If it helps any, here is what the ferry looked like when I took it in 2004.
If you look behind the ferry you see nothing but blue ocean. Its a long stretch of wide open ocean that needs to be crossed to reach Playa Del Carmen from Cozumel. So even in the calmest of waters, its still going to be rocky
Might I also suggest you consider using a ship excursion for this one rather than an independent. I only suggest this because our friends did use the ship excursion and were 45 minutes late getting back. Because it was a ship tour, the ship did wait.
Since you are depending on many factors wihich may cause delays...ferries, bus rides etc... I think a ship excursion would be the most stress free.
It is a shame that the cruise line does not drop folks off in Playa like they used to before going to Cozumel. I don't know if Carnival still does it that way. But for years, folks going on this tour were dropped at Playa...which meant only one ferry ride instead of 2.
One tip that I'd like to add is this. Book through the ship. When we were in Cozumel in Oct, the ship couldn't leave on time. We left 25 minutes late due to the ferry. So I'd book through the ship.
These are all just excellent posts. AllieMan and I just booked our excusrion to Tulum and Xel-Ha using the ship's tour for our March cruise. Sounds like a long haul to get there though. 1 hr 45 min each way? Ouch.
It's been a year and a half since the last post on this, has anyone done the ferry lately? We're considering a short tour in Playa del Carmen that would end hours before our ship leaves. I understand that the ferry leaves every hour so we should be able to find a ferry and get back to the ship well before it needs to leave.
Would you still recommend booking a ship tour? We want to do a quiet horse back riding tour and can't find one offered by Royal in Cozumel.
whether you visit Tulum on your own or through the ship, you will be using the same ferries, it is the same ferry company that have the local ferries and the cruise ship ferries. Going on your own, to make a long story short, do only buy a one way ticket! There are only 2 ferry companies in Cozumel and the have alternate schedules which means if you buy round trip and want to leave playa del carmen at 5pm, you may have to wait until 6pm for your specific ferry company to run...this is what they dont tell you when they want to sell you round trip, and the tickets are not changeable or refundable.
Another short note, in Tulum at the beach, be careful on the wooden stairs, many people walk up while still wet and the stairs get very slippery. Also the beach has no supervision and depending on the waves, there are dangers. Best of luck! Tulum is owesome and unique!
Going on your own, to make a long story short, do only buy a one way ticket! There are only 2 ferry companies in Cozumel and the have alternate schedules which means if you buy round trip and want to leave playa del carmen at 5pm, you may have to wait until 6pm for your specific ferry company to run...this is what they dont tell you when they want to sell you round trip, and the tickets are not changeable or refundable
another thought...on the ferries, you only got outside seats on the second or third floor (on the rear end of the ship)...now we all associate inside with getting sick and outside with fresh air...consider the folloing: the front and rear end of the ship AS WELL as the upper floors, share the most. easy to understand, stay in the middle and a little in the back (so your body is prepared of the wave movement since the front moves first) and, as if you put your hands in the air and wave, the most upper part makes more movement (distance from - to +) than your arm close to shoulder...therefore, stay inside on the main floor, in the center of the ship, slightly on the back part. ALSO, dont be afraid of asking the crew for a sick bag,...they are used to it and there is nothing to feel bad about it..its normal. ALSO, for everybody, the sea is not always wavy, it is certinaly an exception and as normal, the ones that had no problem are less likely to publish it as the ones who had...humanly...so no fear...it is worth it certiainly, especially for the Tulum Ruins-¨Good luck!
Personally, if I were cruising to Cozumel, I wouldn't waste my time or money taking the ferry over to Playa del Carmen. It's just not worth it. Cozumel has just about everything to offer, plus you don't have to spend the whole day traveling just to see one place.
Having been to Cozumel many times, having stayed in all-inclusive resorts in the Mayan Riviera area many times, having been to Playa del Carmen several times, and having been to Tulum a few times, I speak with alot of experience about the travel, the hassle, and the costs.
If you want to go to Tulum, I really don't recommend it from Cozumel. It'll take 6 to 8 hours roundtrip, depending on how you do it. And although Tulum is a great place to visit and the beach is very nice, it's just not worth all the time and effort to do it from Cozumel while enduring the heat and humidity.
I can think of much better options while visiting Cozumel.
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Cozumel ferry to Playa Del Carmen
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