Hurricane Rachel: What a Hurricane Does to Cruise Ships

Hurricane Rachel became a major hurricane this week, right behind Hurricane Polo, which hit Category 5 and then slammed into Baja. Here's what a Pacific "hurricane train" actually does to cruise ships at sea, why ports like Cabo San Lucas are the real weak spot, and how cruise lines reroute. Plus: why TSA officers at the ID podium now have to stand, and where New England's fall foliage is peaking right now.

Storm details are from the National Hurricane Center's advisory issued early Friday, Oct. 2, 2026 (5 a.m. ET). Storms change fast, so check nhc.noaa.gov and your cruise line for the latest.

Watch on YouTube · Subscribe

Chapters

1. 0:00 Hurricane Rachel and Polo: the Pacific hurricane train
2. 0:28 Rachel's latest from the National Hurricane Center
3. 1:18 What a hurricane does to a cruise ship at sea
4. 1:54 Why ports like Cabo are the weak spot
5. 2:22 How cruise lines reroute (and this week's changes)
6. 2:47 If you're booked on a fall Mexico cruise
7. 3:11 TSA chairs removed: officers now have to stand
8. 4:38 Your take: more alert, or just optics?
9. 4:48 Fall foliage: peak north of the mountains in New England
10. 5:39 Wrap-up