PORT CANAVERAL - FLORIDA - USA
PORT INFORMATION
photo courtesy Canaveral Port Authority
Located at Cape Canaveral on Florida’s Atlantic coast, Port Canaveral is set in the heart of Florida’s Space Coast and all its attractions.
Although the area is known around the world as the home of the Kennedy Space Center, there is more to it than that and offers everything from moon walks and space-age attractions to dune overwalks, protected wildlife refuges and the fun of the surf.
Port Canaveral It is also not far from the theme park attractions of Orlando.
Brief History of Port Canaveral
Existing most of its life as a small fishing port, and only officially opened as a major port in 1953, it wasn’t until the 1980s that Port Canaveral started to compete in the cruise industry when the port played host to the then Premier Cruise Line.
Things have certainly changed since then. Port Canaveral now has 6 terminals with two more on the way, plays host to not just one but several major cruise lines, and processes more than 2 million passengers each year.
Cruise Terminals in Port Canaveral
There are 6 terminals at Port Canaveral, three of which are regularly used by the cruise lines. They are terminals #5, #8 and #10.
Disney Cruise Lines docks at its own $27 million custom built terminal (Terminal #8) featuring a 90-foot high glass tower, cafe, play area, murals and a floor inlaid with a 13,000 square-foot terrazzo map of Florida and the Bahamas.
Other ships usually dock at terminal #5 or terminal #10.
Cruise Terminal #5 features a 30-foot high atrium filled with tropical trees and cascading waterfalls, a glass-enclosed departure lounge with panoramic water views.
The ultramodern Cruise Terminal #10 features huge murals - the largest outdoor murals in the area.
Port Canaveral is served by three international airports, Orlando International which is only 45 minutes west of the port, Melbourne International Airport 40 minutes south of Port Canaveral, and Orlando Sanford International Airport which is about an hour away from the cruise terminals.
For those arriving by car, there is secure parking under 24 hour surveillance available at each of the terminals, and most hotels offer stay-and-park or park-and-cruise packages for cruise passengers.
Cruise Lines using Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal as an Embarkation / Disembarking Port
Cruise lines using Port Canaveral to start and end their cruises include Carnival Cruise Lines offering offers 3- and 4-night cruises to the Bahamas and 7-night cruises to the eastern and western Caribbean, Disney Cruise Line offering 3-, 4- and 7-night cruises to the Bahamas, the eastern and western Caribbean and Royal Caribbean International offering 3-, 4- and 7-night cruises to the Bahamas, eastern and western Caribbean and private island Coco Cay.
Some lines such as NCL and Seabourn make regular port calls here throughout the year.
Must See Attractions in Port Canaveral
Kennedy Space Center: About 40 minutes by car from the cruise terminals, The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex near Titusville includes the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame, “Astronaut Encounter” where visitors can question astronauts in person.
Cocoa Beach: Only a ten minute drive from the cruise terminals, the six mile stretch of Cocoa Beach is known primarily for its surf and family fun.
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge: Home to more than a thousand species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and marine life this NASA-owned refuge is famous for being a refuge for endangered species such as the Western Indian manatee and the Atlantic loggerhead turtle. The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is only 15 minutes from the cruise terminals.
Orlando Theme Parks: If time permits, the theme parks of the Orlando area, including Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Magic Kingdom and Sea World are only 90 minutes away by car from the cruise terminals. Disney Cruise Line also offers cruises from Port Canaveral that can be combined with a Walt Disney World vacation.
