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, nevertheless it’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 regularly requested questions.
Cruise Traces That Sail From Port Canaveral
The Port Canaveral Cruise Port at present has seven cruise terminals. There are 4 A terminals, that are situated on the north aspect: terminals 5, 6, 8, and 10. There are three B terminals, situated on the south aspect: terminals 1, 2, and three. A brand new terminal 4 is slated to open in 2026.
When arriving at Port Canaveral in your cruise, there are giant digital indicators directing passengers to their appropriate terminal.
Cruise Terminal 1 was constructed to deal with a number of the largest cruise ships on the planet, which incorporates Royal Caribbean‘s Oasis-class ships. This 12 months, ships crusing from Terminal 1 embrace 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 — at present 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 visitors by the terminal and onto the ship. Disney Fantasy and Want at present 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 standard for quick three and four-day cruises. These cruises usually go to cruise line non-public islands similar to Royal Caribbean’s Excellent Day at CocoCay,.
A number of standard 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, it is best 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 should 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 seemingly be driving to the cruise terminal. In case you are driving, we’ll focus on parking choices a bit later. Nonetheless, there are a number of different transportation choices obtainable.
In case you are arriving the day of your cruise, a cruise line switch from the airport may be the best possibility, although seemingly not the most affordable.
Many cruise strains 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 following 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 embrace shuttles from the airport to the cruise terminal and/or lodge shuttles from the airport. These shuttle companies are usually a bit cheaper than transportation organized by the cruise line.
A few of these choices embrace Cortrans Shuttle Service and Cocoa Seashore Shuttle. In fact, some lodges themselves supply transportation — generally complimentary — from the airport. Most frequently, these shuttles are a shared service and run on a set time schedule.
Shared Journey Companies are most likely the most well-liked type of transportation in recent times. Widespread 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 companies varies base on the kind of car you select however common between $70-$100. So, relying in your celebration dimension and quantity of bags, this selection could or could not prevent cash. Whereas Uber or Lyft are handy and sometimes cheaper, one subject that may come up is high quality management amongst drivers.
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GoPort is one other good possibility providing packages that may embrace lodge lodging, airport transportation, and cruise transfers for one set worth. The corporate additionally affords 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 essentially the most handy possibility obtainable. This “official” cruise parking is the one space immediately adjoining to every of Port Canaveral’s cruise terminals.
With this selection, you’ll be able to park at your cruise terminal’s designated parking storage and easily take a quick 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 services. Although, unbiased off-site parking heaps is usually a cheaper possibility. This can entail taking a shuttle from the lot to the cruise terminal.
Considered one of these choices is the GoPort Plaza. Packages begin at a flat payment of $60 for a seven-night cruise for one particular person, plus $10 for every extra traveler. For a week-long cruise for 2, this could be a couple of 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 lodges supply cruise and keep packages which may embrace parking for the whole length of the cruise.
Motels Close to Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal
When getting ready in your cruise, it is best to take into account planning a pre-cruise keep earlier than the holiday.
When cruising from Port Canaveral, you should have quite a lot of lodge choices. You can choose to remain nearer to the Orlando airport and make the commute to the port within the morning.
Or, you can select a lodge that’s situated nearer to the port or close by Cocoa Seashore. Higher but, you can 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 Seashore are among the many closest to the Port Canaveral Cruise Port. It’s also possible to discover our prime picks for the Greatest Motels 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 take pleasure in whereas visiting Port Canaveral. Whether or not you’re 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 should 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 varied festivals all year long just like the Meals and Wine Competition in the summertime/fall and the Flower and Backyard Competition 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 Middle 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 take pleasure in every thing Kennedy Area Middle has to supply, plan on spending at the very 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 standard 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 record of prime issues to do close to Port Canaveral.
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Have you ever cruised from the Port Canaveral Cruise Port? What are a few of your finest lodges and issues to do within the space? Drop us an anchor beneath to share your Port Canaveral cruise suggestions.
