During October of 2013 I took a Western Caribbean vacation on the Royal Caribbean International cruise ship, Oasis of the Seas. One port-of-call was Labadee, Haiti; where the cruise company has 260 acres of land, on a peninsula, which they operate as a private resort.
The ship docked at the tip of the resort’s peninsula. After leaving the ship I boarded a ferry that took me across the 1/2 mile of water to the island end of the peninsula. Much of the peninsula shoreline had plant growth to the water’s edge with a few, very small, sand beaches. Areas of the shoreline also had out croppings of rocks which reached heights of 10 to 50 feet above the water.
I disembarked the ferry at a small dock beside the large sand beach of Columbus Cove. Then I walked back along the shore to a larger out cropping of rocks. The rocks had wood stairs and walkways so the passenger could safely walk to the top. So I went to the top and took several photographs of the view. After returning to Columbus Cove, I started back toward the ship dock on a wide, up sloping path, that had trees on both sides. Along the trees were small booths where Royal Caribbean International approved venders were selling souvenirs.
After stopping at one booth, a young looking man, encouraging tourist passing by to his booth, said I could talk to his mother. His mother was an elderly lady sitting inside the booth. I explained to her that I was just looking around and would not be buying anything. She happily nodded in agreement, pointed out an item, and told me its price. After attempting to explain a few times that I did not intend to purchase anything, I proceeded along the path as it sloped down into an open area.
From this area the opposite side of the peninsula was in view. An open air trolley, operated by the cruise company, arrived with other passengers. I boarded the trolley and it proceeded in the direction of the ship. There were several picnic shelters type of structures along the route where passengers could buy, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages. The trolley stopped in an opening where the ship had a complimentary self-serve style buffet sat up under a picnic shelter. The food was the outside picnic variety and, for myself, tasted better than the food served at the evening style dining areas on the ship. After eating lunch I continue walking to the north bay of the peninsula.
On the beach, at the bay, was the west end of the 2000 foot zip line called Dragon’s Breath Flight Line. The ship’s passengers were being driven to the 500 foot level of a hill on the east side of the bay. There they were attached to the zip line with a rope harness and slid down the line as it crossed the water.
Labadee, Haiti was a good port stop, because I took a cruise vacation for a variety of reasons included relaxing and at Labadee the cruise company had arranged everything so the passengers could relax.
