely win I'd have thought

Edited March 12 by gavvy

[UNCFanatik]

5 minutes ago, gavvy said:

 

 

you are confusing again the total breakdown of a country with what- social issues in other places- you really think they can just brush this off, no country a cruise ship visits is anywhere near this, I just cant see how you are so so blind 

 

Do you realize how long Haiti has been in turmoil. Should Royal stopped going long ago? 

 

In 2010, there was a big debate about whether Royal should stop going to Haiti after the earthquake struck. Royal donated a million dollars in humanitarian aid and ferried in supplies. 

 

Like it or not, tourism generates income to the Haitians that work in Labadee. Pulling out of Labadee would have a detrimental effect on local Haitians.  

[elcuchio24]

Just now, UNCFanatik said:

 

Do you realize how long Haiti has been in turmoil. Should Royal stopped going long ago? 

 

In 2010, there was a big debate about whether Royal should stop going to Haiti after the earthquake struck. Royal donated a million dollars in humanitarian aid and ferried in supplies. 

 

Like it or not, tourism generates income to the Haitians that work in Labadee. Pulling out of Labadee would have a detrimental effect on local Haitians.  

 

Ya, but, people just saw it pop up on their feed today and the news seems to think its important, so, its new and earthshattering!