October 9, 2026 — Holland America Line has cancelled an upcoming Koningsdam call at Loreto, Baja California Sur, after Mexico’s government barred large cruise ships from the port.
Cruise Industry News, citing the Mexico Daily Post, reports that Loreto has been reclassified as a cabotage zone. Ships on international itineraries can no longer call there. Holland America, a Carnival Corporation brand, said its cancellation was related to a government restriction.
How the ban came about
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| Early April 2026 | A government decree authorized Loreto to receive large vessels. Residents and environmental groups objected. |
| July 2026 | Environment minister Alicia Bárcena told a working group that President Claudia Sheinbaum had ordered no cruise ships and no deep-draft port at Loreto. |
| Effective date of the reclassification | TBA; the report gives none. |
Bárcena called Loreto Bay “a natural heritage site of great importance.” Large ships are reported to threaten blue whale habitat in the area.
Ships and calls affected
- Koningsdam: one upcoming Loreto call cancelled. Date of the call and the replacement port: TBA.
- Zaandam: the 1,432-guest ship is the only large cruise ship scheduled at Loreto in 2026 and 2027, with three calls on Baja Peninsula and Mexican Riviera itineraries. The report does not say whether Holland America has cancelled them.
- Later years: the state port administration said it holds cruise arrival requests through 2030.
What it means for travelers
- Your flights do not change. Loreto is a port of call, not a homeport. Embarkation and return cities stay the same.
- Check your itinerary now if you booked a Koningsdam or Zaandam Baja or Mexican Riviera cruise for Loreto. Ask what replaces the call.
- Refund rights are limited. A single dropped port does not normally give you a refund of the fare. Line-booked excursions for a cancelled call are usually refunded.
- Loreto on your own: the town can still be reached by air through Loreto (LTO) if it was your reason for booking.
- Storm season overlap: Mexican Riviera cruises are also being rerouted for Hurricane Simon this week, so confirm every port before you sail.
Sources
- Cruise Industry News — Mexican Government Rejects Cruise Ships in Loreto
- Cruise Hive — Carnival Moves Arcadia to Holland America, Queen Anne to P&O (parent company)
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