Hurricane Trudy Pushed a Virgin Voyages Ship Up the California Coast

Virgin Voyages rerouted the seven-night Mexican Riviera sailing of Brilliant Lady that was due to leave Los Angeles on October 17, after Hurricane Trudy threatened Mexico’s Pacific coast. Instead of the planned ports, the ship was set to call at San Francisco, San Diego and Ensenada, while still returning to Los Angeles on October 24.

The National Hurricane Center reported that Trudy reached hurricane strength on October 16 with sustained winds of 120 mph, later weakening to about 85 mph while still affecting parts of the Mexican coast. Among the casualties of the new plan was Cabo San Lucas, a staple of Mexican Riviera itineraries.

Virgin says excursions booked through the line for the cancelled ports will be refunded automatically to guests’ onboard accounts. Passengers who arranged independent tours must contact those providers themselves, which is the usual dividing line when a cruise changes course at short notice.

The episode is a timely reminder as hurricane season runs into late autumn on the Pacific side. Travelers on Mexican Riviera sailings should check their insurance terms for weather-related changes, follow shipboard announcements closely, and expect that schedules can shift quickly. A different port lineup is not necessarily a worse trip, but it does change what you planned to see.

Sources: Travel And Tour World