Two sequential hurricanes, Polo and Rachel, impacted cruise operations in the Pacific region in late September 2026. Hurricane Polo struck first as a powerful system, followed closely by Hurricane Rachel, a Category 1 storm with sustained winds near 85 mph. As of late September, Rachel tracked northwest about 350 miles southeast of Cabo San Lucas, causing continued disruptions to maritime traffic along the Mexican Pacific coast.
Ship itineraries along the Mexican Riviera and Baja California regions experienced significant alterations due to the storms. Ports including Cabo San Lucas, Ensenada, Mazatlán, Puerto Vallarta, and La Paz were affected by closures or
rough seas. Cabo San Lucas port, which operates as a tender port requiring small boat transfers to shore, was closed during Hurricane Polo and reopened temporarily before Hurricane Rachel threatened to close it again.
Cruise Itinerary Changes by Line and Ship
Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth canceled its scheduled October 1 stop at Cabo San Lucas. Passengers were informed via onboard announcements that the ship would remain at sea for several days before proceeding to its next port, Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala. Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady, departing Los Angeles on October 3, is considering route adjustments due to Hurricane Rachel, with no final decision announced. The line previously altered Brilliant
Lady’s prior sailing by dropping Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán, and Puerto Vallarta, substituting San Francisco, San Diego, Catalina Island, and Ensenada instead.
Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas, on its September 25 sailing from Los Angeles, removed Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada from its itinerary. Guests received written notification stating, “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.” The ship also moved its Mazatlán stop earlier and added a full day at Puerto Vallarta.
Carnival Panorama’s September 26 sailing canceled port calls at
Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán, La Paz, and Cabo San Lucas. The itinerary substituted Ensenada and additional sea days. Passenger reports indicated the vessel was circling off Baja California waters and planned to return to Ensenada. Carnival Miracle is on alert for possible itinerary changes; one passenger reported the ship skipped Cabo San Lucas on its current Mexican Riviera itinerary.
Princess Cruises cut its scheduled stop at Puerto Vallarta for Coral Princess due to Hurricane Rachel. For Grand Princess’ September 25 voyage from Los Angeles, the cruise line abbreviated or canceled several ports near Cabo San Lucas, added an overnight in San
Diego, and rescheduled the Mazatlán visit. Guests affected were offered a choice between full refunds for cancellations or a $100 onboard credit if remaining on board.
Traveler Impacts and Cruise Line Communications
Passengers on various cruises faced canceled stops and itinerary revisions including removal of Cabo San Lucas, Ensenada, Mazatlán, and Puerto Vallarta from routes. Alternative ports such as San Diego, San Francisco, and Catalina Island replaced some Mexican Riviera calls. Additional days at sea were also included to accommodate the changes necessitated by storm conditions. The closure of tender port Cabo San Lucas limited passenger shore access during hurricane activity.
Royal Caribbean’s official guest communication
cited inclement weather from Hurricane Polo as the reason for substituting Ensenada visits with sea days. Virgin Voyages recommended guests aboard Brilliant Lady pack extra layers due to possible shifts to cooler northern ports. Princess Cruises offered passengers on Grand Princess options to cancel trips fully or receive onboard credit to compensate for cancellations and schedule changes.
Regional Context of the 2026 Hurricane Season
The Atlantic hurricane season in 2026 remained relatively quiet. In contrast, the Pacific faced significant disturbances with the back-to-back occurrences of Hurricanes Polo and Rachel. These storms directly disrupted maritime operations off Western Mexico and the Baja California peninsula, necessitating rapid cruise itinerary
adjustments to maintain safety amid rough seas and port closures.
CruiseMapper tracking data as of September 30, 2026, 3:00 PM EST showed ship positions reflecting the ongoing operational impacts of the hurricanes across the Mexican Riviera and Pacific routes. These location updates supported cruise line decisions to reroute vessels or cancel port visits.
A passenger aboard Carnival Panorama reported the ship was “doing circles off Baja Ca, and going back to Ensenada tomorrow,” illustrating real-time alterations due to storm conditions.
