Two consecutive hurricanes, Polo and Rachel, disrupted multiple cruise itineraries along Mexico’s Pacific coast in late September 2026. Hurricane Polo struck first as a powerful storm, prompting immediate schedule adjustments. Hurricane Rachel followed as a Category 1 storm with winds near 85 mph, tracking northwest about 350 miles southeast of Cabo San Lucas as of late September 2026.
Itinerary Changes by Major Cruise Lines
Several cruise lines altered port visits to avoid rough seas and closed harbors. Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth canceled its October 1 call at Cabo San Lucas, opting instead for several days at sea before docking in Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala. Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady,
departing Los Angeles on October 3, originally planned stops in Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán, and Puerto Vallarta; however, prior sailings had rerouted to San Francisco, San Diego, Catalina Island, and Ensenada due to Hurricane Polo, with possible further adjustments for Rachel.
Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas sailing September 25 from Los Angeles removed calls at Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada. The Mazatlán stop was moved earlier, and a full day was added in Puerto Vallarta. Carnival Cruise Line canceled Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlán on September 26’s Carnival Panorama sailing, replacing them with Ensenada and additional sea days. Carnival Miracle
is on alert, and passengers report the ship will skip Cabo San Lucas, adapting to storm conditions. Princess Cruises’ Grand Princess shortened or canceled stops near Cabo on its September 25 sailing, added an overnight in San Diego, and rescheduled Mazatlán. Coral Princess canceled Puerto Vallarta due to Hurricane Rachel.
Status and Vulnerability of Cabo San Lucas Port
Cabo San Lucas operates as a tender port, relying on small boats to ferry passengers ashore. This setup makes the port susceptible to closures amid rough weather. The port was closed during Hurricane Polo and subsequently reopened. Local officials warned that Hurricane Rachel could necessitate another temporary closure, contingent on
the storm’s trajectory and resulting swell sizes.
Passenger Impacts and Options
The consecutive hurricanes caused cancellations of port calls at Ensenada, Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán, and La Paz. Cruise itineraries were adapted with additional sea days, alternative ports such as San Francisco and San Diego, or altered routes altogether. Princess Cruises offered Grand Princess guests the choice of full refunds or $100 onboard credit due to itinerary modifications. Passenger reports from Carnival Panorama indicated the ship was “doing circles off Baja Ca, and going back to Ensenada tomorrow”.
Official Statements and Industry Context
Royal Caribbean communicated to passengers: “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.” Local authorities in Cabo San Lucas cautioned that port closures might recur depending on Hurricane Rachel’s path and sea conditions. While the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season remained relatively inactive, the Pacific experienced these two back-to-back hurricanes, complicating operations along the Mexican Riviera and Baja California.
