Royal Caribbean’s $50 Starting Credit Looks Thin After Three Lost Destinations

An eight-night Mexican Riviera cruise is now visiting just one destination, and Royal Caribbean’s compensation starts at $50 in non-refundable onboard credit per cabin. That is a thin gesture for an itinerary that has lost Catalina Island, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta.

Voyager of the Seas has canceled Puerto Vallarta because of Hurricane Simon and will instead return to Cabo San Lucas on October 13, 2026. The second Cabo call gives passengers another day ashore, but it cannot replace the variety of the original itinerary. I’d expect a more substantial acknowledgment of that loss.

This is the second revision to the sailing, which departed Los Angeles on October 8. Before embarkation, Royal Caribbean removed Catalina Island and Mazatlan and brought forward the first Cabo visit because of Hurricane Rachel and then-Tropical Storm Simon.

The cruise’s eight-night duration remains unchanged. Voyager of the Seas is still scheduled to return to Los Angeles on October 16. Royal Caribbean does not expect the revisions to delay disembarkation.

The compensation is $50 per inside or oceanview stateroom, $100 per balcony stateroom and $250 per suite. Third and fourth passengers sharing a cabin will each receive an additional $25. For two people in an inside or oceanview cabin, the base credit amounts to $25 each.

Royal Caribbean will automatically cancel its Puerto Vallarta shore excursions and credit the refunds to passengers’ onboard accounts. Any refundable balance left at the end of the cruise will go back to the payment card on file. The compensation credits themselves are not refundable. Returning money for a canceled tour is separate from compensating passengers for the changed cruise.

A useful second day in Cabo

The replacement Cabo San Lucas call will run from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., giving passengers 16 hours ashore. The first visit took place on October 10 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., a day earlier than originally scheduled.

That late departure is a useful choice. Passengers have time for an excursion and an evening ashore without squeezing both into the original eight-hour window. A repeat port with a full day available is better than a token stop.

Royal Caribbean is also offering a 20% discount on its shore excursions during the second visit. Passengers can book through the line’s app or at the Shore Excursions Desk on Deck 5, near Guest Services. The discount helps those who want another organized tour, but it requires another purchase. It does little for anyone who would rather explore independently.

The weather supports canceling Puerto Vallarta

Royal Caribbean told guests it had continued tracking Simon with its meteorology team. “Unfortunately, the forecast has deteriorated, and we're unable to safely call on Puerto Vallarta, Mexico,” the line said in its letter.

The National Hurricane Center’s Monday afternoon advisory placed Simon approximately 105 miles west-southwest of Puerto Vallarta, with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph. It was moving west-northwest at 3 mph, with a northwestward turn expected Monday evening into early Tuesday, followed by a gradual turn toward the northeast.

The forecast put Simon near Las Islas Marias overnight into Tuesday and approaching Mexico’s west-central coast on Wednesday and Thursday. A hurricane watch covered part of the Pacific coastline, including Puerto Vallarta. Simon had previously reached Category 4 strength with 155 mph winds, when the destination was under a hurricane warning.

Virgin Voyages also replaced all three destinations on Brilliant Lady’s seven-night October 10 departure from Los Angeles, substituting Santa Barbara, San Diego and Ensenada for Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta.

That makes three consecutive storm-affected sailings for Brilliant Lady. Its preceding cruise lost Cabo because of swells from Rachel, while its September 26 departure was rerouted because of Hurricane Polo.

The forecast gives Royal Caribbean a clear reason to stay away from Puerto Vallarta. The compensation deserves separate scrutiny. Eight nights aboard remain intact, but three destinations do not. A $50 starting credit barely acknowledges the difference.

See current Voyager of the Seas fares and itineraries on Cruise Lookup.