Port Canaveral ???

jsme · January 8, 2006

We have sailed out of there 4 times out of our 5 cruises thus far. We love PC. It is at most an hour from PC. Normally about 45 minutes. Two hours might be what they say when you are flying in and taking a cruise shuttle. This would allow enough time to get off the plane, find your luggage and go to the shuttle. The shuttle might have to pick up at more than one spot and with all of that it might be a total of 2 hours form the time you get off the plane until you reach the port. The port opens at 10:30. If you are there before that you should be let off at your terminal.

We normally go down the day before and stay at the Radisson at the Port. They have a shuttle you can use. If you have a vehicle you can park for free in a designated area. Normally you can make a reservation for the shuttle at the time you are making room reservations. Remember that you can get the free parking without buying the cruise room package. That is a waste of money.

sailingrose · January 10, 2006

Ann,

We live close to MCO and less then an hour from Pt. Canaveral. This by far is my favorite port in Florida. Embarking and Debarking is a breeze. Even finding your luggage is simple. If you need more help, just ask.

Rose

KeithnRita · January 10, 2006

We drove to Orlando last December and after visiting Rita's son and girlfriend we drove to the spacecoast and spent the night at a hotel that let us leave our car for the duration of the cruise. Port Canaveral was the best ran port of any we have used for embarkation and disembarkation. I wouldn't let the distance to Orlando's airport concern you much. Getting in and out of the port is a snap. It is our favorite port.

dacsmom · January 13, 2006

Stayed at the Radisson. It was so easy. We took the 11:30 shuttle and were on the ship within 30 minutes. I would get there the day before you sail. People in line in front of us stayed the night but their son was flying in from Denver that day. He missed his connection, and the ship sailed without him.

cannonfodder · May 6, 2006

Based on people's experiences, would I be correct in thinking that a 12pm departure flight from MCO should provide adequate safety margin to get from the ship to MCO?

Also, in order to get to/from Port Canaveral, what would my options be? I'm trying to decide whether or not to stay the night, before the cruise departs, in Orlando or Port Canaveral. I'm imagining that it would be easier and/or cheaper to find a shuttle from MCO to Port Canaveral, rather than find a ride from an Orlando hotel to Port Canaveral.

JoeyandDavid · May 6, 2006

Hi cannon_fodder, and welcome to CruiseCrazies. Glad you joined us !

Having never sailed out of Port Canaveral I too gather from this thread that it is about an hour away from the airport in Orlando .. and thatÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s with great conditions.. no traffic snarls.. so add another hour as a cushion and since your flying I guess domestically you need to be at the airport at least an hour ahead if you are checking luggageÃ¢â‚¬Â¦ now we are up to three hours.. so now you need to be off the ship and baggage in hand by nine in the morning heading to the airport in order to make a noon flight.. thatÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s in my humble opinion. If it was me I think I would be scheduling a 1:30 pm flight.

Good luck

sailingrose · May 6, 2006

Which ship in Port Canaveral? Number of passengers and day will matter as far as time to get to and from the airport.

Yes, it's about an hour from the airport to PC. There are many hotels in the Cocoa Beach area you could stay at.

Art's Shuttle has been a PC favorite for many years with people on message boards. They will be waiting for you at the pier when you disembark or you could arrange cruise line buses for the ride to the airport if they have an early departure one.

cannonfodder · May 6, 2006

This would be the September 3rd arrival of RCI's Mariner of the Seas. It is scheduled to arrive at 7 am. Having never been on a cruise, I have no idea how long it will be to get off the ship and into some form of transportation. I also have no idea how much reliance one can put in a 7 am scheduled arrival.

sailingrose · May 7, 2006

Generally the ship clears customs by 8:00. The first ones off would be Crown and Anchor (RCI's repeaters) and those carrying off their own luggage then they begin calling colors. I don't really see a problem getting a noon flight unless the ship has difficulties clearing customs which sometimes can happen. 3000 passengers can really mess things up. RCI will do it's best to get the ship in on time but they don't control customs.

Make sure that you get the first color tag off the ship and you should have no problem. RCI will try to accomodate you as best as they can. I've never heard of anyone refused early debarking in more then 20 cruises with them. I'd hire a cab to get to the airport since they will be available and you won't be at anyone elses's mercy. It might cost a bit more but would be worth the piece of mind.

My parents are going next weekend and I'll ask them how disembarkation goes.

gogetter · May 13, 2006

Hello,

Just so you kow i am the PC expert..............olololollolol

An hour at most from the airport........................however this week there have been fires and parts of the Beachline and I-95 have been shut down.

My recommendation would be NO to a 12 pm departure from the airport....but.....

Raddison at the port is a great hotel.......i would say NO to Hilton........

Good luck............. :grin: :grin: