Destinations

Port Canaveral, Orlando’s Closest Port, is a cruise traveler’s dream come true.

Port Canaveral is a Cruise Traveler’s Dream 

All the fun and none of the hassle is why some of the world’s biggest and most innovative ships sail in and out of Port Canaveral. On a given day you may see Carnival, Disney, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean cruise liners and a Victory Casino ship. 

Traveler Convenience

Everything is close by at Port Canaveral. Parking garages are adjacent to cruise terminals — just minutes from parking to ship. Dining in The Cove you can view the big ships and gaze at the fishing boats or cargo ships as they sail past. A more authentic experience would be challenging to find.  Just five minutes from the ship, travelers can dip their toes in the ocean, fish from the jetty, take in some sun, or try surfing or boogie boarding under the watchful eye of Jetty Park lifeguards. 

Orlando’s Closest Port

Orlando is recognized as the world’s headquarters for great theme park experiences and Port Canaveral is Orlando’s closest port.  It’s a straight shot to Orlando on 528, the Beachline Expressway.  Orlando International Airport is just one of four international airports within an hour’s drive. Cruise passengers appreciate the ease of travel to Port Canaveral from all four airports — Orlando-Sanford (SFB), Daytona Beach (DAB), Orlando-Melbourne (MLB) and Orlando International (MCO).

Orlando--with its 72 million annual visitors--is the home to several renowned theme parks. At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, guests can get a coveted sneak peek of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opening later this year.  At Disney Animal Kingdom’s Pandora — The World of Avatar is an amazingly reconstructed other-worldly place. At The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™, guests relive the magic of the stories and meet famous book characters as they navigate subterranean caverns.  At Epcot’s Soarin’ Around the World, visitors virtually “hang glide” above some of the most breathtaking wonders the world has to offer.   

The Land of Launches

With Kennedy Space Center right next door, your clients can combine their cruise vacation with a trip back into space history, get up close to the Space Shuttle Atlantis® exhibit and learn about what’s coming next.  Travelers just might find themselves in the right place at the right time for a rocket launch, with spectacular views from Jetty Park and Exploration Tower right in Port Canaveral.  There are many reasons to cruise out of Port Canaveral, and catching a launch is just icing on the cake.  

Florida’s Space Coast is ranked one of the 19 Best Places to Travel in the World in 2019 by CNN Travel.  This summer (July 20) marks the 50th anniversary of man’s first walk on the moon, and while the famous Apollo 11 moon landing anniversary will get much attention, the future of manned space flight is scheduled for first crewed test flights this summer, too. Check out the robust rocket launch schedule at spacecoastlaunches.com.  

Big Story at Port Canaveral

Keeping pace with growing demand, more than $237 million has been spent on terminal renovations recently and more is on the way.  Port Canaveral will soon welcome the first North American-based  LNG powered ship, the Mardi Gras, Carnival Cruise Line’s largest ship ever built, with twenty decks, six distinctive themed zones of fun and the Ultimate Playground with the first roller coaster at sea. The Mardi Gras will have a 5,286 lower berth capacity and maximum capacity of approximately 6,500 guests. 

To get ready for the Mardi Gras, Port Canaveral is building a $160+ million new cruise terminal. The cruise facility expansion is estimated to be the largest single project in the history of the Port. CT3 will be 185,000 sq. ft. on 2-stories with an adjacent elevated parking facility for 1,800 vehicles. CT3 is planned for completion by June 2020. The Mardi Gras will homeport at Port Canaveral beginning in fall of 2020.

Oh The Places We Go

Some of the largest and most innovative ships in the world sail in and out of Port Canaveral, to the Bahamas, Cuba and Eastern, Western and Southern Caribbean, providing exotic stops on 3-to-15 day cruises and now including a very popular Cuba cruise, with a stop in Key West and overnight in Havana.

With proximity to the best of Florida’s manmade and natural attractions, and amazing cruise traveler convenience and portside entertainment built in, Port Canaveral is the perfect place to launch vacation adventures.

Port Canaveral Facts

• 3-to-15 day cruises to the Bahamas, Cuba, and eastern, western and southern Caribbean
• 1 hour to Orlando theme parks
• 4 international airports within 1 hr. drive
• 20 minutes to Kennedy Space Center
• 5 minutes to the beach 
• Parking garages adjacent to ships


For more details, request or download the Port Canaveral Official 2019 Cruise Guide 
at PortCanaveral.com/CruiseGuide   For Travel Agent Information, call: 1.877.386.7678 

 

The editorial staff had no role in this post's creation.