Cruise Ships Are Turning Away From Puerto Vallarta Right Now—Here's Why
The death of Mexico's most wanted cartel kingpin triggered widespread violence across Jalisco state, forcing Holland America, Princess, Norwegian, and others to skip their Puerto Vallarta port calls.
Puerto Vallarta was supposed to be a port day for thousands of cruise passengers on Monday, February 23, 2026. Instead, ships from Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, and others quietly diverted course—leaving guests to watch the Mexican coastline from deck as their scheduled stop was cancelled without warning.
The reason: one of the most significant security events in Mexico in years unfolded over the weekend, and the fallout is still rippling across the entire region.
What Happened in Jalisco
On February 22, 2026, Mexican military forces killed Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes—better known as “El Mencho”—during a military operation near Tapalpa in Jalisco state. The 59-year-old cartel leader, co-founder of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), had a $15 million U.S. bounty on his head and was considered by the FBI to be the head of Mexico’s most powerful drug trafficking organization.
He was wounded during the clash with soldiers and died while being transported for medical care.
Within hours, the CJNG retaliated. Gunmen deployed narcobloqueos—narco-barricades—across more than 250 points in at least 20 Mexican states. Vehicles were set on fire. Roads were blocked. Businesses shuttered. And in Guadalajara, which is just a few hours from Puerto Vallarta, armed gunmen entered the city’s international airport, sending passengers fleeing across the tarmac in scenes captured on video.
Puerto Vallarta itself saw visible smoke plumes and transport disruption severe enough that the airport suspended all operations, according to reporting by Travel Market Report. Access roads were described as impassable due to burning vehicles and blockades.
The U.S. Government Issued an Extraordinary Alert
The U.S. Embassy in Mexico issued a shelter-in-place advisory for American citizens located in Jalisco state—which includes Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Guadalajara—as well as citizens in Tamaulipas, Michoacán, Guerrero, and Nuevo León. Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro activated a “Código Rojo” (Code Red), the state’s highest security alert level.
This is not a routine Level 2 travel advisory. A shelter-in-place order of this scope directed at American citizens in a region that hosts tens of thousands of cruise passengers each year is exceptional.
Which Ships Were Affected
As of February 23, the following cruise calls to Puerto Vallarta were cancelled or disrupted:
- Holland America Line’s Zuiderdam — confirmed cancelled for its February 23 port call
- Princess Cruises’ Royal Princess — cancelled its scheduled February 23 stop
- Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Bliss — scheduled to call later in the week, with cancellation widely expected
Reports indicate that Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas, Celebrity’s Infinity, and Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Wonder were also among ships skipping scheduled Puerto Vallarta calls in the immediate aftermath of the violence.
The cruise lines did not issue public statements beyond passenger notifications at the time of publication.
What This Means If You’re Sailing the Mexican Riviera
If you have a cruise departing soon that includes Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo, or any Jalisco-region port, the situation is still developing. Here is what we recommend doing right now:
Check your cruise line’s app and email. Port changes are typically communicated 24–48 hours in advance, sometimes less. Holland America and Princess have already notified affected passengers directly.
Look at your full itinerary. Ships that skip Puerto Vallarta often substitute nearby ports like Cabo San Lucas or Mazatlán, or add extra sea days. Neither is a bad outcome—but it is worth knowing before you pack your bags.
Monitor the U.S. State Department’s Mexico travel page. The situation in Jalisco remains volatile. Mexican authorities are predicting a period of instability following El Mencho’s death, as analysts note there is no clear successor within the CJNG, which could trigger internal power struggles and continued violence.
Consider travel insurance if you haven’t already. Port substitutions are typically not covered as a “trip disruption” under basic policies, but if the situation escalates and sailings are altered more significantly, having coverage matters.
The Bigger Picture
Puerto Vallarta is one of the most visited cruise ports in the world. It welcomes hundreds of ships and millions of passengers per year. This week’s cancellations are not a permanent shift—but they are a reminder that cruise itineraries, particularly those calling on Mexico’s Pacific coast, are always subject to the security realities of the region.
The CJNG’s use of narcobloqueos—the mass blocking of roads with burning vehicles—is a well-documented tactic the cartel deploys following major leadership losses. The scale of Monday’s response across 20 states signals the organization retains significant operational capacity even after losing its founder.
For cruise travelers, the takeaway is straightforward: cruise lines are watching this situation closely, and passenger safety remains the non-negotiable priority. Ships will not dock in an environment where the U.S. government has told its citizens to stay indoors.
We will continue to update this story as the situation develops and as cruise lines release further guidance. For now, if Puerto Vallarta is on your upcoming itinerary, keep your plans flexible and stay close to your inbox.