Fair warning for shoppers going through Port

Just an FYI, recently took cruise that stopped at Cozumel. The ship did not dock up the shore at Puerta Maya Pier - darn it. We stopped at the pier you have to go up and around and through before you can get to the street. If you do plan on buying anything, please shop around as one store comparison had an item for sale at $45 and another store around the bend had the same item for $3.

I think that goes for most Caribbean ports.

The closer you are to the ports or tourist areas, the more you pay.

Yes, and the better you can barter the better off you will be.

A simple purse in one area, will be half the cost in another.

And boy do they work on getting you in there shop.

Sea Ya

I'm not sure that the vast majority of cruisers get the whole "port" thing really. We just came from Puerta Maya a few weeks ago and the stores where jumping! We walked across the street and found things much more reasonable on the whole. I could see glances and looks from a lot of people as we walked past "security" and into "Mexico"!

Let me just remind those reading that these people certainly aren't bad people, and Cozumel probably ranks as one of the highest "safe" ports in my book. Now I certainly wouldn't do too much of this in Ocho Rios, but this is about Cozumel.

If you dock in Puerta Maya, take the time to walk across the street. Yes, you get asked to walk into every store you pass, and asked to walk down a few alleys to see things. The items don't change much, but occasionally one store will have something another one doesn't. Haggle with them, they are expecting it! Be willing to walk away and a lot of times they will stop you before you do and agree to your price or something reasonable.

On our last trip we walked across the street and turned left to the shops just past the gas station. They are similar to some flea market shops in the states. We were there late one evening as some were closing up and even "at dark" it wasn't all that bad. I may be naive, but these people want and need the tourism and know that it is about all they have.

I spent probably 30 minutes talking to one of the ladies at a shop the next day as my wife had to return to the ship for a little more cash. (I couldn't live without the bowl I found of chips and dip...but we had spent all our cash on gifts for her kids at school :D). Anyway, the people that keep asking you to come look around are usually working on commission. If they can get you in the store, they get a piece of whatever you spend. Some of the stores were pretty deep in there and you might not otherwise even see them. These "barkers" are essentially billboards and advertising for them.

She walked back across the street with my wife and I so we didn't have to come all the way back (and to enure we would close the transaction ;)). Security at the gate was hesitant to even let her in the taxi area because she wasn't an authorized Puerta Maya vendor/employee. I vouched for her and he allowed her in, but she didn't go any further than the parking lot. She told me that the Puerta Maya shops pay a commission to CCL to be able to open stores there. Her friends tell her that it is about 25% of sales goes to the cruise line. True or false, I have no way of knowing, but it makes sense to me. Ever notice that all the stores are pretty similar from port to port? How many Fat Tuesdays does the Caribbean really need? They've got the contract with CCL to provide those services in port.

Across the street at the "flea market" they pay rent back to the gas station owner. He apparently owns a few similar locations in the area all with the same general stuff. The process is all the same, the rates and prices are just a lot different.

So the point? Just be a little adventurous and walk across the street, or go really bold and take a taxi into downtown! Try a little Spanish you may remember from high school and you may likely get a smile back from someone that cares that you are at least trying. It is all part of the experience...

As a resident of Central Florida, Disney represents my hometown as much as going to Puerta Maya means you went to Cozumel :p

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE shopping in downtown San Miguel. I am always dumbfounded by the people who only go to the cruise built port area, and never see the real Cozumel. So friendly, safe, bright, colorful and fun!!

Just an FYI, recently took cruise that stopped at Cozumel. The ship did not dock up the shore at Puerta Maya Pier - darn it. We stopped at the pier you have to go up and around and through before you can get to the street. If you do plan on buying anything, please shop around as one store comparison had an item for sale at $45 and another store around the bend had the same item for $3.

So you docked in town at Punta Langosta Pier? You say darn it??? I say Lucky you!! You can walk right off the ship and be in town. Hang out at the local shops, square, restaurants until you need to be back on the ship, then just stroll back. No need for a taxi to take you to and from town. I'd say that was a stroke of luck!

We had bought these beautifully painted glasses on a side street in Cozumel for $10 a piece. When we headed back to the ship, one of "those shops" at the pier had the same glasses, $25 a piece, $22 if I bought 6. Such a deal! Lesson, don't be afraid to walk away from crazy high prices, you're buying chock-keys(sp?) not a life saving drug.

So you docked in town at Punta Langosta Pier? You say darn it??? I say Lucky you!! You can walk right off the ship and be in town. Hang out at the local shops, square, restaurants until you need to be back on the ship, then just stroll back. No need for a taxi to take you to and from town. I'd say that was a stroke of luck!

Our very first cruise many years back went there. When we returned later I couldn't figure out why things seemed so different as we were at Puerta Maya. A little research later and I quickly found out that commercialism had stepped in :). I distinctly remember that we were able to walk down the pier and there was a little bar/restaurant on the right with steps to walk into the water and snorkel. It was our first cruise and our first "experience" like that. Little did we know that the bag of food the sold us would turn into a tropical fish feeding frenzy that freaked us both out! Ah, how I'd love to do it again :D

Our last cruise in June 2014 made an unscheduled stop at Punta Langusta also; they said due to rough seas at Puerta Maya. It was no big deal and it gave us the chance to see something different.

Our first 2 times to Cozumel, we tendered into downtown. It was great. On subsequent visits, I was disappointed to be further down, requiring a taxi...and I do hate those manufactured "port shop" areas. I believe many people prefer shopping in that area as it is "safe", but Cozumel is one of the safest ports in the Caribbean, imo.

The one plus to the new piers outside of downtown is that they are closer to the west side beaches and typically a few dollars cheaper in taxi fare. I'd still prefer to pay the extra dollar or two though and be downtown.