A Final Labadee

April 13, 2012

On our last swing through the Caribbean for the season, the voyage would be filled with ‘lasts.’ Today was our last visit to RCL’s private ‘island’ of Labadee in Haiti. Despite the fun I had last time here, it had taken me awhile to warm up to this port of call. However, I knew that I would miss it once the warm sun, sandy beaches, and calm ocean were no longer a near-term option.

My plans to get ashore were almost scuttled by the work load. I had two classes scheduled in the morning that I felt would leave me free to get ashore by 12:30pm. With an onboard time for crew of 3:30pm due to our 4pm sail away, this would give me a good 2 ½ hours ashore. However, when I returned to the office, the progression of one-off tasks and people with questions and concerns made me wonder if I would get ashore. Finally, just short of 1:30pm I clocked out and raced to my room to change and get off the ship.

Without much time to spend I knew I wanted my focus to be solely on the beach and water with no other distractions. The challenge to avoiding distractions was to avoid the Artists’ Village which is right on the path to Columbus Cove, my targeted destination. The local artisans can be a bit ‘aggressive’ in their sales techniques (my least favorite part of the island) and the simple effort of politely yet firmly dissuading them would chew up valuable time. Fortunately, once you visit Labadee you discover that there is an alternate path that hugs the coast and almost entirely skirts the village. With a stride full of purpose I took this alternate path only requiring me to dip onto the back edge of the local ‘shopping mall’ for a few seconds. Of course, the few seconds were enough to be spotted and ‘invited’ to view the local wares but I never broke stride as I made my lack of interest known and headed over the last rise to the beach.

Columbus Cove is obviously popular with our guests yet both ends of the beach can provide some relative calm. I quickly camped out at the end of the beach nearest the trail head and let myself melt back into a lounge chair to be warmed by the Haitian sun. After about 20 minutes the call of the beautiful water beckoned me. I waded out along the gently sloping ocean bottom until I was chest deep in the water. It felt remarkable. As opposed to my last visit I had remembered to remove my ship key ring with all my access cards from the pocket of my swim trunks which made this ocean experience immediately far more positive. With a gentle kick off the bottom I began to swim gently parallel to the shore in the glassy cove. After a few minutes I flipped onto my back and simply floated in this idyllic environ.

Properly cooled I went back to my chair to let the sun dry me with one eye steadfastly on the clock. As I looked down the long beach I realized it would be more than half a year, at least, before I returned to this spot. So, I decided to walk the waterline to see what I could discover. That’s when I discovered the biggest change from my first trip to Labadee. When I first ventured there I was mostly inconspicuous and almost universally viewed as a guest rather than crew. But as I walked this time I encountered small groups of crew members scattered along the beach. First there were the young Safety officers who were playing like the college age boys they are in the surf. Not all of their play would pass the ‘safety is everyone’s business’ test. Then I encountered the Greek engine and accommodations officers who urged me to stay and have a cold beverage with them. With time short, I continued my trek past the AV technicians, photographers, the spa employees, and a herd of dining and bar staff. Each group was engaged with lively banter and invitations to join in. A very different experience from three months earlier.

I stepped back into the deeper surf and began a lazy swim back up the beach, but the sky above increased my sense of urgency. Storm clouds had begun to gather and thunder echoed in the mountains above the island. When I reached my lounge chair with the intent to catch a little more sun the changing weather changed my mind. Since the clock had already struck 3pm, it was clear that my time in Labadee for this season was at an end.

On ships there is never a guarantee of a return to a favorite port. Yes, the beach time in Labadee was clearly becoming one of my favorites. Will I ever return? If I’m on a Caribbean run with Celebrity again the answer is ‘likely.’ But, as in life, there are no guarantees.

And the adventure continues . . .