At least three cruise ships canceled their upcoming stops in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, as a wave of violence escalates following the killing of Mexico’s most-wanted cartel boss.
Holland America Line's ms Zuiderdam was supposed to call at Puerto Vallarta on Monday, February 23, 2026. However, the cruise line's security team decided to cancel the planned visit to prioritize the safety of passengers and crew members.
"Our stop at Puerto Vallarta is cancelled tomorrow due to civil unrest. Looking forward to an extra day at sea as we’ve had six ports in a row! Puerto Vallarta seems so tame normally but the pictures coming out of there today [say] it’s a good call on Holland’s part," shared Blythe Campbell in a public Facebook group.
The sudden cancelation comes after the death of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) leader, Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera Cervantes, along with eight other cartel members, who were killed in a planned military operation, as reported by CNN.
Ex-cop Oseguera Cervantes evaded capture for years, despite a $15 million U.S. bounty offered for information leading to his arrest and/or conviction. Under his leadership, the CJNG emerged as one of Mexico’s most violent drug cartels that trafficked everything from cocaine to heroin, methamphetamine, and, in recent years, fentanyl.
His death sparked widespread unrest, with suspected gang members setting buses and businesses on fire. As of the morning of Feb. 23, authorities reported more than 250 blockades across 20 states — though many have since been cleared.
Consequently, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico issued a shelter-in-place warning, urging Americans and U.S. government staff to remain in place.
"Due to ongoing security operations and related road blockages and criminal activity, U.S. citizens in the named locations should shelter in place until further notice," the security alert reads.
"All U.S. government staff at Consulate General Tijuana and all U.S. government staff in Guerrero, Michoacan, and Quintana Roo states have been directed to shelter in place. All U.S. government staff at [the] Consulate General Monterrey have been directed to remain in the Monterrey metropolitan area."
Multiple airlines, including Air Canada, Delta Airlines, American Airlines, Sun Country, and Alaska Airlines, also reported diverted or canceled flights due to the ongoing civil unrest in Puerto Vallarta.
ms Zuiderdam is currently wrapping up a 12-night cruise from San Diego, California, according to Cruise Mapper. The 82,318 gross-ton ship departed on Feb. 15, calling at ports such as Cabo San Lucas, La Paz, Loreto, Guaymas, Topolobampo, and Mazatlán over the nearly two-week voyage.
No changes have been announced to the Vista Class cruise ship's final port of call in Ensenada, Mexico, on Feb. 26. Ms Zuiderdam is expected to arrive back in San Diego on Feb. 27 before setting sail on a 15-night one-way cruise from California to Miami, Florida.
Princess Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Lines cancel Mexico visits as wave of violence escalates
Puerto Vallarta is a year-round cruise destination, so travelers may see further itinerary changes in the coming weeks — depending on how the situation continues to unfold over the next few days.
Royal Princess was slated to call at Puerto Vallarta on Feb. 25. However, the 142,229 gross-ton Royal Class ship will also be skipping the Mexican port.
"We've made the decision to no longer call to Puerto Vallarta on Wednesday, February the 25th. Rest assured that this decision has been made with the safety and security of you — our guests — and of course the crew as our top priorities," a loudspeaker announcement on the ship informed passengers.
Norwegian Bliss was also slated to call at Puerto Vallarta on Feb. 25. However, she is skipping the scheduled visit on Wednesday, with one Redditor confirming the change.
"[I]t’s disappointing, but these things can happen, and hopefully everyone in Puerto Vallarta stays safe. We will find another time to visit...Even if we stopped, I’m not sure how comfortable I’d be leaving the ship with tensions this high," they shared.
Dozens dead in Jalisco
On Sunday, there were at least six attacks against authorities in the state of Jalisco.
According to Omar García Harfuch, Mexico’s secretary of security and citizen protection, 25 members of the National Guard, one prison guard, one employee from the State Attorney General’s Office, one female bystander, and 30 criminals all died.
In response, Mexico’s secretary of national defense announced that 2,500 troops were deployed to reinforce the military’s presence amid the ongoing unrest.
Is Puerto Vallarta safe?
Generally speaking, Puerto Vallarta is a popular tourist destination and buzzing beach town, attracting millions of visitors each year. In fact, Puerto Vallarta ended 2025 with a record 6.265 million tourists, surpassing the 6.211 million from the previous year, as reported by Vallarta Shores.
The cruise port welcomed 171 ships, up from 167 in 2024. Additionally, the Puerto Vallarta International Airport served over 6.9 million passengers, with new routes and expanded airline service from carriers like Porter and Frontier helping drive the increase in visitor numbers.
As such, although Puerto Vallarta is considered one of Mexico's most popular and tourist-friendly destinations, it's important to monitor security conditions for international trips. Unrest can arise unexpectedly, leading to sudden warnings from government agencies or travel adjustments.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
In addition to writing for Cruise.Blog, Elizabeth has bylines in Business Insider, Royal Caribbean Blog, and Cruiseshipfood.com.
