Cozumel’s 2026 Cruise Boom & Marina Upgrades

Cozumel, Mexico — The municipal coordinator of the Administration Portuaria Integral de Quintana Roo (APIQROO) in Cozumel, Miguel Alberto Alonso Marrufo, has announced that the port has received an invitation to welcome the cruise ship "Queen Elizabeth" on its inaugural call to the island.

"I want to inform you that we received an invitation from the Puerta Maya terminal to attend the first arrival of the 'Queen Elizabeth' on November 4th here on the island of Cozumel. This is significant for the Island of Cozumel, which continues to be a very important destination for cruise ships," he emphasized.

Alonso Marrufo explained that in statewide planning meetings, it was projected that Cozumel will end the year "very strong, we are going to have around 1,285 cruise ships by the end of the entire 2025 period." He also noted that consignee agencies commented that "2026 is going to be even stronger; these are good numbers for the Island of Cozumel."

He added that with the arrival of these cruise ships, the economic reactivation of Cozumel will become a reality. He stated that the months referred to as the low season have been critical, but that the high season will arrive in the second half of November to generate positive numbers.

Planned Infrastructure Projects for 2026

Regarding the projects that APIQROO has planned for Cozumel in 2026, Miguel Alberto Alonso revealed that they are considering the remodeling of the Municipal ramp to give it the official required inclination and make it safe for users. Additionally, plans are underway for the remodeling of the 'Banco Playa' Marina shelter port, a project that is already in progress to be presented to the Council.

"It is a Marina from the 60s-70s and it has not received the maintenance it truly requires. Today we are maintaining our 'travel lift,' which has seen several years of use, and we have to have it at one hundred percent before the hurricane season concludes; this comes as a commitment to provide better service to users, and in 2026 the Banco Playa Marina will undergo a significant remodeling," specified the interviewee.

He stated that the remodeling project for the shelter port includes creating a dry marina, acquiring a forklift to lift vessels up to 32 feet in length, a space for up to 72 boat slips, and the installation of a chain of stores to provide services. Furthermore, the project includes the creation of a fuel supply station and restrooms on the other side of the Lighthouse.

"We are going to give the opportunity to all people who have their vessels in the water to be able to haul them out, as they have asked us this question, because we do not have a dry marina. This will allow for the generation of several spaces for the Banco Playa Marina; as well as for the subdivisions being built nearby that request to have their vessels in the shelter port," detailed Alonso Marrufo.