Cabo San Lucas cruise tender risk as Lorena nears

Published on Sep 3, 2025, 8:38 am CDT

6 min read

Harbor authorities in Los Cabos have restricted small-craft navigation as Hurricane Lorena pushes high swells and gusty winds toward the cape. Cabo San Lucas is a tender port, so large ships may still anchor, but tender operations can be suspended with little notice if sea state exceeds safe thresholds. Travelers with Cabo calls between September 5 and September 6 should watch shipboard apps closely, plan refundable excursions, and keep flexible plans ashore.

Key Points

Why it matters: Small-craft limits raise the chance that a Cabo San Lucas cruise tender is paused or canceled.
Travel impact: Ship arrivals may anchor as scheduled, but tendering can stop quickly, delaying shore time or skipping the call.
What's next: Watches and warnings around Baja California Sur continue, with peak surf and squalls likely through Friday.
Port status: Capitanía de Puerto in Los Cabos has limited navigation for smaller vessels due to swell, wind, and currents.
Your move: Monitor your ship's app, request early tour refunds, and carry a backup plan near the marina.

Snapshot

Lorena strengthened near Baja California Sur on September 3, bringing hazardous surf and convective squalls to Los Cabos. Local harbor authorities have restricted smaller vessels, a common precaution that does not automatically halt big-ship arrivals at the Cabo anchorage. Because Cabo San Lucas is a tender-only port, the true bottleneck is sea state at the tender platforms. When tenders are suspended, ships usually hold offshore, delay disembarkation, or, if conditions persist, move on. For the next two days, plan refundable tours, watch for early-morning app pushes about tender tickets, and expect red or yellow beach flags. If you are flying in or out, leave extra time to reach Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) during bouts of heavy rain.

Background

Cabo San Lucas handles cruise calls at anchor with ship-to-shore tenders rather than a pier. That makes operations highly sensitive to swell height, wind waves, and cross-chop around the tender platforms. When conditions build, the Capitanía de Puerto often restricts or closes navigation for smaller craft, including many tour boats, even while cruise ships remain safely at anchor. Similar restrictions were imposed during recent Eastern Pacific storms and high-surf events. For travelers, that translates to last-minute tender pauses, shortened port calls, or tour cancellations if boats cannot safely operate beyond the breakwater. For context on how Pacific weather can disrupt Mexican Riviera itineraries, see Carnival Panorama listing during Mexican Riviera storm and our broader storm coverage in Tropical Storm Ivo Intensifies Near Baja.

Latest Developments

Small-craft limits in Los Cabos, and what it means for tender timing

Local outlets report that the Capitanía de Puerto in Los Cabos has limited navigation for embarcaciones menores due to Lorena's approach, citing elevated swell, strong currents, and gusty winds. The National Hurricane Center indicates Lorena has strengthened near Baja California Sur, with tropical-storm-force conditions possible around the cape and surf hazards through Friday. Practically, large-ship calls may still anchor on schedule, but Cabo tender lines can pause or shut down on short notice. Expect morning status checks by the bridge team, rolling tender windows, and elevated cancellation rates for independent small-boat tours. If your ship begins distributing timed tender tickets, secure the earliest available window, and be prepared for holds between boat cycles if the sea state spikes.

Scheduled cruise calls, September 5-6, subject to marine conditions

Friday, September 5: Carnival Panorama, 630 a.m.-230 p.m., tender. Ovation of the Seas scheduled to arrive late evening and anchor overnight.
Saturday, September 6: Ovation of the Seas, tender operations scheduled until about 100 p.m.; Carnival Firenze, 1000 a.m.-6:00 p.m., tender. Times are estimates and frequently adjusted around swell and launch safety. Monitor your ship's app for any change from "tendered" to "at anchor, tendering suspended."

Analysis

Cabo's risk calculus is simple, and it pivots on tender safety rather than the anchorage itself. A modern cruise ship can ride out moderate swell comfortably off the cape, but the small craft that actually move people to the pier must meet stricter operating envelopes for freeboard, boarding stability, and approach angle at the tender platforms. As Lorena's swell trains wrap into the bay, conditions can change within an hour, producing cross-chop that forces the bridge to pause or shut tendering. That is why Cabo San Lucas cruise tender operations stop more often than full port closures during Eastern Pacific storms.

For travelers, two tactics improve outcomes. First, book ship-operated tours in Cabo when storms lurk, since cruise lines auto-refund if the call is canceled or shortened, and your meeting point is usually adjusted to the ship's timing. Second, keep your day ashore modular. Avoid prepaid, independent small-boat tours, and prefer walk-up activities near the marina that you can abort quickly if the sea state worsens. If you are connecting to or from Los Cabos International Airport, pad ground time because heavy rain can slow traffic corridors between the marina and SJD. Expect red or yellow beach flags, lifeguard advisories, and sporadic closures on exposed beaches, even if skies are bright between squalls.

Final Thoughts

Cabo often threads the needle during Eastern Pacific storms, with ships at anchor but tenders on pause. Lorena's timing aligns with a busy weekend slate, so assume rolling tender windows and watch the sea state more than the sky. Keep plans refundable, favor ship tours, and build a marina-area backup that you can execute on short notice. If tendering is greenlit, board early to maximize your time ashore. If it is suspended, expect an at-sea day and the usual onboard adjustments. Either way, cautious planning protects your Cabo San Lucas cruise tender.