Boarding or Disembarking your Cruise Ship in Port Canaveral, Florida

TIME FOR DISNEY WORLD?

If you’re planning to go on a cruise that embarks from Port Canaveral, we highly recommend flying in at least one day early to avoid any potential travel delays. If you have the option to extend your vacation beyond your cruise, we suggest visiting Walt Disney World (WDW) before boarding your ship. WDW is a lot of fun, but there’s a fair bit of walking involved, so it’s a great idea to go before your cruise so you can relax and unwind once you set sail. The port is roughly an hour away from WDW, so you can either stay on Disney property or get a VRBO. We’ve personally chosen to enjoy some Disney days prior to our cruise several times, and we’d be happy to discuss the many Disney options with you on a call. Of course, there are plenty of other attractions in the area, including Universal Studios Orlando and various of other activities.

                 

HOTEL RECOMMENDATION NEAR THE CRUISE PORT

For those flying in solely for the cruise, the port is about 40-50 minutes from Orlando International Airport (MCO). We stayed at the Hampton Inn & Suites Cape Canaveral Cruise Port, which is conveniently located near the port and provides a complimentary breakfast in the morning. The hotel offered a shuttle service to the port for $10 per person, which we booked as soon as we checked in. For a delicious lunch and/or dinner within walking distance of the hotel, we recommend Zarrella’s Italian. They serve great wood-fired pizza, and we particularly enjoyed their large meatball appetizer and fried mozzarella. On cruise day, we could see our ship from our hotel window, and the shuttle trip to the port was quick and hassle-free.

                 

 

TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM THE CRUISE PORT

Getting to and from Port Canaveral is a breeze, and there are plenty of transportation options to choose from that won’t break the bank. If you’re renting a car at the airport, we suggest using National Car Rental, Enterprise, or Alamo. We rented from National Car Rental and were able to return our rental near the cruise port, where they provided a complimentary shuttle service to our cruise ship. Similarly, after the cruise, they offered a free shuttle from the cruise port to the rental office. Alternatively, many hotels near the cruise port offer shuttle service, and you can also use the services of Airport Canaveral, which provides shuttle service between the airport, cruise port, and nearby hotels for a reasonable price. We discovered their podium with a representative at the cruise port, where we were able to book a shuttle. Finally, if you’re looking for a more convenient option, you can take advantage of rideshare services such as Uber or Lyft. While they can be more expensive than other options, they offer the convenience of door-to-door service and a stress-free ride.

OTHER ACTIVITIES 

Aside from theme parks, there are plenty of other activities to enjoy before or after your cruise. For golf enthusiasts, there’s public access to Shingle Creek Golf Club, which was designed by Arnold Palmer, or the Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge, one of the largest driving ranges in the country. You can also visit the Kennedy Space Center for a day of inspiring and educational exhibits, watch for alligators from an airboat, or even swim with manatees! Most of these activities can be arranged on your own, but don’t forget to check what pre and post cruise excursions the cruise line offers.

 

Here’s a video of our Halloween 2021 sunset sail away on Allure of the Seas.

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