Complete Guide to the Port Canaveral Cruise Port

Table Of Content

• Convenient Port Canaveral “Park & Cruise” Hotels
• Ft. Lauderdale, FL
• Restaurants Near Port Canaveral (Plus Shopping and Other Services)
• (NEW) Carnival Cruise Terminal 3 (CT3-Launch Pad)
• Princess Cruises and Brightline introduce Rail & Sail (train+cruise) program
• Getting from the Orlando International Airport to Port Canaveral
• Central & South America

The 1927-built steamship (for Chadade Steamship Company) was acquired by Yarmouth Cruise Lines in 1957. In 1965, the ship burnt at sea (between Nassau and Miami). Port Canaveral continues to expand with proposals for a new cruise terminal that would open in late 2026 on the port’s south side.

Convenient Port Canaveral “Park & Cruise” Hotels

Harmony replaced Oasis OTS (redeployed in 2019 to Miami). Also in 2019, Mariner OTS (max capacity 4200 passengers plus 1180 crew) was homeported here for 3-4-night roundtrips to The Bahamas. The ship first arrived in Port Canaveral in 2003 (inaugural cruise on November 14). The 1965-opened sea lock (part of Canaveral Barge Canal) is still in use, being maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers.

Ft. Lauderdale, FL

The city that houses the cruise port sits on Florida’s coastal region. It’s a buzzing city with an array of restaurants, bars, and entertainment spots. So, you won’t run out of things to do if you will be around for a few days. Resting just south of the port, Cape Canaveral has the region’s biggest hotels.

Restaurants Near Port Canaveral (Plus Shopping and Other Services)

The Cruise Hive Cruise Ship Awards are an annual event recognizing the best in the industry, as voted on by Cruise Hive readers. One of the most closely contested categories is Best Homeport, which recognizes the top ports that serve as the starting point for cruise vacations. “It’s going to be a Port Canaveral terminal as opposed to a terminal dedicated to any particular cruise line. Parking agents will not grant parking waivers for any other reason than the ones listed above.

There is also a separate gangway and processing area for the ship’s crew. Expedited check-in desks are on the ground (first floor) level of the terminal with scanning stations, U.S. customs desks and passport control. Elevators, ramps and escalators transport cruisers and their hand luggage to the second floor where they will go through the check-in process. A few restrooms are also available within parking garages.

Princess Cruises and Brightline introduce Rail & Sail (train+cruise) program

One thing to note is that you pay as you enter the garage the day your cruise departs. This way the lines to exit at the end of the cruise are shorter since there is no payment processing, getting everyone home more quickly. Outside of the center seating area of the VIP section you’ll find more benches and a large window at the end of the terminal that looks back out over the rest of the port. Try to find a seat next to one of the lamps, which feature a spot to plug in your cord. Given the new terminal and health protocols, the layout looks to be a bit different than you might be used to. For those that need more help there will still be check-in stations staffed, but the emphasis on the traditional method of check-in seems diminished.

No time to wait: New Bahamas/Caribbean ports needed to meet cruise growth - Seatrade Cruise News

No time to wait: New Bahamas/Caribbean ports needed to meet cruise growth.

Posted: Fri, 19 Apr 2024 12:10:07 GMT [source]

The new CT-3 terminal is the largest single-construction project ever at the port. The work included dredging of the port, bridge work, upgraded berth construction for larger ships, road widening, and several new buildings, including a new cruise parking garage onsite. View a map of the cruise terminals.Directions from AirportsFrom Orlando International Airport (MCO)Orlando International Airport (MCO) is approximately 45 minutes west of Port Canaveral.

It is one building designed to handle two medium ships or one mega ship. When passengers arrive to cruise, they have two options to get to the terminal entrance, which is located on the second floor. First, those parking or people needing an elevator can enter through the parking garage. Here there is a walkway from the garage right to the front entrance of the terminal.

Of course, if you opt for a pre-cruise stay in a hotel, many hotels also offer cruise and stay packages which can include parking. While many Florida locals do drive to the port, many cruisers still fly here for cruise vacations. Orlando International Airport hosts plenty of airlines from destinations across the country.

Of course, there are several other activities in the area as well. Given the proximity to Orlando, one of the obvious choices is to visit your favorite theme park. Walt Disney World and Universal Studios are both located about an hour away.

It received this prestigious award as part of Cruise Hive’s Annual Cruise Ship Awards. This annual event recognizes the best of the best in the cruise industry. We outline each of the terminals, locations and amenities. We also cover which cruise lines use terminals at Port Canaveral and give easy directions for how to get there.

This cruise line will offer sailings on Seaside and Divina from Port Canaveral beginning in 2021. According to Norwegian Cruise Line’s website, Norwegian Escape is the only ship currently scheduled to sail from Port Canaveral once cruising resumes. If you are planning a cruise from this eastern Florida location, we have our complete Guide to the Port Canaveral Cruise Port to help answer many frequently asked questions.

Demolition works (of the existing Terminal 3 building) started in April 2018, at the cost of US$210,000. On December 5, 2018, Canaveral Port Authority (CPA) approved a series of bonds (up to USD 117 million) for financing "Cruise Terminal 3" (dubbed "Launch Pad") project. In 2021, at the new CT3 Terminal was homeported Carnival's newest and largest (LNG-powered) liner Mardi Gras. Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal takes its name from Cape Canaveral, one of the most well-known barrier islands along Florida’s East Coast. The cruise port is immediately to the south of Cape Canaveral, better known as the home of the NASA Kennedy Space Center.

GoPort is another nice option offering packages that can include hotel accommodations, airport transportation, and cruise transfers for one set price. The company also offers shared shuttle service from the airport to the cruise port for as low as $19.99. Shared Ride Services are probably the most popular form of transportation in recent years. Popular apps like Uber and Lyft are allowed to pick-up/drop-off passengers at both the airport and the cruise port. As mentioned previously, if you live within driving distance of Port Canaveral, you will likely be driving to the cruise terminal.