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Originally posted by Linerrich:
Royal Caribbean is reporting no damage at Labadee, either to the buildings or the dock. The INDEPENDENCE OF THE SEAS is scheduled to call there this Friday, pending approval from the Haitian government.

Rich

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I would be surprised if RCCL does not suspend the calls at Labadee at least for a little while. Labadee is about 100 miles from Port au Prince and I am sure that many of the staff and/or staff family members have been affected.

Can you imagine enjoying a day at the beach when total devastation and death were just down the road?

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Originally posted by M Philly:
I think it is important that royal caribbean does not suspend stopping in labadee. Haiti was already extremly poverty stricken prior to the quake. Without the ships stopping, even more people could be affected. It would also be nice if RCCL set up a fund with the Red Cross to help out.

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This is my thinking as well. Stopping calls at Labadee is not going to help Haiti, only hurt it. RCI employes a large number of Haitians, and is one of the largest single benefactors to the local economy.

I have no doubt that RCI will be doing it's fair share to support the humanitarian efforts in Haiti. It's weekly ship visits can provide much needed supplies to the island not to mention a steady stream of income through port fees, paying local salaries, etc. I'm sure the corporation (RCCL) will be making generous contributions as well.

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Originally posted by M Philly:
I think it is important that royal caribbean does not suspend stopping in labadee. [...]

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Salaries, ports dues [are there any?] and anything else can still be paid. I am not sure of any benefit of 'Humanitarian Aid' either this far away. Is there the means of transporting/distributing it? I doubt it at this stage.

What is the actual benefit to the local community besides some employees - I thought RCI ran everything as a private island [even though not an island].

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Originally posted by PamM:

What is the actual benefit to the local community besides some employees - I thought RCI ran everything as a private island [even though not an island].

Pam

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It's not a privately owned island, but part of Haiti. Of course there is economic benefit to Haiti or they would have never leased the land to RCCL.

To be honest I don't see how stopping the cruise ship calls, at a part of the island that is essentially unaffected is going to help anything. I assume you want the calls suspended out of respect or because it's the PC thing to do, but I'm not certain it will actually benefit anyone.

I recall living in LA during the Northridge earthquake, and cruise ship calls were not suspended in San Diego (100 miles South) or even at the Port of Los Angeles. Mind you the devastation in Haiti is far greater but unaffected areas tried to operate business as usual, to the extent possible.

If cruise ships were using Port-au-Prince as a port of call, I would absolutely support a suspension of ship calls ... but 100 miles away in an unaffected area is something different. Perhaps cruise ship calls in the connected nation of the Dominican Republic should be suspended as well? After all Santo Domingo and La Romana are almost the same distance from Port-au-Prince as Labadee.

FYI all calls at Labadee have been suspended until Royal Caribbean receives the ok directly from the Haitian government. Does that make you feel better?

Ernie

[ 01-13-2010: Message edited by: eroller ]

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Originally posted by eroller:
It's not a privately owned island, but part of Haiti. Of course there is economic benefit to Haiti or they would have never leased the land to RCCL

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Yes, we know that, but RCI appear to run it as if it was. Other than the lease [which is not going to be affected by whether RCI call or not], what other benefits are there? Who earns the income from the activites and so on? People have mentioned before that Labadee is a "catch all spends" for RCI.

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Originally posted by PamM:

Yes, we know that, but RCI appear to run it as if it was. Other than the lease [which is not going to be affected by whether RCI call or not], what other benefits are there? Who earns the income from the activites and so on? People have mentioned before that Labadee is a "catch all spends" for RCI.

Pam

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I don't have those answers Pam, and most likely only the government officials of Haiti and executives at RCCL know for certain.

The bigger question is, what is the benefit to Haiti if RCCL suspends all cruise ship calls?

Anyway, although Labadee is apparently undamaged, all ship calls have been suspended until authorized again by the Haitian government. It's a mute point for now.

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Does anyone know if Labadee has been affected by the earthquake ?

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Given the scale of the tragedy in Haiti, I hope most people don't worry one way or the other about Labadee. There are more important things right now.

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I'm sure the corporation (RCCL) will be making generous contributions as well.

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Originally posted by reeves35:

Lucky it isn't those evil people over at Carnival who would only come to make a profit

Brad

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I'm impressed. It's seems you get the big picture.

Make a stupid comment and receive a stupid reply.

Ernie

[ 01-13-2010: Message edited by: eroller ]

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Originally posted by PamM:
I am not sure any of the Haitian employees would actually want to work at the present time. As Joe said probably most, even being 100 miles away, have been affected through family/friends. Some space is needed here & I do not feel a vessel calling this Friday is appropriate.

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Originally posted by jsea:
I agree. I'm of the opinion that for the short term, at least while major rescue efforts are underway, RCI should without a doubt suspend calls at Labadee.

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I agree that this is absolutely the PC thing to do. Whether or not it actually benefits Haiti is questionable.

We are all extremely saddened to hear of the earthquake-caused destruction in Haiti. While many details are imprecise or unknown at this point, there are unquestionably catastrophic conditions involving many casualties and great loss of property. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Haitian people and the Haitian diaspora.

As one of the leading investors in Haiti through our private destination at Labadee, we have nearly 30 years of involvement in the country and many, many relationships. We will attempt to utilize this blog to convey what we understand is happening and what our involvement will be in the relief effort. In this respect I will be asking our Associate VP, Private Destinations, John Weis, to partner with me in these communications.

Ironically, I am supposed to fly to New York tonight to meet at President Clinton’s offices together with the Prime Minister of Haiti to continue the discussion of how to build Haiti’s economy and promote more foreign investment. Although I guess the meeting is off, no one has said anything yet. Such is the uncertainty in the aftermath of a sudden and major event.

Over to John:

Our prayers are with the Haitian people right now.

As Adam said, our work through the years to develop Labadee has grown into strong ties with government officials, businesses and the people of Haiti.

At this point, no damage has been found after an initial inspection of Labadee. Further inspections are going to be conducted on the attractions and facilities to ensure that everything is safe for our guests.

Simultaneously, we are exploring multiple avenues to help with the humanitarian relief efforts for Haiti. We have reached out to relief organizations and the State of Florida to see how we can lend assistance with our ships scheduled to call at Labadee.

Family and friends of guests currently on a Royal Caribbean International ship schedule to call at Labadee should visit RoyalCaribbean.com for more information.

We will continue to monitor the situation in Haiti for more information as it becomes available.

While I acknowledge the importance of continuing to provide income to Haiti etc by using Labadee there is, IMO, something very distasteful about people lounging and playing on a beach when not more than a 100kms or so away the dead are piled up in the streets, the hospitals are having to throw the dead into dumpsters and the general population are existing in absolute misery.

Personally I would applaud RCI if they delivered the aid they are collecting and sailed without debarking pax and continued to contribute the revenue that is important.

The question, should RCI still be calling at labadee is a difficult one to answer. Having passengers enjoying themselves while just a 100 miles away (and I imagine other areas closer to Labadee not being covered by the media) people are suffering like this, seems incredibly distasteful. Its almost like going to NYC right after 9/11 and playing on the rubble or across the street from it.

On the other hand RCI is in a position where it can do a lot of good for Haiti in terms of financial help by way of fees, taxes and corporate and passenger donations, and in terms or shipping much needed supplies to Haiti. So in a way I am glad RCI has chosen this option and is not pulling out.

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Originally posted by eroller:

I recall living in LA during the Northridge earthquake, and cruise ship calls were not suspended in San Diego (100 miles South) or even at the Port of Los Angeles. Mind you the devastation in Haiti is far greater but unaffected areas tried to operate business as usual, to the extent possible.

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Robert Booth
guardian.co.uk, Sunday 17 January 2010 21.53 GMT

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Sixty miles from Haiti's devastated earthquake zone, luxury liners dock at private beaches where passengers enjoy jetski rides, parasailing and rum cocktails delivered to their hammocks.

The 4,370-berth Independence of the Seas, owned by Royal Caribbean International, disembarked at the heavily guarded resort of Labadee on the north coast on Friday; a second cruise ship, the 3,100-passenger Navigator of the Seas is due to dock.

The Florida cruise company leases a picturesque wooded peninsula and its five pristine beaches from the government for passengers to "cut loose" with watersports, barbecues, and shopping for trinkets at a craft market before returning on board before dusk. Safety is guaranteed by armed guards at the gate.

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my feelings and condoleances go out to the
people of Haiti who are suffering...

the decision made by RCCI is just another
example that there is no morale in business
another one are the bonusses paid by JP Morgan
to their managers in 2009

this is nothing new, this is life
principally created and celebrated by us the rich,
we setup a border and decide that this side is
good and the other side bad (US vs Mexico)
Israel vs Palestine and numerous other examples

compassion such a beautiful and natural thing..
hmm i doubted it's almost gone now

and for you Ernie, always defending and talking
sunshine of RCI... it's a deep and deep shame
however you are NOT to blame...

take care everybody

Forty pallets of rice, beans, powdered milk, water, and canned foods were delivered on Friday, and a further 80 are due and 16 on two subsequent ships. When supplies arrive in Labadee, they are distributed by Food for the Poor, a longtime partner of Royal Caribbean in Haiti....100% of the proceeds from the call at Labadee would be donated to the relief effort."