Two consecutive hurricanes, Polo and Rachel, in late September 2026 disrupted cruise operations along the Mexican Riviera and Baja California. Hurricane Polo struck first, impacting the region with strong winds and causing multiple ports, including Cabo San Lucas, to close temporarily. Shortly after, Hurricane Rachel, a Category 1 storm with winds of approximately 85 mph, tracked northwestward near Mexico’s Pacific coast, located about 350 miles southeast of Cabo San Lucas by September 30.
Cruise Lines Adjust Schedules and Cancel Ports
Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth canceled its scheduled October 1 stop at Cabo San Lucas, opting to spend several days at sea before arriving at Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala. Virgin
Voyages altered Brilliant Lady’s previous itinerary, replacing Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán, and Puerto Vallarta with San Francisco, San Diego, Catalina Island, and Ensenada due to Polo’s impact. Virgin is currently monitoring Hurricane Rachel for potential changes to Brilliant Lady’s upcoming October 3 sailing from Los Angeles, originally scheduled to include Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán, and Puerto Vallarta.
Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas removed Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada from its September 25 itinerary. The visit to Ensenada was replaced with an additional sea day, with Mazatlán rescheduled to an earlier date and a full day added in Puerto Vallarta.
Carnival Panorama canceled stops at Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlán on its September 26 sailing, substituting them with visits to Ensenada and additional sea days. Subsequent sailings of Carnival Panorama have removed calls at Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán, La Paz, and Cabo San Lucas, reportedly circling off Baja California before returning to Ensenada. Carnival Miracle passengers reported the Cabo San Lucas stop would be skipped on its ongoing itinerary.
Princess Cruises adjusted Coral Princess’s schedule by canceling its Puerto Vallarta port call due to Hurricane Rachel. Grand Princess’s September 25 sailing from Los Angeles saw multiple stops near Cabo San Lucas either
shortened or canceled. To compensate, the line added an overnight call at San Diego and rescheduled Mazatlán. Princess Cruises offered Grand Princess guests on affected sailings the option to cancel for a full refund or to remain onboard with a $100 onboard credit.
Passenger Impact: Cancellations, Sea Days, and Credits
Passenger itineraries across affected cruises experienced cancellations of key Mexican Riviera ports including Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán, Puerto Vallarta, La Paz, and Ensenada. Several ships introduced extra sea days to replace canceled visits, extending time offshore. Princess Cruises authorized affected guests on Grand Princess sailings to opt for full refunds or retain onboard credits valued at $100.
Virgin Voyages advised guests on Brilliant Lady’s October 3 sailing to prepare for possible itinerary changes and cooler weather conditions requiring warmer clothing. Carnival Panorama passengers reported the ship was “doing circles off Baja Ca, and going back to Ensenada tomorrow,” indicating extended sea time prior to port return.
Official Communications on Itinerary and Port Status
Royal Caribbean informed Navigator of the Seas 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.” Local authorities confirmed Cabo San Lucas port, a tender port requiring small boat transfers, was closed during Hurricane
Polo but has since reopened. Officials warned that Hurricane Rachel could prompt another closure depending on its trajectory and resulting swell size.
Port Characteristics and Potential Future Closures
Cabo San Lucas port operates as a tender port, meaning cruise ships cannot dock directly at a pier but must transfer passengers using small boats. This makes it particularly vulnerable to closure during rough sea conditions. The port closure during Hurricane Polo resulted from rough seas, and although it reopened, authorities remain cautious. They have indicated that continued severe weather generated by Hurricane Rachel could trigger further temporary shutdowns depending on the storm’s path and swell impact.
