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Update, September 26, 2026: NHC Advisory 25 puts Hurricane Polo at Category 4 with 145 mph winds and a hurricane watch from Punta Eugenia to Santa Fe. The September 23 Royal Caribbean guest notice still documents Navigator of the Seas replacing Ensenada and Cabo San Lucas with a sea day, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta; no later ship itinerary change is established by this weather update.
If you are booked on this sailing, plan for a sea day where Ensenada was scheduled, Mazatlan in place of Cabo San Lucas, and a new full day in Puerto Vallarta from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Travelers weighing sea days against port days can review the ship in the Navigator of the Seas guide to see what the ship offers when the itinerary shifts.
- Notice date: Royal Caribbean emailed booked guests on September 23, 2026 with the revised plan.
- Ensenada: The scheduled Ensenada visit becomes a sea day because of Hurricane Polo near western Mexico.
- Cabo San Lucas: Cabo San Lucas is removed and Mazatlan takes its place on the sailing.
- New port day: Puerto Vallarta is added with a full day ashore from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
- Storm status: NHC Advisory 25 of September 26 puts Polo at Category 4 with 145 mph winds and a Baja hurricane watch.
Cruise Line Confirms New Plan in Guest Email
Royal Caribbean said the reroute moves Navigator of the Seas away from the forecast path and converts planned stops into sea days and alternate ports. The guest email states the ship will enjoy a relaxing sea day instead of the scheduled visit to Ensenada, then visit Mazatlan in place of Cabo San Lucas before continuing to Puerto Vallarta. The cruise line told guests that safety is the top priority and that staying on board is among the safest options because the ship can move away from severe weather.
The timing matters for anyone packing or arranging pre cruise plans. The notice landed days before the weekend sailing, so guests with independent hotel nights, transfers, or tours in the dropped ports need to adjust now. The email did not list any compensation for guests booked on the sailing beyond the excursion refund process, so travelers should read that silence as no promise of fare credit and plan accordingly.
What Changes on the Revised Itinerary
Ensenada drops off the schedule entirely and becomes a sea day, which changes the pace of the sailing for travelers who booked the cruise for port time. Cabo San Lucas also leaves the schedule, and Mazatlan steps in as the replacement call. Puerto Vallarta becomes a new destination on the itinerary with a full day from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, giving guests a long window ashore at a port that was not on the original plan.
This is not the first time weather has reshaped this ship’s Ensenada calls. Navigator of the Seas dropped Ensenada after storms forced an itinerary change in July 2026, so repeat sailors should treat Mexican Riviera routings in storm season as flexible. Shore plans in any single port can move with only days of notice when a major hurricane sits near the coast.
Which Excursion Payments Are Protected
Prepaid excursions booked through Royal Caribbean for Ensenada and Cabo San Lucas will be refunded as onboard credit that guests can spend anywhere on the ship. Unused credit from the refunded tours will be reimbursed to the credit card tied to the guest onboard account at the end of the sailing. That two step process means the money is not lost, but travelers should track which tours were line booked and which were booked independently.
Independent third party tours have different rules, and each operator sets its own weather cancellation terms. Guests who booked outside the cruise line should contact those operators directly and keep receipts, confirmation numbers, and the cruise line change notice together. Travel insurance terms also vary by policy, so policyholders should check what an itinerary change versus a cancellation triggers before filing anything.
Hurricane Polo Forecast From the National Hurricane Center
The original reroute followed NHC Advisory 14 on September 23. September 26 Advisory 25 places Polo about 335 miles south-southwest of Cabo San Lucas, moving northwest at 10 mph with 145 mph winds; its Monday Baja approach forecast does not establish another Navigator port change.
A hurricane watch now covers Punta Eugenia to Santa Fe. The NHC forecasts a west-coast Baja California Sur approach Monday, a peninsula crossing Monday night and an approach to northwestern mainland Mexico early Tuesday, with dangerous surf and heavy rainfall possible away from the center.
The forecast now brings Polo toward Baja California Sur Monday. Consult the dated NHC advisory for weather and the cruise line’s current guest messages for any itinerary change; the two sources answer separate questions.
How to Handle a Last Minute Itinerary Change
Start with the cruise line email and confirm the new port lineup in the official cruise planner before rebooking anything ashore. Cancel or move independent tours in dropped ports first, since those vendors may have limited rebooking windows once a storm warning spreads. Then look at what the replacement ports offer and book only refundable options while the forecast can still shift the plan again.
Budget for a different onboard spend pattern too, because an extra sea day moves dining, activities, and shopping back onto the ship. The refunded excursion credit helps, but specialty dining, spa visits, and premium activities can absorb it quickly. Pack for both a port day and a pool day, keep medications and documents in carry on control, and build flexible arrival plans in case embarkation logistics shift with the weather.
| If you… | What to do |
|---|---|
| Booked on this Navigator of the Seas sailing | Accept the September 23, 2026 revised route with a sea day, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta. |
| Prepaid line excursions in Ensenada or Cabo San Lucas | Let the onboard credit post, spend or save it deliberately, and confirm the residual returns to your card at sailing end. |
| Booked independent tours in a dropped port | Contact the operator now with your confirmation and the September 23, 2026 change notice, and rebook only refundable options. |
| Are watching Polo from shore in Baja California Sur | Follow the latest NHC advisory and local orders for possible watches, surf and rainfall before driving or booking excursions. |
September 23, 2026 notice is the rebooking gate. Move independent Ensenada and Cabo San Lucas plans now and confirm Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta arrangements before excursion inventory tightens.
The weekend sailing is the spending gate. Treat the extra sea day as onboard budget, track the excursion credit, and verify the card reimbursement after disembarkation.
September 26 storm check: Polo is Category 4 at 145 mph with a Baja hurricane watch. This weather update does not itself revise the ship’s September 23 guest itinerary.
Did Navigator of the Seas cancel the sailing?
No. Royal Caribbean said on September 23, 2026 that the sailing continues on a revised route with a sea day, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta instead of the original Ensenada and Cabo San Lucas calls.
Will prepaid excursions be refunded?
Yes, for line booked tours in the dropped ports. Royal Caribbean said prepaid Ensenada and Cabo San Lucas excursions become onboard credit, with unused amounts returned to the card on file at sailing end.
How strong is Hurricane Polo?
NHC Advisory 25 rated Polo Category 4 with 145 mph winds at 2:00 PM MST September 26, about 335 miles south-southwest of Cabo San Lucas. A hurricane watch covers Punta Eugenia to Santa Fe; recheck for newer conditions.
Could the itinerary change again?
Yes. Polo was moving slowly on September 23, 2026 with further forecast movement expected, so guests should monitor Royal Caribbean updates and the National Hurricane Center advisories until sailing day.
