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Leaving Labadee to see country?

Perfusionist
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Perfusionist

Perfusionist

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Anyone have experience with leaving Labadee to see Cap-Haitien for the day?  Sailing in late Feb '24 on the Oasis and don't really want to spend the day with Royal Caribbean's hand in my wallet some more.  Would love to visit the city of Cap-Haitien and walk around or find a guide.  I know the peninsula is fenced in and there is no traffic to the area.  Are there water taxis or should I swim?

 

Thanks

 

Jake 

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cruisegus

cruisegus

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You are not allowed to leave Royals Compound at Labadee.

 

There are a few excursions that slightly leave but you don't get out and about.  Ie Zip Line and boat trip to fabricated local village

 

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ShortCruising

ShortCruising

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On our cruise to Aruba we joked about finding a way to ferry over to Venezuela. Because, you know, it would be basically asking to be captured and held for ransom.

This is equally as ridiculous. Anyway, make sure you have your affairs in order before giving this a go.

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Tree_skier "Live from...." Rare

Tree_skier

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6 minutes ago, twangster said:

They are kidnapping nuns.  Stay inside the compound.  You don’t need to give any more money to Royal to enjoy a beach day.  It’s a beautiful area.  

I don't think Jake is a Nun but staying inside the compound is still good advice 🤣

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pyrateslife4me84

pyrateslife4me84

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1 hour ago, not-enough-cruising said:

Labadee is part of actual Haiti, it’s a peninsula not an island. No swimming necessary. 

Actual Haiti is dangerous for Americans, unlike Labadee. I don’t believe you can just waltz out of Labadee. It’s fenced. 

Edited by pyrateslife4me84
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Perfusionist

Perfusionist

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Was going to bring my water wings but I guess I'll just enjoy my time on a Labadee beach or on the boat and wave at the rest of Haiti as we cruise by.  You def won't see me on Fox. 

 

Thanks all..

 

Jake

 

 

 

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SeaHunt

SeaHunt

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Believe it or not, back in 2016 & 2018 a couple different people posted instructions on tripadvisor about how to do it. Wonder if they would have any luck trying today? (I wouldn't try! 🙃)

 

Info shows:

 

"Taking a Royal Caribbean cruise soon that includes a stop in Labadee? Looking for something new and exciting to do? Arrange a day trip to the Citadelle and Sans-Souci Palace! Royal Caribbean will tell you by phone that guests are not able to leave the secure port area at Labadee. This is not true if you book a private tour! See my review of Voyages Lumiere...

NOTE: Without an organized tour, you will not be able to leave Labadee. There is nothing at all for tourists to do anywhere near Labadee and safety may be a concern if you do not book a tour through a reputable company. The Citadelle is roughly an hour drive from Labadee over very rough mountain roads - you won't be backpacking it from the ship.

You will have to secure a tour prior to your cruise. Then, once you arrive in Labadee, proceed to the Labadee security office with your passport and tour documents printed out. The security office is the large orange building directly ahead of where the ship docks. Be prepared to wait 30-45 minutes for an immigration officer to come stamp your passport so you can enter the country. You must pay US$5 per person for the visa. Security will photocopy your passport and have you sign a liability release. You will then exit the security office and walk toward the outer security fence. Security will direct you where to go.

You will need the full day to do this tour, so get up early! Figure at least an hour drive each way (traffic in Cap-Haitien gets heavy in the afternoon and you will drive right through it), plus time for your tour of at least 3-4 hours.

The people we met along the way were all very nice. You will encounter people trying to sell souvenirs but nobody was excessively pushy. Buy something if you can. Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere and these people are just trying to survive. Tip the horse handlers about $5 each at the end of your climb to the top if you use the horses. Carry small bills for buying souvenirs and don't be afraid to bargain with people.

Use common sense - don't wear expensive jewelry or carry lots of expensive electronics with you. We didn't encounter any problems but be alert at all times. Keep the doors locked on your vehicle at all times and keep valuables out of sight.

Don't be afraid to visit these incredible locations - the people are very kind and will thank you for visiting their country. We took a backpack full of school supplies and donated them to a local cultural center, which they were grateful for. It was a much more rewarding experience than spending a day on Royal Caribbean's private property.

Date of experience: April 2016

 

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g6159089-d262467-r365988404-The_Citadelle-Milot_Nord_Department_Haiti.html

 

< and >

 

"I too have been looking for info on doing this. I have been in contact with 2 tour companies that tell me they do this regularly. One is Voyages Lumière and the other is Safe Trips Haiti.

 

Below is the email sent to me from Voyages Lumiere:

 

Yes, we can do that for you. We do it on a regular basis.

VISIT TO THE CITADELLE FROM LABADIE

Please note the following procedures you have to go thru:

1) When you dock at Labadie, go to the Security office

2) Tell them you're going to the Citadelle with Voyages Lumiere and sign a

Waiver absolving RCCL of all responsibility should anything happen to you

when you're off site. (We've never had an incident, it's just RCCL covering their

backs!!)

 

3) Get your passport Stamped OUT and then back IN when you return in the afternoon.

Our driver will come and get you at the Security office for 9am which is normally about the time you will finish with the Security people. He will then take you to Milot, at the foot of the Citadelle to meet with your guide.

 

Your guide will then do a walkabout tour of Sans Souci Palace then back in the vehicle to go up to 2nd parking.

 

Horses from 2nd parking up the short 30 mins.steep hill to the Citadelle.

 

Entry into the Citadelle

 

Fully guided tour of the Citadelle and then the reverse back down to Milot

 

followed by lunch at the Community Centre incl. a juice.

 

Then transfer back thru Cap haitian.to Labadie - and we aim to get there by 3:00pm-4.30 so you will not miss the boat!! We've always accomplished this with no problems!!

 

US$350 and this includes the round trip from Labadie to the Citadelle and back and then all of the above."

 

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g147306-i747-k11012668-Transportation_from_Labadee_to_Citadelle-Haiti.html#95651240


 

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swoopy2110

swoopy2110

Posted
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11 hours ago, cruisegus said:

You are not allowed to leave Royals Compound at Labadee.

 

There are a few excursions that slightly leave but you don't get out and about.  Ie Zip Line and boat trip to fabricated local village

 

Boat trip to fabricated local village tickled me 😄

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Arzeena

Arzeena

Posted
Posted

Years ago, on the Explorer of the Seas, there was a gentleman from NY/Hawaii,  who took special permission from Captain Olaf and Royal Caribbean to go see the "real" Haiti. I do not know the details, but he was given permission, but I do remember mentions of a lot of conditions and signing papers involved. I remember him telling us that he "hitched" a ride with a local on a bike. OMG! He wanted to see how the people live, eat what they ate. His mom stayed onboard and was very worried about him, we were also concerned, since we had met them on some cruises before and both are really nice souls. Anyway, he made it back safe, and did what he wanted to do and see the "real" thing.
I would never ever have done it. But it was done.

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pyrateslife4me84

pyrateslife4me84

Posted
Posted (edited)
28 minutes ago, Arzeena said:

Years ago, on the Explorer of the Seas, there was a gentleman from NY/Hawaii,  who took special permission from Captain Olaf and Royal Caribbean to go see the "real" Haiti. I do not know the details, but he was given permission, but I do remember mentions of a lot of conditions and signing papers involved. I remember him telling us that he "hitched" a ride with a local on a bike. OMG! He wanted to see how the people live, eat what they ate. His mom stayed onboard and was very worried about him, we were also concerned, since we had met them on some cruises before and both are really nice souls. Anyway, he made it back safe, and did what he wanted to do and see the "real" thing.
I would never ever have done it. But it was done.

I read your entire tale with bated breath fully expecting it to end with “and he was never seen again.”

 

To be fair, Haiti is PARTICULARLY dangerous of late. If Royal won’t condone passengers climbing an active volcano, I doubt they’d sanction this. 
 

I’d take my chances with Vesuvius, personally. 

Edited by pyrateslife4me84
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Arzeena

Arzeena

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29 minutes ago, pyrateslife4me84 said:

I read your entire tale with bated breath fully expecting it to end with “and he was never seen again.”

 

To be fair, Haiti is PARTICULARLY dangerous of late. If Royal won’t condone passengers climbing an active volcano, I doubt they’d sanction this. 
 

I’d take my chances with Vesuvius, personally. 

I agree it is dangerous. And I wouldn't even dream about doing it.

But this did happen.

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ckruetze

ckruetze

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15 hours ago, pyrateslife4me84 said:

Actual Haiti is dangerous for Americans, unlike Labadee. I don’t believe you can just waltz out of Labadee. It’s fenced. 

Great to know. I'm European. so it won't be dangerous for me 🙂

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Zach1213

Zach1213

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I've been to the real Haiti several times, include Cap-Haitien. You don't really want to go, and you really really don't want to go in 2024. I'm an extremely comfortable "extreme traveler" who has been to several of the sketchiest countries in the world (including Somalia, Niger, Libya, CAR) and Haiti is pretty much right up there with those, at least right now. Even as someone who...blends in...a bit more than most people on this website, I still plan to avoid Haiti for the foreseeable future unless someone pays me a lot of money (and good security) to do some work in. 

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