Three Storms, Two Coasts: Carnival and Virgin Voyages Alter October Sailings
Cruise lines are adjusting itineraries on both sides of the country this weekend as three tropical systems churn through prime cruising waters. Hurricane Simon is threatening Mexico’s Pacific coast, Hurricane Isaias is moving through the Gulf, and Tropical Storm Rachel is complicating the Mexican Riviera. Carnival Cruise Line is monitoring at least six ships, and Virgin Voyages has overhauled an entire seven-night itinerary.
Hurricane Simon Threatens Mexico’s Central Coast
Hurricane Simon strengthened to a Category 4 storm Saturday morning, packing 145 mph winds while positioned about 125 miles south of Manzanillo, according to the National Hurricane Center’s latest advisory. The storm is expected to make landfall on Mexico’s central coast on Sunday, with forecasters warning of dangerous surf and heavy rainfall along the coast.
Carnival Radiance Drops Cabo San Lucas
Carnival Radiance will not call at Cabo San Lucas on Friday, October 9 as planned. The ship, currently on an 8-night Mexican Riviera sailing that departed Long Beach on October 3, will instead spend a day at sea and head straight back to California. Carnival’s weather update Thursday evening confirmed the ship is expected to return to Long Beach as scheduled on Sunday, October 11. Cabo San Lucas is a tender port, where passengers are ferried ashore by small boats, making it especially sensitive to rough seas.
Hurricane Isaias Disrupts the Gulf
In the Gulf, Hurricane Isaias is forcing timing changes rather than cancellations so far. Carnival Liberty’s October 4 sailing from New Orleans shifted its October 9 call to run 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. instead of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Carnival Valor’s October 8 sailing adjusted its Cozumel call, arriving at 10 a.m. instead of 8 a.m. and departing at 5 p.m. instead of 6 p.m. Carnival Dream’s Galveston embarkation ran two hours late. Carnival’s fleet operations team in Miami is monitoring six ships in the Gulf, and the line has set up text alert codes so passengers can follow individual sailings.
Virgin Voyages Overhauls Brilliant Lady’s Mexican Riviera Sailing
Virgin Voyages made the most dramatic change of the weekend. Brilliant Lady‘s seven-night sailing departing Los Angeles on October 10 was originally set to visit Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta. All three Mexican ports have been dropped. The revised itinerary calls at Santa Barbara on October 12, San Diego on October 13, and Ensenada, Mexico on October 14, returning to Los Angeles on October 17 as scheduled. The line is offering $100 per person in onboard credit plus a $200 Future Voyage Credit per person, with higher amounts for RockStar and MegaRockStar guests.
What Passengers Should Know
Carnival is communicating through letters delivered onboard and text messages to guests booked on affected sailings. Passengers can also register for sailing-specific updates by texting alert codes like CCL1 or CCL2 to 278473. Travelers with upcoming sailings in the region should check their email and the cruise line’s travel alerts page before heading to the port, and travel insurance with trip-interruption coverage is worth having during hurricane season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my sailing be cancelled?
So far the lines are adjusting timing and ports rather than cancelling sailings. Ships are maintaining safe distances from all three systems.
What compensation can I expect?
That varies by line and the scale of the change. Virgin Voyages is offering onboard credit plus future voyage credit for the rerouted sailing. Carnival has not announced fleet-wide compensation for the adjustments.
