Whereas Miami is named the cruise capital of the world, there’s one other cruise port a bit north of it in Florida that shouldn’t be forgotten. Not solely is Port Canaveral the second busiest cruise port in Florida, but it surely’s truly the second busiest in the whole world. In actual fact, it processes almost 7 million passengers annually with extra development on the horizon.
In case you are planning a cruise from this jap Florida location, right here’s our 2024 information to the Port Canaveral cruise port to assist reply many steadily requested questions.
Cruise Strains That Sail From Port Canaveral
The Port Canaveral Cruise Port presently has seven cruise terminals. There are 4 A terminals, that are situated on the north facet: terminals 5, 6, 8, and 10. There are three B terminals, situated on the south facet: terminals 1, 2, and three. A brand new terminal 4 is slated to open in 2026.
When arriving at Port Canaveral to your cruise, there are giant digital indicators directing passengers to their right terminal.
Cruise Terminal 1 was constructed to deal with a number of the largest cruise ships on this planet, which incorporates Royal Caribbean‘s Oasis-class ships. This yr, ships crusing from Terminal 1 embody Attract, Marvel, and Utopia of the Seas.
Cruise Terminal 3 is the most recent terminal at Port Canaveral to deal with Carnival Cruise Line’s largest ships — particularly Mardi Gras. Carnival Liberty and Glory additionally sail from this $163 million, 188,000 sq. foot terminal.
Terminal 5 is dwelling to a few of Royal Caribbean’s mid-sized ships — presently Mariner and Journey of the Seas. Terminal 6 is dwelling to a few of Carnival’s mid-sized vessels, Carnival Freedom and Vista.
Cruise Terminal 8 is Disney Cruise Line‘s terminal, full with a Mickey head-shaped portal that welcomes friends by the terminal and onto the ship. Disney Fantasy and Want presently sail from Terminal 8, and it’ll even be dwelling to Disney Treasure when the ship debuts in December 2024.
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Terminal 10 is dwelling to Norwegian Cruise Line and MSC Cruises ships. Presently, Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Jade, and MSC Seashore sail from this terminal.
Flying to Port Canaveral for a Cruise
Port Canaveral’s not removed from the Bahamas. So, this cruise port is in style for brief three and four-day cruises. These cruises typically go to cruise line personal islands reminiscent of Royal Caribbean’s Good Day at CocoCay,.
A number of in style cruises additionally go to Norwegian Cruise Line’s Nice Stirrup Cay or Disney’s Castaway Cay.
Whereas many Florida locals do drive to the port, many cruisers nonetheless fly right here for cruise holidays. The closest airport to Port Canaveral is Orlando Worldwide Airport. MCO hosts loads of airways from locations throughout the nation, so that you shouldn’t have an issue discovering a flight.
This airport is situated roughly 45 minutes from Port Canaveral. Thus, you need to plan your flights appropriately should you plan to fly within the day of your cruise. Although, we by no means suggest doing so. We all the time suggest cruisers fly within the day earlier than to keep away from any potential journey delays.
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When you arrive on the airport, you’ll have a number of transportation strategies. A few of these choices will depend upon whether or not you fly within the day earlier than or the day of your cruise.
Transportation To and From the Port Canaveral Cruise Port
As talked about beforehand, should you stay inside driving distance of Port Canaveral, you’ll doubtless be driving to the cruise terminal. In case you are driving, we are going to talk about parking choices a bit later. Nonetheless, there are a number of different transportation choices accessible.
In case you are arriving the day of your cruise, a cruise line switch from the airport may be the simplest choice, although doubtless not the most affordable.
Many cruise traces supply an choice to e book this transportation pre-cruise. As soon as on the airport, a cruise line consultant will greet you at baggage declare and escort you and your baggage to the check-in space. After checking-in, you’ll board the subsequent departing bus to the ship.
These transfers will run upwards of $40 per particular person and do run on set time schedules.
There are additionally a number of unbiased shuttle choices. These shuttle choices could embody shuttles from the airport to the cruise terminal and/or lodge shuttles from the airport. These shuttle providers are typically a bit cheaper than transportation organized by the cruise line.
A few of these choices embody Cortrans Shuttle Service and Cocoa Seaside Shuttle. In fact, some resorts themselves supply transportation — typically complimentary — from the airport. Most frequently, these shuttles are a shared service and run on a set time schedule.
Shared Experience Providers are most likely the preferred type of transportation lately. Fashionable apps like Uber and Lyft are allowed to pick-up/drop-off passengers at each the airport and the cruise port.
The price of utilizing these providers varies base on the kind of automobile you select however common between $70-$100. So, relying in your occasion measurement and quantity of baggage, this feature could or could not prevent cash. Whereas Uber or Lyft are handy and sometimes cheaper, one concern that may come up is high quality management amongst drivers.
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GoPort is one other good choice providing packages that may embody lodge lodging, airport transportation, and cruise transfers for one set worth. The corporate additionally presents shared shuttle service from the airport to the cruise port for as little as $29.99.
Parking on the Port Canaveral Cruise Port
In case you are driving to the Port Canaveral Cruise Port, the Official Port Canaveral Cruise Parking is probably the most handy choice accessible. This “official” cruise parking is the one space immediately adjoining to every of Port Canaveral’s cruise terminals.
With this feature, you possibly can park at your cruise terminal’s designated parking storage and easily take a brief stroll to your ship. The present parking charge is $17 per day, together with day of arrival and day of departure.
The Port doesn’t personal or function any off-site parking amenities. Although, unbiased off-site parking heaps is usually a cheaper choice. This may entail taking a shuttle from the lot to the cruise terminal.
Certainly one of these choices is the GoPort Plaza. Packages begin at a flat price of $60 for a seven-night cruise for one particular person, plus $10 for every further traveler. For a week-long cruise for 2, this may be a few 50 p.c financial savings.
Park Port Canaveral and Port Parking Area are different choices as nicely.
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In fact, should you go for a pre-cruise keep in a lodge, many resorts supply cruise and keep packages which may embody parking for the whole length of the cruise.
Accommodations Close to Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal
When making ready to your cruise, you need to take into account planning a pre-cruise keep earlier than the holiday.
When cruising from Port Canaveral, you’ll have various lodge choices. You might decide to remain nearer to the Orlando airport and make the commute to the port within the morning.
Or, you may select a lodge that’s situated nearer to the port or close by Cocoa Seaside. Higher but, you may spend just a few days at Disney World or Common Studios earlier than your cruise.
The Nation Inn & Suites by Radisson, Radisson Resort on the Port, and Residence Inn Cape Canaveral Cocoa Seaside are among the many closest to the Port Canaveral Cruise Port. You can too discover our high picks for the Finest Accommodations Close to Port Canaveral proper right here!
Prime Issues to Do Close to Port Canaveral
Serving as an embarkation port in addition to a port of name on some cruises, you may be questioning what actions there are to get pleasure from whereas visiting Port Canaveral. Whether or not you might be visiting Florida’s Area Coast for the day or plan to spend just a few pre-cruise or post-cruise days within the space, you’ll have a number of choices.
Given the proximity to Orlando, one of many apparent selections is to go to your favourite central Florida theme park. Walt Disney World and Common Studios are each situated about an hour away. Walt Disney World is dwelling to the favored Magic Kingdom theme park and Epcot which hosts numerous festivals all year long just like the Meals and Wine Pageant in the summertime/fall and the Flower and Backyard Pageant within the winter/spring. Moreover, Hollywood Studios is dwelling to Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge, and Animal Kingdom has Pandora — The World of Avatar.
Harry Potter followers will love visiting Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley at Common Studios. Not point out, there are many thrill rides in addition to the immaculately-themed Volcano Bay water park.
Additional, Kennedy Area Heart is likely one of the hottest points of interest close to Port Canaveral. Admission to this energetic spaceflight facility contains a wide range of reveals and points of interest. To get pleasure from all the things Kennedy Area Heart has to supply, plan on spending at the least one full day there.
If you wish to seize a chunk to eat virtually on the port itself, Grills Seafood Deck & Tiki Bar and Fishlips Waterfront Bar & Grill are two in style choices. These eating places are situated proper on the pier and are cruiser favourite spots to look at the ships sail out of port.
In fact, there are a number of different actions within the space as nicely. In case you are on the lookout for extra choices, try our listing of high issues to do close to Port Canaveral.
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