COZUMEL — It’s been a while since we visited this popular Mexican port and it doesn’t take long to see that something’s different.
It’s the port. The one called the “International Pier.” The one that’s a short cab ride or a long walk — we have done both — from “downtown.” The one that always seemed to be in the middle of nowhere, somewhere south of the heart of the resort.
Now, it’s in the middle of cruise central. Or so it seems.
When the ship carrying us, Allure of the Seas, started coming to Cozumel along with its sister Oasis of the Seas, the International Pier was the one big enough to 
accommodate Royal Caribbean’s big ships. The tourist infrastructure (like shops, bars, restaurants and other amenities) was thin in those days. Today, if you don’t feel like leaving the port area, you won’t be bored or lacking for things to do.
In short, it’s more like a complete port, whatever that is.
The expansion was inevitable. The downtown port, called Punta Lagosta, was always ideally located — walk into town — but limited. It can still handle up to three ships, but cruise traffic was strained here when a third pier, Puerta Maya, was leveled by a hurricane in 2008.
Puerta Maya is a little further from town than the International Pier. Reconstruction, including rebuilding the roads, seemed to take forever but today these two piers can accommodate up to six ships at a time. While that rarely if ever happens, making that part of Cozumel friendlier and more attractive had to happen.
Last week, 16 cruise ships stopped here…and this is the off season. Fourteen of the 16 were docked in the International-Puerta Maya piers.
Chances are this part of Cozumel will get even better.
Today at portsandbows.com: Princess ‘Caribbean-izing’ menus on ships
Norwegian Getaway
7 nights
October 18, 2014
Miami (return): St. Maarten, St. Thomas, Nassau
Inside: $479
Cost per day: $68
www.ncl.com