Docking in Cozumel with 5 other ships

[lowbass]

On our March 28, 2020 Symphony sailing we are scheduled to stop at Cozumel on April 1 from 8am and depart at 6pm. When I checked the Cozumel port schedule I found that there will be a total of 6 ships in port that same day including our ship. One of the other ships in port will be the Harmony of the Seas with about 6,000 passengers and the Celebrity Reflection with about 3500 passengers. There's also 2 other RCI ships in port and a Carnival ship. Altogether that seems like a lot of passengers visiting the island at the same time. My wife and I normally just take our time getting off ship in Cozumel and getting a taxi to a beach and relax for a few hours. I've never known it to be this many ships in port at the same time on Cozumel. I'm wondering if it's going to be difficult to find a nice quiet beach and just relax like normal.

 

Anyone have experience with a loaded port and any problems trying to enjoy your day in port?

[Tree_skier]

We were in Cozumel in December and there were 8 or 9 ships in port our day.  The port area was quite crowded but we got to far side of the island to a nice beach area and it was really quite quiet there.

 

 

 

 

The red pin is where we were.  There is a small bar/restaurant/shop on one side of the road and nice quiet secluded beach area on the other side.

Edited February 9, 2020 by Tree_skier

[bigeagle12]

There were 10 ships there on Thanksgiving day and it was fine.

[lazydayz]

I wouldn't worry about six ships.  That seems pretty normal for Cozumel. 

[mayleeman]

@Tree_skier That beach looks great. Did you take a taxi?

[Joebucks]

I've been there with 6 ships, and you would have never have known unless you physically looked or read someone freaking out about it on cruise critic

[grouchomarx]

I was there in December and there were 8 ships in port.  The only time things got hairy was meeting up for tours, they crushed everyone into a small place.  I started to get very annoyed but once tours started leaving things cleared up and it was fine. So if you just avoid that meeting place the rest of the area is normal and not crowded at all.  

[coaster]

It will be ok once you get to downtown. I walk a few blocks inland anyway as the drink prices drop once you get off the main drag. Worse part was being next to the MSC Seaside and they thought they owned the entire dock with their excursion tours blocking the pier. 

[2chiefs]

One other consideration is that there are several docks including one near town. So they're not all at the same place at the same time. We've never seen overcrowding with 8 or more ships in Coz at the same time.

[crewsweeper]

19 hours ago, Tree_skier said:

We were in Cozumel in December and there were 8 or 9 ships in port our day.  The port area was quite crowded but we got to far side of the island to a nice beach area and it was really quite quiet there.

 

 

 

 

The red pin is where we were.  There is a small bar/restaurant/shop on one side of the road and nice quiet secluded beach area on the other side.

 Playa San Martin?

[Tree_skier]

9 hours ago, mayleeman said:

@Tree_skier That beach looks great. Did you take a taxi?

No, it was a stop as part of our excursion but you could easily take a taxi there. There were others who arrived independently 

[Blondiemomm]

When we were there last week there was 11 ships docked. It was busy but they come and go at different times. 

[c-leg5]

2 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

No, it was a stop as part of our excursion but you could easily take a taxi there. There were others who arrived independently 

Not so easy to take a  taxi on a cruise ship day unless you have it wait for you. 
 

Alternative is self-drive (an issue in itself), or various drive excursions. 
 

As Crew says, upstairs at bar across from San Martin?

[CaribbeanCrushed]

There were 8 ships in port during our January cruise. Had to wait about 20 minutes for a taxi. Made our way to Chankanaab where it wasn't crowded at all. Found seats for five on the beach. There was lots of traffic heading back to town. 

[Drock20J]

21 hours ago, grouchomarx said:

The only time things got hairy was meeting up for tours, they crushed everyone into a small place. 

We had 5 ships when I was there in January and I agree this was the worst part. Not terrible, just crammed.

 

Once we got away from the port, there was no worry about too many people.