We were still in Cabo San Lucas when the news came through: Simon had officially become a hurricane. Not long after, the captain’s voice rolled through the ship, calm and steady as ever. Our scheduled stop in Mazatlán was cancelled — safety of guests and crew comes first, and the weather system forming southeast of Lázaro Cárdenas was something the ship wanted no part of.
Cruise ships have remarkable weather‑tracking technology, and the captain explained that we’d stay well clear of the storm’s center. Still, we’d likely feel some motion and pick up a bit of rain as the system passed nearby. He even gave us a timeline: the “fun” would begin around 5 PM, and by 6 AM we’d be out of danger and back to smooth sailing.
Since we were still quarantined to our stateroom, we figured a little rockin’ and rollin’ might at least make the evening interesting. But in the end… nothing much happened at all. A gentle sway here and there, barely noticeable. After so many cruises, we’ve been through far worse on perfectly ordinary sea days.
Maybe it was the size of the ship. Maybe the stabilizers were doing their quiet magic. Whatever the reason, Hurricane Simon passed without giving us more than a nudge — a reminder that sometimes the biggest storms stay far away, and the ocean decides to be kind.
We are now out of quarantine and enjoying the ship once again.
BBC News has become our steady companion on the stateroom TV, and today their broadcast carried unsettling headlines: a large earthquake struck Panama. The epicenter isn’t directly beneath where our ship is scheduled to dock, but it’s close enough that everyone onboard paused for a moment, listening a little more carefully than usual.
We were originally set to arrive at Fuerte Amador on October 14. Now, with Mazatlán dropped from the itinerary, there’s a chance we may reach Panama earlier than planned. That adds a layer of uncertainty to an already fluid situation.
For now, we’re hoping the early damage reports hold true — minimal impact, quick assessments, and safe conditions for the people ashore. Out here at sea, news travels in waves, and all we can do is stay informed, stay flexible, and trust the captain and crew to navigate whatever comes next.
Cole, our Cruise Director, shared an interesting bit of news late in the day. When the earthquake struck, the Coral Princess happened to be docked at Fuerte Amador. The terminal didn’t escape unscathed — there was smashed glass and a fair bit of cleanup needed. Passengers were held briefly while the crew made sure everything was safe and tidy again.
Once the terminal was cleared, everyone embarked, the ship sailed toward the Panama Canal, and operations returned to normal. A reminder that even when nature throws a surprise our way, the cruise teams handle it with calm professionalism.
