Hurricane Rachel Disrupts Cruises | MSC World Atlantic Floats Out + Carnival & Royal Caribbean News

Written by Chillie Falls, AccessAdventure.net

Good morning everyone, I’m Chillie Falls, and welcome to the Friday, October 2 edition of the Travel and Cruise Industry Podcast.

We have a busy morning.

A major hurricane off Mexico is disrupting Mexican Riviera cruise itineraries and closing Cabo San Lucas. MSC Cruises’ next U.S. flagship has touched water for the first time. Carnival has opened a major new West Coast deployment. Royal Caribbean has put its 2028 Alaska season on sale. Oceania is making a major change to the traditional Mediterranean cruise season, and Margaritaville at Sea is adding some interesting new destinations.

So grab that coffee, and let’s get started.

HURRICANE RACHEL CLOSES CABO SAN LUCAS

First this morning, we have a developing cruise and travel story from Mexico’s Pacific coast.

Hurricane Rachel strengthened into a Category 3 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds reported at 120 miles per hour as the storm moved slowly off Mexico’s Pacific coast.

The storm is generating dangerous surf, heavy rainfall and the possibility of flooding and landslides in portions of Baja California Sur, Sinaloa and Jalisco. AP News

And for cruise passengers, this is no longer simply a storm to watch.

Cabo San Lucas has been closed to cruise traffic until further notice, and cruise lines have begun adjusting itineraries. At least four cruise ships have already been affected by the closure. TravelHost

This comes after Mexican Riviera cruise schedules had already been disrupted by another Pacific hurricane, making this essentially a back-to-back weather situation for ships operating along Mexico’s west coast. Cruise Fever

For anyone currently sailing—or preparing to sail—to Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta or other Mexican Riviera destinations, remember that the cruise line may change ports, reverse the itinerary, add a sea day or substitute another destination.

And those decisions can happen very quickly.

The important distinction this morning is that the Cabo port closure and cruise itinerary changes are confirmed. Rachel’s exact future track and the duration of the port closure remain developing information.

If you are cruising this weekend, check your cruise line’s app before leaving for the airport and again before boarding.

We’ll continue watching this one.

MSC WORLD ATLANTIC TOUCHES WATER

Now to France, where another enormous cruise ship has reached a major milestone.

MSC World Atlantic has touched water for the first time.

MSC Cruises floated its next U.S. flagship out at Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France. The float-out actually occurred September 26, with MSC formally announcing the milestone September 30 and additional industry reporting coming Thursday. MSC Press Area

World Atlantic will become the 25th ship in MSC Cruises’ fleet and the fourth LNG-powered ship in the World Class series. MSC Press Area

And this ship is particularly important to American cruisers because she is headed for Port Canaveral.

Beginning in November 2027, MSC World Atlantic is scheduled to operate alternating seven- and 14-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises from Central Florida, including visits to Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. MSC Press Area

The first scheduled passenger cruise is November 13, 2027, with Nassau, Ocean Cay, Cozumel and Costa Maya on the itinerary. Shipyards Directory

Now that the ship is afloat, work continues on interiors, public spaces and technical systems before delivery next year.

And for those keeping score at home, MSC just keeps getting bigger in Florida.

CARNIVAL EXPANDS THE WEST COAST

Carnival Cruise Line has opened bookings for its 2028–29 West Coast program, and this is a substantial collection of cruises.

Carnival Adventure, Carnival Legend and Carnival Spirit will offer voyages to Mexico, Alaska and Hawaii, giving West Coast cruisers considerably more long-range planning options. TravelPulse

For travelers who would rather drive to a western homeport than fly across the country to Florida, this is one worth watching.

And for those of you who plan cruises two years ahead—and you know who you are—Carnival is apparently ready for you.

ROYAL CARIBBEAN PUTS 2028 ALASKA ON SALE

Royal Caribbean has also opened its 2028 Alaska season.

Four ships are planned: Anthem of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas, operating primarily seven-night itineraries from Seattle, Vancouver and Seward. Travel Weekly Asia

One particularly interesting part of this announcement is Ovation of the Seas, which Royal Caribbean says will return to Alaska newly amplified, or updated. Seatrade Cruise News

Select sailings can also be combined with land Cruisetours into Alaska, including opportunities to continue toward Denali.

Bookings opened to the general public October 1. Cruise Critic

So yes, we’re barely into October 2026—and apparently we’re already planning Alaska 2028.

OCEANIA TAKES THE MEDITERRANEAN INTO WINTER

“Oceania Cruises is challenging another cruise-industry tradition.

The company has unveiled its first full winter Mediterranean season, aboard Oceania Allura.

The program includes 17 voyages from November 2027 through March 2028, ranging from nine to 26 days and connecting destinations including Barcelona, Rome, Athens and Istanbul. Seatrade Cruise News

And I actually think this trend is worth watching.

Mediterranean cruising has traditionally been heavily concentrated in warmer months. Expanding deeper into winter can mean cooler weather, fewer tourists and a very different experience in some of Europe’s busiest destinations.

For travelers who would happily trade swimming-pool weather for smaller crowds in Rome or Barcelona, that could be a pretty good bargain.

MARGARITAVILLE AT SEA EXPANDS FOR 2028

Margaritaville at Sea has opened bookings for its 2028 program, featuring 30 itineraries visiting 25 destinations from two homeports. TravelPulse

The biggest destination news is aboard Islander from Tampa.

For the first time, Margaritaville at Sea plans to visit Limón, Costa Rica, and Colón, Panama, as part of new eight-night cruises that also include Grand Cayman.

The line is also bringing back some specialty cruises, including a Mardi Gras voyage featuring an overnight stay in New Orleans, another Halloween sailing with an overnight New Orleans call, and a June 2028 cruise timed around International Parrothead Day.

Meanwhile, Beachcomber will expand options from Galveston.

Margaritaville at Sea started as a very short-cruise operation. Stories like this show just how quickly that company is evolving.

TEXAS FLIGHT DISRUPTIONS

Finally, if you’re flying through Texas today, keep an eye on your flight status.

Severe thunderstorms produced ground stops and significant delays Thursday at airports including San Antonio and Austin, while Dallas-area airports were also experiencing substantial disruption. MySA

A flood watch has been associated with the broader Central Texas weather system.

Conditions can change quickly, so check directly with your airline before heading to the airport.

CLOSING

“And that will do it for this Friday edition of the Travel and Cruise Industry Podcast.

Our biggest story remains Hurricane Rachel and the disruption along Mexico’s Pacific coast. If you’re cruising the Mexican Riviera this weekend, keep checking those itinerary updates.

Meanwhile, MSC World Atlantic is officially in the water, Carnival and Royal Caribbean are already selling major 2028 programs, Oceania is stretching the Mediterranean cruise season into winter, and Margaritaville at Sea continues to expand well beyond the short Bahamas cruises where it began.

If today’s program helped you, please hit that like button, subscribe to the channel and turn on notifications so you don’t miss the next update.

I’m Chillie Falls. Have a wonderful weekend, travel safely, and I’ll see you Monday with the latest travel and cruise industry news.