Cozumel Cruise Passenger Numbers Rise 7.1% in First Four Months of 2026

A large cruise ship moored at the port of Cozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Cozumel, Quintana Roo — Cozumel recorded a 7.1% increase in cruise passenger arrivals during the first four months of 2026, reinforcing its position as one of Mexico’s leading cruise destinations, according to the federal Tourism Secretariat (Sectur).

Data from Sectur and the Mexican Navy (Semar) show that between January and April, Cozumel’s port received 1,987,695 cruise passengers and 571 ship calls, a 5.2% rise in vessel operations compared to the same period in 2025.

Federal Tourism Secretary Josefina Rodríguez Zamora reported that Mexican ports overall handled 4.8 million cruise passengers in the first four months of the year, a national increase of 14.8%. The number of ship arrivals across the country reached 1,425, up 10% from the previous year.

Rodríguez Zamora emphasized that cruise activity boosts local economies through spending at restaurants, shops, transportation, and tourism services.

“The arrival of cruises generates direct benefits for host communities by driving consumption in restaurants, shops, tourism services, transportation, and recreational activities,” she said.

The Gulf-Caribbean region, which includes Cozumel, accounted for 3.1 million passengers and 885 ship calls during the period, with increases of 4.6% and 3.5%, respectively.

Rodríguez Zamora added that these results solidify Mexico’s standing as a key destination for the international cruise industry and create direct and indirect jobs in the country’s main ports.


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By Laura Castillo

Laura Castillo covers tourism, business, and economic development across Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and the wider Riviera Maya. She curates and translates the region's most important business stories — from hotel investments and airline developments to local market trends — helping English-speaking readers stay informed about the economic pulse of Mexico's Caribbean coast.

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