Carnival Cruise Line announced on August 17, 2026, the cancellation of all its mainland shore excursions in Mexico due to safety concerns. The cruise line continues normal ship operations without any sailing cancellations. At the time of the announcement, the ship Odyssey Of The Seas was cruising on the U.S. East Coast en route to Port Canaveral at a speed of 21.8 knots (25 mph).
Details of Cancelled Excursions and Refund Policy
The cancelled mainland excursions include tours to the ancient Mayan ruins of Tulum, snorkeling trips, and visits to the adventure destination Xplor Park, known for ziplining and underground rivers. Guests who had booked these tours
will receive full refunds. Tours confined to the island of Cozumel remain available for booking and participation.
Official Statements and Security Advisories
John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, confirmed that no ships are cancelled, but mainland excursions have been suspended out of caution. He cited ongoing monitoring of travel advisories issued by the U.S. State Department regarding security concerns in multiple Mexican states. Heald stated, “We continue to monitor the U.S. State Department’s travel advisory regarding the current situation in certain parts of Mexico’s mainland. While there are no specific threats in the state of Quintana Roo, we have made the decision to cancel
tours going to the mainland.” The U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Mexico maintain security alerts covering Jalisco (including Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, Guadalajara), Baja California (including Tijuana, Tecate, Ensenada), Nayarit (including Nuevo Nayarit/Nuevo Vallarta near Puerto Vallarta), and additional states including Colima, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Estado de Mexico, Michoacan, Nuevo Leon, Oaxaca, Puebla, Queretaro, San Luis Potosi, Veracruz, and Zacatecas.
Traveler Reactions and Safety Advice
The cancellation affects thousands of Carnival guests who will need to alter their shore excursion plans. Some prospective cruisers have expressed concern about security in Mexican ports on social media. An anonymous guest on Reddit wrote of worries over cartel activity near
Puerto Vallarta and Cozumel, ports scheduled for a May 2027 cruise. Carnival advises passengers to exercise common-sense safety measures ashore and to heed local officials’ instructions. Heald also reminded passengers to stay within well-traveled tourist areas and remain alert during shore visits.
Cruise Industry Context and Itinerary Flexibility
Separately, Royal Caribbean cancelled all sailings to Labadee, Haiti, citing safety concerns, demonstrating cruise lines’ ability to adjust itineraries to avoid hazardous ports. An online commenter noted, “The cruise line won’t visit ports that would be hazardous to its passengers. Case in point, Royal has cancelled all sailings to Labadee, Haiti for the foreseeable future. They’ll just go
somewhere else.” Carnival’s adjustments reflect ongoing industry monitoring of travel advisories to prioritize passenger safety without cancelling ship excursions outside affected areas.
