Labadee and the north coast beaches

You have seen the name on cruise itineraries and in vacation photos: white sand, clear water, a green peninsula on Haiti’s north coast. If you are planning a trip to Cap-Haïtien and wondering whether Labadee belongs in it, this page gives you the straight answer about what is happening there right now, a little history, and how to plan a real day on the north coast from Hidden Palace.

Where Labadee is

Labadee sits on a peninsula on Haiti’s north coast, west of Cap-Haïtien, on the far side of the forested hills that separate the bay from the city. The name comes from the Marquis de La Badie, a Frenchman who settled the area in the 17th century. The peninsula and the neighboring village took the name Labadie, and that is still how Haitians spell it. “Labadee” is the spelling Royal Caribbean adopted for English speakers.

In the colonial era, the bay was known as Port François. Cap-Haïtien itself, then called Cap-Français, was the capital of the French colony of Saint-Domingue, and this whole stretch of coast has lived through the island’s history: colony, revolution, kingdom and republic.

Since 1986, part of the peninsula has been leased to Royal Caribbean and run as a private resort for its cruise passengers, with beaches, water sports and a dock for the line’s ships. The village of Labadie and the surrounding coastline are a separate place, home to Haitian families who fish, farm and work in tourism.

Labadee cruise port: the current situation

Here is the plain truth, as of September 25, 2026: Royal Caribbean is not calling at Labadee. The cruise line suspended all visits for the rest of 2026, and in July 2026 it extended the suspension through June 2027, citing the safety and well-being of its guests and crew. Its ships have not made a scheduled call there since early 2025. Sailings that listed Labadee have been rerouted to other ports.

So if you are coming to Haiti to see the Labadee cruise resort, please know that it is not operating for cruise visitors right now, and we cannot offer access to it. Cruise schedules can change, and we will update this page when they do.

We think it is better you hear this from us than find out on arrival. Before any trip to Haiti, also check your government’s current travel advisory.

Beaches and villages along the coast

The north coast is more than one resort. West of Cap-Haïtien the shoreline runs past coves, fishing villages and green hills, and it rewards the visitor who takes the time to explore it with someone who knows the way.

The pause in cruise calls has also been hard on the people of this coast. Royal Caribbean says it keeps a small staff on site and remains committed to the destination, but guides, boat operators, cooks and craft sellers here depend on visitors. When you hire a local boat, eat lunch by the water or buy a carving from the person who made it, your money stays on this coast.

A few honest expectations:

• Facilities vary. Some beaches have food and shade for hire, others have almost nothing. Bring what you need.
• Some spots are easier by boat. Parts of this coast are more practical to reach from the water than by road.
• Prices are agreed locally. Boat rides, chairs and meals are usually negotiated on the spot. We do not publish prices we have not checked.

Getting there from Hidden Palace

A beach day starts the way every good day at Hidden Palace starts: with a free buffet breakfast. Then:

• Private car service. Our driver takes you to the coast and back, so you are not left looking for a ride in the late afternoon. Book when you reserve or the evening before.
• Car rental on site. Prefer to explore on your own schedule? Rent a car at the property, with free parking when you return.
• Local shuttle. Ask whether the local shuttle suits your plans.

If you are a group, the whole house keeps everyone under one roof, with all four bedrooms and seven beds, and a private car keeps the day together.

What to bring for a beach day

• Swimwear, a towel and a change of clothes
• Reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses
• More water than you think you need
• Cash in small bills for boats, food, chairs and tips
• Water shoes if you plan to explore rocky coves
• A dry bag for your phone if you take a boat
• Snacks, especially with children

Back for dinner and the jacuzzi

This is why a north coast day works so well from Hidden Palace. You get the salt and the sun, then you come back to calm. Rinse off, sink into the outdoor jacuzzi, and walk over to dinner at our restaurant, with table service and a buffet. The bar is open for a cold drink under the lights. If you are back late, room service runs 24 hours and the front desk never closes.

And while the cruise resort is paused, the history of the north is not. Christophe’s palace at Milot and the mountain fortress above it are the reason many travelers come to this region in the first place. Check the latest on Sans-Souci Palace and the Citadelle Laferrière day trip before you plan your days.

Labadee questions, answered

Plan your north coast days from Hidden Palace

Come for the history, stay for the calm, and add a day on the coast when the timing is right. Book your room, tell us what you would like to see, and we will line up the driver, have breakfast ready and keep you posted on what is open.

• Book your stay (the whole house on Airbnb, single rooms by phone or WhatsApp), or call (561) 484-4210, 24 hours a day.
• Compare rooms and the whole house and see where we are on RN #1.
• Planning your days? Our 3-day Cap-Haïtien itinerary for families and groups and our guide to where to stay in Cap-Haïtien will help.
• Browse more things to do near Cap-Haïtien.