Cozumel Cruise Excursions on Margaritaville at Sea
Now that you have your vacation booked, you may be wondering how to choose your Margaritaville cruise excursions. Our cruise would be sailing to Cozumel, a stunning part of Mexico and one of the most popular cruise ports in all of the Caribbean.
As the Margaritaville at Sea Islander was just voted the No.1 Best Cruise Ship for Families in the Newsweek Reader’s Choice Awards for 2025, it’s become a very popular cruise.
But with a plethora of unforgettable excursions at your destination, picking the best possible experiences for your family may seem overwhelming. From a private van tour of the city to beginner scuba diving to kayaking and snorkeling in the crystal-clear waters, how do you choose?
Our family had a fabulous time when we disembarked in Mexico. We hope hearing about our day in Cozumel makes it a little easier to choose!
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Where is Cozumel?
Cozumel is a largely undeveloped and beautiful island off the coast of the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. Located in the state of Quintana Roo, it’s Mexico’s largest inhabited island.
As one of the most beautiful cruise ship destination ports, this region of Mexico is known for coral reefs, marine life, and gorgeous beaches. Popular activities are scuba diving, adventure parks, and learning about the vibrant blend of Mayan and Spanish cultures.
I’ve been to Cozumel on the Margaritaville At Sea Islander twice now, and there really is so much to do.
How to Choose Your Margaritaville Cruise Excursions
While aboard the Margaritaville at Sea Islander, we were given a bounty of ways we could spend our one short day in that jungle paradise. It’s important to look at excursions that work for everyone. When you’re considering different activities, make sure to keep the following things in mind:
- Book early: As soon as I am able to book my excursions, they are booked. If you wait, you may find your favorite activity is full.
- Activity level: Can everyone keep up with the activity? If one person in your group is not up for the challenge, not only will they be unhappy, but the group will feel like they aren’t able to experience all the excursion has to offer.
- Time to and from: Think about how much time it will take to get to the excursion and get back to the ship in plenty of time. Are you okay if a good part of your time is spent in transit? This is something to consider.
So you’re aware, you can just get off the ship at the port and spend your time there. We personally found that just hanging out at the port would be boring, but if visiting a local restaurant and doing some shopping is your jam, you may love it.
Choosing your Margaritaville cruise excursions is really based on what you and your group want to do. After exploring all the options, we think we found a true hidden gem.
Sandwiched between the very active Margaritaville cruise excursions like all-terrain vehicles and jet skis was a more quiet, but truly authentic and completely unforgettable day. As our host Bernardo would say, this was not a regular excursion— it was an experience.
Barefoot Beach Cookout Excursion
Choosing to spend our day at the Barefoot Beach Cookout, we weren’t fully sure what to expect. We started off with a short drive past the colorful concrete buildings of the city, then passed through a section of jungle, spotting hummingbirds and lush mangroves along the way.
Cozumel is home to a ton of biodiversity, and we were happy to see how much of the natural habitat was intact and undisturbed. When we arrived at our destination, we were greeted by the friendly local perro, “Tigress”, and got to know our cookout crew and experienced shore excursion team.
Out of a maximum of twenty people, there were only six attendees, including us. We won’t spoil the specifics for you, but after the fun we’d had, we were shocked the experience wasn’t fully booked with a larger group. This unforgettable excursion should absolutely be in high demand.
A Short History Lesson
As we slipped off our shoes, we were handed a spicy margarita to sip on while Bernardo gave us a quick history lesson about the importance of the island when it came to ancient Mayan tradition.
In the past, Cozumel (or “Cuzamil”, a shortened version of “The Island of the Swallows”) was a sacred sanctuary where the Maya people would worship “Ixchel”, the moon goddess of fertility.
Many of the excursion team members were actually Mayan, and learning more about this sea paradise was such a fun and interesting way to start the event.
Next, we were shown the massive grill where our lunch would be cooked to perfection. Encouraged to leave our shoes behind, the Barefoot Beach Cookout was about to begin.
Learning to Prepare a Traditional Meal
Entering our outdoor kitchen, we all donned gloves and aprons and found our individual stations prepped and ready to go.
A traditional meal of spicy fish and vegetables called “Tikin Xic” was on the menu. Bernardo guided us every step of the way, from chopping vegetables to wrapping our Mahi in a banana leaf.
We were even shown how to painstakingly seal our creations when it came time to wrap them in tin foil. It was important to seal the package properly to prevent any punctures. You want to make sure all the delicious Yucatan spices stay inside while steaming.
The Maya people would cook this meal in a traditional earth oven, but our on-site grill master had us covered.
Local Ceviche Appetizer
While our lunch was cooking, we all settled in around a family-style table. Bernardo introduced our first course: a delicious local ceviche. A tip from us: when he says the habanero sauce is spicy, he means it. Not to worry. Just order another margarita!
Before we knew it, our Mahi meal was served.
The fish was so moist because of the way it steamed in the packet. I’ll be using this method again!
By the time we had enjoyed our meal, our little group already felt like one big family. You never would have guessed we had just met that afternoon.
And I think I can speak for all of us: eating that piping-hot Mahi right on the beach while looking out at the turquoise waters of Cozumel was absolutely magical. Not to mention, the hospitality of our shore excursion host was absolutely fantastic.
Traditional Dessert
After we devoured our food, we were told there was one more treat in store, fit for a special occasion. Our dessert was truly delicious, with a heartwarming story from the days of World War II.
Feeling so connected to a destination is a very rare thing, but I think we all felt it by the time our stop in Cozumel was over. One thing is for sure: if we hadn’t been on that beach that day, we likely never would have been able to try such a special treat. We’ll let you discover it for yourself!
Exploring the Island
After lunch, we took yet another margarita (did I mention there were unlimited refills?) and set out to enjoy the rest of our time on the island.
There was a pool bar close by where you could order drinks and plenty of ways to relax and unwind. One of my daughters took to a shady hammock beside the nearby pool area, while the other walked the private beach and waded into the shallows.
The crystal clear waters were beautiful and teeming with life, and the sandbar allowed us to walk quite a ways out without needing to swim.
Bernardo had a final trick of his own, and decided to show off his photography skills. If you’re lucky enough to have him as your guide, give him your phone or camera, strike a pose, and let him work his magic.
As our time on the beach drew to a close, our family was certain of one thing: while we loved every minute of our island experience, we only wished we’d had more time!
Back to the Ship
After all was said and done, we only had about forty minutes or so of free time to enjoy the natural beauty of Cozumel after we’d finished lunch. We would have loved to have stayed another hour or two, enjoying the delicious margaritas and soaking up the Cozumel sun.
Even with that said, we all had smiles on our faces by the time we had to leave. We said goodbye to the crew (and to Tigress, of course), and buckled up for our drive back to port.
We even had some extra time to browse the shops and pick up souvenirs before we returned to the cruise ship to set sail once again. This fun-filled excursion was one of our favorite parts of the trip.
Everyone has their preferences as to how they spend their island vacation. Whether you choose a relaxing day by the lazy river or snorkeling among the coral reefs, you really can’t go wrong with any of the Margaritaville cruise excursions.
We found our happy place at the Barefoot Beach Cookout. With delicious food and wonderful company, it was just our speed. If you find yourself at this beautiful port of call, consider this fantastic hidden gem for your next epic adventure. Be sure to tell Bernardo and crew we sent you!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. There were non alcohlic beverages as well as other cocktail options. The margaritas were the only included and unlimited cocktails.
We had chips and salsa, ceviche, and a meal of fish and vegetables. There were no other options for food, but we were thrilled with the meal.
I would recommend this excursion for adults. A big part of the experience is drinking margaritas and cooking the meal. Though some older kids might enjoy it, I think there are better options for children.
