Where do all the cruise people go?

[mcpowell]

We have a family trip to Cozumel in July. My son and I will be diving each morning, and will join my wife & daughters afterwards each day. We’ll be staying in town at the El Cantil.

Based in the ship schedule, it looks like anywhere from 4000 to 10,000 people show up daily on the cruise ships! Where do they all go?

I’m sure my non-divers won’t just be sitting and waiting for our return (at least not every day), so I’m looking towards the good folks on scubaboard for advice on what to do and where to go, to avoid massive crowds. We have a rental car for the week, so drives are no problem.

Does the city absorb the crowd without a problem, or does it get a bit swollen?

And to borrow a term from a snowskiing forum “WE’RE STOKED”!

 

[kmarks]

For the most part, yeah, the city absorbs the crowd pretty well. Many cruisers don't get much farther than the pier, or end up just walking around the Centro area, without straying too far off of Melgar. You'll find a lot of cruisers blown away at the $1 beer offers in the shops on Melgar. They are pretty much only there between about 10 and 3, maybe some will be there a little earlier/later depending ships' schedules. Cruisers do tend to spread out as well, going to places like Chankanaab for dolphin encounters or the many beach clubs for a day of drunken sunbathing and splashing in the water. Some go diving, some go snorkeling. If you go to a place like Money Bar or Mr. Sancho's, there will be cruisers, but you won't likely feel overrun with them. Since you have a car, you can go to the east side of the island. There won't be cruisers there. Or electricity in most places.

Make sure you check in with the July roll call thread.

 

[robint]

Being that I have been to Cozumel on a cruise ship several times, I can tell you that most cruise ship people take excursions over to PDC for the day, or go snorkeling boat, or to a beach down south end of island. Some stay in town and shop for a few hours before returning to ships. Sounds like only 2-3 ships in that day, which is very light. In winter there can be 7-9 ships in...those days can be crazy but Cozumel seems to handle the crowds really well.

 

[claymore]

If someone in your family likes sparkly baubles Coz can get expensive.

 

[deepsea21]

If someone in your family likes sparkly baubles Coz can get expensive.

NO shopping for sparkly baubles in Coz or any other port in the Caribbean. My wife worked in the jewelry industry for years and unless you have that experience, travel with a jeweler's loupe and are a certified gemologist, one is going to get burned.

 

[Dogbowl]

I’m often surprised at how few cruisers I see on my walks on Melgar. I know the cruise ships are there cause I see them but where’s all the people? Maybe I’m on Melgar at the wrong times. They do spread out quite seamlessly.

 

[ggunn]

I’m often surprised at how few cruisers I see on my walks on Melgar. I know the cruise ships are there cause I see them but where’s all the people? Maybe I’m on Melgar at the wrong times.

One might argue that you are on Melgar at the right times.

 

[Christi]

Since you have a car, you can go to the east side of the island. There won't be cruisers there. Or electricity in most places.

Actually - there are several TOURS that bring masses of them the the East side beaches. Mainly the "Bar Hop", the Jeep tours - they overrun whichever beach club(s) they go to for 1 - 2 hours per group. I stay away from the East side as well on heavy cruise ship days.

 

[kmarks]

Actually - there are several TOURS that bring masses of them the the East side beaches. Mainly the "Bar Hop", the Jeep tours - they overrun whichever beach club(s) they go to for 1 - 2 hours per group. I stay away from the East side as well on heavy cruise ship days.

That's too bad. I had always heard that was a great way to get away from the crowds. I can't begrudge cruisers too much, considering half my trips to Cozumel have been courtesy of a cruise ship. But I'm one of the good ones, I promise!

 

[northernone]

Here's my fun observations.

Seems they mainly run laps around the island in rental vehicles or wander the main drag looking at trinkets. That is those who don't buy a tour of some kind. Diving, beaches, snorkeling, booze, horses, more booze etc. A bunch more stay close to the port in the "secure" area.

It's rare to see them past 10 ave unless it's on the traversal gas station.

Absorbs the crowds well I'd say. Doesn't feel overrun as there's a pretty big tourist zone.