Carnival Cruise Line has cancelled a second port of call on Carnival Spirit’s 16-night Panama Canal repositioning cruise, leaving passengers with just one remaining destination stop on the trans-ocean voyage.
The ship’s planned visit to Puntarenas, Costa Rica, scheduled for Saturday, 17th October 2026, was scrapped due to adverse weather conditions that forced the vessel to sail a wider route to avoid Hurricane Trudy.
The Carnival Spirit departed Seattle earlier in October 2026 on a repositioning voyage designed to move the vessel from its Alaska summer season to its winter homeport of Mobile, Alabama. The 16-night itinerary was originally planned to include three port calls – Cabo San Lucas in Mexico, Puntarenas in Costa Rica, and Cartagena de Indias in Colombia – alongside a transit of the Panama Canal.
However, Hurricane Trudy’s presence in the Eastern Pacific created significant operational challenges for the vessel. Captain Lorenzo Calogero explained to passengers that the ship was forced to sail a wider route to avoid the storm’s most severe conditions, but this deviation came at a cost.
“After sailing a wider route to avoid the most severe weather from Hurricane Trudy, strong opposite currents reduced our speed,” Captain Calogero stated in a message issued to guests onboard. The reduced speed meant the vessel could not reach the Costa Rican port within the required entry window, forcing the cancellation.
First Port Already Lost Due To Delayed Seattle Departure
The cancellation of Puntarenas marks the second port of call eliminated from this particular sailing, leaving passengers who booked the cruise expecting three destinations with just one remaining stop. The ship’s planned visit to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, was already cancelled due to delays in the vessel’s departure from Seattle, which was postponed by one day.
That initial delay had already set the itinerary on a challenging trajectory, and the weather complications have compounded the situation. With Cabo San Lucas removed from the schedule, the Puntarenas call was set to be the cruise’s first port of call, making its cancellation particularly disappointing for passengers eager to step ashore after days at sea.
The combination of operational delays and weather-related routing changes has transformed what was meant to be a destination-rich repositioning voyage into a predominantly sea day experience. Passengers will now spend the vast majority of the 16-night cruise sailing without port calls until reaching Cartagena de Indias in Colombia.
Captain Prioritises Safety Whilst Apologising For Disruption
Captain Calogero emphasised the company’s commitment to passenger and crew safety in his communication with guests, whilst acknowledging the disappointment caused by the itinerary changes. “We will spend the day at sea as we make our way to Panama. We are truly sorry the weather is interfering with our plans,” the capta
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