Stepping Ashore At Labadee Is About To Get Even Better

When describing the “best” Caribbean port they visited, many cruise passengers might mention a destination you’ve never heard of. For instance, Labadee. Located on a 260-acre peninsula on the secluded north coast of Hispaniola (more familiarly known as Haiti) and surrounded by mountain slopes and exotic foliage, it's Royal Caribbean's private beach enclave. In addition to swimming, water sports, an Aqua Park, and nature trails to explore, there's a market, where you might find an interesting painting or unique wood carving created by local artists and crafters. Naturally there are bars for refreshments and a huge beach barbeque is served by the ship’s crew.

And there's more coming! Royal Caribbean will unveil new facilities and a spectacular array of activities and excursion options at the private beach destination when Oasis of the Seas makes her maiden port of call at Labadee on Dec 3, 2009. Oasis of the Seas will dock at Labadee's new pier (currently under construction), which leads guests through a grand entry to the welcome plaza.

Water taxis and five different walking paths, trails and avenues will take guests from the welcome plaza to many areas throughout the peninsula, including the new Dragon's Plaza, Labadee Town Square, and Columbus Family Beach, all currently under development. Sea-based excursions, including a new exhilarating fast boat tour, also will depart from the welcome plaza. At the north end of the peninsula, Dragon's Plaza will be the heart of Labadee and feature the Dragon´s Breath Café and Pub, a welcome center, and central tram station, which will ferry guests to other areas of the peninsula. Guests booked on the extremely popular Dragon's Breath Flight Line, the world's longest zip-line over water, also will begin their excursion here.

At the base of the peninsula, Labadee Town Square will offer guests cultural experiences, shopping, dining and entertainment, featuring the Haitian Cultural Museum, Café Labadee and Bar, and the Straw and Artisan Market. From the Town Square, guests will board the new Alpine Coaster, a thrilling new roller coaster experience on Labadee. With convenient transportation from the pier via water taxis, the new Columbus Family Beach will appeal to adults and children of all ages, where guests can enjoy lunch and refreshments at the Columbus Café and Bar. Guests also can rent one of many private family cabanas, which dot Columbus Family Beach.

How would Cruise Diva spend the day at Labadee... Shopping?... Zipping through the treetops? No. She'd find a shady hammock and capture the true spirit of Labadee with a “Labaduzee”—Royal Caribbean's signature frozen drink that they say is out of this world.

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