We’re just putting the finishing touches on a story about the world’s largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas, for our March issue. The Oasis and several other Royal Caribbean ships call frequently at Labadee, a spit of land with pristine beaches on the north coast of Haiti that the cruise line has leased from the Haitian government since 1989.
I was initially appalled yesterday to read in the Miami Herald that Royal Caribbean is prepared to resume port calls at Labadee as early as next week. How, I wondered, could it possibly take its passengers on a sun and fun excursion to a country suffering such devastation and loss of life? But, like most things, on closer examination it’s not really that simple. In his blog post yesterday, Royal Caribbean president Adam Goldstein reported that he was in New York meeting with President Clinton to discuss disaster response. Today, Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas will call on Labadee carrying relief supplies from Puerto Rico and other Royal Caribbean ships will begin delivering relief supplies (primarily food) on Monday and Tuesday to its Haitian partner Food for the Poor.
There’s no question that Haiti has benefited financially from its lease agreement with Royal Caribbean—the cruise line pays the government $6 for every passenger who visits, and hundreds of thousands visit each year (though it’s unlikely, in a country run by one of the most corrupt governments in the world, that much of that money actually makes its way to the Haitian people).
The people of Haiti will surely benefit from the relief supplies that Royal Caribbean ships will be off-loading in the coming weeks. But here’s the tricky part: Those ships will also be off-loading thousands of tourists to eat, swim, and sun on Haitian shores.
Would you be comfortable drinking a beer and working on your tan on a Haitian beach next week, even if the ship you arrived on was delivering relief supplies? I’d love to know what you think.
Complete Haiti Coverage on Truth.Travel
I was initially appalled yesterday to read in the Miami Herald that Royal Caribbean is prepared to resume port calls at Labadee as early as next week. How, I wondered, could it possibly take its passengers on a sun and fun excursion to a country suffering such devastation and loss of life? But, like most things, on closer examination it’s not really that simple. In his blog post yesterday, Royal Caribbean president Adam Goldstein reported that he was in New York meeting with President Clinton to discuss disaster response. Today, Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas will call on Labadee carrying relief supplies from Puerto Rico and other Royal Caribbean ships will begin delivering relief supplies (primarily food) on Monday and Tuesday to its Haitian partner Food for the Poor.
There’s no question that Haiti has benefited financially from its lease agreement with Royal Caribbean—the cruise line pays the government $6 for every passenger who visits, and hundreds of thousands visit each year (though it’s unlikely, in a country run by one of the most corrupt governments in the world, that much of that money actually makes its way to the Haitian people).
The people of Haiti will surely benefit from the relief supplies that Royal Caribbean ships will be off-loading in the coming weeks. But here’s the tricky part: Those ships will also be off-loading thousands of tourists to eat, swim, and sun on Haitian shores.
Would you be comfortable drinking a beer and working on your tan on a Haitian beach next week, even if the ship you arrived on was delivering relief supplies? I’d love to know what you think.
Complete Haiti Coverage on Truth.Travel
Alex Pasquariello is a senior assistant editor at Condé Nast Traveler covering news, politics, and environmental issues. He is fond of almost any pursuit that requires a helmet and his favorite ecosystem is high alpine tundra in late June.
I AM SCHEDULED ON LIBERTY OF THE SEAS TO BE IN LABADEE ON 2-2-10. I'M FEELING VERY APREHENSIVE ABOUT LEAVING THE SHIP....I HAVE SCHEDULE A SHORE EXCURSION (PRIOR THE THE EARTH QUAKE) BUT AM SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING CANCELING THAT AND STAYING ON BOARD. IT SEEMS IT COULD BE DANGEROUS AND I'M THINKING IT IS A LITTLE INSULTING TO THE PEOPLE OF HAITI TO BE WINING AND DINING ETC. WHEN THEY ARE IN SUCH DISPAIR.