A satellite tv for pc picture exhibits vehicles on fireplace alongside a coastal highway in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico, Feb. 22, 2026, following the killing of drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, often called “El Mencho,” in a army operation.
Vantor | By way of Reuters
American journey firms are scrambling to reroute cruise ships and deal with vacationers to Mexico after violence and chaos erupted in a number of coastal areas within the nation following the killing of a cartel chief.
The U.S. State Division broadened its warning to vacationers to shelter in place throughout a number of areas of Mexico, together with the favored vacationer sizzling spots of Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, Tulum, Tijuana and Puerto Vallarta.
Violence erupted after the Mexican military killed Jalisco New Technology Cartel chief Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes. Generally known as “El Mencho,” he led one among fastest-growing prison networks in Mexico, infamous for trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine to the US and staging brazen assaults in opposition to authorities officers who challenged it, The Related Press reported.
As roads have been blockaded with burning automobiles, airways canceled flights and cruise traces rerouted ships to keep away from ports with potential issues.
Carnival Corp. mentioned Princess Cruises’ Royal Princess and Holland America Line’s Zuiderdam have been bypassing their deliberate stops in Puerto Vallarta on Monday. Norwegian Cruise Line mentioned its ship the Norwegian Bliss has canceled its plans to name on Puerto Vallarta on Wednesday.
MSC Cruises USA mentioned sailings to Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico, are at the moment working as deliberate, however that shore excursions could also be adjusted or canceled.
Although Royal Caribbean mentioned it does not have ships at the moment within the affected areas, CNBC has realized a few of its excursions in Ensenada, Mexico, have been affected.
Airbnb advised CNBC it had activated its “main disruptive occasions coverage” in Jalisco state and different affected areas. That coverage overrides the host’s particular person cancellation coverage, permitting vacationers and hosts to cancel reservations with out penalties.
“We’re monitoring this example fastidiously and are targeted on supporting friends and hosts in impacted areas,” an Airbnb spokesperson mentioned.
In a notice to buyers, Truist journey and leisure analyst Patrick Scholes wrote that Hyatt has essentially the most publicity of the worldwide manufacturers, with 8.5% of its room complete coming from Mexico. Marriott has the second-highest publicity, with 3.3% of its general rooms coming from Mexico.
Typical journey insurance coverage insurance policies usually carry exclusions for terrorism, political violence or civil unrest.
Squaremouth, a web based market for journey insurance coverage, warned would-be vacationers that “the violence in Mexico is now a foreseeable occasion, or what the insurance coverage business calls a recognized occasion. So vacationers cannot purchase protection now as a way to cancel their journey.”
Nevertheless, a Squaremouth spokesperson advised CNBC, “If you’re heading to Mexico quickly, particularly throughout spring break, shopping for CFAR [cancel for any reason] or IFAR [interruption for any reason] as add-ons is a great determination given the uncertainty.”

