Port Canaveral is one of the busiest cruise ports in the world. According to the port authority of Port Canaveral, four million revenue cruise passengers sail annually from Canaveral. Currently, Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Lines and soon to be Norwegian Cruise Lines use Port Canaveral as an embarkation port for either Caribbean cruises or Bahamas cruises. Here is an overview of Port Canaveral cruises.
Cruises out of Port Canaveral
Royal Caribbean Cruises from Port Canaveral – Royal Caribbean utilizes Terminal 10. Currently it is Port Canaveral’s largest cruise terminal, handling ships as large as 130,000 gross tons. Royal Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral include cruises on the Freedom of the Seas and the Monarch of the Seas. While the Freedom of the Seas offers 7-day Caribbean cruises, the Monarch of the Seas offers three and four night cruises to the Bahamas.
Carnival Cruises from Port Canaveral – Another Port Canaveral cruise line is Carnival Cruise Line using both Terminal 5 and Terminal 10 for their cruises from Port Canaveral. Currently, the Carnival Sensation cruises out of Terminal 5 on cruises to the Bahamas. And, the new Carnival Dream started offering Caribbean cruises out of Port Canaveral Terminal 10 in December 2009.
Disney Cruises from Port Canaveral – Terminal 8 was custom-designed for Disney Cruise Line featuring a 90-foot high glass tower with facilities that include a children’s play area and a cafe. Currently, Terminal 8 is the home to the Disney Wonder and the Disney Magic. But when the Disney Dream arrives in 2011, the cruise terminal will be expanded to accommodate the larger ship.
NCL Cruises from Port Canaveral – Currently Norwegian Cruise Lines only offers cruises from New York that include Port Canaveral as a port of call. Both the Norwegian Gem and the Norwegian Jewel offer 7-day Bahamas and Florida cruises that feature Great Stirrup (NCL’s private island), Nassau, and three days at sea in addition to the day at Port Canaveral. Starting in the 2010-11 winter season, the Norwegian Sun will offer 7-day eastern and western Caribbean cruises.
Port Canaveral Hotels for Cruises from Central Florida
Port Canaveral’s convenient location to theme parks, Kennedy Space Center and Cocoa Beach make it popular for cruise vacationers to extend their cruise for a few extra days. Choose from hotels close to the Walt Disney World theme parks before or after a cruise. Or choose to stay at one of several Port Canaveral hotels that offer park and cruise rates or easy access to the Kennedy Space Center and local beaches.
Port Canaveral is an alternative to cruising from Fort Lauderdale or Miami. Flights may be cheaper into Orlando than into southern Florida, and hotel rates in the Port Canaveral area may be less expensive. Many visitors also like the idea of combining a cruise vacation with a couple days in the area’s theme parks.
Renee Ruggero - Renee is a published travel writer and cruise industry insider with more than 1,000 days on cruise ships, visiting over 50 countries.
