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The Mexican Caribbean continues to be the most popular destination in the country for cruises this year. In the first seven months of the year, the Mexican Caribbean welcomed over 2.1 million cruise ship passengers and managed to outperform other ports in Mexico, including Ensenada and Cabo San Lucas.
This year has seen several tourism records broken in Cancun and the Mexican Caribbean. Newly published figures from this week on cruise ship passengers indicate another resounding success for the tropical region, which attracted more cruise ship travelers than any other part of Mexico.
According to the Federal Secretary for Tourism (Sectur), Mexican Caribbean ports welcomed some 2.1 million passengers in the first seven months of the year. The figure is even more impressive when considering that the Mexican Caribbean represents around 60% of incoming cruise ship passengers in all of Mexico, highlighting the region’s persisting allure.
The Mexican Caribbean is a popular cruise ship destination thanks to its year-round tropical climate and excellent beachside resorts. Its most popular ports – Cozumel and Mahahual – have an abundance of sights, ranging from white-sand beaches to archeological ruins.
Despite its potential, the cruise ship industry has struggled to reach pre-pandemic travel numbers. Earlier this year, it was reported that Mexican Caribbean ports were gearing up for a potentially record-shattering summer season. It now looks like those estimates have materialized to an extent, but there is still room before reaching the 5-million passenger record set previously.
The Mexican Caribbean is home to several ports, but Cozumel and Mahahual are by far the biggest. Cozumel, one of the region’s top tropical island destinations, also remains the most important cruise ship destination. Its port welcomed some 1.5 million passengers in the first seven months of the year, whereas Mahaualn saw 670,000 passengers.
Some of the biggest cruise ships in the world are often spotted docking in Mexican Caribbean ports. The ships are often touring several Caribbean destinations, but the Mexican Caribbean features heavily in most itineraries.
Skyrocketing travel demand has caused travel chaos for many airlines over the summer, and now cruise companies are facing the same issue. Come fall, some cruise liners have had to cancel departures over staffing shortages, with Princess Cruises announcing that it plans to cancel 11 departures between September and November this year.
Check Out These Mexican Caribbean Cruises This Fall
Royal Caribbean, the world’s second-largest cruising company, is offering several cruise packages to the Mexican Caribbean this fall. The company is known for its affordable rates whilst also boasting some of the newest and largest cruise ships.
Its 4-night Western Caribbean cruise strikes the perfect balance between sailing the seas and visiting mainland destinations. Starting at just $188 per person in late October, the cruise stops in Cozumel, where visitors can spend the day relaxing on white-sand tropical beaches.
Norwegian Cruise Line is currently offering deals for its Caribbean 2022-2023 cruises. Its 5-day Cozumel cruise starts at $590 per person on its newly refurbished Norwegian Sky, sailing in November. The cruise departs from Miami and Norwegian and allows plenty of customization to create the perfect experience tailored to travelers’ liking.
Travelers looking for a more extended cruise should opt for Celebrity Cruises, which is offering a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise. The itinerary begins in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and includes stops at Belize and Cozumel, where passengers can enjoy a full day of island exploration. The cruise starts at $538 per person for an inside room, but passengers can splurge on the $3000 per person luxury all-inclusive The Retreat travel class, which rivals the offerings of any luxury resort.
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Jeanne Goosen
Friday 23rd of September 2022
Does any cruises stop in Cayman Island
Tyler Fox
Sunday 25th of September 2022
Hello Jeanne, thank you for your comment! There are cruises that make stops in Grand Caymand. The cruise port is located in George Town, Grand Cayman. Most big-name cruise lines have cruises to choose from that will include stops in the country. A quick "cruises going to Cayman" Google search will show several cruise lines you could pick from.
Canadace
Thursday 22nd of September 2022
The only reason we went to Caribbean Mexico is because that's the only place the cruise lines where we live sail to. I would have rather gone somewhere else.