Cozumel pirate ship: getting there

Where the evening starts

The pirate crew meets guests at the entrance of the ferry pier, half an hour before the ship departs. The calendar lists a separate start time for every date. Your confirmation holds the exact map pin, so use that rather than a guess. San Miguel de Cozumel is the island's main town and the arrival point for passenger ferries from the mainland, so the area is easy to find on the day even if you have never been. Being there half an hour early lets you find the crew and settle in before the evening starts. Have your confirmation ready on your phone when you reach the pier.

Starting from your hotel

Transportation is not part of the ticket, so you arrange your own way to the pier. Cozumel's tourism board lists airport shared transport to the town centre and the hotel zone, and rental vehicles for the east coast, among the ways to get around. San Miguel is the hub for the island's shops and restaurants. Leave extra time on the first night, because you must be at the pier 30 minutes before departure. Ask your hotel about the journey to the ferry pier before you book, and agree how you will get back after the show. If you are staying in San Miguel itself, check the route on a map before you go, and do not assume it is a short walk.

Coming from Playa del Carmen

Cozumel depends on water transport to reach the mainland, and passenger ferries run between Playa del Carmen and San Miguel de Cozumel. The tourism board says crossings leave through the day from central Playa del Carmen. The operator says it returns guests from Playa del Carmen to the pier in time for the ferry back. That promise covers the return to the pier, not the ferry timetable. Check the last crossing with your ferry company before you book, and keep a note of it on your phone where you can find it quickly. Wikipedia notes that San Miguel provides the sole ferries between the Mexican mainland and the island, and that tourism to Playa del Carmen began with the passenger ferry service to Cozumel.

On a cruise-ship day

Three terminals receive cruise ships on Cozumel. Punta Langosta is in the town centre, and Puerta Maya and SSA Cozumel lie south of town, where taxis wait at the exit. The tourism board says Punta Langosta is within walking distance of the malecón, the town's seafront promenade. The cruise lasts about 3.5 hours and starts at the time the booking calendar shows. Compare that with your ship's all-aboard time, add the journey to and from the pier, and keep your own margin. The only return the operator mentions is to the ferry pier, so this is an evening for guests who do not have to be back on board at a fixed hour.

What to bring

Bring a passport or an ID card, and comfortable shoes. You also need cash, because a dock surcharge is paid on the day, in US dollars. Tips are not included, so a little extra cash helps if you want to thank the crew. The pirate shop sells souvenirs. Your phone should hold your booking confirmation, since it carries the meeting point and the start time. A bag you can keep close is easier than a large one on a ship, and it leaves your hands free for the games. Pack light, because you are going to a ship and not a beach club, and comfortable shoes matter more than a large bag.

Fitting it into a Cozumel day

Cozumel is considered one of the best scuba-diving destinations in the world, and the tourism board lists dive sites all around the island. Many visitors spend the day on the reefs, at the beaches or in town, and keep the evening free. If you book a day tour, check when it finishes and leave time to wash, change and reach the pier 30 minutes before departure. A tight turnaround is the commonest way to start the night in a rush, so build a buffer on either side. Snorkelling and beach days are common choices too, and Wikipedia lists scuba diving, snorkelling and charter fishing among the island's main tourist activities.

Weather and hurricane season

The cruise operates in rain. It does not run in severe weather, or when there are not enough reservations. Cozumel lies in the western Caribbean, within the path of Atlantic hurricanes during the June-to-November hurricane season. If you travel in those months, watch the forecast and keep your plans flexible. The booking page shows which dates are open, and it sets out the cancellation terms that apply to your ticket, so read them before you pay. Thunderstorms can occasionally occur during the wet season, so treat a clear evening as likely and not guaranteed. Because the ship does not sail in severe weather, an unsettled forecast is a reason to check the booking page on the day.

Language and accessibility

The host or greeter speaks Spanish and English. The ticket is marked wheelchair accessible, so describe your needs to the operator after you book. One infant boards free with a paying adult, and each additional infant needs a children's ticket. If anyone in your group needs help with boarding, say so early rather than at the pier. A short message after you book gives the crew time to plan, and it costs you nothing. Reviewers include guests from the United States and Mexico.

Choosing the night

The calendar gives a start time for each date, so choose the night that leaves you a margin before any ferry or ship departure the next morning. Groups of friends and families book together, and the calendar shows what is open. Book early for a larger party, because the calendar lists only the dates that are still open. If a Sunday suits your plans, the main plaza in San Miguel has a fixed stage with music and dancing that evening, which you could pair with a different night on the water. Choose a night that is not your first or last in Cozumel, so a delay with luggage or a flight cannot cost you the evening.

If your plans change

Booking costs nothing up front, and cancelling at least 24 hours ahead brings a full refund. If the weather turns severe or the cruise has too few reservations, the operator does not run it, and the booking page is where you will see what applies. Check your confirmation the day before you sail, and again on the day if the forecast looks rough, so you know where you stand before you set out. If you are running late, tell the crew as early as you can, because the ship departs at the time on your confirmation.

Who this isn't for

Skip the cruise if your ferry or ship leaves with no margin after a 3.5-hour evening. Skip it if you cannot check your ferry's last crossing before you book. Skip it if you dislike crowds, noise and dancing, because the evening is built around all three. A quiet dinner in San Miguel suits that mood better, and the guide to Cozumel after dark lists other ways to spend the evening. Skip it too if you want an early night, because the evening lasts about 3.5 hours and you still need to get back to your hotel. The open bar is part of the evening, so plan your journey back without driving.

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