Key Aspects:
- Carnival Legend spent Saturday, October 11 in Acapulco as an unplanned visit after losing a visit to Cabo San Lucas to Hurricane Priscilla.
- This visit is the first time a Carnival ship has visited Acapulco in more than 15 years, but the team pulled together to offer great options to guests.
- Carnival Legend is already planning a return to Acapulco on a 2027 Carnival Journeys sailing as she moves from Tampa to Seattle ahead of the Alaska season.
Any longer, more immersive Carnival Journeys cruise can be a legendary vacation. Guests onboard Carnival Legend, however, are making Carnival Cruise Line history on their 16-night sailing between San Francisco and Galveston with an unplanned, surprise visit to Acapulco, Mexico.
The cruise line hasn’t visited the iconic Mexican destination since 2010, and in fact, Carnival Legend wasn’t scheduled to visit Acapulco on this sailing.
Hurricane Priscilla had other ideas, however. Carnival Legend departed San Francisco on Monday, October 6, 2025, just as the storm was at its most intense off the coast of the Mexican Riviera.
Guests were notified on Wednesday, October 8, that their planned visit to Cabo San Lucas would not be possible.
“The port is now closed and is expected to remain closed tomorrow,” the letter delivered to guests’ staterooms explained. “Further, rough seas in the Cabo area would hinder our ability to operate water shuttles to take you between the ship and shore.”
At that time, the revised itinerary simply had an extra day at sea on the way to Puntarenas, Costa Rica, for the planned visit on Tuesday, October 14.
This would have given Carnival Legend a total of seven full days in a row at sea before making any port visit.
With multiple rough weather systems in the region Carnival Legend has needed to sail on this voyage, however, it was possible additional changes might be necessary.
“Safety for everyone on board is a priority and, as we head south, we will be taking a course that will help us avoid the most unfavorable conditions,” the letter confirmed. “None-the-less, as we sail, we may periodically experience some strong winds and choppy seas.”
That revision was about to be revised, however. On Thursday, October 9, just when guests should have been enjoying Cabo San Lucas, they received notification of yet another change from the ship’s master, Captain Mark Harlow.
“We are making good time with sailing, and I’m pleased to inform you that we have been able to secure a visit to Acapulco, Mexico for Saturday, October 11,” the next letter read.
The 85,900-gross-ton, Spirit class ship was able to schedule a visit from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., the same length of time that the ship would have spent in Cabo San Lucas.
Before arriving in Acapulco, the Carnival Adventures team put together a number of options for eager guests.
Even with the last-minute change of plans, the team secured city tours, cliff diving shows, beach resort visits, a botanical garden visit with a lagoon cruise, a chance to release a baby sea turtle into the ocean, snorkeling, and more.
Guests were also welcome to explore the area on their own, and were advised to follow common sense safety precautions as is prudent in any port of call.
The rest of Carnival Legend‘s sailing is not yet impacted by any further changes.
The ship should still visit Costa Rica, transit the Panama Canal, and visit both Colombia and Grand Cayman before arriving in Texas on Wednesday, October 22.
Read Also: When Is the Best Time to Cruise the Mexican Riviera?
A Historic Visit – With More to Come
While this surprise visit to Acapulco is the first time Carnival Cruise Line has called on the city in 15 years, there are already plans to return.
In 2027, a 16-night repositioning cruise from Tampa to Seattle will also visit Acapulco, also operated by Carnival Legend. On that itinerary departing Florida on April 4, 2027, however, the visit is planned.
That epic sailing was just announced in July 2025 as part of Carnival Cruise Line’s “dancing of the ships” itinerary reveals for 2027. Carnival Legend will be spending the 2027 summer in Alaska, and that Carnival Journeys cruise will take her to the Last Frontier.
While Carnival Cruise Line does not visit Acapulco regularly, the destination is offered through other cruise lines. Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises all have select sailings that include Acapulco in the next few months.
Appeared first on: Cruisehive.com
