What You Need to Know About Port Canaveral: Parking, Hotels, Schedule & How to Get There

The cruise port near Orlando, Florida, is officially named “Port Canaveral,” and it’s located in Cape Canaveral. This port and Port Miami jockey back and forth for the title of the world’s busiest cruise port, and Port Canaveral’s seven cruise terminals are divided into “A” terminals, housing terminals 5, 6, 8, and 10, and “B” terminals containing terminals 1, 2, and 3.

Each terminal has a different address, which can be found here. Cruisers can determine their departure terminal by consulting their cruise documents provided by the cruise line, but upon arrival at the port, signage will indicate where each cruise ship is docked. A port map is online here.

Getting to Port Canaveral

Some cruisers who’ve never sailed out of Port Canaveral are under the mistaken impression that the port is located in Orlando. While it’s close, Port Canaveral is located 47 miles away in Cape Canaveral, which can be up to a one-hour ride, depending on traffic.

Cruisers flying to this port should also search for flights to Sanford Airport (SFB) and Melbourne Airport (MLB), as they are also nearby. Many cruisers are curious about how to get to this port from MCO, and there are several options:

• Cruise Line Transfer: Most cruise lines offer transfer service, and Carnival’s service from MCO to port, as one example, is $37 per person. This is booked directly through your cruise line.
• Hotel Shuttle: Some Port Canaveral hotels offer an optional (shared) shuttle service for guests at an additional cost, such as the Radisson, which charges $28 per person.
• Rideshare: When it comes to getting to the port, I typically recommend using Uber, but in this case, the long distance means that the ride can cost $75-150, depending on the time of day and other factors, but that is for up to four passengers.
• Private Transfer: Cruisers can book their own private transfer service, which is much more convenient than cruise line transfer service or hotel transfer services, which is typically on a bus or shuttle with other cruisers. Get Transfer offers transfer service for up to three people from MCO to Port Canaveral starting at $64, or cruisers traveling in a larger group can book a minibus for up to 16 people for $147. This makes for a far more affordable option for groups of 4+ cruisers.
  
  

Port Canaveral Parking

Cruise port parking is available directly adjacent to the port’s terminals, and cruisers are advised to park at their cruise terminal’s designated parking area and walk to their ship. Port parking is $17 per day, and reservations are not needed.

More affordable off-site third-party parking options are nearby, although they aren’t as conveniently located. Some nearby hotels (more on that in a moment) offer “park and stay” options for cruisers, with parking bundled into the pre-cruise overnight room rate.

Best Hotels for Cruisers in Port Canaveral

Some cruisers opt to arrive in the area a day or two early and stay in Orlando to enjoy the many theme parks and attractions there. Others, however, prefer a hotel option close to Port Canaveral, in the city of Cape Canaveral, that offers shuttle service to the port (although this may come at a cost).

Affordable Port Canaveral Hotels for Cruisers

Cruisers typically seek out affordable hotels in Cape Canaveral, but this bustling area—especially during peak cruise season—can drive up prices, making “affordable” a relative term. Here are some hotel options that are highly rated and recommended by cruisers.

Country Inn & Suites at Port Canaveral
Address: 9009 Astronaut Blvd., Cape Canaveral, FL 32920

This property is one of the top-rated hotels by cruisers because it’s the closest to port, just half a mile away, and provides a “Park and Stay” bundled package, including room, parking, and a shuttle to the port for cruisers who drive in and need parking during their cruise.

Country Inn offers guests free Wi-Fi and hot breakfast, and the shuttle to Port Canaveral for guests on anything other than a "Park and Stay” rate is $5 per person. An Uber from Country Inn to Port Canaveral cruise port, in comparison, however, is only around $9, so that may be a better, more convenient option.

Radisson Resort at Port
Address: 8701 Astronaut Blvd., Cape Canaveral, FL 32920

This property is less than two miles, a five-minute drive, from Port Canaveral and receives high marks from cruisers due to its location to port. This is a popular choice among families because of its pool area, including a designated kiddie pool, and it offers free Wi-Fi, although breakfast is not included.

Radisson offers a shuttle to Port Canaveral at $6 per person, which must be reserved at check-in. Shuttle service to and from MCO airport is $28 per person each way and must be reserved 48 hours in advance. However, an Uber is likely a more affordable and convenient option. Parking is available for $12 per night.

Hampton Inn & Suites Cape Canaveral
Address: 9004 Astronaut Blvd., Cape Canaveral, FL 32920

Just one mile from the port is Hampton Inn, which is highly regarded by cruisers for its proximity to the port, cleanliness, and value. Guests here enjoy free Wi-Fi and hot breakfast, and the shuttle to the port is reserved at check-in, running 10:30 and 11:45 am daily at a cost of $10 per person.

At just around a $9 fare from hotel to port, Uber is likely a better option. Hampton Inn offers parking, but at a high cost of $25 per day, parking at the port is a much more affordable and convenient option.

Beachfront Hotels Near Port Canaveral

If you're not as concerned with finding a budget-friendly option and instead are more of 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 minutes from Kennedy Space Center.

Hampton Inn Cocoa Beach/Cape Canaveral
Address: 3425 N Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL, 32931

The 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 $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, and additional parking beyond the stay is $15 per night.

Hampton Inn does offer a “Park and Cruise For Two” bundled option, which includes shuttle service for two and parking for up to seven nights built into the room rate, but this is likely only cost-effective for longer 6-7-night cruises.

Best Western Cocoa Beach
Address: 5600 N Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL, 32931

This 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 at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 12:30 p.m., and guests schedule them upon check-in. Again, I urge cruisers to check Uber rates, which may be more affordable and convenient.

Parking is $12 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, 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 & Suites
Address: 3901 N Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL, 32931

The standout feature of Beachside Hotel is its 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, 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 for cruisers traveling by car on the first night, and then $10 per additional night. The shuttle each way to Port Canaveral is $10 per person.

Titusville Hotel Option

Casa Coquina del Mar in Titusville
Address: 4010 Coquina Avenue, Titusville, FL, 32780

If you’re looking for more of an “experience," than just a place to lay your head pre-cruise, you might want to consider Casa Coquina del Mar in Titusville. This charming bed and breakfast is a five-minute drive to Enchanted Forest Sanctuary and the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame and 15 minutes from the port and the Kennedy Space Center.

Exploring Port Canaveral

Please note that I spent a lot of time researching these properties, including calling them to get the most accurate and up-to-date information. While I try to keep my hotel posts updated and current, this is all subject to change. If you see anything that needs updating, please email me so I can keep my posts as current as possible.