Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Luxury Cruise Ships Keep Docking Off Haiti
By
Sabrina Jaszi
Published Jan 19, 2010
Modified Jan 20, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Sabrina Jaszi
Published Jan 19, 2010
Modified Jan 20, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
As 200,000 people are estimated dead from Haiti's 7.0 earthquake last week, Royal Caribbean cruise line defends its right to ferry vacationers to private beaches on the island. This weekend thousands of passengers boozed, para-sailed and sunned themselves just an hour's drive from the earthquake's epicenter. And other ships are scheduled to arrive!
Royal Caribbean says the trips are justified since ships carry "the equivalent to over three semi-trucks-full two or three times a week" of relief supplies. True, there might be more room if they weren't also carrying boatloads of tourists, but the cruise line has plans to donate $1 million to rescue efforts and is keeping hundreds of Haitians employed, reported the NY Daily News. Vice-president John Weis even went so far as to call the cruises "critical to Haiti's recovery," in an interview with The Guardian.
But can a trip to Labadee, just 60 miles from the mass graves, looting and starvation of devastated Port-au-Prince really be called a vacation? Commenters on the website CruiseCritic.com couldn't stomach the thought of it. "It was hard enough to sit and eat a picnic lunch at Labadee before the quake, knowing how many Haitians were starving," said one former passenger. "I can't imagine having to choke down a burger there now." Those poor people sure know how to ruin a good time.
Tagged
cruise ships
death toll
haiti
haiti earthquake
island
port-au-prince
royal caribbean
vacation
Sabrina Jaszi
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NJ early voting begins Saturday. Here's everything you need to know.
Our 2026 New Jersey voter’s guide for this year’s midterm elections.
By
Mike Hayes
Published Oct 23, 2026 at 11:01 a.m. ET
Countdown clocks are coming to an NYC bus stop near you
New York City bus service isn't exactly reliable, but new digital countdown clocks will give riders a better sense of how long they have to wait.
By
Stephen Nessen
News
Countdown clocks are coming to an NYC bus stop near you
New York City bus service isn't exactly reliable, but new digital countdown clocks will give riders a better sense of how long they have to wait.
By
Stephen Nessen
Are NJ schools unconstitutionally segregated? It's back to the courts to decide.
By
Colleen O'Dea
Early Addition: New Jersey considering a ban on chewing gum because of microplastics
By
James Ramsay
Queens mother charged with murdering her son after failed suicide attempt, NYPD says
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .