Celebrity Cruises has confirmed it will remove Haiti from remaining 2025 sailings and all 2026 voyages, aligning with a current do-not-travel advisory and putting guest and crew safety first. Affected itineraries will substitute Turks and Caicos, Grand Cayman, or Cozumel, preserving the classic Caribbean mix of beaches, reefs, culture, and easy family days while operational teams retime port calls and shore tours.
Celebrity Cruises has cancelled Haiti calls for the rest of 2025 and throughout 2026 due to safety advisories, updating 11 itineraries to visit Turks and Caicos, Grand Cayman, or Cozumel. Expect revised port times, new or reissued excursions, streamlined security and boarding, minor onboard scheduling tweaks, and visitor benefits such as calm-water beaches, reliable tour infrastructure, and accessible options for families and mobility users.
Why Haiti Has Been Removed From Celebrity’s Routes
The celebrity’s decision follows a national do-not-travel advisory that cites violent crime risks, which elevates the line’s internal security thresholds. Cruise companies continuously assess risk through a blend of government guidance, flag state rules, port agent reporting, and their own shoreside intelligence. When several indicators align negatively, rerouting becomes the sensible choice to keep the holiday intact and guests safe.
Labadee had been a convenient call with controlled access and predictable operations. Removing it reduces exposure to external volatility while retaining the Caribbean’s signature experiences in alternative ports with robust tour ecosystems. The shift covers 11 itineraries and ensures ships call at destinations with stable services, dependable berthing or tendering, and established emergency protocols should they be required.
For travellers, the headline is straightforward: safety comes first while your holiday continues. If you were seeking warm water, soft sand, and relaxed island time, the replacement ports deliver similar experiences with the added upside of strong local infrastructure, varied cuisine, and easy logistics for families and solo travellers alike.
The Advisory Context
National advisories set the tone for responsible travel planning. Cruise lines interpret those advisories through practical lenses such as port approach constraints, medical response readiness, and the reliability of local partners. When an advisory reaches a do-not-travel level, the calculus changes significantly, prompting itinerary reviews and substitution plans that many lines keep pre-approved for rapid deployment.
From a guest perspective, this process protects you without requiring complex decisions. Your voyage remains on schedule, your shipboard inclusions do not change, and adjustments are communicated clearly through the app, stateroom TV, and printed dailies. It is proactive rather than reactive, designed to keep stress low and enjoyment high.
If conditions improve in the future, routes can be reassessed. Until then, the balance of risk and reward favours a pivot to nearby islands that offer similar leisure value with consistently stable operations.
How Cruise Lines Decide
Cruise security teams work in layers. They track government advisories, gather port-level intelligence, and model risks against ship itineraries, arrival windows, and seasonal crowding. They also consider pilotage, tug availability, medical evacuation options, and contingency docking. A negative swing in two or more layers often triggers a switch, which is why you will sometimes see multiple lines make similar changes in close succession.
Because these decisions hinge on safety and practicality, they tend to be conservative. That conservatism benefits families with young children, mobility users, and guests who prefer predictable operations. The aim is to avoid last-minute scrambles and to keep your days ashore relaxing, not stressful.
What It Means for Safety Onboard
Onboard, life remains as you expect. Security protocols are already stringent, and the ship continues to operate as a controlled environment. What you will notice are clear communications about new port times, helpful guidance at the shore excursions desk, and occasional timetable tweaks that align entertainment and dining with the revised call pattern. The core of your cruise experience, service, dining, shows, and sea day rituals, stays comfortably familiar.
Where Your Cruise Will Go Instead in 2025–2026
The updated calls focus on Turks and Caicos, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel. Each brings classic Caribbean appeal with its own personality, from gentle reef lagoons to lively food markets and polished beach infrastructure. For many guests, these alternatives feel like-for-like in beach time and water clarity while offering fresh cultural touches.
Turks and Caicos Snapshot
Turks and Caicos are prized for calm waters and powder-soft sand, especially on Providenciales. It is ideal for straightforward beach days and first-time snorkellers thanks to easy entries and dependable visibility. Families appreciate short transfers, flat approaches at many clubs, and a relaxed pace that pairs well with nap-friendly schedules.
If you enjoy light activity, consider paddleboarding or a half-day snorkel over protected reefs. Food stops near the pier make it simple to sample local seafood without long taxis. For those with accessibility needs, many venues provide ramped entries and shaded areas, keeping the day comfortable and simple.
The practical feel here mirrors what many guests expected from a private-style beach day. You can set a low-effort plan and still enjoy clear water, gentle surf, and plenty of time back onboard before sunset sail-away.
Grand Cayman Snapshot
Grand Cayman is one of the region’s most polished cruise ports. Operators run to time, and the waters along Seven Mile Beach are famously clear. Signature experiences include stingray interactions, glass-bottom boat rides, and gently sloping snorkel sites that suit mixed-ability groups.
On land, the island shines with well-kept facilities, tidy shopping zones, and a credible café scene a short ride from tender drop-off points. Families benefit from orderly staging areas, frequent restrooms, and ample shade. Do factor in tendering, which means planning your morning a touch earlier and communicating any mobility needs to the ship’s team for priority processes where available.
If you enjoy structure, Grand Cayman is a dream. The day flows predictably, and it is easy to bundle a short water tour with relaxed beach time and a casual lunch before heading back for a pre-dinner rest.
Cozumel Snapshot
Cozumel blends classic reef snorkelling with colourful markets and accessible beach clubs. It is the energetic all-rounder, where you can pair a drift snorkel with a taquería stop, then browse handicrafts near the piers. Certified divers rate Cozumel’s reefs highly, and casual snorkellers can still see plenty just offshore with guided groups.
Choice is the watchword. You can purchase simple beach club passes with loungers and lunch or book curated small-group culture tours. Parents often pick clubs with kids’ pools and shallow entries, which makes the day feel effortless. Port facilities are mostly flat, and several clubs have paved approaches, which help guests with mobility aids move comfortably.
For food lovers, Cozumel is a treat. Fresh tortillas, grilled seafood, and salsas range from mild to adventurous. Give yourself time to enjoy a relaxed late lunch, then wander back to the ship with daylight to spare.
What Changes on Board and Ashore
Operationally, itinerary substitutions bring micro-adjustments that preserve the rhythm of your cruise while aligning to the new geography. The Celebrity app becomes your best friend for timing changes, and the shore excursions team will be out in force to help you switch plans smoothly.
Shore Excursions and Timing
Excursions tied to Labadee are cancelled and refunded automatically if there is no like-for-like option, then replaced with catalogues for the new ports. Morning slots for snorkelling and family beach passes tend to sell quickly, so select early for the best choice. Independent tours can work well in these ports, but always reconfirm ship time, meeting points, and a return buffer of at least 60 minutes before all aboard.
If you used onboard credit for Labadee tours, it reappears in your account as cancellation process. You can reallocate to new tours, specialty dining, spa credits, or photo packages. Keep copies of confirmations so you can track refunds and rebookings easily.
Dining, Entertainment, and Daily Rhythm
Expect small timetable shifts, like extended casual dining hours on late-return evenings and show schedules clustered around sea days. Specialty dining feels most relaxed on sea days, so consider moving celebrations to those nights. Poolside movies may be retimed to evenings when the ship departs earlier, giving you a relaxed, family-friendly close to the day.
Room service breakfast windows sometimes widen on early arrival days, helpful for families trying to feed everyone without a restaurant queue. Fitness classes also adapt, with morning sessions front-loaded on port days and recovery-friendly options later.
Accessibility and Family Logistics
The revised port mix is friendly to prams, compact mobility aids, and guests who prefer short transfers. Let the accessibility desk know your needs as soon as the new ports appear in the app. They can connect you with ramped venues, accessible vans where available, and tours with fewer steps. In Grand Cayman, ask about tender assistance and priority queues to keep the day smooth.
Parents often find these substitute ports simpler because facilities cluster near the pier. Book beach clubs with shade, showers, and family changing rooms, then plan naps back on the ship mid-afternoon so evenings stay cheerful.
Booking Implications and Smart Next Steps
Policy-wise, cruise contracts permit port substitutions for safety and operations. The aim is to maintain comparable holiday value while minimising disruption. Your paperwork updates electronically, and your S.W. Black Travel adviser can help you decide how to fine-tune plans to match your preferences.
Your Rights and Fine Print
When a port is replaced, ship-sold tours that cannot be delivered are refunded. The cruise fare and inclusions remain intact if the replacement port is of comparable value. Travel insurance may cover non-refundable independent tours under trip interruption terms, so check your policy language. If a significant element of your trip was tied to the original call, speak with your adviser about alternatives that protect your preferred dates or cabin type.
Keep all documentation tidy. Re-download e-docs after updates so barcodes and times reflect the latest plan. If you print, note the version date to avoid confusion at the gangway or tour desk.
Rebooking and Credits
Use returned onboard credit to prioritise high-impact experiences in the new ports. Half-day snorkels, beach club passes with inclusions, and small-group cultural walks usually deliver strong value. If you are travelling with kids or in a multi-generational group, morning departures are helpful, leaving afternoons for pool time and a relaxed dinner.
If you booked independent activities, reconfirm within 48 hours of arrival with emphasis on ship time, not local time. Choose operators with clear cancellation terms and proven reviews, and always keep a time buffer for tender ports.
Packing and Money Practicalities
The Western Caribbean rewards simple packing. Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a hat that will not fly off in a breeze, a rashie or UV tee, and a compact dry bag for phones and passports. Water shoes help in shallow coral areas. Consider renting snorkel gear at reputable clubs instead of packing your own to save suitcase space.
Cards are widely accepted, yet small amounts of local cash can speed taxis and tips. Carry a spare card in a separate pocket to reduce friction if one gets flagged. Hydration is your friend, so refill bottles regularly and take advantage of shaded seating.
Planning Tools to Personalise Your Caribbean Day
A little planning makes the revised route feel tailor-made. The key is choosing the right mix of beach, reef, food, and culture for your style, then aligning your day with ship timing so nothing feels rushed.
Matching Ports to Interests
Think in themes. Reef lovers will gravitate to Cozumel and Turks and Caicos, market browsers may favour Cozumel’s pier-side stalls, and travellers who want polished infrastructure often pick Grand Cayman. If you are celebrating a birthday or milestone, tie a specialty dinner to a sea day and a curated half-day tour to your favourite port.
Tell us your style and we can shortlist itineraries that amplify it. The goal is to match your time ashore with the shipboard rhythm you enjoy, so the entire voyage feels coherent and relaxed.
Using the App and Documents
Update the Celebrity app weekly in the lead-up to sailing so notifications about port times and tour changes land instantly. Download fresh e-docs after each change so you are not holding outdated barcodes. For families, a simple paper plan with meeting points and contact numbers helps if someone’s phone battery fades midday.
Time zones can vary. Set phones to ship time on embarkation and leave them there. This single habit prevents most missed-tour mishaps and keeps your group moving together.
Going Independent Safely
Independent touring can be a great value in these ports. Book vendors with clear meet points, generous cancellation terms, and excellent reviews. Build a 60-minute return buffer before all aboard, especially in tender ports like Grand Cayman. Share your plan with your travelling party and write down a backup rendezvous in case of dead batteries.
If you prefer maximum ease, choose ship tours for guaranteed return and straightforward logistics. Either way, early selection wins you the best slots.
If you want to scan sailings that now feature the substitute ports, use our Cruise Finder to filter by ship, region, and school holiday windows. It is a fast way to compare options visually and flag standouts early.
Run your new dates and ports through Cruise Finder to see similar sailings that preserve your preferred cabin type or extend your trip with a short back-to-back in the Western Caribbean.
Make Your Next Caribbean Itinerary Work for You
Celebrity’s reroute underscores a simple principle: safety leads, and the holiday remains the focus. By substituting Turks and Caicos, Grand Cayman, or Cozumel, the line retains what most guests come for: warm-water beaches, clear snorkelling, lively markets, and easy logistics. With reissued excursions and small schedule tweaks, your voyage continues to feel purposeful and relaxed. If you want help aligning ship, dates, and experiences to your style, our team can map out options and monitor any further updates so you do not have to. Ready to explore tailored choices and lock in a plan that suits your pace and budget? Speak with our cruise specialist and we will curate the right sailing for you.
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