Beginning in December 2002, Insider was proudly the first website to provide readers the Cozumel News in English.
Articles are slected from local newspapers which we feel will be of interest to our diverse audience. These articles are then translated into English. We cannot always investigate the veracity of a particular article but offer these translations as a reflection of the Cozumel community news just as reporters write it for Por Esto, Diario de Quintana Roo, Novedades and El Seminario and many other sources.
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03/30/2026 - Numbers go down this week in Cozumel as cruise ship arrivals show 31 ships registered to dock as we reach the end of March. This is 7 fewer ships than last week and 11 more than the "20 in port" which marks a "high season" number. There were 25 ships in port during the same week of 2025. An estimated 108,500 people will visit Cozumel this week via these cruise ships leaving an estimated US $ 11.6 million dollars behind in the local economy.
High season for cruise ship arrivals typically runs from November 15 - April 15 each year with the remaining 7 months of the year considered "low season." This week Puerta Maya pier will be host to 9 ships docking there, 12 ships will dock at SSA International pier while Punta Langosta pier will see 10 arrivals and the downtown San Miguel pier will have -0- arrivals with passengers tendering in.
On Monday 5 ships will dock, 7 ships will dock on Tuesday, 4 ships on Wednesday, 6 ships on Thursday, 4 ships on Friday, 4 ships on Saturday and Sunday will see 1 ship in port. To see a complete list of this week's ship arrivals, please visit Insider's Weekly Cruise Ship Schedule
Mexican Navy Ship Trains Students In Cozumel
The Secretariat of the Navy, through the Mexican Navy, reported that the ship ARM "Isla Holbox" (BAL-02) arrived last week at the Punta Langosta dock facilities. The vessel carried 103 students from the Higher War College of the Secretariat of National Defense. The arrival is part of an initiative to strengthen the training and operational capacity of students enrolled in the Master's Degree in Joint Staff program. The students were conducting naval tactical exercises as part of Naval Trip 2026, which took place along the Gulf of Mexico coast from March 17 to 27 of this year.
During this academic activity, the ship served as a space for comprehensive training. Students strengthen and put into practice the theoretical knowledge acquired in the classroom, as well as their analytical and decision-making skills in real scenarios. The exercises reaffirm, through teamwork, the esprit de corps that distinguishes them. With these actions, the Secretariat of the Navy, through the Mexican Navy, reaffirms its commitment to naval education of excellence and constant training. It is working in coordination with the Secretariat of National Defense to strengthen the professionalization of the Armed Forces and contribute to the security and sovereignty of the Nation.
Osprey Population Grows In Cozumel With New Chicks Documented
Cozumel has recorded the birth of new osprey chicks; a raptor species associated with coastal areas and bodies of water. Through photographic records obtained during monitoring efforts, specialists have identified at least six chicks at various points on the island. The discovery is part of monitoring that began approximately three years ago, during which observers have spotted two active nests located in natural areas of the island territory. The observations confirm that the species continues to reproduce in the area.
Although the presence of these birds has been documented recently, there is still no precise census to determine how many individuals currently inhabit Cozumel or complete details about their behavior within the local ecosystem. Studies suggest these birds may have initially arrived during migratory routes, as occurs with other species, and later established their presence on the island. Observation efforts have concentrated primarily on two sites where nests were detected, one located in the Punta Sur area and another in the eastern zone of Cozumel. Constant records have been made at both locations to document reproductive activity. During the reproduction process, specialists have identified that females typically lay between one and two eggs per cycle. From these events, at least six chicks have been counted that developed successfully. The observations have also revealed aspects of their family dynamics. While one adult typically searches for food, the other remains in the nest caring for the chicks. In some cases, young birds from previous generations also participate in feeding or watching over the new chicks, a behavior that has drawn the attention of specialists closely following the species’ evolution on the island.
Royal Caribbean Is Opening A New Way To Reach The Beach In Cozumel
The water off Cozumel’s western shore stays clear enough to see straight through to the sand, with reef just beyond the shallows and beach clubs lining the coast. It’s the kind of place where you land or dock and head straight for the shoreline. Soon, getting there is going to feel more direct, and it’s tied to one of Royal Caribbean’s biggest new projects in the region.
Royal Caribbean is developing its upcoming Royal Beach Club Cozumel, and as part of that project, the company will create a new public beach access point in the Zona Hotelera Sur. What does the Royal Beach Club Cozumel Mean ? The Royal Beach Club Cozumel is part of Royal Caribbean’s expanding strategy to build destination experiences beyond the ship. Instead of limiting the experience to onboard amenities, the company is creating curated beach environments on land, places where you can spend the day with organized seating, food and beverage, and structured access to the water.
Cozumel is one of the cruise line’s most important ports, with multiple Royal Caribbean ships calling regularly. This new beach club is designed to give those passengers a more controlled, premium shore experience. But what sets this project apart is that it doesn’t stop at the beach club itself. A Public Access Component Built into the Project. Alongside the beach club, Royal Caribbean will build a new public access pathway to the beach, addressing long-standing challenges in this part of the island.
The Zona Hotelera Sur has some of Cozumel’s most popular coastal areas, but access has often been inconsistent, with limited signage, uneven lighting, and unclear entry points. The new access route will introduce improved lighting, clearer signage, and upgraded infrastructure, creating a defined path from the main corridor to the shoreline. If you’re visiting, that means you won’t need to search for an entry point or navigate informal paths. You’ll have a clear, visible way to reach the water. The current access will remain open during construction, ensuring uninterrupted use until the new facilities are complete. “Beach access is a right guaranteed under Mexican law,” said Ari Adler Brotman, president of Royal Caribbean Mexico. “This initiative reflects our dedication to improving safety, accessibility and infrastructure for the community.” Why This Matters for Cruise and Stayover Travelers; This development works on two levels. If you’re arriving on a Royal Caribbean cruise and ships like Symphony of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, and Icon of the Seas regularly call on Cozumel, the Royal Beach Club Cozumel gives you a structured beach day option tied directly to your itinerary. At the same time, the public access pathway is not limited to cruise guests. If you’re staying on the island, you’ll still be able to use the improved access point. That means a more reliable way to reach this stretch of coastline, whether you’re heading to a beach club, a snorkeling spot, or simply looking for a place to spend the day by the water. In both cases, the goal is the same: to make getting to the beach easier and more consistent.
Royal Caribbean has been steadily expanding its destination footprint. It started with Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas, a fully developed private island. From there, the company introduced the Royal Beach Club model, building experiences within existing destinations like Nassau and now Cozumel. These projects are designed to integrate more directly with local environments, and in Cozumel’s case, that includes investing in shared infrastructure. When the project is complete, you’ll see a more defined entry point to the beach along the southern hotel zone, one with better visibility, improved safety features, and a clearer connection from arrival to shoreline. If you’re on a cruise, that can mean less time figuring out logistics and more time in the water. If you’re staying longer, it adds a dependable access point along one of the island’s most visited coastal areas.
Construction will begin once all regulatory and environmental approvals are finalized. Royal Caribbean has not yet announced an opening timeline for the Royal Beach Club Cozumel or the new access point. Royal Caribbean is continuing to invest in how you experience its destinations, not just through beach clubs, but through the infrastructure that connects you to the shoreline itself. In Cozumel, that starts with the beach and now, a better way to reach it.
Need a LEGAL U.S. Notary Service? THIS is your solution!
It has happened to ALL of us U.S. Citizens who spend significant amounts of time living / working in Cozumel: reading the dreaded words on a document from back home: "Notarized Signature Required." It's such a simple thing and no one wants the added expense of travelling back to the U.S. just to have their signature notarized but there are many legal processes in the U.S.A. where nothing BUT a notarized signature will be accepted.
Some common documents that U.S. Citizens need notarized while living abroad are: Real Estate Deeds or Mortgages, executing Wills, Powers of Attorney, requests for Birth / Marriage / Death Certificates, Permission for a parent to get a minor’s US Passport, banking / insurance / bonding documents, permission for a minor to travel without parents or application for duplicate or replacement vehicle titles just to name a few.
In the past, the most common solution was for a U.S. Citizen to make their way to the nearest U.S. Consulate or Embassy where notaries are always available but the fees involved can be quite expensive. In addition there is the cost of actually travelling to the Consulate and who knows if appointments will even be available especially if the notarized signature is needed urgently. Plus from Cozumel that Consulate visit includes the cost of a ferry round trip to get to Playa del Carmen. All of these complicating factors just create more of a headache for something that is supposed to be relatively easy and inexpensive.
Another option frequently used has been that of a U.S. Notary operating outside of their country and jurisdiction. While this option is usually easy and cheap (often free or for a donation), it is one of those situations where "you get what you pay for" because technically these U.S. Notaries are operating ILLEGALLY as they are outside the legal jurisdiction for which they are authorized to notarize documents. In theory an illegal notarization could be attacked and challenged in the future and nullified causing legal issues with the documents signed. A fraud challenge to a Notary operating outside of the USA, simply involves a court asking the Notary to present their passport to the judge. Immigration stamps inside the passport will prove the Notary's whereabouts when documents were signed and if this was done inside the Notary's legal jurisdiction or illegally outside their authorized jurisdiction.
So do yourself a favor and avoid any future Signature Notary problems by utilizing an ON-LINE NOTARY SERVICE. Thanks to remote online notarization (RON), you can notarize a document from anywhere in the world, using your computer or mobile device and the internet. It takes only 10 minutes and is quite an easy process right from the comfort of your own home or office any hour of the day or night.
All you need to do is click this link 24/7 Online Notary Service To use this service, the fee is $25 USD and you must have a device with audio- visual capabilities (like a smart phone, tablet or PC) and proof of identity (a valid US Government-issued photo ID such as a Driver’s License or Passport). You can then access and meet with a licensed Notary Public who will notarize your papers in a matter of minutes. The process is easy, quick, efficient and AVAILABLE 24/7 online!! So WHY take a chance doing it any other way?!
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September 6, 2024 (Most Recent) Comprehensive Mexico Travel Warning
U.S. State Department Travel Advisory for Mexico Issued SEPTEMBER 6, 2024 shows the Mexican State of Quintana Roo (includes Cozumel, Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya, and Tulum) to be a LEVEL 2 Advisory - Exercise Increased Caution (Level 4 Advisory is Highest Risk):
There are "NO RESTRICTIONS" on U.S. government employees for travel to "ANY PARTS" of Quintana Roo state, which includes tourist areas such as: Cozumel, Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya and Tulum. However, U.S. government employees are advised to exercise increased situational awareness and caution after dark in the areas of Cancun, Tulum, and Playa del Carmen, and to remain in well-lit pedestrian streets and tourist zones.
U.S. citizens should as always exercise increased caution and be aware that according to Government of Mexico statistics, criminal activities and violence, including homicide, remain a concern throughout the State. While most of these homicides appeared to be targeted, criminal organization assassinations and turf battles between criminal groups that have resulted in violent crime in areas frequented by U.S. citizens. Bystanders injuries, while rare, have occurred. While not directed at tourists, shootings between rival gangs have killed or injured innocent bystanders. Additionally, U.S. citizens have been the victims of both non-violent and violent crimes in tourist and non-tourist areas.
The Mexico Travel Warning dated September 6, 2024 from the Department of State can also be viewed in its entirety on the Department of State website.
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03/30/2026 - Numbers go down this week in Cozumel as cruise ship arrivals show 31 ships registered to dock as we reach the end of March. This is 7 fewer ships than last week and 11 more than the "20 in port" which marks a "high season" number. There were 25 ships in port during the same week of 2025. An estimated 108,500 people will visit Cozumel this week via these cruise ships leaving an estimated US $ 11.6 million dollars behind in the local economy. 
