How far is Cancun from Florida by boat

Mexico and the US are connected by land, but if you’re visiting Cancun, that will take days to reach. While flying is the most common mode of travel, you may wonder if sea travel is possible. Thus, if you want to save money from flights and time from driving, you may wonder if you can take a boat from Florida to Cancun.

Table of Contents Show

About The Ferry
Schedule
How long does it take to take a boat from Florida to Mexico?
How long is the boat ride from Florida to Cancun?
How far is Florida to Mexico by boat?
How many nautical miles is it from Miami Florida to Cancun Mexico?

You can always ride a boat (ferry) from Florida to Cancun if you don’t want to drive or book a flight. There’s a regular schedule of ferries going back and forth from Florida to the Yucatan ports of Progreso or Puerto Morelos. From there, you can travel to Cancun by land or by sea.

The regular ferry schedule makes it a viable option for travelers from the US who want to enjoy the lovely beaches and spots of Cancun and the rest of the Yucatan. It’s not as expensive as flying and not as long as driving. Now, if you’re planning to travel by sea, this article is for you.

Here, we’ll cover everything you need to know about taking a ferry from Florida to Cancun. This way, you can save some time by avoiding a long drive and some money by avoiding a flight.

Without further ado, let’s get into it!

About The Ferry

The ferry that sails across the gulf of Mexico from Puerto Morelos or Progresso to Tampa in Florida and back and forth is known as The Scotia Prince.

The Scotia Prince is a ferry that’s 485 feet in length and comes with eight decks. It can carry up to 1130 passengers and 220 vehicles. This ferry has 322 cabins as well.

The numerous features include a casino, a beauty salon for both sexes, a hot tub, live entertainment, shopping, and a good restaurant.

This ferry service is called The Yucatan Express, and it offers service between Tampa in Florida and the Yucatan ports of Puerto Morelos and Progreso in Mexico. From Puerto Morelos, you can travel by land for 33 kilometers to reach Cancun.

Schedule

The Scotia Prince or the Yucatan Express departs from Tampa Port’s Terminal 7 on Tuesday and Friday and Puerto Morelos on Wednesday and Sunday.

When going back from Progresso, Mexico, to Tampa, Florida, the ferry stops over in Morelos and journeys to Tampa onwards.

The Scotia Prince (or MS Scotia Prince) is a ship that sails during the summer months from Portland in Maine to Yarmouth in Nova Scotia.

When traveling from Tampa to Progreso, the ship takes automobiles, buses, trucks, and other vehicles. It can also take thousands of passengers.

Time

In general, the sailing time of The Scotia Prince or The Yucatan Express is 36 hours for a single trip.

It takes 36 hours from Tampa to Progreso and another 36 hours from Puerto Morelos to Tampa.

Another thing to note is that the ferry’s stay in port ranges from around 4-11 hours. Thus, if you’re deciding between driving a car or riding a ferry, the latter is more viable.

To know more about driving to Cancun, read our article Can You Drive to Cancún From the United States?

Distance

The ferry travels from Tampa to Puerto Morelos at about 777 nautical miles or around 894 or 1439 kilometers. As such, the travel time takes around 36 hours.

If you travel by land to Cancun from Progreso, the distance will be around 212.9 miles or 342.7 kilometers, which takes roughly five hours of driving.

Cost

The cost of ferry rides from Florida to Progreso in the Yucatan starts at 65 USD. However, you can pay as much as 405 USD if you opt for luxurious suites during the 36-hour journey.

If you book roundtrip tickets, expect around 120 USD per person, which can go up to as much as 750 USD if you want the luxury suites.

Of course, you need to pay for food, so it’s best to add it to the budget. Some people try to save money by sneaking food for the entire trip. It’s economical and the best way to go if you’re traveling on a budget.

You also need to expect higher fees if you plan on bringing a car with you. When bringing a car, the starting rates are around 300 USD for a roundtrip ticket.

Conclusion

Overall, it’s possible to take a boat from Florida to Cancun, but not directly. You can generally depart from Tampa in Florida and sail through the gulf of Mexico to reach Progreso or Puerto Morelos. Then, from the ports, you can travel by land to reach Cancun.

The travel time is generally shorter than driving from the US to Cancun. Further, the cost is more affordable compared to booking a flight. It’s also ideal if you want to bring your car with you. If you are considering driving, you may want to know more by reading our article Is It Safe to Drive in Cancun?

How long does it take to take a boat from Florida to Mexico?

How Long Does it Take to Cross the Gulf of Mexico by Boat? Many trawlers cruise around 8-10 knots. Similarly, lots of boats prefer to travel at peak fuel economy which is usually around the same speed. Doing the math, 150+ miles at that speed takes anywhere from 15-18 hours.

How long is the boat ride from Florida to Cancun?

Sailing times are about 36 hours each way. Times in port range from four to 11 hours. One-way passage only fares start at about $65 per person and go for as much as $405 for those opting to luxuriate in suites . Round trip per person fares start at $120 and go up to $750.

How far is Florida to Mexico by boat?

Key West to Isla Mujeres is the shortest passage from the US to Mexico if you come from the East coast or Florida, with a total distance of 330 nautical miles at a course of 235º. The average current is between 1.5 and 2.5 knots running south to north.