tours from port canaveral

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Cocoa Beach Pier and Beach Transfer

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Canaveral Tours

Explore the Natural Wonders and Historical Monuments of Cape Canaveral and Merritt Island

Lighthouse & Spaceflight Tour

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Cape Canaveral Lighthouse & Spaceflight Tours transports you on a journey through the evolution of exploration as we visit the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse that guided the first explorers around the Florida coast, to the location that propelled our ships into orbit, and look toward the new frontier of planetary travel.

Canaveral Tours provides tours to the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse and Space Force Missile Museum located on the Canaveral Space Force Station. Our 4-hour Premier Tour provides the History of the Cape from early settlers to current space programs. The tour takes you to the lighthouse, where you are have the opportunity to climb to the 5th floor of lighthouse. The museum, gift store, and lighthouse campus await your visit.

The tour continues next door to Hangar C, the first hangar built on the station. It currently houses refurbished artifacts belonging to the Space Force Missile Museum. The tour route includes “abandoned in place” launch complexes from the beginning missile program. Visit Launch Complex 26 and step inside the blockhouse where we launched our first satellite into space. See the Redstone rocket on display that sent Alan Shephard and Gus Grissom into space. Walk where we first launched a man into space. Many exhibits of space artifacts and operations for the space program.

We also have 2 and 3 hour excursions that transport you to one or two of major stops without the fully guided experience. Special events and private tours are available. All tours require advance reservations for security checks. Only U.S. citizens/residents are allowed on tour, The Space Force does not allow foreign visitors on tours of the station.

Wildlife Tours

We offer tours to the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, Canaveral National Seashore and Indian River, home to over 500 species of wildlife including many that are threatened and endangered. A variety of habitats are found in the 140,000 acres and 24 miles of barrier island, including coastal dunes, saltwater marshes, pinewood flats, and hardwood hammocks.

This protected area around the Kennedy Space Center and NASA facilities was created for the purpose of providing habitats for migratory birds, wildlife diversity, endangered and threatened species, and to grant access for recreation, observation, and education of wildlife activities. Tours are offered to small groups up to 6 or larger groups up to 10 guests.

Port of Call Wildlife Tours

We pickup and drop at your Cruise Terminal. Start time is usually 1 1/2 hours after arrival.

Our Wildlife tour takes you to the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, home to over 500 species of wildlife including many that are threatened and endangered. A variety of habitats are found in the 140,000 acres and 24 miles of barrier island, including coastal dunes, saltwater marshes, pinewood flats, and hardwood hammocks. A 7-mile drive through the refuge provides a chance to the see the diversity of the area. The visitor center offers museum, boardwalk and store for further viewing, information and shopping. The tour is 4 hours.

Our Airboat Wildlife Tour provides an exciting adventure aboard an Airboat on the St. Johns River. The major waterway of Florida offers a diverse fresh water habitat for the wildlife of Florida. During your ride to the airboats we provide information, history and a multimedia experience about Florida waterways and the American Alligator!

Port Canaveral (Orlando) tours and MSC Shore Excursions

Port Canaveral Florida is surrounded by miles of pristine beaches that form a homebase for America’s space program. Our Port Canaveral tours ensure you witness the magic that gives this central Florida region its nickname: the Space Coast . MSC shore excursions let you imagine an astronaut’s life with visits to the Kennedy Space Center , home to the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame and a Rocket Garden complete with crafts from NASA’s Mercury , Gemini and Apollo programs, as well as a life-sized model of the Apollo 11 moon landing.

Lovers of sand and sea get their fill during excursions to Cocoa Beach , a world-famous destination for surfing, swimming and sunbathing (not to mention shopping, especially at the popular Ron Jon Surf Shop).

Peek into a unique coastal ecosystem on shore excursions along the Indian River Lagoon , and witness endangered manatees, friendly dolphins and countless species of birds and fish.

Orlando tours are easily accessible from Port Canaveral and bring visitors to Orlando theme parks like Walt Disney World and Universal Studios , resorts that immerse you in the magic and wonder of the silver screen. Complete your Orlando holidays at Disney Springs , where you’ll find dining, shopping and entertainment. Our Port Canaveral excursions wow with natural wonders and family-friendly thrills that keep visitors coming back to this part of central Florida.

Excursions in Port Canaveral and Orlando

With boundless things to see in Port Canaveral, it’s tough to know where to begin. On Port Canaveral tours, you can learn space travel from astronauts, explore a natural gem by boat, or indulge in dining and shopping at Orlando attractions.

Port Canaveral excursions plant you in the middle of a rare coastal ecosystem with pontoon cruises of the Indian River Lagoon. Orlando tours take you inland to ‘ The City Beautiful ’, home to theme parks like Walt Disney World and Universal Studios.

Learn from a real astronaut at Kennedy Space Center

Ever wondered what travelling through outer space is like? Ask a real astronaut on an excursion to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. If the exhibits, displays and live shows about NASA’s journeys beyond Earth’s atmosphere don’t impress you, the Rocket Garden – where you can stroll among real rockets from NASA’s Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo space programs – surely will.

At the Apollo Saturn V Center, housed within Kennedy Space Center, you can stand underneath the 111-metre long Saturn V rocket, the largest to ever soar through space.

Orlando theme parks: rides and games for the whole family

Immersive rides, unique dining experiences, shopping and live entertainment – it’s no wonder that Orlando theme parks attract dreamers of all ages. Dress up like a princess or your favourite Disney character at Walt Disney World Resort, home to EPCOT , a special corner where you can try cuisines from vendors representing 11 nations. And then there’s Universal Orlando Resort , a massive entertainment complex where you can get up-close and personal with your favourite television and movie characters at three theme parks, including a water park.

Drop in on a wildlife sanctuary by boat on Merritt Island

Excursions to Merritt Island bring you to a sanctuary for species of coastal animals you’re unlikely to see anywhere else, including endangered or threatened species such as the dinosaur-like wood stork and the gentle West Indian manatee .

These animals and more call the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge home, and you can learn what life is like for them on a pontoon cruise excursion guided by eco-tourist experts. Bring binoculars to catch glimpses of bald eagles, brown pelicans or bright pink roseate spoonbills soaring through the air.

Book your cruise to Port Canaveral (Orlando)

Central Florida’s Space Coast is a place of wonder. Book a Port Canaveral cruise to visit Kennedy Space Center, take a boat tour around the Indian River Lagoon or indulge in retail therapy and worlds of entertainment at one of several Orlando theme parks.ì Port Canaveral cruises also unlock dream-like Caribbean settings – islands such as Antigua and Barbuda, Martinique, and St. Maarten are easy to fall in love with, but difficult to leave.

Why choose MSC Shore Excursions to Port Canaveral and Orlando

Port canaveral tours and excursions faq, in which language port canaveral excursions are conducted, are port canaveral tours always available to be booked, can port canaveral excursion programme be changed.

The MSC shore excursions programme gives a guided summary of available Port Canaveral tours. The exact itinerary and cost will be confirmed during the cruise. Both the programme and schedules may change depending on conditions within the tour area.

The shore excursions programme is subject to change in order to comply with local regulations, laws and other factors.

Is there a boat tour of Orlando?

MSC Cruises doesn’t offer a boat tour of Orlando, but it does offer an excursion around the lagoons surrounding Port Canaveral. The ‘ Pontoon Lagoon Cruise ’ tour involves a cruise along the Banana River south of Port Canaveral, exploring the Thousand Islands Conservation Area at Cocoa Beach, an area known for its range of wildlife.

The cruise then moves to the saltwater marshes and mangrove tunnels of the Indian River Lagoon – look out for manatees, eagles and bottlenose dolphins.

What is included in the Kennedy Space Center tour?

Cape Canaveral is synonymous around the world with Kennedy Space Center, the place where NASA’s rockets are spectacularly launched into space, as you'll learn on MSC Cruises’ ‘ Kennedy Space Center ’ excursion.

Explore the history of the launch area and walk amongst engineering marvels in the Rocket Garden, before visiting the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame and the famous countdown clock. Thrill-seekers can also get an idea of what it feels like to blast off into space via the Shuttle Launch Experience, a thrilling eight-and-a-half-minute simulation.

What is involved in the Space Coast Highlights tour?

The ‘ Space Coast Highlights ’ excursion offered by MSC Cruises involves a coach tour of this beautiful region’s varied sights. During the course of the tour, you’ll visit Space View Park (a pretty area by the water, with monuments and plaques paying tribute to astronauts and other space workers) and Playalinda Beach on the Canaveral National Seashore, with fantastic coastal views.

Continue on to the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge for more fantastic views and potential wildlife-spotting, before driving past NASA’s history-making Kennedy Space Center.

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MSC Cruises

Space Coast River Tours all the beauty of the sea

Welcome to space coast river tours.

WHAT WE OFFER

Possibly the most fun you've had on your vacation. We tour the scenic protected waterways near Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral including a trip through Canaveral Locks and Port Canaveral. Enjoy the complimentary drink and snacks on the daily tours and the free lunch on Saturday tours while Sunday tour is timed to see the majestic cruise ships leave Port Canaveral.

Join your captains Mark and Michele aboard the river tour boat, The Blue Dolphinfor wildlife adventures along the Banana River where dolphins and manatees are seen daily.

Our daily 2 hour Tours begin on the beautiful Banana River. We leave from Kelly Park and go just north to the Barge Canal on Merritt Island where we see a great variety of birds, dolphin, manatee and the occasional Alligator and then through Canaveral Locks and tour Port Canaveral viewing one of the busiest cruise ports on the world.

Tour Price Schedule:

• >> Adults - $40.00
• >> Seniors - $35.00
• >> Kids ages 3-12 - $30.00
• >> Kids Under 3 are Free
• >> Group Rates for Over 20 People - $33.00

WHAT'S NEW?

Daily Cruise Schedule

Monday – Saturday 1pm

Thursday Port Canaveral Lunch tour,1pm

Sunday, Cruise Ship Bon Voyage Parade Tour, 3pm

Rocket Launch Tours

Check www.spaceflightnow.com for launch schedule. If launch is at a reasonable time of day we’ll go to watch. We leave one hour before launch and have a great view. Reservations required.

HOLIDAY GIFT CARDS AVAILABLE: CLICK HERE

Wildside Tours

Take a ride on the wildside boat tours in cocoa beach, fl, eco-nature tour.

Enjoy the Banana River Lagoon on a nature tour boat rides around Cocoa Beach! See manatees, dolphins, birds, and beautiful vegetation. Book today!

• Users Great for all ages!
• Clock 2 hours
• Check Calendar Tours 7 days a week!

Over 400+ ☆☆☆☆☆ Reviews on Tripadvisor!

Great ride on the river

"My wife grandchild and I went on a ride on the River from Cocoa Beach. It was a lot of fun, and the couple that runs the tour where is very helpful and very friendly. I highly recommend this trip."

Friendly and knowledgeable

"Had a great time with this group. They let us take our time viewing dolphin, manatee and lots of birds. They were very knowledgeable about bird species and the history of the area. No preset routes so you get a unique experience. Very comfortable seating."

Fabulous boat tour of Thousand Islands

"Great tour of Thousand Islands. Captain gave great information on wildlife. We saw lots of dolphin. Special treat was seeing an Osprey catch a fish and fly off with it."

A must see and do

"Anyone who visits the Space Coast should try this tour - it’s amazing! I’m a local who had never been and absolutely loved it. Took my guests too and everyone raved about the views. Guaranteed to see dolphins, manatees, birds and other wildlife. Even the boat was safe, comfortable and sturdy. Great for everyone - friends, family, kids, elderly, etc."

Wildside Tours LLC is a nature boat business providing a variety of different excursions in the beautiful Thousand Islands Nature Preserve of Cocoa Beach and the Banana River Lagoon.

Sightseeing in this area is exciting: The manatees, dolphins, and many varieties of birds exemplify nature at its finest.

Since our trips are limited to 26 persons, you will get a much more personal experience without school bus seating. We can go into the smaller channels that larger tour boats cannot access.

Practicing ethical, sustainable eco-tourism, we don’t chase, feed, or touch the animals. We do passive viewing and respect the environment.

Come explore this incredible, fragile, and dynamic eco-system only 10 miles from Port Canaveral’s port of call cruise terminals.

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Cruises from Port Canaveral

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®. Take a visit to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, steer a freighter simulation at Exploration Tower, venture through the Brevard Zoo, or ride on the roller coasters of Orlando’s theme parks. 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. Make the most of your dream vacation by exploring the one-of-a-kind Port Canaveral on Florida’s Space Coast before your cruise or choose one of our debarkation tours.  Read our comprehensive guide on 13 Things to Do in Port Canaveral to begin planning your visit.

Caribbean Cruises From Orlando (Port Canaveral)

Among the many exciting Princess cruise destinations , Port Canaveral offers a magical experience. Sail to the Eastern or Western Caribbean on a cruise from Port Canaveral (Orlando) and island hop to top rated islands such as St. Thomas, Turks & Caicos, and Cozumel . Can't decide between the Eastern or the Western Caribbean? No problem – we have an itinerary that brings you to both regions from Port Canaveral, as well.

What to Know About Cruises from Port Canaveral

Known as the world’s most popular cruise port, Port Canaveral welcomes you to explore all it has to offer. Here’s everything to learn about your cruise from Port Canaveral (Orlando).

Port Canaveral at a glance

• Language:  English
• Currency:  U.S. Dollar (USD)
• Time Zone:  Eastern Standard Time (EST)
• Docking:  Your cruise from Port Canaveral docks at the Cruise Terminal in Cape Canaveral, approximately 45 miles from Orlando International Airport (MCO).
• Attire:  Located along the Atlantic Coast of East Central Florida, Cape Canaveral has an overall average high temperature of 82 degrees and an average low of 62. If you're visiting the Kennedy Space Center, wear casual attire appropriate for the time of year. Always pack a bathing suit because even if the water is a bit chilly for swimming, sunbathing is a year-round sport in Florida.
• Transportation:  You can get around by Uber, Lyft, a shuttle, limousine or rental car. Want to beat traffic to the port? Take Brightline , a convenient and comfortable high-speed passenger train.
• Passports: Do you need a passport for Port Canaveral cruises? Many cruises out of Port Canaveral do not require passports, but it is recommended by the U.S. Department of State to have one with you. It is important to check the specific guidelines in the itinerary for your chosen cruise trip.

Things to do in Port Canaveral

Before getting on a cruise from Port Canaveral, or after your debarkation, add visits to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex , the Exploration Tower , and the US Air Force Space & Missile Museum . Take in a day of fishing on one of the charter boats docked at the port and relax to the sound of crashing waves on uncrowded beaches. Make the most of your dream vacation by exploring the one-of-a-kind Port Canaveral on Florida’s Space Coast before your cruise or choose one of our debarkation tours. 

Ships that Cruise from Port Canaveral

Our Princess fleet includes some of the best cruises out of Port Canaveral. Find the comforts of home along with the luxuries you deserve on board any of our ships. Discover what makes our fleet so unique.

Learn more about:  Caribbean Princess

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• Port Canaveral Excursions
• Port Canaveral Orlando Everglades Airboat Ride Excursion S3176

Port Canaveral Orlando Everglades Airboat Ride Excursion

Port canaveral (orlando), florida / usa (excursion id s3176).

• Duration 5 hours
• Activity Level Moderate
• Minimum Age 3 Years Old
• Languages EN

Description

• Meeting Point
• Restrictions

Cancellation

• Air-conditioned, fully licensed, and insured transportation!
• Entrance fee to the Wildlife Park!
• Experienced, local airboat captains!
• U.S. Coast Guard-approved airboats!
• Safety equipment including life jackets and ear protection!

You'll go to the dock and be given your ear muff-style headphones. These keep out the noise of the airboat but allow you to hear the captain as he points out areas of interest. Look for wild birds and their nests, keep an eye out for the elusive panther, watch for the tropical birds, and look for those nostrils just above the water. Your experienced captain knows the way around and where to go to see the most wildlife. This is truly exciting and a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see the most diverse ecosystem in the world. All the wildlife is wild and even though there are often alligator sightings, wild sightings are not guaranteed!

View the alligator exhibit and receive a bag of Alligator Food, one per family, to ensure they only eat what's good for them. There are other animals in the park as well. Enjoy natural Florida on the 500-foot dock that overlooks the swamp or get your picture taken while holding a baby alligator. The property also offers an impressive selection of wildlife including bald eagles, deer, cows, boars, turkeys, alligators, and more. This brand new, eco-park is appealing to all ages with truly exotic animals that you've probably never seen before. You will be free to take a look in the souvenir shop, get a cool beverage, and then when it's time, you'll climb back onboard your transportation for the ride back to your Orlando meeting point.

What is included?

• Air-conditioned, fully licensed, and insured transportation.
• Entrance fee to the Wildlife Park.
• Experienced, local airboat captains.
• U.S. Coast Guard-approved airboats.
• Safety equipment including life jackets and ear protection.

Excursion Notes

• We suggest you wear comfortable clothes and hiking or tennis shoes. You may want to bring a poncho as you could get wet on the ride.
• Bring along sun protection, a camera, and cash to purchase food, drinks, tips, shopping items, etc.
• Please note this tour is not available on Thanksgiving or Christmas Day.
• It is recommended to bring a hat and/or sunglasses for the airboat ride.
• Not available on Sundays

Where we meet

For the Port Canaveral Orlando Everglades Airboat Ride Excursion, you will meet at one of several convenient locations in and around the Orlando area. All necessary details will be printed on your Shore Excursion Ticket.

Excursion Restrictions

• This Port Canaveral Orlando Everglades Airboat Ride Excursion needs to be booked a minimum of 48 hours before the desired date.
• Guests with mobility issues or wheelchairs are not allowed.

Excursion FAQ

• Your ship arrives into port late and you cannot make it in time to the meeting location (we will verify with the tour operator).
• Your ship skips/misses the port.
• Weather conditions or equipment failure prevents the operator from running the excursion.
• A medical problem prevents you from safely participating in the excursion (we will verify with the excursion operator and the guest may send doctor's note). This applies to individuals only and not the remainder of the group.
• Cancellations/deposit refund requests that do not comply with the above may not be subject to refund.
• Refunds may be subject to a service charge fee as determined by the payment processor, please refer to Terms and Conditions for more information.

Excursion out of stock

Port canaveral orlando everglades airboat ride excursion experiences, this excursion is available to everybody and specially designed to accommodate passengers of the following cruise lines.

Port Canaveral Orlando Everglades Airboat Ride Excursion Reviews

Explore the Everglades in an authentic airboat with an experienced captain. Enjoy a fully narrated ride through the wild on your headsets and then take a walk around a wildlife park and see some alligators up close and safely. Round trip transportation is included and you can choose to ride for just 30 minutes, or for a whole hour in this unique, one of a kind ecosystem.

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What Cruise Lines Depart from Port Canaveral, Florida? Your Guide to Exciting Voyages

Are you ready to set sail from the Sunshine State? Picture this: you’re dreaming of a cruise getaway from Port Canaveral, Florida, but you’re unsure which cruise lines operate from this vibrant port. No worries – we’ve got you covered! In this article, we’ll guide you through the top cruise lines that depart from Port Canaveral, offering you a glimpse into the exciting voyages waiting for you.

Imagine the convenience of starting your cruise adventure just a stone’s throw away from Orlando’s thrilling attractions. By knowing which cruise lines call Port Canaveral home, you can plan your next vacation with ease and embark on a memorable journey to stunning destinations. Get ready to discover the cruise options that will make your Florida vacation even more unforgettable.

Key Takeaways

• Port Canaveral in Florida is a convenient and popular departure point for cruises, offering easy access to Orlando’s attractions and seamless embarkation processes.
• Major cruise lines like Disney Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, and Norwegian Cruise Line operate from Port Canaveral, each offering unique experiences catering to different preferences.
• Seasonal cruise offerings provide varied experiences, with summer cruises ideal for family-friendly vacations and winter cruises focusing on warm-weather destinations.
• Themed cruises and short excursions departing from Port Canaveral cater to specific interests, ranging from culinary experiences to local attractions, enhancing the overall cruise experience.
• Planning considerations for a cruise from Port Canaveral include selecting the right cruise line, choosing the best time to sail based on preferences, and arranging transportation and lodging near the port for a stress-free start to the vacation.
• Useful tips for booking, check-in procedures, onsite amenities, and exploring excursions and activities can help ensure a smooth and enjoyable cruise experience from Port Canaveral.

Overview of Port Canaveral’s Cruise Options

The appeal of departing from port canaveral.

Embarking on a cruise from Port Canaveral offers a seamless start to your vacation experience. With its strategic location near Orlando’s attractions, setting sail from this port lets you easily combine a cruise adventure with visits to popular amusement parks or cultural sites. The convenience of accessing the port from various locations in Florida adds to the appeal, making it a top choice for many travelers looking for a stress-free departure point.

A Snapshot of Port Canaveral’s Cruise Terminals

When you arrive at Port Canaveral, you’ll encounter state-of-the-art cruise terminals designed to enhance your boarding process. These modern facilities ensure smooth embarkation and disembarkation, with efficient check-in procedures and helpful staff ready to assist you every step of the way. From the moment you set foot in the terminals, you’ll appreciate the organized setup that prioritizes passenger comfort and safety, setting the stage for a memorable cruise experience.

Major Cruise Lines Sailing from Port Canaveral

Disney cruise line.

Embark on a magical voyage with Disney Cruise Line from Port Canaveral. Experience the enchantment of Disney characters, top-notch entertainment, and exceptional service while sailing the seas. Whether you’re traveling with family or friends, you’ll be immersed in a world of fantasy and fun on board.

Carnival Cruise Line

For a vibrant and lively cruise experience, look no further than Carnival Cruise Line departing from Port Canaveral. Enjoy a plethora of activities, delicious dining options, and exciting entertainment suitable for all ages. From relaxing by the pool to thrilling waterslides, Carnival offers a diverse array of experiences for every traveler.

Royal Caribbean International

Set sail with Royal Caribbean International from Port Canaveral for a blend of adventure and luxury. Explore innovative amenities, world-class dining, and thrilling activities onboard their spacious ships. Whether you seek relaxation or non-stop excitement, Royal Caribbean caters to your preferences, ensuring an unforgettable cruise experience.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Indulge in freedom and flexibility with Norwegian Cruise Line from Port Canaveral. Enjoy Freestyle Cruising, where you can dine where and when you want, along with a wide range of entertainment options. Whether you’re a food enthusiast, thrill-seeker, or looking to unwind, Norwegian Cruise Line offers a diverse range of activities to suit every taste.

Specialty and Seasonal Cruises

Seasonal cruise offerings.

When it comes to seasonal cruise offerings departing from Port Canaveral, Florida, you’ll find a variety of exciting options to suit different preferences and interests. Cruise lines often introduce special itineraries during specific seasons to take advantage of favorable weather conditions and to offer unique experiences to travelers like yourself.

For instance, during the summer months, you may come across seasonal cruises that cater to families with children on school break, featuring themed activities, onboard entertainment, and shore excursions tailored for the whole family to enjoy together. These cruises often include destinations that are perfect for family-friendly adventures and water activities.

In contrast, in the winter season, you might find specialty cruises that focus on warm-weather destinations, allowing you to escape the cold and enjoy the sun-drenched beaches of the Caribbean or the exotic allure of tropical islands. These cruises typically offer a relaxing atmosphere, with opportunities to unwind on the deck, engage in water sports, or explore vibrant ports of call.

By being aware of the seasonal cruise offerings from Port Canaveral, you can select a cruise that aligns with your preferences and desired travel experience. Whether you seek a family-friendly vacation during the summer or a tropical getaway in the winter, there’s likely a seasonal cruise itinerary that matches what you’re looking for.

Themed Cruises and Short Excursions

Themed cruises and short excursions departing from Port Canaveral provide an immersive and specialized experience for passengers seeking something unique during their voyage. These cruises are designed around specific themes or interests, offering a more tailored and focused vacation experience.

For example, some cruise lines may offer themed cruises centered around culinary experiences, featuring onboard cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, and visits to local restaurants at select ports of call. These culinary-focused cruises are ideal for food enthusiasts looking to indulge in gourmet delights and learn about different culinary traditions.

Moreover, short excursions from Port Canaveral can range from day trips to nearby attractions, such as Kennedy Space Center or Cocoa Beach, to specialized activities like fishing expeditions, eco-tours, or shopping excursions. These short excursions provide passengers with the opportunity to explore the surrounding area, engage in fun activities, and enrich their cruise experience with additional adventures.

When considering themed cruises and short excursions from Port Canaveral, keep in mind your interests and hobbies to select an option that resonates with you. Whether you’re a food lover eager to embark on a culinary cruise or an adventurer looking to explore local attractions, there’s a themed cruise or short excursion that can enhance your overall cruise experience with tailored activities and entertainment.

Planning Your Cruise from Port Canaveral

When it comes to planning your cruise from Port Canaveral, there are a few key aspects to consider to ensure you have a smooth and enjoyable experience. Here’s a breakdown of essential points to help you prepare for your cruise adventure:

Choosing the Right Cruise for You

Selecting the right cruise for you is crucial to have a memorable and enjoyable voyage. Consider factors such as the cruise line, duration of the cruise, destinations visited, onboard activities, and overall ambiance. Different cruise lines offer unique experiences, so think about what appeals to you the most — whether it’s family-friendly fun, luxurious amenities, or budget-friendly options.

For instance, Disney Cruise Line caters to families with young children, offering themed activities and character meet-and-greets. On the other hand, Carnival Cruise Line is known for its vibrant atmosphere and variety of onboard entertainment options suitable for all ages. Royal Caribbean International offers innovative onboard features like rock climbing walls and zip lines, perfect for adventure seekers. Norwegian Cruise Line provides a relaxed and casual cruising experience with a focus on flexibility and freedom.

Best Time to Sail from Port Canaveral

The best time to sail from Port Canaveral depends on your preferences and the experiences you seek. Summer cruises are ideal for families, with plenty of onboard activities for kids and teens. Winter cruises offer escapes to warmer climates, perfect for those looking to enjoy sunny beaches during the colder months.

Consider the weather in your chosen destination and any specific events or festivals you’d like to experience during your cruise. If you prefer fewer crowds, shoulder seasons like spring and fall might be more suitable for your trip.

Transportation and Lodging Near the Port

Arranging transportation and lodging near Port Canaveral is essential to ensure a stress-free start to your cruise. Look into options like shuttle services from nearby airports, parking facilities at the port, or hotel packages that include parking and shuttle transfers.

Many hotels in the area offer “stay and cruise” packages, providing accommodation before or after your cruise with shuttle services to and from the port. If you’re driving to the port, consider the cost and availability of parking spaces as well.

Port Canaveral Cruise Tips and Tricks

Booking and check-in procedures.

When booking a cruise departing from Port Canaveral, Florida, start by researching the various cruise lines that operate from the port. Each cruise line offers different experiences, amenities, and itineraries. Compare the options based on your preferences, such as onboard activities, dining options, and destinations.

After you’ve selected a cruise line, check their website for booking procedures. You’ll typically need to create an account, select your cruise dates, cabin type, and provide passenger information. Ensure you have all necessary travel documents, including passports, visas (if required), and cruise tickets before arriving at the port.

On the day of departure, make sure to arrive at the port early to complete the check-in process smoothly. Follow the instructions provided by the cruise line regarding baggage drop-off, security screenings, and boarding times. Keep your identification and boarding pass handy for quick access during check-in.

Onsite Amenities and Services

Port Canaveral offers a range of convenient amenities and services to enhance your cruise experience. Once you arrive at the port, you’ll find parking facilities for both short-term and long-term stays. Consider pre-booking parking to secure a spot close to the cruise terminals.

If you’re traveling by car, look for shuttle services that can transport you from the parking area to the cruise terminal. Many cruise lines also offer transfer services from nearby airports or hotels to the port, providing hassle-free transportation options for travelers.

Inside the terminals, you’ll find amenities like restrooms, seating areas, and information desks to assist you during the boarding process. Some terminals may have shops, cafes, or duty-free stores where you can purchase any last-minute essentials or souvenirs before boarding the cruise ship.

Excursions and Activities to Consider

While planning your cruise from Port Canaveral, explore the excursions and activities available at the various ports of call on your itinerary. Research shore excursions offered by the cruise line or consider booking independent tours for more flexibility.

Popular activities at cruise destinations may include snorkeling, beach outings, historical tours, or cultural experiences. Make sure to read excursion descriptions carefully, noting any age restrictions, physical requirements, or equipment needed for each activity.

During days at sea, take advantage of onboard activities such as fitness classes, spa treatments, live entertainment, and specialty dining options. Plan your days in advance to participate in activities that interest you most, ensuring a memorable and enjoyable cruise experience from Port Canaveral.

You’ve discovered the fantastic cruise options available from Port Canaveral, Florida. From family-friendly summer cruises to warm winter destinations, there’s something for everyone. The variety of cruise lines like Disney, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian offer unique experiences. Planning your cruise from Port Canaveral involves considering factors like destinations, onboard activities, and booking tips. With themed cruises and local excursions enhancing your journey, you’re in for an unforgettable experience. Make the most of the modern cruise terminals, amenities, and services at Port Canaveral. Start your cruise adventure from this convenient and exciting port!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some popular cruise lines departing from port canaveral, florida.

Major cruise lines departing from Port Canaveral include Disney Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, and Norwegian Cruise Line.

What types of cruises are available from Port Canaveral, Florida?

Seasonal cruises cater to different preferences, with summer cruises focusing on family-friendly activities and winter cruises on warm-weather destinations. Themed cruises and excursions to local attractions enhance the experience.

What factors should I consider when planning a cruise from Port Canaveral?

When planning a cruise from Port Canaveral, consider factors such as the cruise line, duration, destinations, and onboard activities.

What new information is included for planning a cruise from Port Canaveral?

New information includes tips for booking and check-in procedures, details on onsite amenities and services at Port Canaveral, and suggestions for excursions and activities to enhance your cruise experience.

Hi, I'm Richard, a passionate traveler and cruise enthusiast. With over a decade of experience exploring the world's oceans, I've developed a deep love for all things related to cruising. Whether it's luxury liners or intimate river cruises, I enjoy sharing my insights and tips to help others plan their perfect getaway. When I'm not sailing the seas, you can find me writing about my adventures or planning my next voyage

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• Bahamas - Caribbean - Bermuda Cruise Ports

Port Canaveral (Orlando, Florida)

Cruise port schedule, live map, terminals, news.

Region Bahamas - Caribbean - Bermuda

Local Time 2024-09-21 07:41

Port Port Canaveral cruise ship schedule shows timetable calendars of all arrival and departure dates by month. The port's schedule lists all ships (in links) with cruises going to or leaving from Port Canaveral, Orlando, Florida. To see the full itineraries (ports of call dates and arrival / departure times) and their lowest rates – just follow the corresponding ship-link.

Port Canaveral (cruise port to Orlando City, Florida USA) is currently ranked world's busiest cruise port (4,07 million cruisers/stats 2023) followed by Miami Florida .

As homeport, this is a major turnaround port destination (serving roundtrip itineraries) with annual shipping traffic 4,5+ million cruise ship tourists. Cape Canaveral is a leading USA homeport for all the world's largest cruise companies - CCL-Carnival , RCI-Royal Caribbean , NCL-Norwegian , DCL-Disney .

The world's top-10 busiest cruise ports (by annual passengers numbers/stats 2023) are in Florida USA (Port Canaveral/Orlando/4,07M, Miami /4,02M, Port Everglades/Fort Lauderdale ), Mexico ( Cozumel ), Bahamas ( Nassau ), China ( Shanghai ), Spain ( Barcelona ), Bahamas (Out Islands), Texas USA ( Galveston ), Italy ( Civitavecchia-Rome ).

Cape Canaveral Port

Port Cape Canaveral (locode USPCV) is located on Florida's Atlantic coastline, between Miami and Jacksonville . Orlando City is bounded by Port Canaveral (north), Banana River (east), Cocoa Beach (south) and the Atlantic Ocean (west). As a deepwater seaport, Port Canaveral has a very high volume of traffic. From a total of 6 million cargo tons moved through the port annually, 2,7+ million tons (3 million short tons) are bulk cargoes. Common cargo includes petroleum, aggregate and cement. The port features hoppers and conveyors for loading products directly into trucks, as well as bulk cargo container facilities. The channel is about 13 m (44 ft) deep.

There are 70,000 m2 (750,000 ft2) of covered freight storage capacity. In 2004 Port Canaveral handled 3,6 million tons (4M short tons) of cargo. It exports fresh citrus and bulk frozen citrus juice is stored in one of the biggest freezer warehouses in the state. The port also receives salt for water softening, lumber, automobiles, steel sheets and plates. Port Canaveral transships items for sea, air, space and land. Its Foreign Trade Zone is one of the nation's largest general-purpose FTZs, more than 13 km2 (5 mi2). Each year the port boosts the economy by 1/2 billion dollars.

Port's cruise shipping business started in 1964, with SS Yarmouth Castle. The 1927-built steamship (for Chadade Steamship Company) was acquired by Yarmouth Cruise Lines in 1957. The liner was American-owned and Panama- flagged . In 1965, the ship burnt at sea (between Nassau and Miami).

The 1965-opened sea lock (part of Canaveral Barge Canal) is still in use, being maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Shipping and commercial fishing is also served by three 400 ft/120 m-long cargo piers constructed on the Port's north side in 1976. The seaport has supported NASA's space projects from the nearby JF Kennedy Space Center. During NASA's Apollo program, Saturn V rocket's segments transited via the lock. Space Shuttle's external tanks were floated for each mission into Port Canaveral, and the rocket boosters were towed back via the seaport, being fished from the Atlantic after each space launch.

In August 2015, commissioners approved USD 81 million port development project for upgrades of terminals 5 and 10, aimed at handling larger-sized vessels (details in the "terminal" section below). The project's financing was secured through bank loans and bonds.

Following President Donald Trump's executive order on immigration, in late-January 2017 were officially issued reports about cruise passengers being detained by US Customs and Border Protection. All detainees had to provide background info about them, their families and also their past life in their native countries. Trump's executive order was signed on January 27th and includes a 90-day ban on travel to the USA by citizens of Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, Yemen.

In early November 2017, RCI-Royal Caribbean announced the company's decision to homeport here in 2019 the world's largest passenger vessel - Harmony of the Seas (max capacity 6687 passengers plus 2100 crew). Starting May 2019, Harmony OTS offers 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean roundtrip itineraries. 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).

In December 2017, Carnival Cruise Lines announced the homeporting of Carnival Elation in 2019. Starting May 12, 2019, the ship operates year-round scheduled 4-5-day "long weekend" Bahamas cruises. Departures are on Thursdays (4-day itinerary to Freeport and Nassau ) and on Mondays and Saturdays (5-day itinerary to Amber Cove Dominicana and Grand Turk Island ).

In December 2017, Port Canaveral completed the 6-month long West Turning Basin deepening project, now allowing max draft of 45 ft (13,7 m). Port's containership terminal (North Cargo berths 5 and 6) is operated by GT USA. The dredging works removed 22,3+ million ft3 (632,000 m3) of seabed material. For the dredging was contracted Dutra Group (based in San Rafael, California). The project's total cost was USD 7,5 million, with approx 2/3 of the cost covered by FDOT (Florida Department of Transportation). The Port's entry channel was cleared from obstructions (bridges, power lines) and is now without air draft restrictions. West Turning Basin has quay length ~600 m (2000 ft) and draft 13 m/43 ft - making it one of East Coast USA's deepest cargo berths without vessel air draft limits.

In January 2018 was approved the construction of a new multi-purpose cargo ship berth NCB8 (North Cargo Berth 8). By the project were also built a seawall (900 ft / 274 m) and a pier extension (100 ft / 31 m) with capacity to handle vessels with max LOA length 850 ft/259 m.

• At the new berth can be handled various heavy project cargoes (including aerospace). Berth's depth is 35 ft (11 m).
• The USD 17,9 million berth construction contract was awarded to the Tampa -based company Orion Marine Group. The contract includes building the bulkhead, seawall, relieving platform and dredging. Construction works started in March 2018, with scheduled completion by mid-2019.

In May 2024 were approved the plans for the construction of a new multi-user cruise terminal (Terminal X) at the existing North 8 Berth, directly opposite to/sharing the turning basin with Terminal 5. Terminal X is planned for inauguration in 2026 July. For the design was contracted AtkinsRealis USA Inc.

In 2018, two port development projects received funding for maintenance works in the seaport. The contractor is USACE (US Army Corps of Engineers). For the projects were allocated USD 14,76 million (Canaveral Harbor Sand Bypass and jetty upgrades) and USD 1,47 million (Harbor and Locks).

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 .

• The project's financing package included bonds up to USD 80 million (30-year, Series A and B) and up to USD 37 million (20-year loan, Series C) by SunTrust Bank (specializing in mortgage, personal and small-business banking). The bank is subsidiary of the Atlanta GA-based SunTrust Banks Inc (reported assets in March 2018 USD 199 billion).
• Additionally was approved to increase Port's PNC Bank credit line from USD 25 to 50 million. The port also received from Florida Department of Transportation USD 6 million in grants for the infrastructure works.
• Carnival Cruise Terminal 3 has a dedicated wharf, adjacent parking (6-storey, capacity 1800 vehicles) and a newbuild road. The project's total improvements cost USD 163 million, of which $50 million were contributed by Carnival Corporation . The facility was completed in September 2020, but due to the crisis was inaugurated on June 4, 2021, with the arrival of Mardi Gras.

On May 22, 2019, Disney Cruises signed with CPA a 20-year operating agreement for homeporting two of its three newbuilds . Under the new deal, Disney has 3 boats homeported here (2 new, 1 old) which increased the number of guaranteed roundtrips from 150 per year (2019) to 180 (2023) and 216 (2024 and beyond).

In early March 2020 was launched an RO-RO Division in Port Canaveral - a dedicated vehicle terminal with max annual capacity 240,000 cars. The 16-acres terminal is at South Cargo Pier 4 and serves mainly new import automobiles. The terminal has a large climate-controlled warehouse (sized 20,000 ft2 / 1860 m2). In FY2019, the port handled a total of 12514 vehicles.

Following the port's ban for cruise ship dockings and passenger operations (due to the COVID pandemic), in the period April 3 through May 30, 2020, Canaveral Port Authority furloughed all its employees dedicated to cruise shipping operations.

For a 5-month refurbishment project in 2020 (June through November) was closed CT8 (Disney Cruise Terminal 8).

In April 2023, Port Canaveral officials proposed the construction of a new cruise terminal (Terminal 8). The US$175 million facility could be built on the Port's southern side, and completed and opened in July 2026.

In August 2023 was allocated US$68,16 million for two new cruise parking garages (an 8-level near Terminals 5 and 6, and a 6-level near Terminal 10.

Cape Canaveral port statistics

Note: Port's FY (fiscal year) runs from October 1 (current year) through September 30 (next year).

In FY2017, the cruise port handled 4,52+ million passengers (6,4% increase over FY2016). The number of multi-day passengers (4,234+ million) was 7,1% increase over 2016. Statistics showed that just in March 2017, the number of visiting cruiseship tourists was 469,847. This was the Port's 1-month record and a 19% increase over March 2016. Port's FY2017 total revenues were USD 47,4 million (freight and passengers).

For FY2018, the seaport reported a record year with USD 103,75 million in total revenues (218,9% increase over 2017). Cargo and cruise shipping volumes were also an all-time high. The number of handled cruise ship passengers increased by 7,7% - to 4,568431 million. Port's handled cargo tonnage increased by 6,9% - to 6,404944 million tons. Port's total economic output was USD 3,9 billion with around 32650 jobs supported (USD 1,3 billion in wages) including 17200 port workers (USD 0,7294 billion in wages).

For FY2019, the port had ~5% growth (over FY18) in revenues from cruise shipping. By homeporting operations (turnarounds) Port Canaveral is currently ranked the world's 2nd-busiest (after Miami) cruise port with handled in 2019 total 4,634154 million passengers (4,568431 million in 2018).

For season 2019, the cruise port reported a record berth booking with estimated 4,7+ million passengers.

In 2023, Port Canaveral reported a record year with handled 906 cruise ship calls, 13 homeporting ships, ~6,8 million cruise tourists, US$158 million in revenue from cruise shipping operations. For season 2024, the Port had booked 913 ship calls and expected ~7,3M passengers

Port Canaveral cruise terminal

Besides being a large cruise port, Port Canaveral is also among the USA's/and the world's largest naval and cargo ports. On average, each day 10 cruise vessels enter the port.

Port Canaveral's cruise terminals serve several major cruise shipping companies. Terminal 5 is the homeport for ships of RCI-Royal Caribbean , Celebrity , NCL-Norwegian , Marella UK . Terminal 6 serves ships of CCL-Carnival and Princess . Terminal 10 homeports ships of MSC and NCL.

The following cruise port map shows Port Canaveral port's infrastructure, the location of terminal facilities, connecting roads and transportation links to Orlando City.

Port Canaveral is the nearest Disney World city, situated about one hour east of Orlando by car. The Orlando Airport is 45 mi/70 km away. The driving distance to Tampa is 2 hours, to Jacksonville - 2,5 hours.

There are seven cruise terminals, but in regular use are 5 - numbers 3, 5, 6, 8 and 10. They are newer, located on the Port's north side, and serve larger ships. Southside terminals are older. Gambling ships use Terminal 2. Terminal 3 is the new Carnival Cruise Line's terminal.

Currently, Terminal 4 is also used, but rarely. In April 2024 was announced a plan for a new facility at Terminal 4, to be completed in 2026.

The cruise terminal parking rate is USD 15 per day (Port Authority subject to change). There is a parking lot beside each cruise terminal. Port Canaveral offers complimentary cruise parking for disabled Veterans. Approved are waiving cruise parking fees for vehicles with DV (Disabled Veteran) license plates issued under Florida Statutes "s.320.084", "s.320.0842" or "s.320.0845".

In August 2023, Port Canaveral commissioners allocated US$67,46 million for constructing two northside cruise parking garages. For the projects was contracted Ivey's Construction Inc. The larger facility (an 8-level garage with capacity 1940 vehicles) is adjacent to Terminals 5 and 6, while the smaller one (a 6-level garage with capacity 1081 vehicles) is near Terminal 10.

(NEW) Cruise Terminal 8 (2026)

In April 2023 was proposed the construction of a new cruise terminal on the Port's southern side.

The US$175 million facility could be completed and opened in July 2026.

This proposal for a new passenger terminal came after two newbuild large cruise liners were homeported year-round in Cape Canaveral starting in 2024-Q4.

Approved in May 2024, the proposal included in the Port's budget for FY2023 (October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023). FY23 was marked by increased cruise shipping traffic and stronger-than-expected, cruise-related revenues (including from parking) estimated at US$150,87 million. The previous estimate was US$124,48M. This represented ~83,7% of Port Canaveral's total projected operating revenue (US$180,35M) including from cargo shipping/handling, recreation, leasing, and other business activities. It was estimated that the Port's FY23 will have US$75,43M profit (including non-operating revenues and expenses) which was US$53,36M before FY23's budget began. The profit was used for port development projects and for reducing debt from previous projects.

In May 2023, were announced plans for a new cruise terminal at Bluepoints Marina's site. The facility (projected cost US$175M) would be ready/inaugurated in 2026.

The new multi-user Cruise Terminal 8 (aka Terminal X) is at the existing North 8 Berth (directly opposite to/sharing the turning basin with Cruise Terminal 5). The facility includes a multi-story parking garage (max capacity 3000 vehicles), road improvements (including turning lanes and a flyover ramp connecting Terminal 8 with State Road 401).

The project includes a pier extension and mooring improvements (Phase 1) and a bulkhead parallel to State Road 401 (between Terminal 5 and Terminal 8) in Phase 2.

(NEW) Carnival Cruise Terminal 3 (CT3-Launch Pad)

In late-April 2017, Port Canaveral started construction works on a new cruise terminal.

The facility is on the site of "Cruise Terminal 3" (port's southern / B side), west of Jetty Park and east of The Cove (dining-shopping-attractions complex). On June 7, 2017, engineering and design works for the new terminal were officially approved.

Canaveral Port Authority Commissioners approved US$1,2 million in funding for CH2M Engineering's project management contract. This was Phase I of the 2-year work plan to construct a modern facility with capacity to serve vessels with max capacity 8000 passengers.

At the new passenger terminal can berth even the world's largest cruise vessels of RCI's OASIS-class. CH2M Engineering provided engineering, support services and waterside design for the new Terminal 3.

The project's budget is USD 163 million (initially estimated cost was US$150M), of which US$50M contributed by Carnival Corporation . Ranked the USA's largest single building project, it included the demolition of the port's oldest terminal, construction of a brand new 2-story building (sized 17466 m2 / 188,000 ft2), upgrading the existing berth and building a new (adjacent to the terminal) parking garage, roadway and utility improvements.

The 20-month-long, multi-phased project included 5 separate contracts. Demolition works (of the existing Terminal 3 building) started in April 2018, at the cost of US$210,000.

• Following the building demolition, the project's next phases included berth demolition, dredging, dockside construction, building passenger boarding (mobile) bridges and terminal building, site works, building a covered parking garage (6-story building, sized 690,000 ft2 / 64,100 m2, capacity 1800 cars).
• On August 30, 2018, the Canaveral Port Authority (CPA) Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to approve a long-term terminal operation agreement with Carnival Cruise Line, allowing the company to homeport here its newest and biggest liner .
• Beginning September 1, 2018, the new agreement replaced the old (6-year concession) expiring in 2019. The new 25-year primary term has 4 additional 5-year renewal options. The minimum annual revenue from passenger fees (guaranteed by Carnival) was increased from USD 7 million (fixed, per year) to USD 14,5 million (with annual escalators).
• On January 8, 2019, the CPA Board of Commissioners awarded the company Ivey's Construction Inc the USD 79 million contract for building Cruise Terminal 3, plus USD 29,53M contract for building the adjacent parking.
• On April 24, 2019, Canaveral Port Authority commissioners unanimously approved several design changes in the CT3 Project to reduce building costs. Ivey's Construction Inc (Merritt Island-based) won the contract in January with a bid of USD 78,98 million. However, design changes resulted in total savings of USD 4,535 million, bringing the terminal's total cost down to USD 74,45 million. In all, "Cruise Terminal 3" costs USD 163 million when are added the costs of the adjacent parking garage, waterside improvements, two passenger boarding bridges, design services. Plans were redesigned after engineering studies reduced the number of needed piles (also their size and coating) without sacrificing the structural integrity.

The new Carnival Cruise Terminal (CT3) is a 2-story building (sized 187,000 ft2 / 17370 m2) with max passenger capacity 6500 at a time. Among its amenities are electronic systems to facilitate passenger screening, mobile check-in (for expediting boarding), ATMs, restrooms, waiting and baggage halls, retail shopping area, info kiosks.

Construction works officially started on March 18, 2019, and the Terminal was completed in September 2020.

At the new CT3 terminal was homeported Carnival's largest vessel Mardi Gras (GT 180,000 tons, LNG-powered , capacity 5286 berths / max passengers 6500). The new liner's LNG bunkering is dockside (barge-to-ship).

Mardi Gras docked for the first time on June 4, 2021, and was joined later on the same day by the fleetmates Carnival Freedom and Carnival Liberty .

North (A Side) Cruise terminals (5, 6, 8, 10)

They are located on the A dock at the north side. Along is the Charles M Rowland Drive.

All are up to date and can handle the biggest passenger ships. Especially for Disney Cruise Line ships was built Cruise Terminal 8.

For a 5-month refurbishment project in 2020 was closed Disney's Cruise Terminal 8 (June through November). The closure was for installing a new curtainwall-pile (breakwater), removing ticket counters, extending the drop-off canopy, replacing the current seating.

In 2016, about USD 2,3 million were spent at Disney Terminal 8's renovations. This cruise facility is used exclusively by Disney ships. Cruise Terminal 10 was reopened on November 19, 2016, following USD 35 million expansion and upgrade project which took 6 months to complete. Terminal 10 (1994-built) is used by NCL (Norwegian Cruise Line) .

Renovation works included increasing the size of the 2-story terminal building (from 97,050 to 125,825 ft2 / 9016 to 11690 m2). Lower floor's baggage processing area was increased from 42,800 to 64,400 ft2 (3976 to 5983 m2). Upper floor's passengers check-in area was increased from 54,250 to 61,430 ft2 (5040 to 5707 m2).

The development project allowed the terminal to handle larger cruise ships (carrying up to 5,500 passengers). Previously, its max capacity was 3,600 passengers.

Among the major projects of the Cruise Terminal 10 renovations were:

• USD 25,69 million for terminal renovations, with H.J. High of Orlando as contractor. The downstairs area where baggage processing occurs increased from the previous 42,799 ft2 to 64,396 ft2. The upstairs area where passengers check-in increased from the previous 54,249 ft2 to 61,428 ft2.
• USD 4,48 million were invested into new mobile Passenger Boarding Bridges (by the Spanish manufacturer ADELTE). The new mobile bridge systems replaced the old fixed gangways and provide better flexibility when used by differently-sized cruise vessels that have different heights and boarding door locations.
• USD 1,79 million were used for the existing cruise pier strengthening. The contractor (Vortex Marine of Oakland, California) used carbon fiber polymer technology to reinforce and extend the pier's life and structural capacity.

In 2016 was completed a USD 48,4 million renovation project at Cruise Terminal 5 (used mostly by Carnival Cruise Line ). Among the improvements were terminal expansion, pier elongation (by 120 ft / 37 m), new mobile boarding bridges, new parking garage (capacity 1044 cars). The 1991-built Terminal 5 now allows berthing of larger ships (with up to 3500 passengers / previously up to 2500). For the project were contracted a total of 87 companies.

South (B Side) Cruise Terminals (2, 4)

They are located on the B dock at the southwest side. Along is George King Blvd. They were among the Port's first cruise facilities and can handle not more than 1900 passengers.

(NEW) Cruise Terminal 1

On November 5, 2016, Port Canaveral received its ever largest passenger ship - Oasis of the Seas . The mega-liner docked at the new "Cruise 1 Terminal" (inaugurated in December 2014). Oasis OTS was homeported here replacing the smaller Freedom OTS .

The facility's main tenant is RCI Royal Caribbean and was designed specifically to handle Oasis-class vessels. The new terminal is sized 188,000 ft2 (17,470 m2) and has a dedicated parking garage with capacity 1007 vehicles. The project cost USD 104,6M.

Port Canaveral tours, shore excursions, hotels

City tours and shore excursions.

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center: NASA’s base where Apollo missions have been launched. Watch a movie at the center of IMAX, learn the space exploration future at the Exploration Space show, go to the Apollo Center and the LC39 Gantry or try the Shuttle Launch Experience.

US Astronaut Hall of Fame: 5 miles away from the Kennedy Space Center. Honor the American astronauts, watch the Science On A Sphere show, try the Sigma 7 Mercury rocket or a real training for astronauts.

Jetty Park: park at the coastline with a beach, camping and a playground, picnic areas and pavilions. Enjoy the amazing marine traffic view from the pier, favorite place for fishermen and tourists. You can have a coffee, eat or buy something at the Cove Waterfront area, located between the park and the port.

Cocoa Beach Pier: dating since 1962, Space coast best-known landmark located 4 miles away ftom Port Canaveral. It offers bars, souvenir shops, restaurants, live music and lively beach.

Orlando Amusement Parks: enjoy the attractions Walt Disney World , Disney/MGM Studios, Universal Studios, Sea World of Florida and much more.

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GO OFF THE BEATEN PATH IN ORLANDO 

With so many things to do in Orlando, you’ll quickly discover your options are limitless. From award-winning golf courses to fascinating museums and outdoor adventures, this bustling city has fun activities for every type of adventure seeker. Before you cruise out of Orlando, venture out to explore and discover for yourself why it’s nicknamed The City Beautiful.

ICONS NEVER STOP PUSHING LIMITS

The next Icon of Vacation℠ turns up the volume on family fun with unbelievable thrills, chill and wows for the whole crew. Six record-breaking waterslides and a fear-inducing challenge high above the sea bring on the screams. Seven unique pools deliver relaxation with a splash of epic views. It’s night after night to remember, with over 40 ways to dine and drink, plus entertainment that rocks the house. This is Star of the Seas ℠ — sailing from Port Canaveral, Florida beginning July 2025. 

SAIL ON STAR OF THE SEAS

A BOLDER WAY TO GETAWAY WEEKEND CRUISES

Break up with your weekly routine with a weekend cruise from Miami and set sail on a memory filled getaway that’ll take you so much further than a standard staycation. Royal Caribbean® offers plenty of bolder-than-ever weekend sailings to some of the Caribbean’s most stunning shores onboard the world’s most incredible cruise ships — no days off required. Which means you can fill your year with even more bucket list adventures.

EXPLORE WEEKEND CRUISES

Big Thrills Big Ships

From pristine, white-sand beaches, Calypso street bands, and rugged rainforest trails in top-rated Caribbean destinations, to Coco Locos, helium air balloon rides, lagoon-side lounging and record-breaking waterslides at Perfect Day at CocoCay — you’re in for the ultimate tropical turn-up when you sail from Port Canaveral.

UTOPIA OF THE SEAS ℠

This is The World’s Biggest Weekend. Play hard — whether it’s plunging down the longest Ultimate Abyss℠ slide yet or busting a move in the hottest clubs and lounges at sea. It’s all aboard for delicious at an all-new dining experience that sends your senses on a world tour. And upgrade winding down on a resort-style pool deck that delivers your splashiest weekend ever. 

EXPLORE UTOPIA OF THE SEAS

Wonder of the Seas

Wonder of the Seas® , brings bold year-round family adventures to Orlando. Go from conquering the slideable, climbable, underwater-themed PlayScape℠ to hanging ten on the fan-favorite FlowRider®* surf simulator. Or step to the edge of Ultimate Abyss℠ and peer into the darkness before you plummet 10 stories down the tallest slide at sea.

EXPLORE WONDER OF THE SEAS

Allure of the Seas

Trade the same old for way bold.  Allure of the Seas® brings on thrills of Oasis Class proportions all in one weekend. Like an adrenaline-amping zip line ride and tide-taming FlowRider®* surf. Mouthwatering Italian dishes at Giovanni’s Table. And gravity-defying shows at the AquaTheater. Plus, unplug and chill at the adults-only Solarium.

EXPLORE ALLURE OF THE SEAS

EPIC WEEKLONG WANDERS

Take your vacay full throttle on a six- to eight-night cruise from Port Canaveral. The world’s most incredible ships blast off from the Space Coast and sail to picture-perfect western Caribbean shores. Soak in Maya culture on the coasts of Mexico. Get a taste of spiced up delicacies in the Dominican Republic. And go private destination pioneering at Labadee in Haiti or Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas. You’re in for memories that go the extra isle.

Orlando (Port Canaveral) Shore Excursions

Amazing experiences coming soon., sorry, there are no excursions for this port at this moment., things to do in port canaveral & orlando.

Trekkie Track

Space Shuttle, Cape Canaveral, Florida

Lift off into interstellar exploration at the Kennedy Space Center. Among interactive Mission Zones you’ll see the Saturn V rocket and the Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis. Go behind the gates to discover historic launch sites and working spaceflight facilities, plus marvel at the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame.

Get In Character

Universal Studios Hogwarts, Orlando, Florida

Orlando is known as a land of amusements — and for good reason. The city is home to six unique theme parks, each with their own distinct thrills, including Universal Studios Orlando and Islands of Adventure. Or you can venture beyond the Big Six to Gatorland’s swampy terrain, or hit one of the many epic waterparks around town.

Outside The lines

Connect with Florida’s natural side while riding waves at Cocoa Beach or basking in seclusion at Canaveral National Seashore. Don’t miss a kayak trip through glowing bioluminescent waters, or an airboat ride through wetlands. Cruise to Orlando-Port Canaveral and swim in rejuvenating freshwater springs— or tee off at one of Orlando’s 150 golf courses.

Local Cuisine

The Cove at Port Canaveral is home to plenty of waterfront restaurants serving up fresh fish tacos and mahi-mahi sandwiches. Orlando has its fair share of celebrity chef-led, farm-to-table spots— and character meals are popular at the theme park resorts. And the Mills 50 District north of downtown Orlando is famous for its Vietnamese fare.

The shops in Historic Cocoa Village sell local handmade art and tropical décor. Souvenir shopping in Orlando is best at Disney Springs, Universal CityWalk and along International Drive. Stop by the family-owned Orange Blossom Indian River Citrus for Florida-grown oranges, grapefruits and other fruits during your Orlando cruise.

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• Park Overview Explore Missions Zones
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Upcoming Launch

NET SEPTEMBER 26, 2024 | NASA's SpaceX Crew-9

Raise your glass.

Taste of Space: Marstini Shake-Off

A can't miss culinary event.

Taste of Space: Celebrity Chef Edition

2024 Taste of Space

Flavors of the season.

Send your taste buds off planet during Taste of Space from September 30 – November 3, 2024. Check out what is in store for this year!

Explore Must See Attractions

With so much to explore, where do you begin.

From the dawn of space exploration to current and ongoing missions, you can get an up-close, hands-on feel for the story of humans in space. Fuel your quest for inspiration right here.

Explore NASA's Space Shuttle Program

Shuttle: A Ship Like No Other

Learn about the space pioneers.

Heroes & Legends

Visit the apollo/saturn v center.

Race To The Moon

Kennedy Space Center Official Guide

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Plan your trip with features such as maps, FAQ's, favorites and detailed descriptions of shows and attractions.

Incredible historic place. Wish my grandkids lived closer, this place would be so exciting for them. We only spent 4+ hours but even a full day won’t be enough. Seeing the rockets and space shuttle were breathtaking. Go 😃...

Trip Advisor user Linda D, February 2020

7 - Day Western Caribbean from Port Canaveral (Orlando), FL

Cruise itinerary.

Carnival Fun Italian Style

Day 1: Port Canaveral (Orlando)

Day 2: celebration key.

Day 3: Fun Day at Sea

Day 4: cozumel, day 5: mahogany bay.

Day 6 & 7: Fun Day at Sea

Day 8: port canaveral (orlando).

Get to Know Carnival Venezia

It's a long way from Venice to NYC, but Carnival Venezia thinks the two could be next-door neighbors. This ship is now sailing from its Big Apple homeport... and already has big Port Canaveral plans for the winter/spring 2025 season! What can you expect to find in this ship? Well, there’s more than a little Italy in this one — that’s why we’re calling this new type of cruising Fun Italian Style ™ . It starts with the Venice-inspired atrium Piazza San Marco , the onboard flavor and flair continues at the three-course Marco Polo and Canal Grande Restaurants , La Strada Grill ™ and its Italian street food, plus fusion spots Tomodoro ™ (Mexican-Italian, yum!) and Guy’s Burger Joint (new burgers with Italian flavors — also yum!). And in authentic ristorante style, the elevated Italian of Il Viaggio . Sip well at bars that each specialize in their own thing: complex and sophisticated cocktails at Amari ™ , bubbly stuff (plus snacks and coffee) at Frizzante ™ , frozen everything at Rococó ™ and fine Italian wines at Carnevale Bar & Lounge ™ . There’s great entertainment at the red-velvety Teatro Rosso and its Playlist Productions ™ shows, plus Gondola Lounge was inspired by the famous canals of Venice. Terrazza staterooms are a whole new way to stay in style and comfort, all in a great location close to amenities like the exclusive Terrazza Carnevale , a private terrace deck made for lounging, sipping and fun, day or night! There’s also a lot of the classic Carnival fun that repeat cruisers ( hey there!) know and love. Deliciously familiar flavors come from spots like Bonsai Teppanyaki ™ and Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse ™ , while celebration spots include Piano Bar 88 and Serenity Bar , and relaxation happens at Cloud 9 Spa ™ and Serenity Adult-Only Retreat ™ . For the kids, there’s spaces just right for their age like Camp Ocean ™ , Circle “C” ® and Club O2 ® . And outdoors, get ready for a very splashy WaterWorks ™ and SportSquare ™ featuring a ropes course, jogging track, mini golf and outdoor fitness center. So as we were saying… hey, we’re cruising here! Carnival Venezia and all this Fun Italian Style sailing now from NYC. Andiamo!

Onboard Activities

Onboard Dining

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SpaceX, Blue Origin, and ULA: Here are space sights you can see via Port Canaveral

T he charter boat bobbed in the waves while at the dock — awaiting space enthusiasts to board not for a regular boat ride, but for an evening of rocket sighting.

While the Cape Canaveral launch pads may be off limits to everyday spectators, one way to get a closer look at all the launch activity happening on the Space Coast is by boat. FLORIDA TODAY bought a ticket and rode along with Star Fleet Tours on the boat "Sea Trident."

"We have hosted people that traveled from Europe to see launches," said Steven Giraldo, director of operations for S tar Fleet Tours . "For some people, (it) is a bucket list experience."

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A boat ride out about 10 miles in the Atlantic Ocean can put one directly in sight of the action. And the viewing can begin as soon as the boat pulls away from the dock.

Bret Cook was one of those space enthusiasts waiting to board. He stood on the dock at Port Canaveral − his Sony camera in hand. He told FLORIDA TODAY he has been interested in space since the post-Apollo days. Growing up just after the moon landings, the stories sparked his fascination with space exploration .

When is the next Florida rocket launch? Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, NASA rocket launch schedule from Florida

"You kinda come in on the tail end of that nostalgia − it's something that led me to it and kept me going into it. There's a lull there, and then you got SpaceX coming along, and they're doing something completely different. And everybody's getting excited," Cook said.

"Now things are kind of exciting again. You got a mix mash of different companies coming in here and doing launches. It's actually rather fun."

So, what might you see?

SpaceX Falcon 9 booster at Port Canaveral

Pulling out into the waters of Port Canaveral, the first sight is one many who pass by the port might not even notice.

As an already-flown-and-landed Falcon 9 first stage awaits transportation to Cape Canaveral SpaceX facilities, it is kept on the droneship, parked on the water behind the Port Canaveral restaurants.

Expect to see this in the days following a Falcon 9 launch. Covered in soot from multiple rides through Earth's atmosphere, the SpaceX logo painted vertically on the booster can be difficult to make out. Passing by at a distance, this is as close as an everyday person can get to a SpaceX Falcon 9.

SpaceX has two droneships at Port Canaveral: A Shortfall of Gravitas and Just Read the Instructions .

Depending on timing, one may even get to see one of SpaceX's fairing recovery ships: named Bob and Doug. After the fairings land in the Atlantic Ocean by parachute, these ships fish out the fairing halves − which cover the payload to protect it during launch − and return them to SpaceX facilitates for refurbishment. This reusability allows the company to save on launch cost and resources.

This goes for their crew capsule as well. SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft recovery ship, named Megan, may also be spotted. Megan has been spotted on multiple occasions sporting a training Dragon spacecraft for recovery testing. Each of these ships are easily identifiable by the SpaceX logo and name printed on the side.

Blue Origin and ULA ships

Next to SpaceX's Falcon 9 parking spot, Blue Origin's support ship, Harvey Stone , may be spotted. Harvey Stone tows Blue Origin's landing platform, named Jacklyn, for its upcoming New Glenn orbital rocket. Like SpaceX recovers their Falcon 9 first stage (booster), this will be the landing spot of the New Glenn first stage. Later this year, Blue Origin plans to launch its New Glenn rocket on its maiden flight. The company plans to land the first stage (booster) on its landing platform.

Jackyln is recognizable by its distinct towering features on either end, which are bright blue with the words "Blue Origin" and "New Glenn" in white.

The United Launch Alliance (ULA) rocket ferrying vessel − known as Rocketship − may also be spotted along the Cape area. This ship − which is recognizable by its massive size and ULA logo − recently transported part of ULA's new Vulcan rocket from Decatur, Alabama, to Cape Canaveral for a future national security mission.

Rockets at Cape Canaveral

Traveling north over the choppy waters of the Atlantic Ocean, there is not much to see at first.

However, after traveling just over 10 miles north, the first view of NASA's massive Vehicle Assembly Building comes into view . This huge rocket garage saw the construction of the Saturn V rocket, stacking of the Space Shuttle, and recently the arrival of the core stage of the SLS moon rocket for Artemis II.

Even though it is only one (big) story − the VAB's 525-feet height makes it the equivalent to a 50-story structure. That's taller than the Statue of Liberty and just under half the size of the Empire State Building.

It is at this point that other rockets on their respective launch pads can be spotted.

When this journalist took the tour, it wasn't an active launch period, but a SpaceX rocket was spotted being raised to launch position.

During pre-launch viewing charters, passengers have a chance to see launch pads currently in use by companies − such as Blue Origin, ULA, SpaceX, and NASA.

"Interest has been rising given the high cadence of launches and just organic interest on launch viewing in general," Giraldo told FLORIDA TODAY. "Falcon Heavy launches attract a lot of people because of the size of the rocket and the double booster landings which are spectacular."

"With our pre-launch trips, you get right up close to these and many other historic pads, including Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and more, plus see the rocket on the pad at a distance previously exclusive to press and VIPs," Giraldo said.

It is important to note that if an active launch warning is in effect, boats cannot be within a certain distance of the Cape Canaveral area.

While some companies offer boat viewings of launches, there is a minimum distance they must comply with. When rocket launch warnings are in effect, boats are prohibited in the waters near Cape Canaveral. This is necessary for public safety.

Altogether, the trip our journalist took out to see these space sites lasts about three hours.

There are also good launch viewing spots on the Indian River Lagoon . Around major launches, a few companies host chartered boat tours. Some include:

Star Fleet Tours , which heads out of Port Canaveral

The Indian River Queen , which departs from Cocoa Village and provides views from the Indian River

Banana River Boat Tours , which travels from Cocoa Beach on the Banana River side.

Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at  [email protected]  or on X:  @brookeofstars .

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: SpaceX, Blue Origin, and ULA: Here are space sights you can see via Port Canaveral