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March 21, 2024

A woman and her daughter pose on a Carnival crise ship docked at Port Canaveral in Florida
Departure Ports, Hotels, Port Canaveral, United States

Port Canaveral Hotels in the Cocoa Beach Area: Shuttles & More

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Cocoa Beach Hotels Port Canaveral is a popular cruise port in Cape Canaveral, Florida, located about 45 minutes (approximately 47 miles) from the Orlando International Airport (MCO). Given its close proximity to the theme park capital of the world, some travelers choose to drive or fly in 1-2 days before their cruise to stay at a hotel in Orlando and enjoy the area’s many attractions, but others prefer a property that is close to Port Canaveral, like these hotels, many of which offer shuttle service to port. If you choose to stay near the port, you can opt for an affordable hotel just minutes from port and with shuttle service, and I detail my top picks here. If you’re a “sand and sun” type who wants to add on an extra beach day before your cruise, I recommend a beachfront hotel in nearby Cocoa Beach, just about 15 minutes from Port Canaveral and 20 minute from Kennedy Space Center. Below are my top recommendations. Beachfront Hotels in Cocoa Beach Hampton Inn Cocoa Beach/Cape CanaveralAddress: 3425 N Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL, 32931The Hampton Inn is “beachside”, meaning it’s a short walk to Cocoa Beach, and also in close proximity to restaurants and shops such as Ron Jon Surf Shop. Vendors at the beach rent umbrellas, chairs, and boogie boards to travelers, and guests can use towels from the pool area to take and use at the beach. The property offers free Wi-Fi and complimentary breakfast, and shuttle service to and from Port Canaveral is available at a cost of $10 per person or $16 per person round trip (scheduled in advance or at check-in). An Uber, however, may be a more affordable and convenient option. Parking is $12 for guests overnight for their stay, and additional parking beyond the stay is $15 per night. Hampton Inn does offer “Park and Cruise For Two” bundled option, which includes shuttle service for two and parking for up to 7 nights built into the room rate, but this is likely only cost-effective for longer 6-7 night cruises. Best Western Cocoa BeachAddress: 5600 N Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL, 32931This property is well regarded by cruisers for its value, cleanliness, and proximity to Cocoa Beach (just a short four-minute walk), although beach towels are not provided. Guests enjoy free Wi-Fi and hot breakfast, and shuttle service to port is available for $10 per person each way. Shuttles run 10:30 am, 11:30 am, and 12:30 pm, and guests schedule this upon check-in. Again, I urge cruisers to check Uber rates, which may be more affordable and convenient. Parking is available for $12 per night. Parking is $10 per night and Best Western offers a “Stay and Cruise” rate. Like some other hotels near cruise ports, this rate offers cruisers a bundled option, including the overnight stay, along with round trip shuttle to port for two, and parking. The distinction here is that there is no limitation to the number of nights, making this an attractive option for travelers embarking on a lengthy cruise. Beachside Hotel & SuitesAddress: 3901 N Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL, 32931The standout feature of Beachside Hotel is its close proximity to Cocoa Beach, located just 315 feet behind the hotel, and its impressive pool area, which features a lazy river. Guests enjoy free Wi-Fi and hot breakfast and complimentary use of beach chairs, umbrellas, bikes, and surfboards, although these are limited in supply each day and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests may also use the hotel’s pool towels at the beach. As for shuttle service, Beachside offers a “Fly, Snooze & Cruise” transportation package, which can be purchased individually at $80 per person and includes for two people the following: transportation from MCO to the hotel, shuttle to the port and at disembarkation return transportation back to MCO from the cruise port. Parking is free on the first night for cruisers traveling by car, and then $10 per additional night. The shuttle each way to Port Canaveral is $10 per person. Getting to Port Canaveral from the Airport There are over 30 Cocoa Beach hotels, but these consistently rank among the top choices for travelers cruising out of Port Canaveral. When it comes to getting to these properties from the MCO airport, there are four main options. To view these options, and see the pricing for each of them, is check out my post here. Things to Do Near Cocoa Beach Book Your Cocoa Beach Hotel Now Best Port Canaveral Hotels for Cruisers

A woman standing by a palm tree with a Royal Caribbean cruise ship docked behind her in Labadee, Haiti
Cruise Lines, Cruise Tips

Discovering the Popular Royal Caribbean Itinerary: Bahamas & Caribbean

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Bahamas & Perfect Day Itinerary The 3-4 night version of this itinerary is a popular one offered by Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines (RCCL) because of its affordability. The ship class can vary and is most commonly serviced by RCCL’s smaller class of ships, Voyager Class and below. Check out the RCCL Fleet Guide for distinctions between these ships. It’s helpful for cruisers to review the class and details of the ship before booking, as features and amenities can vary widely between them. 3-4 Night Itinerary Day #1: Embarkation. This itinerary typically sails from Port Miami, Port Everglades, Port Tampa Bay, or Port Canaveral. Day #2: Perfect Day at CocoCay, which is RCCL’s private island in the BahamasDay #3: Nassau, Bahamas, although some itineraries port in Bimini insteadDay #4: DisembarkationThe 4-night option also includes a sea day. The “Perfect Day Getaway” itinerary is similar to the above but includes only one port stop, Perfect Day at CoCo Cay. The “Bahamas Getaway” itinerary ports only in Nassau. There is also a “Key West & Bahamas” option that either adds Key West or substitutes it for one of the others. The lengthier itineraries add on multiple other ports, may include additional sea days, and are offered from more departing ports, such as the Port of Baltimore and Cape Liberty. The longer itineraries may sail on a larger class of ship, even the occasional Oasis or Quantum class. This is a great option for budget-conscious travelers, cruisers looking for a short getaway, or newer cruisers who are still figuring out this mode of travel as a “starter cruise” option. Eastern Caribbean Itinerary The Caribbean is vast and diverse, so many cruise lines break out their itineraries into “Eastern Caribbean,” “Western Caribbean,” and sometimes “Southern Caribbean.” Royal Caribbean‘s Eastern Caribbean itineraries tend to stop at island ports closer to the open Atlantic, most commonly include the following: Royal Caribbean offers short 2-5 night Eastern Caribbean itineraries, but there are also longer choices, up to as many as 11 nights. These lengthier options generally call on these additional ports: Almost all of Royal Caribbean‘s Eastern Caribbean sailings depart from Florida ports, and the longer options sail from other East Coast ports, such as Cape Liberty. Symphony of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas are commonly used to service these itineraries, although other classes of ships sail this route, including Royal’s new Icon Class ship, Icon of the Seas. Western Caribbean Itinerary Western Caribbean cruises generally call on destinations closer to the mainland US and Mexico. Because of this, many of them sail out of Port of Galveston or Port NOLA, but are also common options out of the various Florida ports. Royal Caribbean‘s Western Caribbean itineraries can vary widely in length and class of ship and most commonly include: It’s not uncommon for Royal Caribbean to also call on Labadee, Puerto Plata, and Perfect Day on these sailings, and may also include these ports with their longer Western Caribbean itineraries: Various Royal Caribbean ships sail this route, including the line’s new Icon Class ship, Icon of the Seas. Southern Caribbean Itinerary Royal Caribbean‘s Southern Caribbean cruises generally sail from the Florida ports, are serviced by a variety of its class of ships, and include the same general ports of call as the Eastern Caribbean itinerary, but then head south to call on some additional ports. Because of this additional distance, Southern Caribbean sailings generally tend to be longer. Regardless of the specifics of the itinerary or even the specific cruise line, a Caribbean cruise is always great. Cruisers can enjoy stunning beaches, turquoise waters, vibrant culture, and diverse activities.

Colorful buildings along Creek Street in the cruise port town of Ketchikan, Alaska
Alaska, Ketchikan, United States

What You Need to Know about the Ketchikan Cruise Port: Taxis, Free Activities & Weather

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About the Sitka, Alaska Cruise Port The Port of Ketchikan in Alaska is a great port because it’s located right by the town of Ketchikan, so there are many things to do and see without spending money on transportation or an excursion. Located on the southeastern tip of Alaska, Ketchikan has 64 points of interest in the town, just a short distance from the port. Ketchikan is a small city with less than 14,000 residents, but it welcomes over 1.4 million cruisers to its town each year. The Port of Ketchikan can accommodate four cruise ships. book an Alaskan cruise The welcome sign to the town of Ketchikan, Alaska Free Things to Do in Ketchikan, Alaska The town of Ketchikan is easily walkable from the cruise port, and there are several great shops, bars, and restaurants to visit on foot. You can do a self-guided walking tour using this Ketchikan walking tour map, courtesy of the Ketchikan Historical Society. Key landmarks and sites include the famous Ketchikan Welcome Arch, colorful shops along Creek Street, the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center, “The Rock” statue, and the Totem Heritage Center and City Park. The free activities in Ketchikan are abundant. Other downtown activities, such as Dolly’s House Museum, aren’t free but are low-cost and worth a visit. Ketchikan Port Taxis Colorful buildings in the cruise port town of Ketchikan, Alaska Rideshare options like Uber and Lyft are new to Ketchikan, so these are now options, along with traditional taxi services, which run 24/7. The cost of a taxi in Ketchikan is $3.70 drop and $3.50 per mile, and municipal city buses run seven days a week. With so much to do and see in the town right off the port, however, many cruisers opt to just explore on foot. Weather in Ketchikan Ketchikan is one of the rainiest cities in America, so plan for precipitation, although it is often in the form of a light drizzle. Ketchikan has a mild maritime or oceanic climate, characterized by clouds, high humidity, and rain. As with other Alaskan ports, dressing in layers is advised. During peak Alaskan cruise season (May-September), the daily mean temperature generally ranges from 46-67 degrees Fahrenheit. Ketchikan Cruise Port Ship Schedule The City of Ketchikan provides a regularly updated Ketchikan cruise port schedule on its website. Ketchikan, Alaska Time Zone Keeping track of time zones can get complicated when cruising, especially for Alaskan cruise itineraries where multiple time zone changes can occur on one sailing. Your captain will make announcements during the cruise to update you on these changes, but it’s good to be aware of these differences ahead of time when making plans for your stop at the port, especially for excursions. Ketchikan’s time zone is Alaska Daylight Time (ADT), which is one hour behind Pacific Time. Best Excursions in Ketchikan, Alaska Alaska cruise excursions are generally more expensive than other itineraries. While this is a great port to explore on foot, here are some of the top things to do in Ketchikan if you prefer the freedom and flexibility of an independent excursion:

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