The GOOD: Just got back from a RCCL Freedom of the Seas, July 5 trip. Labadee was the first stop. Of our four excursion in the eight day trip to the caribbean, the off boat snorkling trip, booked through RC was the most professional of them all. The crew bent over backwards in helping the participants of all ages. (Took our flippers off of us when we came back to the boat. May not seem like much, but it wowed me.) The equipment was all new. The boat was very clean. Complimentary rum or virgin punch and good cold water. Lots of commentary to and from the sight. Great instruction. And a lot of description of what we were seeing in the water. Tips were welcome but not "begged" for like on a number of tours. RC did a great job hooking up with this team. 5 CIrcles!
The food taken on shore was a good picnic style affair.
"Dragon's Breath" is worth hearing. Not well marked though.
On the negative sight of Labadee: Dust from constuction.
Long walks on dirty roads shared with commercial traffic.
VERY pushy venders. Many would pull on you and get in your face. Made my whole family uncomfortable. One asked if we had something against black people. Where did that come from??
Another negative. The native kids would congregate on the other side of the fence and beg for food from the passengers. I am charitable but good grief.
Very crowded with 3000 cruisers on shore. Maybe when they finish construction that will help.
Also, a number of people cut their feet in the water off the beaches. Wear water shoes.
My advice: Do an early snorkling trip, eat, go to dragons breath then go back to the boat.

While on a cruise recently, the first port was Labadee, Haiti and what a beautiful place. This is not a really big area, but lovely. Some nice beach areas, some a little rough with lots of shells. Water is wonderul. Pretty blue and nice and warm. And....there is a Zip Line across the bay. I did not do it, but it was fun to watch all the people that were doing it. Also, several local crafts displays with some really nice things made by local people. The area has lots of trees for shade if you are there on a really hot day. We spent several hours on the beach just relaxing with our books and a great tropical cocktail that you can purchase. This was one of my favorite places that we visited on our Western Caribbean cruise. Definity worth going there.

Just came home from RCCL Liberty of the Seas and stopped at Labadee. I guess if you do not travel much this place would seem "awsome", however, we felt duped. We were looking forward to a day at the beach, as we have been to some beautiful beaches around the world and on other cruises as well, but we just felt duped by the whole experience. The tendering process was confusing with no help or directions from the "Liberty" staff. I felt sorry for the elderly, wheelchair bound and families with small children as close to 3000 passengers were trying to figure out how to tender. We had alot of non english speaking passengers on board as this was "Quincera" week (the latin equilvalent of the "Sweet Sixteen"), and they were confused.

Finally we made it. As the tender pulled into shore, we saw large barges with huge rusting construction pipes, cranes and lots of locals doing construction work. Dust was being kicked up from trucks going back and forth to constructiion site, the very same dirt road that the guests used to travel by foot to the various beaches. Not pretty.

We were signed up for the Jet Ski tour. We are avid Jet Skiers and always enjoy this activity. It was worth the $$, except we could have done without the scheduled stop to have the locals kayak out to us to sell us their wares. I was dumbfounded!!! There we were in our bathing suits on Jet Skis and the guide actually took us to be hounded by the locals to buy their goods, telling us that we could pay for it when we got back to the dock. They sorrounded us and really pushy. Weird experience.

We then made our way to the "Bar B Que" lunch. They ran out of food in one of the long lines (just so happened we were waiting in for at least 10 mins) and were told to go to the end of the line at another station. We did , as our children were hungry by this time (2 very active, SKINNY young teens), but other guests tempers started flaring as it was hot and people were hungry and thirsty. Food was running out!!! Don't tell that to paying cruise passengers. The staff, by this time, were also getting testy. Whew, got our food and ate what was left)

Went to watch the Dragon Zip LIne, and passed the Haitian Market. Oh, I thought I was in beggar's Hell. It was HARD sell by the locals. Got out of there fast. We watched the zip liners in what was rocky water (the beach!), so be sure to pack water shoes. Zip liners looked like they were having fun, but we timed it, It takes approx 1 min to zip down. That's a $100.00 minute. WOW!!

AS we tendered back to the ship, found out from our kids that the locals were approaching them and telling them that they would give them bracelets and other goods if they would take food from the Buffet for them to take back to their families. Other kids on the ship also told us that story.

I really would like to stress that we are well traveled and always support the local economy as we are well aware that we are much better off than most, and we do not like to flaunt ourselves in front of others. Especially when you are departing a beautiful cruise ship and stepping out into a poor local economy.

We should have stayed on the ship that day.

We sailed on Jewel of the Seas in January 2009. We were a little concerned about the first stop as our "generic" travel books didn't mention anything about Labadee. As we are a little past the high-adventure stage in life, we thought we might just wander out about mid-day and look around a little. Then, the evening before we arrived at Labadee, a fellow sixty-something gave us a few valuable pointers: put on your swim suit, beachwrap, and flipflops before you go ashore; go early; take sunscreen, sun glasses, and a sun hat; take some small bills; and prepare to be spoiled.

Yes, it is obscene that Haitian politics have reduced the people of Haiti to poverty. But Royal Caribbean is not the problem, it is part of the solution. Just remember to treat the locals with the same courtesy respect you would expect from a sightseer in your backyard. -- or customer in your place of business.

And yes, the Windjammer lunch service does end at three, but they usually have snacks (sandwhiches, etc) from three to five. Has anyone ever gone hungry on a cruise ship?