Destinations

Port Canaveral cruises: A information to cruising from the Orlando space

Crusing out of Port Canaveral won’t be as picturesque as cruising from PortMiami, however do not underestimate the expertise. Fortunate passengers would possibly witness a rocket launch from the neighboring NASA complicated or see dolphins enjoying within the wake because the ships sail previous the shoreline of Jetty Park on the way in which out to sea.

And when you is perhaps extra accustomed to the Miami and Fort Lauderdale departure ports, you might be as prone to sail from the Orlando-area, Central Florida port as you might be from one of many East Coast ports. In 2023, the bustling port introduced in 6.8 million cruise passengers, served as the house port for 13 ships and scheduled 906 ship calls.

From Port Canaveral, you’ll be able to sail to the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Bermuda and even throughout the Atlantic on cruises of two to 14 nights. Seven main cruise traces at the moment sail from Port Canaveral: Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Celeb Cruises, Princess Cruises and MSC Cruises.

The port is (or quickly can be) residence to a number of the latest and hottest cruise ships, together with Royal Caribbean’s Surprise of the Seas and new Utopia of the Seas and Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Want and new Disney Treasure.

Attending to the port is simple because it’s accessible from Interstate 95 and shut to a few airports — although it is practically an hour’s drive from Orlando Worldwide Airport (MCO). Whether or not you wish to in a single day by the airport or near the port, you can find a variety of resorts to swimsuit each funds and loyalty program affiliation.

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Port Canaveral cruise port overview

Cruise ship at Port Canaveral, Florida. EDUCATION IMAGES/UNIVERSAL IMAGES GROUP/GETTY IMAGES

Port Canaveral cruise terminal data

Every of the cruise terminals at Port Canaveral has a special deal with. Here’s a record of the cruise traces crusing from Port Canaveral and their affiliated terminals.

A terminals’ addresses

Cruise Terminal No. 5: 9245 Charles Rowland Drive, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920 (Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line)
Cruise Terminal No. 6: 9241 Charles Rowland Drive, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920 (Carnival Cruise Line)
Cruise Terminal No. 8: 9155 Charles Rowland Drive, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920 (Disney Cruise Line)
Cruise Terminal No. 10: 9005 Charles Rowland Drive, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920 (Norwegian Cruise Line and MSC Cruises)

B terminals’ addresses

Cruise Terminal No. 1: 9050 Discovery Highway, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920 (Royal Caribbean)
Cruise Terminal No. 2: 180 Christopher Columbus Drive, Cape Canaveral, FL, 32920 (Overflow)
Cruise Terminal No. 3: 220 Christopher Columbus Drive, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920 (Carnival Cruise Line)

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Variety of terminals: 7

Port Canaveral is accessible, however contact your cruise line in the event you want a switch from the terminal entrance to the ship.

Although Port Canaveral is a departure port for a lot of cruise traces, it can be a port of name for ships crusing from the Northeast. At present, some Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises ships spend a day in Port Canaveral on choose itineraries by means of September.

Port Canaveral cruise ship schedule

Airports close to Port Canaveral cruise port

Three airports serve the Port Canaveral cruise port. The most well-liked is Orlando Worldwide Airport (MCO), which is about 50 minutes away. Melbourne Orlando Worldwide Airport (MLB) can be about 50 minutes away, and Orlando Sanford Worldwide Airport (SFB) is about an hour from the port.

Most main airways, together with Delta Air Traces, JetBlue, American Airways, Air Canada, British Airways, Frontier Airways, Southwest Airways and United Airways, fly into MCO.

In case you’re flying into MLB, present carriers embrace Allegiant Air, American and Delta.

At SFB, the primary choice is Allegiant.

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Relying on which airport you are flying into and which airline you’ve got booked, you would possibly be capable to minimize prices with companion passes. Southwest gives this deal to vacationers who earn 135,000 qualifying factors or take 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar yr. These touring with Delta can even get a companion ticket with a couple of of the Delta and American Categorical cobranded bank cards.

As a result of nobody likes ready round in a chaotic airport terminal after a cruise, you would possibly wish to deliver a bank card that gives you with lounge entry. MCO gives seven totally different lounges, together with a Precedence Move lounge known as Membership MCO. Precedence Move membership begins at $99, or you will get entry as a journey perk from a bank card such because the Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.

American Airways passengers can entry The Admirals Membership with a Citi® / AAdvantage® Government World Elite Mastercard® (see charges and costs), which features a complimentary Admirals Membership lounge move. The Delta Sky Membership is open to vacationers with paid lounge entry through a subscription or one-time paid go to, or those that have choose Delta-branded American Categorical playing cards.

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The right way to get to the Port Canaveral cruise port

Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras departing from Port Canaveral, Florida. PAUL HENNESSY/ANADOLU AGENCY/GETTY IMAGES

Whether or not you are headed straight from the airport or from a pre-cruise resort, you could have a number of choices on how you can get to the Port Canaveral cruise port. In case you are headed straight to Port Canaveral from the airport, make sure you give your self at the very least three hours. Your aircraft ought to land no later than 10 a.m. to make sure you can declare any baggage, get your trip and get to the port earlier than the boarding time ends within the afternoon with out feeling rushed and flustered.

Cruise line transfers

Many cruise traces that sail from Port Canaveral provide switch companies from the airport or a resort on to the terminal. Speak to your journey agent to make sure it is a part of your general journey package deal, and if it isn’t, ask if you should buy the transfers individually.

For instance, Disney Cruise Line can provide floor transportation from native airports to the embarkation port and again to the airport when the cruise is over. The switch is a per-person flat charge that should be added to your cruise reservation upfront by means of the Disney Cruise Line app. The round-trip value is $90 per particular person. In case you solely want one-way service, it’s important to name Disney Cruise Line to order.

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Impartial airport shuttles

Cruisers on the lookout for a switch to and from the airport, resort or cruise terminal can achieve this with unbiased airport shuttles. Take into account corporations like Airport Canaveral, the place shared shuttle rides in a minibus begin at $20 per particular person and a non-public van begins at $125 a trip for as much as 5 individuals. In case you want extra room for bigger events and nonetheless desire a personal trip, you’ll be able to hire a non-public Sprinter shuttle beginning at $220. Airport Canaveral at the moment serves MCO and MLB.

Costs for these companies are one-way.

You may wish to think about a couple of standards when deciding between a cruise switch or an unbiased shuttle. The primary is how massive your occasion is. Cruise-branded transfers are sometimes per-person prices, whereas particular person transfers are one worth for a set quantity of consumers.

For instance, if 4 persons are taking a Disney cruise, the full value for a cruise-run switch could be $360 for round-trip service from the airport to the terminal and again to the airport on the finish of your journey. For a similar group, Airport Canaveral can provide a non-public van for $300 round-trip (the worth for as much as 5 individuals).

It usually makes extra monetary sense for solo vacationers or small teams of two or three to take a cruise line switch, however bigger teams can get monetary savings with unbiased transfers.

Past occasion dimension and whole value, think about time and accessibility. On a cruise-run switch, you might need to attend for a whole busload of friends to reach and get loaded onto the bus earlier than departing the airport. With a non-public switch, you’ll be able to go away whenever you’re prepared and never have to attend for anybody else.

Moreover, a lot of the cruise-run transfers are on giant buses, which could not be probably the most accessible choice for people who’ve bother with stairs. In case you’re touring with somebody with mobility challenges, a non-public switch can provide extra flexibility in the kind of automobile or shuttle you ebook.

Impartial automobile companies

Vacationers who desire a personal switch can even ebook an unbiased automobile or van service. Costs for automobile companies from MCO to Port Canaveral can begin round $200 for a one-way journey in a luxurious automobile that may accommodate three individuals. In case you want a bigger car, a van or SUV can begin round $225 and has seats for as much as six individuals.

Orlando Luxurious Transportation is a extremely rated black automobile service that provides airport-cruise port connections. You may ebook a luxurious SUV from MCO to Port Canaveral for 5 individuals for round $230 or a Sprinter van seating as much as 14 individuals for round $300.

Taxis and ride-hailing companies

Getting a taxi to Port Canaveral is pretty straightforward. Taxi stands are on Stage One in all Terminals A and B at MCO. In case you’re flying into the brand new Terminal C, curbside arrivals are on Stage Six.

4 cab corporations serve MCO: Diamond Cab Firm, Fast Cab, City & Nation Transport and Mears Taxi Yellow/Metropolis Cab. The cabs can carry as much as 9 passengers and cost the identical fare irrespective of how many individuals are within the automobile. Fares are decided by a meter, however the common fare to Port Canaveral is about $115.

For a ride-hailing service like Uber or Lyft, head to Stage Two at Terminals A and B or Stage Six at Terminal C. The common route worth is $69 for an Uber X and $94 for an Uber XL from MCO to Port Canaveral. Bear in mind that it will probably sometimes be difficult to get a driver to really present up as a result of some do not wish to drive all the way in which to Port Canaveral from the airport in the event that they suppose they will not be capable to get a fare again to MCO.

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Lodge shuttles

Most of the resorts close to Port Canaveral provide shuttle service to the port. Free transfers or rental automobile parking generally is a problem to search out, so contact the property to inquire about choices earlier than making a reservation. Lodge shuttle switch prices can differ primarily based on the situation and sort of resort, however many value round $10 per particular person.

Port Canaveral cruise port parking

MSC Meraviglia getting ready to sail from Port Canaveral. PATRICK CONNOLLY/ORLANDO SENTINEL/TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE/GETTY IMAGES

On-site parking

Port Canaveral has a mixture of parking garages and floor tons the place you’ll be able to park at your assigned terminal. On embarkation day, the parking amenities are open beginning at 10 a.m. Parking prices $17 per day, plus tax, for traditional automobiles and leisure automobiles. All funds are made with bank cards, and money is just not accepted. In case you are parking on the Terminal 3 parking storage, E-PASS and SunPass are additionally accepted as fee.

You may drop your baggage off with the porters on the terminal earlier than parking. Safety makes the rounds by means of garages and floor tons each day.

Park-and-cruise

In case you’re driving to the port, however desire a cheaper different to parking on-site, think about a park-and-cruise choice. These tons provide safe parking with a cruise shuttle for a set charge.

Park N Cruise Port Canaveral gives a parking zone 2 miles from the port for $10.95 per day. The parking charge features a free shuttle for as much as 4 individuals, and extra passengers value $5 per particular person. Shuttles depart each half-hour for the terminal.

In case you plan on spending the night time at a close-by resort, search for ones that provide a park-and-cruise package deal that features a resort keep and parking throughout your cruise. The Hampton Inn Cocoa Seashore/Cape Canaveral gives a “Park, Keep, & Go” deal the place you’ll be able to ebook a room for one night time and get included parking for as much as seven nights, plus shuttle service to Port Canaveral.

Irrespective of the place you park, give your self loads of time to get to the terminal. For comfort, park at one of many on-site tons or garages. To avoid wasting cash, test in to a close-by resort or park in an off-site lot.

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Resorts close to Port Canaveral cruise port

HYATT PLACE ORLANDO AIRPORT/FACEBOOK

You will not discover a lack of resort selections round Port Canaveral, particularly in Cocoa Seashore, which is the closest metropolis to the port. It is about quarter-hour away and a straight shot down state Highway A1A from the cruise terminals. Since Port Canaveral and Cocoa Seashore are on the identical barrier island, you may discover all the pieces from beachfront resorts to primary lodging close to the cruise terminals, although you may have extra choices the deeper into Cocoa Seashore you are prepared to journey.

For many who wish to or want to remain in Orlando due to a late arriving flight or higher factors choices, there are some good choices close to the airport within the cool Lake Nona neighborhood.

Hilton resorts close to Port Canaveral

Two resorts that provide clear stays and fast overnights are the Homewood Suites by Hilton Cape Canaveral-Cocoa Seashore and the Hilton Backyard Inn Cocoa Seashore Oceanfront (50,000 and 46,000 factors per night time, respectively).

Each are in handy places about 10 minutes from the cruise terminal and are walkable to close by eating places. The Homewood Suites by Hilton gives free breakfast, whereas the Hilton Backyard Inn has breakfast for a charge. Both approach, do not refill on resort pancakes when there’s an unbelievable lunch ready for you on the ship.

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Marriott resorts close to Port Canaveral

In case you’re touring with a big or prolonged household, think about staying on the Springhill Suites Cape Canaveral Cocoa Seashore (32,000 factors per night time, so you possibly can use a Marriott 35k free night time certificates on some dates of the yr).

The all-suite resort has a port shuttle that prices $10.80 per particular person one-way, and you should name the resort to order a switch. Moreover, the resort gives complimentary breakfast to get your day going.

One other all-suite choice is the TownePlace Suites Cape Canaveral Cocoa Seashore (31,000 factors per night time). The brand new resort gives free breakfast and has two bars, together with one out by the pool so adults can take pleasure in a cocktail whereas children swim.

In case you’re planning to spend a couple of days in Orlando earlier than your cruise, think about staying on the JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes (42,000 factors per night time). The five hundred-acre property is only a quick drive to the theme parks for households however far sufficient away that it seems like an grownup retreat if you do not have children. The resort simply accomplished a multimillion-dollar renovation, together with upgrading all the rooms and suites and including a brand new water park and poolside burger bar.

Hyatt resorts close to Port Canaveral

In case your flight into MCO is late, think about the Hyatt Place Orlando Airport for a pre-cruise keep (9,500 factors per night time).

The resort gives free breakfast, a pool and digital check-in, the latter of which is nice for late incoming flights. After a great night time’s relaxation, hop on the resort’s free airport shuttle to get a trip to Port Canaveral from MCO, which can be simpler to ebook than a trip from the resort itself.

Non-points resorts

The Cocoa Seashore space is rife with boutique resorts and lodging that do not take part within the three main loyalty applications.

One in all our favorites is The Inn at Cocoa Seashore, which is correct on the water. The inn has 50 rooms and is adults-only. The resort gives a full breakfast, complimentary wine and cheese hour, seaside chairs, a pool and free on-site parking.

In case you’re on the lookout for a high-end resort in Orlando to spend the night time, think about the Lake Nona Wave Lodge within the coronary heart of the booming Lake Nona neighborhood. The resort is barely 6 miles from the airport and gives luxurious suites that begin at 875 sq. toes, with separate lounge and bed room sleeping quarters, plus a complete tub and half tub. The resort additionally has one Michelin-recommended restaurant, Bacan, the place the entire truffle roasted rooster is to not be missed.

Eating places close to Port Canaveral cruise port

If you have to seize breakfast or dinner throughout your pre-cruise keep, you may discover loads of eating choices in Cocoa Seashore and Port Canaveral, together with beachfront seafood and nice burgers. State Highway A1A and state Highway 520 are the primary routes by means of the town, and that is the place you may discover a lot of the eating places.

For a fantastic drink proper off state Highway A1A, attempt Ellie Mae’s Tiki Bar, the place you’ll be able to rating half-off cocktails each Wednesday by means of Friday from 2 to five p.m.

If you wish to wave at departing cruise ships earlier than or after you set sail your self, head to one of many port-facing eating places on Glen Cheek Drive. Many of the eating places have spacious out of doors patios the place you’ll be able to dine and bid bon voyage to the ships as you eagerly await the beginning of your individual trip at sea. A neighborhood favourite is Seafood Atlantic, which has been working with native fishermen to usher in the freshest seafood within the space since 1984.

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Issues to do in Port Canaveral earlier than or after your cruise

Cruise ship enters Port Canaveral from the Atlantic Ocean seen from Cocoa Seashore, Florida. PETER TITMUSS/UCG/UNIVERSAL IMAGES GROUP/GETTY IMAGES

Since Port Canaveral is correct in the course of the state of Florida, the cruise port generally is a central hub for an prolonged keep. In case you solely have a couple of days to increase your trip, listed here are one of the best issues you should do.

Discover the seashores

Florida is understood for its stunning seashores. In case you’re on the lookout for a sandy shore proper subsequent to Port Canaveral, Cocoa Seashore is the spot. In case you’re prepared to journey a bit farther, Daytona Seashore has loads of shoreline. Simply make sure you skip the seaside throughout the busy spring break season since each areas are recognized for an inflow of faculty events.

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Hit a theme park or 2

Going to an Orlando theme park is a ceremony of passage for a lot of households with children. In case you’re cruising out of Port Canaveral, think about including a couple of days to the entrance of your journey to discover Walt Disney World or Common Orlando Resort (that includes The Wizarding World of Harry Potter). Each have a number of parks, on-site resorts and transportation choices to and from the airport. If your loved ones needs to discover Disney, you may as well ebook transfers to and out of your Disney resort to Port Canaveral.

NASA’s Kennedy Area Middle Customer Advanced

Simply half-hour from Port Canaveral is the Kennedy Area Middle Customer Advanced, the place you’ll be able to find out about NASA and area exploration. Do not miss taking the bus tour of the power, which is about two hours lengthy and features a cease on the Apollo/Saturn V Middle.

In case you suppose rockets are cool, it would be best to test the rocket launch schedule for Cape Canaveral earlier than leaving residence. In case you’re fortunate, you is perhaps in Port Canaveral or Cocoa Seashore to observe a launch. Relying on the time of day, you would possibly already be in your cruise ship, during which case, the complete ship will begin to shake as a rocket lifts off.

In case you’re not in your ship, one of the best locations to observe are both from the seashores or the Westgate Cocoa Seashore Pier.

Purchasing close to Port Canaveral cruise port

In case you left one thing at residence by chance or must replenish on provides like bottled water for a cruise, you may wish to head to one of many main procuring facilities close to Port Canaveral.

The Avenue Viera is about half-hour from the port. The open-air mall has retailers like Kohl’s, Belk and Outdated Navy if you have to seize a brand new outfit or swimsuit. The Merritt Sq. Mall is about quarter-hour from Port Canaveral and has giant malls like JCPenney and Sears, plus specialty shops.

If you have to deliver snacks or water onto the ship, you may discover a Publix grocery retailer about 10 minutes from the port. You may wish to familiarize your self together with your cruise line’s insurance policies relating to carrying on prepackaged snacks, soda, alcohol and bottled water, as many restrict what you’ll be able to deliver.

In case you’re on the lookout for a memento store, Cocoa Seashore’s North Atlantic Avenue is dotted with cute locations to search out T-shirts and tchotchkes. Favorites embrace Alvin’s Island, The Funky Mermaid Cocoa Seashore and Ron Jon Surf Store.

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