October 3, 2026 — Virgin Voyages has dropped Cabo San Lucas from the Brilliant Lady cruise leaving Los Angeles today and added Ensenada instead, while in Greece its Scarlet Lady broke free of the pier in Rhodes and touched three smaller boats.
Update — what changed since yesterday: the revised itinerary for Brilliant Lady’s October 3 sailing, which Virgin Voyages had prepared but not released, is now published.
Brilliant Lady: revised Mexican Riviera itinerary
| Date | Port | Status |
|---|---|---|
| October 3, 2026 | Los Angeles | Departs as planned |
| October 4, 2026 | Ensenada | Added |
| October 5, 2026 | Cabo San Lucas | Cancelled |
| October 6, 2026 | Mazatlán | As planned |
| October 7, 2026 | Puerto Vallarta | As planned |
| October 10, 2026 | Los Angeles | Returns as planned |
Hurricane Rachel has moved off the ship’s route, but the swell it left behind is too strong for tender boats at Cabo San Lucas. The line told guests tendering there “wouldn’t be safe or comfortable,” Cruise Hive reports. The port of Cabo San Lucas has been closed since September 30, and its reopening date is TBA. No compensation was mentioned. Brilliant Lady’s previous cruise, which left on September 26, lost Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta to Hurricane Polo and called at San Francisco, San Diego and Ensenada instead.
Scarlet Lady: mooring lines part in Rhodes
On Wednesday, September 30, 2026, shortly after 8:15 p.m. local time, several of Scarlet Lady’s mooring lines broke in heavy swell at the port of Rhodes. The ship drifted off the pier, its gangway fell into the water, and it made contact with a catamaran and two other boats, one of them the tourist vessel King of Rhodes. The captain brought the ship back to its berth under its own power while tugs stood by. No injuries or pollution were reported, and Virgin Voyages confirmed there was no structural damage to the ship, according to Cruise Mummy. The Rhodes Central Port Authority responded; no findings have been published, and the condition of the smaller boats is TBA.
Scarlet Lady was on a seven-night Greek Isles cruise that left Piraeus (Athens) on September 27, 2026. High winds had already closed Mykonos, so the ship was staying overnight in Rhodes, with Chania added on October 2. Cruise Hive reports the ship completed that revised itinerary.
What it means for airline travelers
- Brilliant Lady flights are unaffected. The cruise still starts and ends in Los Angeles on the same dates. Los Angeles International (LAX) is the main airport; Long Beach (LGB) is also close to the port area.
- More changes are possible. Two straight Brilliant Lady cruises have now been altered by Pacific hurricanes. If you are booked on a Mexican Riviera sailing in the coming weeks, watch the line’s app and email, and fly in a day early if you are travelling standby.
- Ensenada is close to the US border and replaces a tender port with a dock, so the port day itself should be simpler, though it is a different destination from the one booked.
- Greek Isles sailings: Aegean wind closures can reshuffle ports at short notice. Flights into and out of Athens (ATH) for Piraeus were not affected this time, but leave a buffer day after disembarkation if you are flying standby home.
- Interline and travel-industry rates: not affected by either event.
Sources
- Cruise Hive — Brilliant Lady Drops Port as Hurricane Rachel Swells Linger
- Cruise Hive — Every Cruise Ship Impacted By Hurricane Rachel So Far
- Cruise Hive — Virgin Voyages Ship Breaks Free in Rhodes and Hits Three Boats
- CruiseMapper — Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady ship breaks mooring lines at Rhodes (Greece)
- Crew Center — Video: Scarlet Lady Gangway Falls Into Water After Mooring Lines Snap
- Cruise Mummy — Scarlet Lady Breaks Moorings During Mediterranean Storm
