Blog Page 16

Oasis of the Seas Returns Late, Next Cruise Pushed Back

Calvin Musquez
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Oasis of the Seas Returns Late, Next Cruise Pushed Back

Key Aspects:

  • A medical debarkation aboard Oasis of the Seas delayed the ship’s October 11 return to Cape Liberty, New Jersey.
  • Guests embarking on October 11 have been assigned later check-in times, with the ship’s departure pushed back and its Port Canaveral visit shortened.
  • Royal Caribbean is offering flight-change reimbursement to guests finishing the October 4 sailing and adjusting affected shore excursions on the next voyage.

A medical emergency aboard Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas has caused delays for guests on two consecutive sailings. The ship returned late to Cape Liberty, New Jersey, on October 11, 2026, pushing back embarkation for its next cruise and shortening its scheduled visit to Port Canaveral, Florida.

The cruise line notified guests on the 7-night sailing that departed Cape Liberty on October 4, 2026 that one passenger aboard required urgent medical attention and was successfully debarked for further treatment. Consequently, the sailing’s scheduled 6:00 a.m. return to Cape Liberty on October 11 was delayed, with the ship arriving at 9:30 a.m.

Royal Caribbean did not provide details in the notice regarding the passenger’s state or where the emergency debarkation happened. A guest posting on Facebook, however, identifies the port as Nassau.

“We successfully debarked our guest so they could receive additional medical care. As a result, we’ll now be delayed in our return to Cape Liberty,” the notice read. “We’re sorry for the inconvenience caused by this change, and we appreciate your understanding, knowing we’d do the same for you or a loved one in a similar situation.”

Oasis of the Seas Delay Letter
Oasis of the Seas Delay Letter

Royal Caribbean is offering reimbursement for eligible flight and transportation change fees for guests on the October 4 sailing. Flights booked through its Flights by Royal program will be automatically adjusted if necessary, while eligible change fees can be reimbursed up to $200 per person for domestic travel and $400 per person for international travel.

This news comes less than a month after Cruise Hive reported that another Oasis of the Seas sailing was delayed by medical evacuations. The 5,602-guest ship arrived at Cape Liberty approximately eight hours later than scheduled on September 20, 2026 after two guests were debarked for emergency medical attention in Nassau.

Oasis of the Seas’ Next Departure Was Also Delayed

Guests booked on the subsequent 7-night sailing departing the same day were notified that their scheduled 3:00 p.m. departure time would also be delayed. The cruise line sent an updated arrival time schedule, warning guests that early arrivals would be turned away and asked to return at their scheduled time.

“Please note, the terminal and parking garage will remain closed to embarking guests until your updated check-in window, as the previous sailing’s guests will be disembarking through approximately 1:00 PM,” the notice read. “Please do not arrive prior to your assigned time below.”

The earliest arrival time has been pushed three and a half hours, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Later groups, meanwhile, are assigned times through 4:00 p.m. 

That sailing’s arrival at its first port of call in Port Canaveral, Florida has been pushed back from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. However, the departure from that port remains as scheduled at 8:30 p.m.

What Happens to the Rest of the Itinerary?

While the call in Port Canaveral has been shortened by two hours, Royal Caribbean has not announced any changes to the remaining ports of call. The sailing will also visit Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day CocoCay and Nassau in the Bahamas before returning to Cape Liberty on October 18, 2026.

Royal Caribbean says it will automatically reschedule affected excursions where possible. Tours it cannot accommodate will be cancelled and refunded as onboard credit, with unused refundable amounts returned to the card on file within 14 business days after final disembarkation.

Woman Found Alive After Royal Caribbean Overboard

Calvin Musquez
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Woman Found Alive After Royal Caribbean Overboard

Key Aspects:

  • A 44-year-old woman who went overboard from Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas on October 9 has been rescued alive in the Ionian Sea.
  • A passing cargo ship reportedly located the woman, allowing the Hellenic Coast Guard to recover her and bring her ashore.
  • Odyssey of the Seas skipped its October 10 call in Naples after participating in the search for around 14 hours.

A woman who went overboard from Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas was found alive in the Ionian Sea early on October 10, 2026. According to Greek outlet Ellada24, citing the Hellenic Coast Guard, a passing cargo ship spotted the 44-year-old Salvadoran national approximately 70 nautical miles southwest of Zakynthos.

The woman was subsequently recovered conscious by a Coast Guard vessel and transported to Katakolo. Passengers aboard Odyssey of the Seas shared on Reddit that the captain announced on October 10 that the woman was rescued around 2:00 a.m., roughly 20 hours after she went in the water.

According to those reports, the captain said that the woman was receiving hospital treatment for hypothermia. However, authorities have not confirmed details about her medical condition or the circumstances that led to her going overboard.

Cruise Hive previously reported that the woman went overboard early in the morning of October 9, 2026. The 167,704-gross-ton ship was en route to Naples at the time of the incident, but stopped, turned around, and began searching for the woman.

Odyssey of the Seas
Odyssey of the Seas (Photo Credit: AlexKuznetsov / Shutterstock)

The search also involved other vessels in the area and a helicopter, as reported during the initial operation on October 9. The initial search location was approximately 72 nautical miles southwest of Zakynthos.

The search and rescue operation was coordinated by the Hellenic Coast Guard’s Joint Search and Rescue Coordination Center (EKSED). Odyssey of the Seas reportedly participated in the search for around 14 hours before resuming its voyage. 

Search Forces Odyssey of the Seas to Skip Naples

Odyssey of the Seas is sailing a seven-night, round-trip Greek Isles cruise that departed Civitavecchia on October 4. The 4,198-guest vessel was heading from Mykonos towards its final port of call in Naples when the emergency occurred.

Due to time spent participating in the search for the overboard woman, however, the October 10 call in Naples has been cancelled. Instead, passengers are spending what would have been their final port day at sea as the vessel returns to its homeport, with the scheduled October 11 disembarkation remaining unchanged.

“Our day in Naples has been cancelled. Just hope the disruption to everyone’s travel plans will be kept to a minimum,” said one guest on Reddit.

Cruise ship tracking data confirms Odyssey of the Seas is sailing past Naples towards Civitavecchia at the time of writing. No impact to the following seven-night Greek Isles sailing on October 11 has been announced.

All Cruise Ship Itinerary Changes Due to Hurricane Isaias

Emrys Thakkar
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All Cruise Ship Itinerary Changes Due to Hurricane Isaias

With Hurricane Isaias disrupting the Gulf Coast, cruise lines have begun altering itineraries to keep onboard guests safe. Currently, Carnival Cruise Line has adjusted itineraries for three ships departing from the Port of Galveston and New Orleans.

No other cruise lines have announced itinerary changes at this time.

Carnival Dream (October 10 Cruise)

Embarkation has been delayed for the seven-night Bahamas sailing on the Carnival cruise ship out of Galveston, Texas.

Carnival has informed guests booked on the cruise to delay their arrival at the terminal by two hours. This comes as the vessel has been delayed returning from the previous October 3 sailing due to Isaias.

Guests must now complete check-in by 4:00 PM ahead of departure. As of this time, there is no further impact on Carnival Dream.

Carnival Liberty (October 4 Cruise)

There has been a minor time change for the Carnival Liberty due to Isaias. Carnival has informed guests that the ship’s October 4 sailing out of New Orleans has been adjusted for its call to Cozumel on October 9.

The ship spent the day at the Mexican port from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM instead of 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. There is no further impact on the itinerary.

Carnival Valor (October 8 Cruise)

Carnival Valor’s October 8 sailing out of New Orleans has been slightly impacted because the ship had to find calmer waters away from the hurricane.

The vessel will now arrive in Cozumel at 10:00 AM instead of 8:00 AM and depart at 5:00 PM instead of 6:00 PM.

Cruise Hive will continue to keep readers informed on any further impact to cruise ship itineraries.

Norwegian Aura Will Now Debut 19 Days Earlier Than Planned

Calvin Musquez
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Norwegian Aura Will Now Debut 19 Days Earlier Than Planned

Key Aspects:

  • Norwegian Cruise Line has moved Norwegian Aura’s debut forward by 19 days due to an expected early delivery.
  • Two new Mediterranean cruises, lasting 10 and 9 nights, have been added ahead of the previously announced May 21 inaugural sailing.
  • The May 21 voyage remains scheduled, although its status as the ship’s maiden cruise has changed and previously announced port adjustments remain unclear.

Norwegian Cruise Line is adding new sailings for its future flagship, Norwegian Aura, ahead of its original May 21, 2027 debut. Due to an expected early delivery from Fincantieri, the ship will now welcome its first guests aboard 19 days earlier.

“The early delivery of Norwegian Aura allows us to welcome guests aboard sooner than expected,” said Marc Kazlauskas, president of Norwegian Cruise Line.

Two new sailings have been added for the 3,840-guest vessel, embarking on May 2, 2027 and May 12, 2027, respectively. The May 2 voyage is a 10-night itinerary from Trieste in Italy to Piraeus in Greece. The cruise will call at Dubrovnik, Split, Bar, Corfu, Santorini, and Mykonos before arriving in Piraeus on May 12.

From there, the Prima Plus-class ship will depart on a 9-night sailing from Piraeus back to Trieste. This itinerary will visit Rhodes, Mykonos, Santorini, Corfu, Bar, Split, and Zadar before arriving in Trieste on May 21.

The announcement comes just six weeks after a fire broke out aboard the ship while under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. Despite the incident, Norwegian Cruise Line now anticipates taking delivery of the 170,000-gross-ton vessel ahead of schedule, allowing the two additional sailings to go ahead.

Norwegian Aura Cruise Ship
Norwegian Aura Cruise Ship

Both new voyages are now available to book, giving passengers an opportunity to sail aboard Norwegian Aura before its previously announced inaugural departure. The addition also extends the ship’s initial Mediterranean season by nearly three weeks, rather than replacing any of the existing sailings.

What Happens to the Original Maiden Voyage?

The May 21 sailing that was previously advertised as the maiden voyage is still scheduled to depart on that date. This 7-night cruise was originally scheduled to sail from Trieste to Barcelona in Spain.

Cruise Hive previously reported, however, that the itinerary would swap its final port, terminating in Tarragona instead of Barcelona. This change also affected the following sailing, which will subsequently embark from Tarragona.

Calls in Valletta, Salerno, and Civitavecchia are still included for the May 21 voyage. The subsequent transatlantic sailing remains scheduled to bring the ship to Miami in June 2027.

Guests who booked the May 21 sailing will no longer be among the first aboard Norwegian Aura as a result of the added sailings. Norwegian has not announced any special arrangements for those guests or publicly indicated whether they will be permitted to transfer their reservations to one of the earlier departures.

Disney Treasure Sailing Will Trial Wristbands in Place of Key to the World Cards

Melissa Mayntz
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Disney Treasure Sailing Will Trial Wristbands in Place of Key to the World Cards

Key Aspects:

  • Guests on the October 10 sailing of Disney Treasure will be testing onboard wristbands instead of Key to the World cards.
  • Disney Cruise Line is clear that this is a test only and is not the beginning of a confirmed transition to wearables only.
  • The ship wristbands cannot be used at other Disney experiences, but DisneyBand+ wristbands can and will be permitted on the cruise.

Guests boarding Disney Treasure on Saturday, October 10, 2026 will be testing a new wearable wristband option in lieu of the classic Key to the World shipboard ID cards, if they don’t already have DisneyBand+ wristbands.

Disney Cruise Line reached out to travel advisors and alerted them to the test and how the wearables differ from the already familiar DisneyBand+ wristbands that many guests use.

“For their sailing, instead of finding their Key to the World Cards outside of their stateroom, Guests with a DisneyBand+ will have their bands activated during check-in as usual. Guests without a DisneyBand+ will be issued a wearable Key to the World wristband as part of the check-in process,” the cruise line explained.

This appears to be only a limited test for this one sailing of Disney Treasure, and the cruise line is not transitioning completely to wristbands at this time.

“We are testing these new wristbands as we continue to look for ways to make your clients’ Disney cruise vacation even easier,” the notification said. “While we try new things frequently, not all of them become part of our operation.”

There has been no confirmation about wristbands being tested on other sailings in the Disney Cruise Line fleet. Additional tests are possible if the cruise line prefers to collect more data or test different wristband options as they refine plans or investigate different wristband operations.

Disney Treasure is departing Port Canaveral for a 7-night “Halloween on the High Seas” Eastern Caribbean cruise on Saturday, October 10. The itinerary includes visits to Tortola, St. Thomas, and Castaway Cay before the 4,000-guest, Wish-class ship returns to Florida on Saturday, October 17.

Disney Cruise Line Band
Photo: Disney

At the end of the cruise, collection containers will be located outside the Disney Cruise Line terminal for guests to return their wristbands. This is similar to the collection process on Virgin Voyages, which also uses individual wristbands for each sailing rather than key cards.

It is unknown whether the returned wristbands may be reused on additional sailings or if the materials will be recycled, but Disney Cruise Line is clear that the wristbands cannot be used at Disney parks or other cruises.

“Unlike DisneyBand+, [the wristbands] will only work on this sailing and are not applicable to other Disney experiences,” the email explained.

Guest Reactions Are Mixed

Guests have both positive and negative responses to the idea of wristbands rather than Key to the World cards.

Some guests note that a card is easier to hand over in bars or for shopping than a wristband, while others collect the cards to commemorate their cruises and will miss the souvenir.

“My next cruise is platinum,” one guest commented, referencing the cruise line’s loyalty program, the Castaway Club. “I just need one platinum lanyard. lol”

“We found the bands extremely inconvenient and prefer the card,” another added.

Others are excited for the opportunity, especially those who have sailed with Princess Cruises where “Medallions” are standard instead of key cards. The Medallions can be worn as wristbands, attached to lanyards or clips, or carried in a pocket if preferred.

Because guest staterooms require a card to activate room lights and air conditioning, some guests are concerned about that operation. Any card can be used for that activation, but not all guests may have a spare card available or be comfortable leaving something like a credit card in the slot.

More From Cruise Hive

Some guests also have more troubling concerns, such as how a wristband may impact their cruise experience.

“I don’t want to wear a wristband,” one guest said. “That’s a sensory nightmare for me.”

Disney Cruise Line has not noted whether guests will be able to opt out of the testing or if standard cards will be available for guests who prefer them instead of wristbands.

Urgent Search Underway for Woman Overboard From Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas

Calvin Musquez
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Urgent Search Underway for Woman Overboard From Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas

Key Aspects:

  • A woman was reported overboard from Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas early on October 9, 2026, while sailing in the Mediterranean.
  • The cruise ship reversed course to search the area, with passengers reporting assistance from the Greek Coast Guard, nearby vessels, and a helicopter.
  • The ship is currently on a 7-night Greek Isles voyage from Rome, with a scheduled visit to Naples on October 10.

Search operations are currently underway for a woman who reportedly went overboard on Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas. According to reports from passengers onboard, the incident occurred around 6:00 a.m. on October 9, 2026.

The ship was on a sea day in the Ionian Sea en route from Mykonos to Naples. It embarked on a 7-night Greek Isles cruise from Civitavecchia on October 4. 

The captain informed passengers of the incident on the ship’s P.A. system around 10:00 a.m. The circumstances under which the woman went overboard have not been confirmed by official sources.

A Royal Caribbean spokesperson stated to Cruise Hive, “We immediately launched a search and rescue effort and are working with authorities. Our Care Team is actively providing support and assistance to the guest’s loved ones during this difficult time. For the privacy of the guest and their family, we have no additional details to share.”

One passenger, sharing the incident on Reddit, said that the woman reportedly grabbed an inflatable ring and jumped overboard. However, this report has not been confirmed.

Odyssey of the Seas turned around and began circling in search of the woman. A passenger shared photos of the incident on Facebook showing assistance in the search from the Greek Coast Guard, along with a helicopter and other nearby vessels.

“It’s an incredibly surreal and sobering experience to be aboard a ship during something like this, watching the massive search effort unfold in real time,” said one passenger.

According to Greek media reports citing the Hellenic Coast Guard, the missing woman is a 44-year-old citizen of El Salvador. The search is taking place approximately 72 nautical miles southwest of Zakynthos.

Odyssey of the Seas Search
Odyssey of the Seas Search (AIS Cruise Ship Tracking)

Cruise Hive also confirmed the ship in that report as Odyssey of the Seas. Cruise ship tracking data shows the vessel still circling that position at the time of writing.

The ship is scheduled to call at Naples on October 10 before returning to Civitavecchia on October 11. No change to this schedule has been confirmed.

Other Recent Cruise Ship Overboards

While overboards are rare on cruises, they do sometimes happen. When someone is reported overboard, cruise ships typically launch immediate search efforts and coordinate with maritime rescue authorities. The scope of those searches depends on the circumstances and decisions made by the agencies involved.

In late September 2026, for example, search efforts were officially called off for a 56-year-old guest who jumped overboard from Carnival Panorama. That search involved assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard and lasted more than 41 hours.

Not all overboard situations end in tragedy, however. If the conditions are right, some people are recovered alive and well, as was the case when a child went overboard from Disney Dream in 2025, and her father jumped in after her.

Every Cruise Ship Impacted By Tropical Storm Rachel So Far

Emrys Thakkar
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0
Every Cruise Ship Impacted By Tropical Storm Rachel So Far

It’s been over a week, and Tropical Storm Rachel continues to impact cruise ships in the Pacific. The storm, formerly a hurricane, is west of Baja, Mexico, prompting adjustments to Mexican Riviera itineraries. Hurricane Simon is also affecting areas further south off Mexico’s West Coast.

Latest updates as of October 9, 2026 10:19 AM EST:

Brilliant Lady (October 10 Cruise)

Virgin Voyages sent out a notice to those guests booked on the October 10 sailing out of Los Angeles, California. The change is due not only to Tropical Storm Rachel, but also to Tropical Storm Simon; both are off Mexico’s Pacific coast.

Brilliant Lady has been rerouted and has cancelled the calls to Cabo San Lucas on October 12, Mazatlan on October 13, and Puerto Vallarta on October 14. Instead, the ship will remain near California, with a call to Santa Barbara on October 12, San Diego on October 13, and the only call to Mexico in Ensenada on October 14.

Carnival Radiance (October 3 Cruise)

Carnival Cruise Line updated guests booked on the October 3 Carnival Radiance cruise out of Long Beach in California. The cruise line has been forced to cancel its scheduled call to Cabo San Lucas on October 9. The ship will instead spend a day at sea and head back home, arriving as scheduled on October 11.

Queen Elizabeth (September 24 Cruise)

Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth has been unable to avoid itinerary impacts due to Hurricane Rachel. The ship’s September 24 cruise out of Seattle, Washington, has been forced to drop its call to Cabo San Lucas on October 1. The vessel will instead spend a day at sea and continue to Guatemala as scheduled.

Brilliant Lady (October 3 Cruise)

Brilliant Lady Cruise Ship
Brilliant Lady Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: The Hungarian Sailor)

Brilliant Lady, which is operated by Virgin Voyages, could be impacted by Hurricane Rachel. On September 30, the cruise line informed guests booked on the October 3 sailing out of Los Angeles, California, of a possible itinerary change; in fact, the cruise line has already prepared an alternative itinerary but has not yet released it.

Virgin Voyages stated, “Rachel has strengthened into a hurricane and is expected to continue tracking northwest. Our current planned track for Brilliant Lady would bring us near Baja California around Sunday night into Monday morning, while we’re on our way to Cabo San Lucas, close enough to the storm’s path that we’re taking it seriously and planning ahead.“

At this time, no revised itinerary has been issued, but a further update is on the way.

Carnival Panorama (September 26 Cruise)

Carnival Panorama Cruise in Mexico
Carnival Panorama Cruise in Mexico (Photo Credit: Pedro H C Carvalho)

Carnival Panorama had already received an itinerary change for the September 26 sailing out of Long Beach, California due to Hurricane Polo. However, that cruise has now been impacted further due to Rachel.

The ship’s first revised itinerary has already cancelled Puerto Vallarta on September 29 and Mazatlan on September 30. The ship instead made a call to Ensenada on September 28, with the plan to then visit La Paz on October 1 and Cabo San Lucas on October 2 as normal.

Now, the voyage has been adjusted yet again, with Carnival Panorama returning to Ensenada on October 1, with October 2 and 3 being days at sea. The ship will not be heading further south and the calls to La Paz and Cabo San Lucas have been cancelled. So it means Carnival Panorama is just calling at Ensenada twice and then returning to Long Beach as normal on October 4.

Guests are being given a $300 onboard credit per stateroom that will be on the guest’s Sail & Sign account. Carnival is also putting on extra activities and events each day to keep passengers entertained.

Carnival Miracle (September 26 Cruise)

Carnival Miracle Cruise Ship
Carnival Miracle Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Ritu Manoj Jethani / Shutterstock)

Carnival Miracle has also been forced to adjust its cruise with Rachel churning off Mexico’s west coast. Guests on the current September 26 sailing out of Seattle, Washington, have been informed that Cabo San Lucas in Mexico on October 1 has been cancelled.

The ship is in the process of repositioning to Galveston, Texas, and is scheduled to arrive there on October 12.

Grand Princess (September 25 Cruise)

Grand Princess Cruise Ship
Grand Princess Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Sheila Fitzgerald)

Grand Princess is currently sailing a 10-night itinerary that departed Los Angeles on September 25. Due to the previous Hurricane Polo, the cruise had already been adjusted, with La Paz on September 29, Guaymas on September 30, and Puerto Vallarta on October 2 all cancelled. The cruise line also shifted its Cabo San Lucas call from September 27 to October 2.

In a further adjustment, the Cabo San Lucas call on October 2 has now been cancelled due to the powerful Hurricane Rachel.

Cruise Hive will continue to keep track of cruise ships impacted by Rachel and will continue to update this page when needed and when more details are confirmed.

Brilliant Lady Cruise Completely Rerouted by Two Tropical Storms

Calvin Musquez
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Brilliant Lady Cruise Completely Rerouted by Two Tropical Storms

Key Aspects:

  • Virgin Voyages has replaced all three scheduled ports on Brilliant Lady’s October 10, 2026 departure from Los Angeles due to two Pacific storms.
  • The seven-night Mexican Riviera cruise will instead visit Santa Barbara, San Diego, and Ensenada, Mexico.
  • This is the third consecutive sailing aboard Brilliant Lady affected by storms, with further disruptions possible as storms continue to develop.

Guests on the October 10, 2026 sailing aboard Brilliant Lady from Los Angeles will get a completely different itinerary from what they originally booked. Developments in the projected paths of Tropical Storm Rachel and Tropical Storm Simon have resulted in Virgin Voyages making major changes to the route.

The 7-night Mexican Riviera voyage was originally scheduled to visit Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta before returning to Los Angeles on October 17. However, the cruise line has now removed all three ports of call from the itinerary.

“After carefully considering the latest forecast, we’ve made the decision to adjust our planned route,” the cruise line said in a notice to guests. “Your safety and the safety of our Crew will always come first.”

Instead of those three ports, Brilliant Lady’s October 12 call in Cabo San Lucas will be replaced with Santa Barbara in California. The October 13 call in Mazatlan will be replaced with another California port, San Diego.

Finally, the October 14 call in Puerto Vallarta has been swapped with Ensenada, which is now the only Mexican port on the itinerary. The sailing will still return to Los Angeles on October 17 as scheduled.

While some guests acknowledged the safety concerns, others were disappointed by the alternate ports. One guest who shared the notice to Reddit expressed frustration that their Mexican Riviera journey was replaced with more familiar sights.

“What a horrible year to pick a Mexican Riviera cruise!” the guest said. “I live in California and can drive to any of these ports within reasonable time.”

Guests were offered compensation for the change in the form of $100 per person in non-refundable Sailor Loot (onboard credit) plus a $200 Future Voyage Credit per person. MegaRockStar and RockStar guests, meanwhile, were offered $200 per person in non-refundable Sailor Loot plus a $300 Future Voyage Credit per person.

Brilliant Lady is the first Virgin Voyages vessel to homeport from California. The 2,770-guest ship currently sails regular 5- and 7-night voyages to Mexico and the California coast until it repositions to Miami in late October.

Tropical Storms Continue to Disrupt Cruise Itineraries

Rachel first formed in the Pacific Ocean as a tropical storm in late September 2026 and developed into a hurricane by the end of the month, with winds near 110 mph by October 2. Several cruise ships have had to adjust their itineraries due to the storm’s impact, including previous sailings aboard Brilliant Lady.

Rachel was downgraded to Tropical Storm status by the National Hurricane Center on October 8, 2026. However, the storm is still expected to produce dangerous conditions as it approaches the Baja California coast.

Tropical Storm Rachel
Tropical Storm Rachel

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Simon formed off the southwestern coast of Mexico on October 7. Forecasters expect the storm to strengthen rapidly, potentially reaching Category 4 intensity before approaching the Mexican coast this weekend.

This is the third consecutive sailing aboard the 110,000-gross-ton Brilliant Lady to be affected by hurricanes. Cruise Hive reported that the previous sailing, which departed Los Angeles on October 3, 2026, saw its scheduled call in Cabo San Lucas replaced by Ensenada due to swells from Rachel.

Before that, the September 26 sailing from Los Angeles was also rerouted because of Hurricane Polo. That sailing saw Cabo, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta replaced with San Francisco, San Diego, and Ensenada.

Brilliant Lady is scheduled to embark on another 7-night Mexican Riviera cruise from Los Angeles on October 17, visiting Cabo, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta. No changes to this itinerary have been publicly announced.

Cruise lines operating in the Gulf of Mexico, such as Carnival, are also monitoring Hurricane Isaias, which is forecast to approach the northern Gulf Coast this weekend. With multiple tropical systems threatening cruise destinations, further itinerary adjustments remain possible.

Tropical Storm Rachel Forces Carnival Radiance to Drop Cabo San Lucas

Melissa Mayntz
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Tropical Storm Rachel Forces Carnival Radiance to Drop Cabo San Lucas

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Radiance will not visit Cabo San Lucas as planned on Friday, October 9 but will instead return directly to Long Beach, California.
  • The cancelled port visit is due to the forecast track of Tropical Storm Rachel which the ship has to cross in order to return to the US.
  • By cancelling the visit, Carnival Radiance can stay ahead of the roughest weather and return to Long Beach for debarkation on Sunday, October 11 on schedule.

Carnival Radiance will not be visiting her last port of call on the current 8-night Mexican Riviera sailing due to the influence of Tropical Storm Rachel and Tropical Storm Simon, both currently churning away in the eastern Pacific and impacting the Mexican coast.

Because the storms’ trajectory could cause rough sailing for the 2,984-guest ship, Carnival Cruise Line has opted to cancel the planned port visit to Cabo San Lucas that was to have been on Friday, October 9, 2026 from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. This was to have been the last port visit for Carnival Radiance’s current itinerary.

The ship departed Long Beach, California on Saturday, October 3, and has already visited Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and La Paz.

Now, however, overall weather conditions and forecasted tracks, particularly for Tropical Storm Rachel, do not make it safe or comfortable for the voyage to continue as planned. Instead, Carnival Radiance will be heading straight back to California.

“The visit to Cabo San Lucas has been cancelled for Friday, October 9. The ship is expected to return to Long Beach as scheduled for Sunday, 10/11/2026,” Carnival Cruise Line’s weather update for 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 8, confirmed.

While this news will be disappointing to guests onboard who were hoping to enjoy Cabo San Lucas on Friday, it will also be reassuring to those expecting to board the ship on Sunday, as it means their sailing is not likely to be delayed unless there are further changes. At this time, there is no indication that any further adjustments will be necessary.

Tropical Storm Rachel Update

While Tropical Storm Simon’s waves will likely reach Cabo San Lucas, their impact will be relatively minor as the National Hurricane Center (NHC) expects that storm to make landfall on the Mexican mainland more than 300 miles away from the Baja Peninsula. Any impact to Cabo San Lucas would not likely arrive until Sunday morning.

Instead, it is the track of Tropical Storm Rachel (previously a Category 3 hurricane but now downgraded) that is of more concern to Carnival Radiance.

Tropical Storm Rachel
Tropical Storm Rachel

According to the 2 p.m. (PDT) storm update on Thursday, October 8, Tropical Storm Rachel is currently located about 935 miles west of Cabo San Lucas and is moving west-northwest at three miles per hour, with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph. A sharp turn to the northeast is expected on Friday and Saturday.

The storm will not directly impact the port and there are no coastal watches or warnings currently in effect, but they may be implemented later on Thursday evening. Nevertheless, the storm’s track does head toward the peninsula over the weekend, directly into the path Carnival Radiance must take to return to southern California. Tropical Storm Rachel’s center is expected to be closest to the coast late Saturday evening.

Read Also: Every Cruise Ship Impacted by Tropical Storm Rachel So Far

By cancelling the port visit to Cabo San Lucas and heading directly back to the US, the cruise ship will be able to move through the storm’s forecast path well ahead of the worst expected weather.

AIS tracking shows Carnival Radiance still docked in La Paz, as the ship is not scheduled to depart until 6 p.m. local time.

Carnival Cruise Line has not confirmed any further itinerary updates for the two other ships sailing from Long Beach at this time, Carnival Firenze and Carnival Panorama. Neither vessel is far enough south in their current itineraries to be impacted by Tropical Storm Rachel.

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