Cutting Loose For Haiti

It looks like tourism declined throughout most of the world in 2009, but Royal Caribbean International might help change the trend. They’ve decided to continue docking cruise ships at Labadee, Haiti, a resort that’s sixty miles from Port-Au-Prince.

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.

In addition to having armed guards at the gates, the resort of Labadee is protected by twelve foot high fences. Better safe than sorry.

Some passengers have qualms about “cutting loose” in Haiti right now, but the cruise line says it will donate all the proceeds from Labadee to Haitian relief.

Some of the passengers don’t seem to mind either way. One guy is quoted as saying, “I’ll be there on Tuesday and I plan on enjoying my zip line excursion as well as the time on the beach.”

Now go eat cake.