Hurricane Simon stalls near Puerto Vallarta
Simon is a Category 3 hurricane with 115 mph winds, located at 20.0N 106.3W and drifting northwest at 5 mph. That puts it off the Puerto Vallarta and Banderas Bay area, with dangerous winds and flooding rain along the coast.
The slow movement raises the chance of port skips or substitutions on Mexican Riviera sailings over the next week. Navigator of the Seas, which sails 7-night Mexican Riviera itineraries from Los Angeles, is one example of a ship that could be affected.
Advisors with clients booked on Mexican Riviera sailings should check with the cruise lines for itinerary changes now. They should also be ready to explain substitutions and to answer questions about shore excursions and pre-cruise travel. The NHC lists no other active Atlantic systems at this time.
- Category 3, 115 mph, drifting northwest at 5 mph
- Check Mexican Riviera sailings this week for skipped or substituted ports
Oasis of the Seas runs late again; Royal Caribbean offers flight reimbursement
Oasis of the Seas returned to Cape Liberty about 3.5 hours late on Oct. 11 after a medical debarkation in Nassau. The next sailing's check-in was pushed back and its Port Canaveral call was shortened.
For the Oct. 4 sailing, Royal Caribbean is reimbursing flight change fees up to $200 per person for domestic travel and $400 per person for international travel. This follows an 8-hour delay on Sept. 20.
Advisors with Oasis clients should confirm the reimbursement terms, advise guests to expect later arrival windows, and avoid tight same-day flight bookings on turnaround days.
Odyssey of the Seas skips Naples after overboard search
Odyssey of the Seas spent about 14 hours searching for a woman who went overboard on Oct. 9 and cancelled its Oct. 10 Naples call. She was rescued alive about 20 hours later.
The next Greek Isles sailing is reportedly unaffected. Advisors with clients on the affected sailing may get questions about the missed port and any compensation. Royal Caribbean's handling of port-skip compensation is worth watching.
Atlas Ocean Voyages doubles Drake fly & cruise departures for 2028/29
Atlas Ocean Voyages is adding Drake Passage fly & cruise departures for the 2028/29 season, along with extended South Georgia and Falklands itineraries. The product is luxury expedition rather than mass or premium, but it gives advisors with expedition clients more inventory to sell well ahead of time.