Two consecutive Pacific hurricanes disrupted cruise operations along the Mexican Riviera and Baja California during late September and early October 2026. Hurricane Polo prompted last-minute itinerary revisions and was followed by Hurricane Rachel, a Category 1 storm with 85 mph winds located approximately 350 miles southeast of Cabo San Lucas as of September 30, 2026.
Cruise Line Itinerary Adjustments
Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth canceled its scheduled port call at Cabo San Lucas on October 1, 2026, extending its time at sea before arriving at Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala. Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady, set to depart Los Angeles on October 3, had its original itinerary of Cabo
San Lucas, Mazatlán, and Puerto Vallarta under review, with backup northern routes including San Francisco, San Diego, Catalina Island, and Ensenada in place. The preceding Brilliant Lady sailing outright replaced Mexican Riviera ports with these northern destinations due to Hurricane Polo.
Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas, which sailed September 25, omitted Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada, replacing the Ensenada stop with an additional Sea Day. Mazatlán’s visit was moved earlier, and the ship added a full day in Puerto Vallarta, as communicated to guests with a notification citing inclement weather from Hurricane Polo. Carnival Panorama’s September 26 sailing removed
Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlán from the itinerary, substituting Ensenada and Sea Days. Passengers reported the ship was “doing circles off Baja Ca, and going back to Ensenada tomorrow.” Carnival Miracle was placed on alert for route changes and is expected to skip Cabo San Lucas.
Princess Cruises adjusted Coral Princess’s itinerary by canceling Puerto Vallarta due to Hurricane Rachel’s unsafe conditions. Grand Princess, on its September 25 sailing, shortened or canceled stops around Cabo, added an overnight call in San Diego, and rescheduled Mazatlán. Passengers were offered either a full refund upon cancellation or a $100 onboard credit to remain
onboard.
Port Operations and Impact on Cruise Routes
Cabo San Lucas operates as a tender port where ships cannot dock at piers and must transfer passengers via small boats. Rough seas during Hurricane Polo necessitated the closure of this port. It reopened afterward, but local authorities have indicated that Hurricane Rachel’s trajectory and resulting sea conditions could cause another temporary closure.
Passenger Effects and Cruise Line Responses
Cruise passengers on multiple lines experienced canceled visits to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán, Puerto Vallarta, La Paz, and Ensenada. Sea Days replaced canceled ports for several sailings. Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth passengers confronted extended days at sea. Virgin Voyages advised Brilliant Lady guests to prepare for potential
route changes and cooler northern destinations. Princess Cruises provided Grand Princess guests the choice of a full refund or a $100 onboard credit for itinerary alterations.
Industry Context of Pacific Storms in 2026
The Pacific hurricane season in 2026 has been notably active, contrasting with the relatively quiet Atlantic season. The back-to-back hurricanes Polo and Rachel caused multiple cruise itinerary adjustments, primarily along the Mexican Riviera and Baja California coast. Tender port vulnerabilities, particularly at Cabo San Lucas, amplified scheduling challenges as cruise lines prioritized safety and moderate sea conditions.
Statements and Passenger Reports
Royal Caribbean informed guests: “Due to inclement weather from Hurricane Polo near Western Mexico, we’ll now enjoy
a relaxing Sea Day instead of our scheduled visit to Ensenada, Mexico.” A Carnival Panorama passenger reported on Reddit that the ship was “doing circles off Baja Ca, and going back to Ensenada tomorrow.”
