More Cruise Ships Cancel Puerto Vallarta, Other Mexico Ports Still a Go
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Norwegian Bliss will not visit Puerto Vallarta on Wednesday, February 25, due to heightened tensions and unrest.
The ship departed Los Angeles on Sunday, February 2, and guests onboard understand the decision.
Other ports in Mexico are not yet facing similar cancellations, but cruise lines will always prioritize safety.
Norwegian Bliss will be skipping her upcoming call to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico on Wednesday, February 25, 2026 in light of the rapidly escalating cartel-related violence in the region.
Norwegian Bliss is homeported from Los Angeles, California and departed on her current cruise on Sunday, February 22, the day a prominent cartel leader was killed in Tapalpa, Jalisco, 105 miles east-southeast of Puerto Vallarta.
Rather than risk visiting a port of call that may not be safe for guests, the 168,000-gross-ton ship is heading straight for her second port of call, Mazatlan, as confirmed by cruise ship tracking.
Guests onboard were notified of the change as the update was finalized. Without an alternative port of call available, Norwegian Bliss will most likely spend Wednesday at sea instead.
A Norwegian Cruise Line spokesperson stated to Cruise Hive, “The safety and wellbeing of our guests, crew and the communities we visit are always a top priority. Due to ongoing security operations and the recent U.S. travel warning issued for select areas in Mexico, Norwegian Bliss’ scheduled call to Puerto Vallarta on Feb. 25, 2026 has been canceled. We are closely monitoring the ongoing situation and any additional itinerary updates for ships scheduled to call to Mexico in the near future will be communicated directly with impacted guests.“
While travelers are disappointed, safety is always the most important consideration, and comments on Reddit largely support the decision to skip Puerto Vallarta.
“It’s disappointing, but these things can happen, and hopefully everyone in Puerto Vallarta stays safe. We will find another time to visit,” one guest posted.
Norwegian Bliss can welcome 4,002 guests aboard at double occupancy and is also home to approximately 1,700 international crew members. It is not worth risking even a single one of those souls on board for a port of call that may not be safe.
This is the third ship that has confirmed a port cancellation for Puerto Vallarta. Cruise Hive previously reported that Holland America Line’s Zuiderdam would not be visiting on Monday, February 23, as originally planned, and additional itinerary changes may be likely for other ships with the port on their schedules.
Princess Cruises’ Royal Princess was scheduled to visit Puerto Vallarta on Wednesday, but that call was likewise cancelled.
“Our security team has been closely monitoring the situation in Western Mexico. To prioritize the safety of our guests and crew, we have cancelled Royal Princess’ planned visit to Puerto Vallarta on February 25, “Princess Cruises said in a statement to Cruise Hive.
Over the next couple of weeks, additional calls from Zuiderdam, Norwegian Bliss, and Royal Princess may also be impacted. Carnival Panorama is also scheduled for Puerto Vallarta on Tuesday, March 3, and Island Princess is scheduled on Tuesday, March 10.
There is no word on whether or not future itineraries may also be impacted, but cruise lines will undoubtedly keep a close eye on the situation and will evaluate each ship’s visit on an individual basis with the most updated information possible.
What About Other Ports in Mexico?
At the moment, there are no confirmations from any cruise line that other Mexican ports of call are impacted by any increasing unrest.
Quantum of the Seas is visiting Ensenada as planned on Monday, and both Royal Princess and Carnival Radiance appear on course for their visits to Cabo San Lucas.
Read Also: One of These Mexico Cruise Ports Could Be on Your Itinerary!
Cozumel is as busy as ever with seven ships in port: Disney Treasure, Disney Magic, Norwegian Viva, Carnival Jubilee, Rhapsody of the Seas, MSC Grandiosa, and Carnival Valor.
Four ships are scheduled for Monday in Costa Maya, but all have cancelled their visits. Icon of the Seas is spending the day at sea on the way to her Roatan visit on Tuesday, while Grandeur of the Seas is now in Roatan instead.
Seven Seas Grandeur is having a sea day before her planned visit to Belize on Tuesday, while Explorer of the Seas is also having a sea day and will be in Cozumel on Tuesday.
To be clear, the cancellations for Costa Maya are not related to any unrest or cartel-related issues, but is strictly a matter of poor weather and unsafe docking conditions.
While the situation in Mexico is fluid at this time, cruise lines will continually evaluate each visit and will make whatever decisions are necessary to safeguard their ships, guests, and crew members at all times.
More Cruise Ships Cancel Puerto Vallarta, Other Mexico Ports Still a Go