Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Royal Caribbean Labadee Beach

ROYAL CARIBBEAN'S
LABADEE BEACH DESTINATION
IMPROVEMENTS COMPLETED

UPDATE: On January 12, 2010, a catastrophic earthquake hit Haiti. Labadee beach was not damaged. See Royal Caribbean Humanitarian Relief Haiti


Guests onboard the Oasis of the Seas December 1, 2009, special voyage will be the first to experience improvements to Royal Caribbean International's private beach destination of Labadee, Haiti. This private beach resort has been a longtime favorite for cruisers on Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries.

The multi-year project, which began in the summer of 2007, was a joint venture between the Haitian government and Royal Caribbean International. The major enhancement was the renovation to the island's pier to allow for the accommodation of Royal Caribbean's Freedom- and Oasis-class ships. The dining venues and upland areas underwent a major overall including the construction of new bars and the renourishment of area beaches.

According to Royal Caribbean, all renovations to the pier and dining venues have been completed, establishing a 57 percent growth in dining capacity and introducing a new pier area that stretches 1,300 feet (Pier and Trestle) in length and allows the berth of the 225,282 GRT Oasis of the Seas.

Two areas new to Labadee and central to the redesign of the destination are Dragon's Plaza and Labadee Town Square, both of which offer convenient meeting places where guests can enjoy the rich Haitian culture and take in shopping, shows, cultural activities and other memorable experiences. Within Dragon's Plaza, Columbus Cove Beach offers family-friendly attractions including water slides, which complement the area's aqua park. Labadee Town Square boasts an expanded version of the popular artisan market and a festive atmosphere that comes alive with music, folkloric dancers and more.

The new Dragon's Tail Coaster offers a high-speed ride through 2,232 feet of the destination's tropical flora and rock formations. Upland-area favorites like Barefoot Beach Club, dedicated for the use of Royal Caribbean's suite guests, offers enhanced food and beverage services, and a total of 20 private cabanas are available for rent along the water's edge and within the hillside areas. The spa facilities at Barefoot Beach have also been revamped to provide an Oasis-like feel, and an expanded area has been set aside for yoga classes and other spa services.

"Oasis will offer a new dimension to our onboard guest experience," said Adam Goldstein, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. "These new major additions to Labadee will further expand offerings for our guests, and we couldn't think of a better way to celebrate the first sailing of Oasis of the Seas than with a special cruise to our already popular private beach destination."

The new adventures join a list of already popular activities, including the Dragon's Breath Flightline, which was introduced in 2007 and offers pristine aerial views of Labadee's coral reefs and crystal blue waters for individuals brave enough to take the ride down the 2,633 foot cable zip-line. Labadee's Wave Jet Adventure also is still available, offering guided journeys down one of the wildest coasts in the Caribbean via personal SeeDoo watercrafts.

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