New "Cozumel Plus"

[reerun25]

CARNIVAL EXTENDS TIME IN PORT IN COZUMEL TO PROVIDE EXCITING NEW SHORE EXCURSION CHOICES ON THE ISLAND AND MEXICO’S MAINLAND

New Extra-Long ‘Cozumel Plus’ Tours Include Swimming with Whale Sharks, Exploring Undersea Caverns, Visits to Centuries-Old Ruins, Including Chichen Itza, and More

 

MIAMI (April 18, 2016) – Carnival Cruise Line has extended the length of time its ships spend in Cozumel, Mexico, on more than 750 voyages, providing guests with even more opportunities to experience and explore one of the Caribbean’s most diverse vacation destinations.

On “Cozumel Plus” itineraries, guests now have access to a variety of new excursions, many taking place on Mexico’s mainland – with unforgettable tours like swimming with whale sharks, visiting centuries-old ruins and swimming in hidden caverns, just to name a few, complementing nearly 50 existing tours already available.

Carnival is kicking off its new Cozumel Plus itineraries with a special promotion offering a $25 per person shipboard credit that can be used toward shore excursions. The shipboard credit offer is available through April 22, 2016, when booking in combination with Carnival’s Early Saver rates.

Designated by a special notation on Carnival’s web site, Cozumel Plus itineraries are operated by 17 different Carnival ships offering more than 750 four- to eight-day cruises from six U.S. homeports along the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico. Carnival Cruise Line offers the greatest variety of cruises to Cozumel than any other cruise operator, providing guests with unparalleled choice and convenience in their shore excursion options.

The additional time in port has enabled Carnival’s shore excursion experts to partner with local tour operators to create one-of-a-kind excursion offerings that allow guests to fully immerse themselves in Mexican culture and participate in truly unique landside experiences.

Cozumel Plus tours are up to eight hours in duration and include everything from extended, day-long tours visiting ancient Mayan ruins, including Chichen Itza – one of the Seven Wonders of the World dating back to 750 A.D. – to snorkeling the exquisite turquoise waters of Xel-Ha, a magnificent group of lagoons connected by a series of bridges.

On other excursions, guests can explore Mexico’s famed “secret river,” subterranean caverns connected by underground waterways with stunning natural rock formations that are millions of years old or participate in a seasonal excursion of swimming in open waters with whale sharks – gentle sea creatures measuring up to 40 feet in length and weighing up to 47,000 pounds.

Of course, the additional time in port provides guests with more time to check out Cozumel’s legendary white-sand beaches, excellent fishing, snorkeling and water sports, and unique shopping and dining opportunities.

Cruises visiting Cozumel dock at Puerta Maya, Carnival’s modern three-berth facility in Cozumel which, in addition to offering easy access to the various tours via an on-site transportation center, includes a variety of retail shops, boutiques and restaurants, enhancing guests’ on-shore experience.

“With magnificent beaches and interesting landmarks and historical sites, Cozumel is the Caribbean’s premier cruising region and our ‘Cozumel Plus’ itineraries provide our guests with a seemingly endless variety of new ways to explore this fascinating destination,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “These new itineraries provide our guests with the opportunity to create wonderful vacation memories and our travel agent partners an exciting cruise option to market to their clients.”

[Podna's]

Yet more wonderful news from Carnival. Cozumel is easily their most popular stop on the Western Caribbean routes and a favorite of my family. Well done Carnival.

[lady_cruiser]

I saw this, this morning on Facebook. Now my sister and I can finally take the ferry and see the Mainland without feeling scared that we might miss the ship.

[RiotAct]

Good deal!

[Keys2Heaven]

Going to Chichen Itza would be the only reason for us to return to Cozumel.

[smitty89]

I was really excited to read this as both of the cruises we have booked hit Cozumel! I went and looked at the new times on Carnival.com and was really disappointed. One of our cruises is listed as a Cozumel Plus cruise, however, the time we're spending there didn't change at all! The other is not listed as a plus cruise. Bummer! We do our own excursions, so it wouldn't help us to take advantage of the OBC offer either. I'm really interested to see if anyone else's port time changes with this new offer.

[jimbo5544]

I saw this, this morning on Facebook. Now my sister and I can finally take the ferry and see the Mainland without feeling scared that we might miss the ship.

 

 

I agree, we did this on a previous cruise and only had about 2 1/2 hours to explore and have some fun. This would significantly enhance this as an opportunity.

[LMaxwell]

Longer port calls and new excursion options are always a positive improvement IMO

[WLHyatt]

I am interested in the roll out of this, hopefully they'll add it to some of the existing cruises.

[cmukid87]

I don't think it will change my plans for excursions but an extra hour to enjoy Cozumel is a real plus!

[reerun25]

I was really excited to read this as both of the cruises we have booked hit Cozumel! I went and looked at the new times on Carnival.com and was really disappointed. One of our cruises is listed as a Cozumel Plus cruise, however, the time we're spending there didn't change at all! The other is not listed as a plus cruise. Bummer! We do our own excursions, so it wouldn't help us to take advantage of the OBC offer either. I'm really interested to see if anyone else's port time changes with this new offer.

 

Not sure I would be disappointed yet.. There may be some glitches in the system while they update everything, so I would keep an eye on it, it may change..

[ja_martin]

I'm very interested in this as I have a few upcoming cruises going to Cozumel, and I'd love to see Chichenitza.

[Mutumbojimbo]

I was expecting to see overnights, and maybe that will happen eventually, but for our cruise in October, the time in port has not changed, at least not yet. There were several Cozumel Plus excursions, but we will only be there from 8 am to 5 pm. I'm sticking with our planned excursion, at least for now.

[Je Souhaite]

I saw this, this morning on Facebook. Now my sister and I can finally take the ferry and see the Mainland without feeling scared that we might miss the ship.

 

There was a time when the ship would stop near the shore and drop off and tender anyone wishing to explore the mainland. Was this discontinued? Now you have to ferry both ways?

 

In any case, Cozumel has NEVER been even in my top anything to visit. I'd rather they skip it altogether. Give me 2 days in Grand Cayman instead.

[waywyrd]

Longer port calls and new excursion options are always a positive improvement IMO

Agreed. Cozumel is one of our favorite ports, more time there would be much appreciated.

[selljd]

I was really excited to read this as both of the cruises we have booked hit Cozumel! I went and looked at the new times on Carnival.com and was really disappointed. One of our cruises is listed as a Cozumel Plus cruise, however, the time we're spending there didn't change at all! The other is not listed as a plus cruise. Bummer! We do our own excursions, so it wouldn't help us to take advantage of the OBC offer either. I'm really interested to see if anyone else's port time changes with this new offer.

 

Ours in October is marked Plus also (Oct 24 Triumph out of NOLA) - time still the same 8A-5P.:(

[Bases5]

Our last cruise to Cozumel was changed to a concert cruise. our time changed from 6 pm to midnight.

The time change did not show up on our Doc's for 6 weeks after we were notified.

On some site's it never changed.

[Bases5]

There was a time when the ship would stop near the shore and drop off and tender anyone wishing to explore the mainland. Was this discontinued? Now you have to ferry both ways?

 

In any case, Cozumel has NEVER been even in my top anything to visit. I'd rather they skip it altogether. Give me 2 days in Grand Cayman instead.

 

Different strokes .

You could skip the Cayman islands as far as we are concerned.

Then again we love having the ship to ourselves on Cayman day.

[Raxter54]

Our Feb 18 cruise on the Freedom is listed as Cozumel Plus. Looks like we are getting an extra hour in port. I'll take it, an extra hour at Nachi Cocom is always good :D

[BAV2005]

Where will it be listed if it's changed? I have a 7 day booked in September (which includes Cozumel) and a 4 day just to Cozumel book for next March (which would be a perfect cruise for a longer stay since it's our only stop [emoji2])

[cruizinisthebest]

Different strokes .

You could skip the Cayman islands as far as we are concerned.

Then again we love having the ship to ourselves on Cayman day.

 

ITA. Haven't been in a rush to go back there and definitely wouldn't want 2 days there. The beach is gorgeous but that's the case on many, much more interesting islands.

[elainmir]

I love Cozumel it's one of my favorite ports...the people, the area...I love exploring it and find something new each time. I want to do the El Cielo Snorkel Tour so badly ( last time it was cancelled due to severely windy weather) and to do that without getting left by Carnival was only possible with the Cozumel Plus! I'm excited we'll get to try it again. I think Carnival could do alot better by giving you MORE time in ports...that would be huge for me.

[justusfour2014]

Longer port calls and new excursion options are always a positive improvement IMO

 

Agreed.

[crysanne]

My April Triumph cruise is now a Cozumel Plus cruise. The original port time was 9 to 4 (original invoice), and now it shows 8 to 5 in my cruise manager. Was not quite what I anticipated when I read "extended"...but, hey, I'll take it. :)

[BAV2005]

I just looked and my time in Cozumel was shortrned[emoji22] it was 7:30-4:30 not its 9-4!!! Wth!