Cruise Port Revenue in Quintana Roo Surges 36% Despite Sargasso

Cancún, Quintana Roo — The Integral Port Administration of Quintana Roo (Apiqroo) has increased its revenue by more than 36% this year, climbing from roughly 220 million pesos to over 400 million pesos ($23.5 million), according to Director Vagner Elbiorn Vega.

“We have a 36 percent surplus,” Vega said, describing the port authority’s financial performance as stronger than when he took office. He also anticipated a positive close to the year.

Cruise traffic in the state grew during the first half of 2026, with passenger numbers rising about 12% and vessel arrivals up 8% compared with the same period in 2025, Vega said.

The director said cruise operations have not suffered significant disruptions from sargasso, particularly in Cozumel, where the island’s geography and currents help reduce the seaweed’s impact on its shores.

Vega clarified that cruise terminals are not run directly by Apiqroo but by concessionaires that hold partial rights transfers and pay fees to the port authority. Revenue from a passenger tax is handled by a separate trust, he added, meaning Apiqroo does not directly decide how those funds are spent. He mentioned a possible investment of around 130 million pesos to remodel Cozumel’s boardwalk, but stressed that his office does not manage those resources.

Quintana Roo has consolidated its position as Mexico’s leading cruise destination, welcoming more than 4.2 million passengers from January to July, about 64% of the national total.