Question - cruise schedule

We are booked on a four day cruise.
The schedule says this:

SAT Playa Del Carmen, Mexico 8:30 AM 9:00 AM
SAT Cozumel, Mexico 10:00 AM 5:00 PM

How do we get from Playa to Cozumel and it doesn't make sense for a stop from 8:30 to 9:00 am.

[CruiseAholic]

It is just a short hop from Playa to Coz. Playa is just a drop off point for tours. Most ships don't allow passengers to just get off there on their own.

[JeffStern]

It's only 12 miles from Playa del Carmen to Cozumel. You can see one, from the other, on any clear day! The stop at Playa is intended for Shore Excursions only. If you don't book a Shore Excursion on the mainland, you cannot disembark at Playa...

[pamda]

That's not exactly true ...

If there is room on the tender you can book a tender ticket without an accompanying shore excursion. We've done it. Some people on another board (whom and which shall remain nameless) questioned my veracity.

If you jump off at Playa, you take the ferry across to Coz. About 45 minutes, and I think it's $8. If the seas are a bit rough ... and they can be in the strait ... it can be a less than pleasant ride.

If you don't get off at Playa, the ship just goes to Cozumel port.

pamda -- CM FIrst-Time Cruisers Editor

Thank you. I wondered how this worked. Just a ferry ride away. There is a place I want to go to in Playa, but after going there once, I don't want to stay. So I can get what I need and take the ferry to Cozumel.
I never thought I would take a short cruise, but the opportunity is right.