New "Cozumel Plus"

[Ellusionz]

I've always wanted to do the swim with the whale sharks! Says its for a limited time tho, we're already booked for our Bahamas one this year... hope it comes around again next year.

[winddawn]

Well I guess I'm in the minority. I do not like it when the ship stays in a port past "normal" hours because it means that nothing on the ship will open until later in the night. No casino, no shops, etc.

 

I see this as another example of cost-cutting where Carnival can burn less fuel to save money. They've found so many ways to do that that last few years--opting for more cruises with closer ports and more time in port where fuel isn't used.

 

I'm happy for people that would choose this option, but I'm not one of them. These will be cruises that I'll avoid. I'll opt for cruises with more traditional hours where I can experience typical port days and typical time on the ship which I greatly enjoy.

[Podna's]

Well I guess I'm in the minority. I do not like it when the ship stays in a port past "normal" hours because it means that nothing on the ship will open until later in the night. No casino, no shops, etc.

 

 

 

I see this as another example of cost-cutting where Carnival can burn less fuel to save money. They've found so many ways to do that that last few years--opting for more cruises with closer ports and more time in port where fuel isn't used.

 

 

 

I'm happy for people that would choose this option, but I'm not one of them. These will be cruises that I'll avoid. I'll opt for cruises with more traditional hours where I can experience typical port days and typical time on the ship which I greatly enjoy.

 

 

You definitely lost me on this being a cost cutting change. My upcoming Cozumel stop on the Triumph went from 8-5 to 7-5. So we will not be staying later. And aren't casinos and shops huge profit makers for the cruise line? How is this cost cutting? Maybe I'm missing something.

[BenjiRodney]

Like that they are doing this, but of course the Vista cruise I have booked that stops in Cozumel is not part of it. Bummed.

[skyeman27]

Looking forward to a St Thomas Plus, think St Johns, in the future maybe...

[mjallessio@gmail.com]

I've always wanted to do the swim with the whale sharks! Says its for a limited time tho, we're already booked for our Bahamas one this year... hope it comes around again next year.

 

For my cruise in June they sold out right away so if you decide to take a cruise to Cozumel better grab it ASAP.....

[JaniceB]

Need to check if my upcoming cruise is part of this. Sounds like some exciting new options.

[Lurkyloo]

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

 

Ours for Glory April 2017 is now marked Cozumel Plus, and times still 8 - 5 as well! I'm confused - how much more time can we expect to be there?

[Micahs Grandad]

Looking forward to a St Thomas Plus, think St Johns, in the future maybe...

 

That would be awesome. Always feel rushed when going to St Johns.

[JohnSpo]

If you are already booked, do you still get the $25 OBC or is it for new bookings?

[dave_k58]

our 7/24 Breeze is listed as a Plus Cruise - hours are 8a - 6p according to my booking info that I checked last night. Not sure if it changed or not because I never really noticed before.

[Viesczy]

I just checked our cruise on the Dream and we're there another hour, I hope that the folks whose cruise show as Coz + but still show 8-5 will get that hour.

 

FWIW I think Cozumel is a great stop, there's always something to do. We were just there twice on a Princess B2B and going again on the Dream.

[Lurkyloo]

1. If you are already booked, do you still get the $25 OBC or is it for new bookings?

Funny you should ask - I called Carnival this morning to see if we could get onboard credit, but the Cozumel Plus cruise price was more than the price we are booked at so it made no sense to switch. Different cruises, of course, may differ but I suspect the Cozumel Plus cruise prices are higher so if you are already booked you won't get it.

[Cruisegirl6]

Windawn I totally agree with you....for us Cozumel's beach is not nice at all, perhaps because I live in Florida with a lot more nicer beaches heck, even our worst beach area is an improvement for what you get in Cozumel.

We cruise because we want the ship not the ports, when we want ports, we will go to an island on a land based vacation, which I have to say we always go back now yearly to Aruba we love it there tremendously!

 

Im on a cruise for a cruise not for the ports and we generally choose a cruise with the most sea days, happens to be my next cruise next week we go to four ports (yuck not one of them is anything to be desired) but at least Costa Maya we get the heck out of there at 2pm so its like another sea day.

 

Cozumel really doesn't offer anything good in that port, ok, snorkeling may be good and the mexican cuisine excursion that they used to have was one of my favorites but there really isn't anything worth seeing in Cozumel, I find it a useless port...now go to the southern caribbean islands is another story, but I can't understand people going to an island just to have a handful of hours there you just don't get to experience and see the island in entirety.

 

What Carnival is doing is trying to get passengers stay on the Island so the island can make more money, perhaps in return, Carnival isgetting a "deal" on taxes/fees from Cozumel? If you think about it, Carnival is not making any money by having its passengers on the island other than booking up shore excursions as they only get a certain percentage, its in their best interest to keep passengers on the ship where they spend money in bingo, drinks and casino to name a couple of things.

Edited April 19, 2016 by lyndamr

[KatieCharlotte]

Well I guess I'm in the minority. I do not like it when the ship stays in a port past "normal" hours because it means that nothing on the ship will open until later in the night. No casino, no shops, etc.

 

I see this as another example of cost-cutting where Carnival can burn less fuel to save money. They've found so many ways to do that that last few years--opting for more cruises with closer ports and more time in port where fuel isn't used.

 

I'm happy for people that would choose this option, but I'm not one of them. These will be cruises that I'll avoid. I'll opt for cruises with more traditional hours where I can experience typical port days and typical time on the ship which I greatly enjoy.

 

I don't really see this as a cost-cutting measure. If the other ports don't change, they won't save on fuel. It doesn't sound like they plan to cruise to Cozumel and just park there for the entire cruise. Actually, from what people are reporting, the time extensions seem minimal.

 

I do see it as a marketing ploy to promote these cruises and some pricy longer excursions.

[BrotherCraig]

We love Cozumel. I lived in Florida (clearwater) and South Carolina (Myrtle Beach) and we still love Cozumel and the beaches there. With that said, very happy that they just made our Breeze cruise a Cozumel Plus cruise. I just wish they could do the same with Roatan. Roatan is our favorite cruise port. Would love to get 12 hours there because 10 is not nearly enough. Same with Belize when you go out to the Cayes. 8 hours is too short to really enjoy Belize and what it all has to offer.

[Raxter54]

We love Cozumel. I just wish they could do the same with Roatan. Roatan is our favorite cruise port. Would love to get 12 hours there because 10 is not nearly enough. Same with Belize when you go out to the Cayes. 8 hours is too short to really enjoy Belize and what it all has to offer.

 

Agree with you about Roatan. Would love a couple extra hours snorkeling at Tabyana Beach :-)

[JawjaFatBoy]

Sounds like good news to me! That said, we stopped in Cozumel last year aboard the Valor and my wife and I were very disappointed in the new pier. When we went in 2011, we docked at a pier right in town, but the new location requires a cab ride just to get TO town. The new pier and shopping area are just a generic tourist trap.

[Bridgot]

We are cruising June 5, 2016 out of NOLA on the Dream and our Cozumel time was changed from 9-5 to 7-5. We booked one of the new excursions Xel- Ha Paradise, it is listed as a Cozumel plus.

[webzila]

The cruise I have booked is now labeled as Cozumel Plus but the times have not changed. It was 7 to 4 and still the same now

[Cruisegirl6]

Mine is even more hours 9-6 this is horrible!! :(

[Warm Breezes]

Mine is even more hours 9-6 this is horrible!! :(

Ours is 8-6 and we are looking forward to it. No hurry to get off. Go to the beach, drink, and shop at our leisure :D. No rushing for us that day:p.

[Cruisegirl6]

Warm Breezes glad your happy thats good. I have no idea what to do all those hours, its going to be a long boring day...unless we can find a decent place for lunch anybody have any suggestions?

[erinmarie424]

Windawn I totally agree with you....for us Cozumel's beach is not nice at all, perhaps because I live in Florida with a lot more nicer beaches heck, even our worst beach area is an improvement for what you get in Cozumel.

We cruise because we want the ship not the ports, when we want ports, we will go to an island on a land based vacation, which I have to say we always go back now yearly to Aruba we love it there tremendously!

 

Im on a cruise for a cruise not for the ports and we generally choose a cruise with the most sea days, happens to be my next cruise next week we go to four ports (yuck not one of them is anything to be desired) but at least Costa Maya we get the heck out of there at 2pm so its like another sea day.

 

Cozumel really doesn't offer anything good in that port, ok, snorkeling may be good and the mexican cuisine excursion that they used to have was one of my favorites but there really isn't anything worth seeing in Cozumel, I find it a useless port...now go to the southern caribbean islands is another story, but I can't understand people going to an island just to have a handful of hours there you just don't get to experience and see the island in entirety.

 

What Carnival is doing is trying to get passengers stay on the Island so the island can make more money, perhaps in return, Carnival isgetting a "deal" on taxes/fees from Cozumel? If you think about it, Carnival is not making any money by having its passengers on the island other than booking up shore excursions as they only get a certain percentage, its in their best interest to keep passengers on the ship where they spend money in bingo, drinks and casino to name a couple of things.

 

They may be making less money but they are also reducing their expenses in some areas - people with Cheers! may end up drinking less, people with stops that go until 7 or 8 may be less likely to eat dinner on board, or eat on lido instead of the MDR, could cut back on the number of fly-on entertainers needed, and they'll get a little bump in their excursion bookings.

 

I've been to Cozumel many times and always do excursions on my own, this opens up some new possibiilities for us. Next time I'll head straight for the ferry and go check out Playa del Carmen for a change. Tulum almost seems doable on your own now too. It's beautiful and cheap to get to on your own if you have time - went there on a four day land trip we did a few years back.

[texast518]

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.”

Was also told by PVP, Cancun & Isla de Mujeres.