The ferries to and from Isla Mujeres just doubled their prices. Prices for students and elderly did not quite double. Only a 50% increase for students and 66.7% for the elderly. This goes for local workers, food and supplies so it will no doubt result in fewer locals and tourists enjoying the island, but also higher prices for hotels, food, souvenirs, golf cart rentals, etc. I am sure the folks at Ultramar are smarter than the rest of us, but what the hell? Does doubling their prices make econmic sense for anyone. What about going from $35 to $50? That would be more palatible. Doubling just has such a negative connotation. Even squeezing the prices upward over a period of time makes more sense. This reminds me of a local downtown restaurant that was quite popular when it opened. Food and service deteriorated so the owners raised prices to make up for lost revenues. God forbid they fixed the real problems. Needless to say, it closed a few months ago. It is worth noting that both ports made this increase. So much for the free market. Can you say price fixing. OLD AND NEW ONE-WAY FEES: General public from $35 to $70; Locals from $25 to $50; Students from $10 to $15; Elderly from $15 to $25. So this means that a couple with two kids will now pay $280 round trip, or about $22. Not counting whatever the increased costs will be for whatever they do on the island. THIS REALLY SUCKS. Anyone with a big boat to haul people could make a fortune until the bad guys killed them off.
sounds like the economic theory being applied by someone else I can think of. This happened a few years ago, though not necessarily doubling in one fell swoop. I don't remember the reason but tourism was down somewhat so, instead of lowering prices to attract more people, they raised prices in an attempt to make up the difference. . .didn't work then and won't work now. It's like raising taxes to make up for lost revenue. . .didn't work, doesn't work, won't work--lower them and people will invest (spend) more and generate more revenue--it worked, does work, and will work. Business in Cancún . . .well. . .at least over on Isla Mujeres, will suffer. They (like some other folks I can think of) need to take another semester of macro-economics.
Dan, You da man. To the defense, but only a little, my buddy correctly pointed out that in the 5 years he has been here, there has not been one price increase in the ferries to Isla that he or I can remember. Still though - doubling just does not seem right. Take care amigo, T.J.
The ferry prices to Cozumel have gone up since I checked them last as well. Last I knew they were about $20 USD round trip, but the fare is now $27 USD RT. I have no idea when this increase happened, but last time I checked it was lower.
I emailed the manager at UltraMar and asked him why. He emailed me back and said they had new boats. Do they??
Yes, fancy new boats with floor to ceiling windows. They seem faster, though maybe it's the speedy stripes on the side....
well, there you go!! It's still significantly cheaper than any ferry from the Hotel Zone so if you don't mind the time in the bus and/or taxi, maybe it is still a relative bargain.
Photo of the new ferry......fancy schmancy.... I don't know if it's going to be that much cheaper, last I heard the hotel zone price was 150 (has that changed?) and now Puerto Juarez is 140, it will cost you more in the end (unless HZ prices rose and I don't know about it).
