Table Of Content
Once in the port area, you’ll see signage directing you to each individual cruise ship in port that day. The port itself is a large, “L-shaped” complex with a number of cruise terminals on the far western edge. In addition, there are cruise terminals along the southern end of the port. But as with any major port, first-time cruisers (or those who simply haven’t visited recently) may have lots of questions about sailing. To help you out, we’ve covered everything you need to know about cruising from Port Canaveral, along with tons of information about parking, terminals, navigating the port, and much more. With a new terminal recently constructed to serve Carnival’s largest ship (Mardi Gras), the capacity of Port Canaveral simply keeps increasing.
Night Western Caribbean - Port CanaveralDetails
How a special Coast Guard unit protects Port Canaveral cruise passengers - WKMG News 6 & ClickOrlando
How a special Coast Guard unit protects Port Canaveral cruise passengers.
Posted: Wed, 07 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
The port charges $17 per day for most vehicles (card only, no cash). For the most part, the hotels near the port are well-known, reputable chains. Nearly all will have a shuttle available to take you to the cruise port. If you are flying into the Orlando area, then the chances are good you’ll be spending some time in the area, perhaps at the numerous attractions and theme parks. Here are the distances and times to get to Port Canaveral from a number of popular spots in the region.
Things To Do in Port Canaveral & Orlando
As with other ports, a parking garage is just a few steps from the cruise terminal. Hotels with Cruise ParkingA nice perk with such a tourist hotspot is that there are a lot of hotels competing for your business. And as a cruise town, that means many hotels in Cape Canaveral will allow you to park your car while you cruise in return for a night’s stay. Sometimes parking is free, but usually it’s part of a package or an extra charge each night. Independent Parking LotsOne of the great things about sailing from Port Canaveral is that there are a number of independent parking lots near the cruise ships. The lots may not be right at the port, but they are close and offer shuttles.
Night Caribbean & Perfect DayDetails
And as a major and modern cruise port, the disembarkation of the ship at Port Canaveral is usually smooth and relatively quick given the number of passengers on a modern cruise ship. Similar to the cruise port, these lots usually charge by the day instead of the night. So a three-night cruise will have you paying for four days of parking, even if you get your car back early in the morning. If you are driving into Port Canaveral, then there is the question of what to do with your car while you are on your cruise.
Night Bahamas Getaway CruiseDetails
One word of warning — the port area (especially the western terminals) can be a bit confusing to get around. There are lots of signs, but also lots of twists and turns. It’s helpful to have a passenger to focus on the signage to direct you where to go while driving. If you do plan to drop off or pick up, then just know that it’s a relatively simple concept. From there, you will see signs pointing you to the drop-off and pick-up areas, which are clearly marked.
There’s a small retail area and a parking garage right at the terminal. If you’re into ship spotting, there are restaurants right near the terminal that can give you an up-close look at the ship in port. All told, Port Canaveral has six terminals that serve cruise ships, including Terminal 3, which is the newest addition that was built during the pandemic.
Before you cruise out of Orlando, venture out to explore and discover for yourself why it’s nicknamed The City Beautiful. That leaves the question of when should you schedule the flight back home? Cruise ships return to port early in the morning (6-7 a.m.), and then it can take 2-3 hours for everyone to get off the ship.
Victory Casino Cruises operates out of CT2, next door to CT3 (the new Carnival terminal). The casino ship runs two daily trips (most days) to out-of-state waters where gambling is legal. As you reach the port, the first thing you’ll do is drop any checked bags with a porter before you enter the terminal building. These bags will be taken, loaded on the ship, and arrive at your cabin later in the evening. It simply makes it easier to board the ship than having to carry all your luggage around. Or maybe you are picking up someone after their vacation?

Caribbean cruises
That means you can get off the ship and on your way anywhere between 8-10 a.m. Of course, you then have a 45 minute ride to the port, followed by security screening. Thanks to the competition between shuttle companies, there are a number of inexpensive options to get between Orlando and the cruise port. A hotel with a shuttle will likely be the cheapest overall way assuming you plan to stay anyway.
All told, each year sees hundreds of cruise ship departures from the port. That’s not to mention the ships that dock here during their cruises to allow passengers to visit nearby Orlando. Another highlight is the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, where you can meet astronauts, marvel at moon rockets, and immerse yourself in space exploration.
Explore Florida’s Space Coast and the Theme Park Capital of the World – Orlando, before you embark on a cruise from Port Canaveral with Princess®. Whether you are looking for family-friendly activities or adventurous things to do, you’ll have amazing experiences to remember before even stepping aboard your cruise vacation. Not every cruise ship that calls Port Canaveral home heads to the Caribbean or Bahamas.
Port Canaveral has plan to shift marinas to make way for new cruise terminal - Florida Today
Port Canaveral has plan to shift marinas to make way for new cruise terminal.
Posted: Tue, 05 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
There are multiple cruise ship docks here, with parking available for each terminal. Once you depart the ship, you’ll enter the terminal and pick up any luggage that you had the porters carry off the ship ahead of time. You’ll then enter the line to be checked back into the country by customs agents. All told, the process will vary in length of time depending on a few factors — most notably the number of agents working to process the ship and if there are automated kiosks. One of the funny things about cruising is that while everyone can’t wait to get on the ship to start their vacation, they are just as eager to get off the ship when it arrives back in port.
No comments:
Post a Comment