Labadee?

[Charles4515]

8 hours ago, zeberdee said:

UK travel insurance is not poor, fact!

 

The UK foreign office / government has deemed Haiti and Haitian waters to be a no go travel area and so insurance companies will not cover cover it.

 

There is a difference to being on a watch list for unrest and having no proper sitting government and uncontrolled violence and gangs and convicts running amok. 

 

I feel bad that you can't get travel insurance if a ship visits Haiti or Hatian waters (Haitian waters is a lot of miles) but there is no requirement to have insurance or that UK citizens go to Haiti. I am sure the Royal Caribbean group will stop going to Labadee if they determine it is unsafe. I don't think they will stop because citizens of a small European country can't get insurance. 

Edited March 8 by Charles4515

[not-enough-cruising]

1 hour ago, Charles4515 said:

I feel bad that you can't get travel insurance if a ship visits Haiti or Hatian waters (Haitian waters is a lot of miles) but there is no requirement to have insurance or that UK citizens go to Haiti. I am sure the Royal Caribbean group will stop going to Labadee if they determine it is unsafe. I don't think they will stop because citizens of a small European country can't get insurance. 

Plus 1

[Pochi Hanaki]

1 hour ago, watcher_62 said:

https://www.cruzely.com/has-royal-caribbean-canceled-calls-on-labadee-haiti-heres-what-the-cruise-line-says/

Their statement is hilarious ". At all times, we remind guests to remain aware of their surroundings while ashore and follow all State Department guidelines. "   You know what the State Department guideline is? "Do not travel to Haiti due to kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and poor health care infrastructure. "

[gavvy]

45 minutes ago, Charles4515 said:

I feel bad that you can't get travel insurance if a ship visits Haiti or Hatian waters (Haitian waters is a lot of miles) but there is no requirement to have insurance or that UK citizens go to Haiti. I am sure the Royal Caribbean group will stop going to Labadee if they determine it is unsafe. I don't think they will stop because citizens of a small European country can't get insurance. 

Out healthcare works different to yours and it be a very stupid person who goes overseas without medical insurance as a minimum and pref disruption insurance too 

 

The cost of it is very low you can easily get policies for a year for under $100 but they do have limitations around countries where the government has advised not to travel too 

 

There is one specialist insurance company called battle force who often will cover such travel but for some reason they exclude all travel on cruises which is annoying.

 

The main lesson we take in UK is if the government says don't travel there we don't! They don't make such statements without good reasons.

Edited March 8 by gavvy

[gavvy]

Insurance aside personally I couldn't relax knowing there were people on the bare bones of their ass just miles away and civil unrest not that far away too. It does not sit well well me. As nice as the area looks I just think I'd have that horrible - 'should I be here'- feeling. 

 

To me there's something wrong with all those millions of dollars coming to the island then nothing really giving anything back.

 

At least on other islands which are relatively poor you get to contribute to the economy by booking tours, buying food and gifts etc. here you sail in and sail out.

 

[UNCFanatik]

7 minutes ago, gavvy said:

Insurance aside personally I couldn't relax knowing there were people on the bare bones of their ass just miles away and civil unrest not that far away too. It does not sit well well me. As nice as the area looks I just think I'd have that horrible - 'should I be here'- feeling. 

 

To me there's something wrong with all those millions of dollars coming to the island then nothing really giving anything back.

 

At least on other islands which are relatively poor you get to contribute to the economy by booking tours, buying food and gifts etc. here you sail in and sail out.

 

Royal pays the Haitian government $12 per guest. Employs Haitians and have Haitian vendors onsite selling their wares. 

 

Poverty is at every tourist destination. 

Edited March 8 by UNCFanatik

[Charles4515]

14 minutes ago, gavvy said:

Insurance aside personally I couldn't relax knowing there were people on the bare bones of their ass just miles away and civil unrest not that far away too. It does not sit well well me. As nice as the area looks I just think I'd have that horrible - 'should I be here'- feeling. 

 

To me there's something wrong with all those millions of dollars coming to the island then nothing really giving anything back.

 

At least on other islands which are relatively poor you get to contribute to the economy by booking tours, buying food and gifts etc. here you sail in and sail out.

 

Royal Caribbean is contributing to the economy. A number of local residents are employed at Labadee. They support local schools. I had coworker who emigrated from the Cap Haitian province and I asked him his opinion and he had nothing but good things to say about Royal and Labadee. 
 

Really though you should not cruise anywhere in the Caribbean. Poverty is around the corner at most ports. Stick with UK island cruises if you are that concerned. 😎

Edited March 8 by Charles4515

[gavvy]

34 minutes ago, Charles4515 said:

Royal Caribbean is contributing to the economy. A number of local residents are employed at Labadee. They support local schools. I had coworker who emigrated from the Cap Haitian province and I asked him his opinion and he had nothing but good things to say about Royal and Labadee. 
 

Really though you should not cruise anywhere in the Caribbean. Poverty is around the corner at most ports. Stick with UK island cruises if you are that concerned. 😎

 

$12 is nothing. An appalling amount actually.

I did say on other islands I can least contribute something by buying things and contributing to the local economy.

 

Given the state of the country I doubt the people in need see any of that $12

 

Obviously my opinion is not the right one as it does not fit in your little box and that's fine but it does not mean my opinion is any less valid than yours. 

I like to see different countries and I hope to contribute to the local economy. $12 to the government that's not in control is not doing that at all. Nor is a token school from rcl

Edited March 8 by gavvy

[Charles4515]

2 minutes ago, gavvy said:

 

$12 is nothing. An appalling amount actually.

I did say on other islands I can least contribute something by buying things and contributing to the local economy.

 

Given the state of the country I doubt the people in need see any of that $12. 

You don’t know what you are talking about. You can buy things there. Directly from local artisans and vendors, not through a middleman. So they get the $. And again many local people are employed there. 

[not-enough-cruising]

1 hour ago, gavvy said:

 

$12 is nothing. An appalling amount actually.

I did say on other islands I can least contribute something by buying things and contributing to the local economy.

 

Given the state of the country I doubt the people in need see any of that $12

 

Obviously my opinion is not the right one as it does not fit in your little box and that's fine but it does not mean my opinion is any less valid than yours. 

I like to see different countries and I hope to contribute to the local economy. $12 to the government that's not in control is not doing that at all. Nor is a token school from rcl

The economic impact of Royal Caribbean to the Haitian economy is near US $1 million MONTHLY

[sfaaa]

2 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

They are going to ride jet skis to where?

Gangsters also want to play and look cool.

[gavvy]

9 minutes ago, not-enough-cruising said:

The economic impact of Royal Caribbean to the Haitian economy is near US $1 million MONTHLY

That's awful I'd expect much more that $12m a year

[not-enough-cruising]

1 hour ago, gavvy said:

That's awful I'd expect much more that $12m a year

Keep in mind that’s just port fees; much much more than that in money exchanged for services and goods, and the salaries of those employed directly by the port, lease payments for the property, school and hospital facilities………….

 

Regardless the impact is not the concern of Royal, Royal brings the consumer, it is up to the island to capitalize on it 

Edited March 8 by not-enough-cruising

[A&L_Ont]

 

1 hour ago, UNCFanatik said:

Royal pays the Haitian government $12 per guest. Employs Haitians and have Haitian vendors onsite selling their wares. 

 

Poverty is at every tourist destination. 
 

 

Even the islands with great wealth have poverty. Barbados is a prime example. We chartered a power boat and cruised up the “Gold Coast” of the island where the wealthy and famous of the world stay. 
 

Justin Beiber stayed in this home for $225,000 a week.

 

 

 

This is Simon Cowell’s simple place. 
 

 

Between these two were places, there were even more luxurious homes.  This is a person’s home, not a resort. 
 

 

 

You also found shacks and buildings between the enclaves that were falling down like the photo below. Even on the richest islands, poverty is a reality. 
 

Edited March 8 by A&L_Ont

[sfaaa]

1 hour ago, UNCFanatik said:

Royal pays the Haitian government $12 per guest.

Who is the Haitian government these days? Where does the $12 pp go? Seems like no one is in charge of the country and I doubt $12 goes to the people at all.

[not-enough-cruising]

1 hour ago, sfaaa said:

Who is the Haitian government these days? Where does the $12 pp go? Seems like no one is in charge of the country and I doubt $12 goes to the people at all.

This is not a new phenomenon. The Haitian government has been a “front for corruption” for generations. 

[Baron Barracuda]

53 minutes ago, gavvy said:

 

$12 is nothing. An appalling amount actually.

I did say on other islands I can least contribute something by buying things and contributing to the local economy.

 

Given the state of the country I doubt the people in need see any of that $12

 

Obviously my opinion is not the right one as it does not fit in your little box and that's fine but it does not mean my opinion is any less valid than yours. 

I like to see different countries and I hope to contribute to the local economy. $12 to the government that's not in control is not doing that at all. Nor is a token school from rcl

In one of the poorest areas of the world Royal contributes greatly to the local economy.  In addition to providing employment In the aftermath of of recent earthquake and hurricanes Royal regularly donated large quantities of relief supplies.  By all accounts the company is highly regarded in the local community.  Perhaps you might do some research before making uninformed sarcastic remarks.

Edited March 8 by Baron Barracuda

[Nolefan95]

Personally I think any of you that still go on a cruise that stops in Haiti are idiots. You think a paid security force made up of Haitians is going to stop an armed gang of criminals from getting into RCCL's area? If they want in, they are getting in rather easily. You think thousands of American's in Haiti could never be a target? Think what they could negotiate for the exchange of hundreds of American's. Our current leader has negotiated for the release of Americans before. Our own government says don't go to Haiti. You still going? I can also see our government saying they aren't going to do anything because they were all warned. We have done that too. People seriously have no common sense these days. Ohhh, RCCL has our safety covered? Get outta here. They got their bottom line covered. Guess you can't tell with all the nickle and diming they are doing. 

Edited March 8 by Nolefan95

[not-enough-cruising]

1 hour ago, Nolefan95 said:

Personally I think any of you that still go on a cruise that stops in Haiti are idiots. You think a paid security force made up of Haitians is going to stop an armed gang of criminals from getting into RCCL's area? If they want in, they are getting in rather easily. You think thousands of American's in Haiti could never be a target? Think what they could negotiate for the exchange of hundreds of American's. Our current leader has negotiated for the release of Americans before. Our own government says don't go to Haiti. You still going? I can also see our government saying they aren't going to do anything because they were all warned. We have done that too. People seriously have no common sense these days. Ohhh, RCCL has our safety covered? Get outta here. They got their bottom line covered. Guess you can't tell with all the nickle and diming they are doing. 

If you think there is anything at all in Labadee that these gangs want you are dreaming. 

[George C]

2 minutes ago, not-enough-cruising said:

If you think there is anything at all in Labadee that these gangs want you are dreaming. 

They might want Americans as hostages, they almost took over airport, main dock is closed. I always previously thought it was safe , I think it’s smart to avoid it currently, I know rccl has a lot invested there . 

[bstel]

I would probably be more worried about just regular old locals getting desperate for food, water, anything, as the country devolves further into chaos, and ransacking the peninsula

[Nolefan95]

5 minutes ago, not-enough-cruising said:

If you think there is anything at all in Labadee that these gangs want you are dreaming. 

Uhhh, Americans are a target. And if they decide they want to take hostages in Labadee, they will easily take hostages in Labadee. The security force isn't going to stop them.  

[gavvy]

25 minutes ago, Baron Barracuda said:

In one of the poorest areas of the world Royal contributes greatly to the local economy.  In addition to providing employment In the aftermath of of recent earthquake and hurricanes Royal regularly donated large quantities of relief supplies.  By all accounts the company is highly regarded in the local community.  Perhaps you might do some research before making uninformed sarcastic remarks.

I have

 

It's mostly pr by a company that could and should have done more... though they really should not have a luxury resort in the middle of the mess that is that poor country in the first place.

 

Separating the locals from us as we are better is to me awful then paying them pittance while they say look  we helping them. 

 

It's exploitation and corporate nasty Ness.

 

Clearly I'm in my own as Americans think it's ok. I think it's a very sad situation.

[jean87510]

On 3/5/2024 at 9:23 AM, MommaBear55 said:

I'm curious how your son thinks that they will all get passports and money to buy flights. 

not needed apparently.....

[not-enough-cruising]

1 hour ago, Nolefan95 said:

 

^^^^ Delusional American. Enjoy your cruise. 

Call me when any revolutionary steps foot on the peninsula; we’ll see who’s delusional.