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If you're visiting Cozumel between March 10 and April 6, 2013, watch out for an extra one hour time difference between Mexico and the United States and Canada.

This happens because the United States and Canada change to Daylight Savings Time before Mexico and is especially important for cruise passengers, as some ships stay on the time of their United States homeport, even when they arrive to Cozumel.

Different cruise lines have different ways of deciding what time their ships take.

Carnival cruise ships always go with the time of their homeport and stick with it, for example, whereas Norwegian cruise ships usually change their onboard time during the voyage, to match the local port they are arriving to.

The itineraries cruise lines give passengers normally display ship times, so cruisers should remember this isn't necessarily the same as Cozumel time.

Cozumel is usually on U.S. Central Standard Time, so the same as Texas, but one hour behind Florida, New York and Toronto.

However, on March 10, 2013, clocks go forward an hour for daylight saving in the States, but not until four weeks later, on April 7, 2013, in Mexico. So, during these weeks the U.S.A. is an extra hour ahead.

For example, Texas will be one hour ahead of Cozumel and Florida will be two hours ahead.

This happens again when the clocks go back an hour at the end of October in Mexico, but not until two weeks later in November in the U.S.A.

Don't worry if you're confused already, here's a quick reference guide to help you work out what time it will be!

Arrival to Cozumel Carnival from Florida Carnival from Texas Norwegian RCCL, Celebrity and others.
Until Mar. 10, 2013 1 hr ahead. e.g. 10am onboard is 9am in Cozumel. Same as Cozumel time. Same as Cozumel time. Varies, check with cruise line or contact us.
Mar. 10 - Apr. 6, 2013 2 hrs ahead. e.g. 10am onboard is 8am in Cozumel. 1 hr ahead. e.g. 10am onboard is 9am in Cozumel. Same as Cozumel time. Varies, check with cruise line or contact us.
Apr. 7 - Oct. 26, 2013 1 hr ahead. e.g. 10am onboard is 9am in Cozumel. Same as Cozumel time. Same as Cozumel time. Varies, check with cruise line or contact us.
Oct. 27, - Nov. 9, 2013 2 hrs ahead. e.g. 10am onboard is 8am in Cozumel. 1 hr ahead. e.g. 10am onboard is 9am in Cozumel. Same as Cozumel time. Varies, check with cruise line or contact us.
Nov. 10, 2013 -
Mar. 8, 2014
1 hr ahead. e.g. 10am onboard is 9am in Cozumel. Same as Cozumel time. Same as Cozumel time. Varies, check with cruise line or contact us.

Find out about Cozumel tours for cruise ship passengers or more about Cozumel cruises and cruise lines in general.

Disclaimer: we confirmed this information at the time of writing but cruise lines may change their policies, so please use this information as a guide only and check with your cruise line if you want to be sure.