Cozumel & Mahahual Cruise Tourism Hits Record Highs

Quintana Roo, Mexico — Cruise tourism in Cozumel and Mahahual has not only rebounded but surpassed pre-pandemic figures, with both destinations reporting significant growth in passenger arrivals during the first four months of 2025.

Record-Breaking Growth

Mahahual recorded 932,834 cruise passengers between January and April 2025, marking a 10.5% increase compared to the same period in 2024. This follows a 22% growth rate in 2024, when the port welcomed 2.2 million cruise visitors—up from 1.8 million in 2023.

Cozumel, meanwhile, reported 1.8 million cruise tourists in the first four months of 2025, a 3.5% rise over 2024. The island accounted for 44% of Mexico’s total cruise arrivals, which reached 4.2 million nationwide during the same period. If this trend continues, Cozumel could exceed its 2024 record of 4.5 million passengers and surpass 5 million by year-end—a historic milestone.

Major Investment Boosts Mahahual’s Prospects

The future of cruise tourism in Mahahual appears even brighter following Royal Caribbean’s announcement of a $600 million investment in Perfect Day Mexico, a new tourism development. The project aims to increase annual cruise passenger numbers in the region from 2 million to 5 million.

With both ports collectively hosting 2.7 million cruise passengers in early 2025—already exceeding pre-pandemic levels—the sector demonstrates robust recovery and expansion.