Cozumel welcomes over two million cruise passengers annually according to its Puerta Maya cruise terminal website. Cruise ships such as the Carnival Dream, the Oasis of the Seas and many others include Cozumel as a port of call on select western Caribbean itineraries. Here is an overview of the cruise ship piers on Cozumel as well as how to get around this Mexican island.
Cruise Ship Piers on Cozumel
Puerta Maya Cozumel – This two-berth cruise ship pier is the farthest from the downtown area of San Miguel which is about 5 miles or a 10-minute taxi ride. The pier was reopened in 2008 after a hurricane destroyed it in 2005. Puerta Maya has a very large and modern cruise center featuring 42 stores selling clothes, fine jewellery, art work and handmade crafts. There are a few restaurants, a pharmacy and convenience store as well.
International Pier Cozumel – This pier is used mostly by Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises ships that visit Cozumel. It is located between Punta Langosta to the north and Puerta Maya to the south. This pier is also about a 10-minute taxi ride to town (30-minute walk) versus a 15 minute drive to beaches within the Marine Park to the south. The International Pier is being widened to handle the Oasis-class ships for 2010.
Punta Langosta Pier – This pier is within walking distance of downtown San Miguel and the closest pier to this downtown shopping area. The Punta Langosta Mall is also across the street and connected by a skybridge from the pier. Norwegian Cruise Line frequently uses this pier when they have a cruise ship in Cozumel.
Cozumel Excursions and Getting Around Cozumel
Cozumel Cruise Ship Shore Excursions – For many passengers, the cruise line organized shore excursions on Cozumel is the preferred option for exploring the island. Shore excursions and their tour operators meet on the cruise pier where transportation is waiting to take passengers to their scheduled excursion.
Explore Cozumel Independently – It’s easy enough to get around Cozumel without booking a cruise line organized shore excursion. The island is only 30 miles long and 10 miles wide making it convenient to see the whole island in one day. Independent passengers can take a taxi or rent a car on their own and head to the beach, visit Chankanaab Park or book their own swim-with-dolphins experience.
Cozumel Transportation from the Cruise Pier
Taxis on Cozumel – It is best to agree on a price before departing. From the Puerta Maya pier, up to four passengers can take a taxi to downtown for the cost of $7 per cab. It will cost approximately $10 to get to Chankanaab Park, $13 to get to the Cozumel golf course and $13 to get to the Playa Mia Beach Club.
Cozumel Car Rentals – There are a number of car rental options in Cozumel. Both Avis and Alamo have car rentals at the Puerta May Cozumel Pier. In addition, Alamo has a location at the Punta Langosta pier. The typical rental car is either a four-wheel-drive jeep or a standard transmission Volkswagen.
A number of cruises are available for 2010 that stop at Cozumel, Mexico. Both the new Carnival Dream and Disney Cruises’ Disney Magic cruise roundtrip from Port Canaveral on 7-day western Caribbean cruises. Alternatively, other cruise ships have departures from Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Tampa, and Galveston, Texas.
Renee Ruggero - Renee is a published travel writer and cruise industry insider with more than 1,000 days on cruise ships, visiting over 50 countries.
