Hurricane Polo: Navigator of the Seas Changes Cruise Itinerary

Fueled by exceptionally warm ocean waters, Polo rapidly intensified from a simple tropical storm into a massive hurricane, reaching wind speeds of up to 285 km/h. The safety of the guests and crew is, of course, the top priority for the nautical department. As a result, the planned stops in the ports of Ensenada and Cabo San Lucas were promptly removed from the schedule. As safe alternatives, the ship is now heading to Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta.

Those who booked their shore excursions for the canceled ports directly through the cruise line can breathe easy: the money will be refunded hassle-free as onboard credit. However, excursions booked with external providers are not covered. Since natural disasters clearly fall under force majeure, there will be no general refund of the cruise fare. Staying on the ship is the best decision right now anyway. A state of emergency has been declared in the affected Mexican regions ashore. Safely dodging the storm on the open ocean is far less dangerous than an evacuation on land.

While passengers can enjoy their adjusted vacation as normally as possible, the local port cities are suffering immensely. Every canceled ship visit costs the regions vital tourism revenues of up to one million US dollars. The last-minute rerouting of the "Navigator of the Seas" clearly shows how flexibly the maritime industry must react to extreme weather today. In the end, nature always dictates whether the course must be corrected to starboard or port.