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Cruises from Port Canaveral

Explore Florida’s Space Coast and the Theme Park Capital of the World – Orlando, before you embark on a cruise from Port Canaveral with Princess®. Take a visit to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, steer a freighter simulation at Exploration Tower, venture through the Brevard Zoo, or ride on the roller coasters of Orlando’s theme parks. Whether you are looking for family-friendly activities or adventurous things to do, you’ll have amazing experiences to remember before even stepping aboard your cruise vacation.

Caribbean cruises

Sail to the Eastern or Western Caribbean on a cruise from Port Canaveral (Orlando) and island hop to top rated islands such as St. Thomas, Turks & Caicos, and Cozumel. Can't decide between the Eastern or the Western Caribbean? No problem – we have an itinerary that brings you to both regions from Port Canaveral, as well.

What to Know About Cruises from Port Canaveral

Known as the world’s most popular cruise port, Port Canaveral welcomes you to explore all it has to offer. Here’s everything to learn about your cruise from Port Canaveral (Orlando).

Port Canaveral at a glance

• Language:  English
• Currency:  U.S. Dollar (USD)
• Time Zone:  Eastern Standard Time (EST)
• Docking:  Your cruise from Port Canaveral docks at the Cruise Terminal in Cape Canaveral, approximately 45 miles from Orlando International Airport (MCO).
• Attire:  Located along the Atlantic Coast of East Central Florida, Cape Canaveral has an overall average high temperature of 82 degrees and an average low of 62. If you're visiting the Kennedy Space Center, wear casual attire appropriate for the time of year. Always pack a bathing suit because even if the water is a bit chilly for swimming, sunbathing is a year-round sport in Florida.
• Transportation:  You can get around by Uber, Lyft, a shuttle, limousine or rental car. Want to beat traffic to the port? Take Brightline , a convenient and comfortable high-speed passenger train.

Things to do in Port Canaveral

Before getting on a cruise from Port Canaveral, or after your debarkation, add visits to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, the Exploration Tower, and the US Air Force Space & Missile Museum. Take in a day of fishing on one of the charter boats docked at the port and relax to the sound of crashing waves on uncrowded beaches. Make the most of your dream vacation by exploring the one-of-a-kind Port Canaveral on Florida’s Space Coast before your cruise or choose one of our debarkation tours. 

Ships that Cruise from Port Canaveral

Our Princess fleet includes some of the best cruises from Port Canaveral. Find the comforts of home along with the luxuries you deserve on board any of our ships. Discover what makes our fleet so unique.

Learn more about:  Caribbean Princess

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Port Canaveral Cruise Guide

Millions of passengers stop by Port Canaveral each year, the cruise port located in Orlando, Florida. Major cruise lines such as Carnival, Disney, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean frequent this port. These ships primarily cruise to the Bahamas, the Caribbean and the Panama Canal. The port itself also features many family-friendly attractions nearby, making it a good place to extend your trip before or after a cruise.

A must-see is the Kennedy Space Center, an original NASA Launch Operations Center where launch operations for the famous Apollo, Skylab and others were held. The site features educational experiences, dining, an IMAX theater, and shuttle launch simulations. For more interactive fun, stop by the Exploration Tower, which has seven floors of games, exhibits, and an observation deck at the very top.

If you’re looking to optimize your beach time before heading off to the beautiful beaches of the Caribbean, Cocoa Beach is a popular spot. It’s home to the original Ron Jon Surf Shop, where you can take surf lessons, or just soak in the warm temperature.

Lastly, no stay at Port Canaveral would be complete without a day trip to Walt Disney World. Some cruise lines even offer motorcoach transfer to the parks, so you won’t need to worry about transportation. When you’re just miles from the “Happiest Place on Earth,” visiting this park is a must, especially when travelling with kids!

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Complete Guide to Cruising From Port Canaveral

While Miami might take the title of “Cruise Capital of the World,” many people don’t realize that Port Canaveral near Orlando is right with it in terms of popularity. In total, the port sees more than 4 million passengers each year (with a record 4.6 million in 2019, likely eclipsed in 2023), making it among the busiest cruise ports in the world.

Meanwhile, the port continues to grow. With a new terminal recently constructed to serve Carnival’s largest ship (Mardi Gras), the capacity of Port Canaveral simply keeps increasing. All told, each year sees hundreds of cruise ship departures from the port. That’s not to mention the ships that dock here during their cruises to allow passengers to visit nearby Orlando.

But as with any major port, first-time cruisers (or those who simply haven’t visited recently) may have lots of questions about sailing. To help you out, we’ve covered everything you need to know about cruising from Port Canaveral, along with tons of information about parking, terminals, navigating the port, and much more.

Have more questions about Port Canaveral? Let us know in the comments below.

• Distance from Orlando Airport: 45 miles
• Number of Cruise Terminals: 6 (plus one casino ship terminal)
• Passengers Carried Each Year: ~5 million
• Cruise Ship Dockings Each Year: ~ 800+

Port Location

Port Canaveral is located in eastern central Florida, approximately a 45-60 minutes from Orlando. Just south of the famous Kennedy Space Center, the area surrounding the port offers a lot to see and do within minutes. Nearby are the towns of Cocoa, as well as Cocoa Beach and Titusville.

The port itself is a large, “L-shaped” complex with a number of cruise terminals on the far western edge. In addition, there are cruise terminals along the southern end of the port.

While each terminal has a slightly different address, they are all in the same complex. If you plan to drive in, you can use the following address for navigation:

9241 Charles M Rowland Dr Port Canaveral, FL 32920

Once in the port area, you’ll see signage directing you to each individual cruise ship in port that day.

If you are flying into the Orlando area, then the chances are good you’ll be spending some time in the area, perhaps at the numerous attractions and theme parks. Here are the distances and times to get to Port Canaveral from a number of popular spots in the region.

• Orlando Airport: 45 miles | 45 minutes
• Disney World: 67 miles | 1 hour 15 minutes
• Universal Studios: 60 miles | 1 hour
• Downtown Orlando: 55 miles | 55 minutes
• Kennedy Space Center: 18 miles | 30 minutes
• Cocoa Beach: 5 miles | 10 minutes

Not sure how to get the Port Canaveral from Orlando? We outline your choices below.

Getting to Port Canaveral (Transportation)

The bad news about Port Canaveral is that it’s not extremely convenient to get to if you are flying into or staying in the Orlando area. The good news? There’s a thriving industry that caters to cruise passengers, including transportation options to get you back and forth between Orlando and the cruise terminals.

On our Port Canaveral transportation page , we’ve covered the main transportation options in depth. Below, we hit the highlights of how you can get to the port.

Driving to Port Canaveral If you live in the area, then driving to the port is convenient. Driving allows you to arrive whenever you want and head home on your schedule without waiting on anyone else. As well, given the distance between Orlando and the port — along with the number of things to do in the area — driving is especially nice as an easy way to get around.

If you do drive, keep in mind you’ll need to park your car. Parking at the port is convenient, but costs $17 per day. There are independent lots that are cheaper. See more details in our parking section below.

Independent Shuttles Not driving? As we mentioned earlier, there’s an entire industry that’s popped up catering to cruisers. Case in point: There are a number of companies offering shuttles back and forth between Orlando and Port Canaveral. The most convenient place to catch one of these shuttles is from the airport, however many will pickup from other spots like Disney. Expect to pay $40-60 per person roundtrip for the shuttles, which isn’t bad considering the distance.

Click here to see our article on port transportation to see a list of shuttle companies offering rides to the port.

Hotel Shuttles With so many hotels around Port Canaveral, there are several that will provide a plum service — they will pick you up at the airport with a shuttle, take you to the hotel, and then give you a ride to the cruise port. When you return, they will offer the same in reverse. It’s a nice perk for those flying in and planning to stay at a hotel the night before their cruise.

You can see our full list of hotels with airport and cruise shuttles here .

Other Modes Interested in other modes of transportation to Port Canaveral like taxis, Uber/Lyft, and cruise line shuttles? They can all get you to the port, but are typically more expensive and/or less convenient than the ways listed above. Still, you can read about all your options on our Port Canaveral transportation page .

Hotels in the Cruise Port Area

Given the location of Port Canaveral — about 45 minutes from the Orlando Airport and an hour from the city proper — it’s a good idea to head to the area the day before your cruise and stay the night. That way there’s no rush on embarkation day and you can relax before your cruise starts.

And Cocoa Beach, right next to the port, offers a ton of options on where to stay and things to do. Many hotels include shuttles to the port and/or cruise parking, making them especially attractive for cruise passengers.

Here are a few hotels in the area that are near the port:

• Country Inn & Suites By Radisson
• Homewood Suites by Hilton Cape Canaveral-Cocoa Beach
• Radisson Resort at the Port

You can see a more complete list of hotels here . For the most part, the hotels near the port are well-known, reputable chains. Nearly all will have a shuttle available to take you to the cruise port. 

Things to Do Near the Port

One of the good things about Port Canaveral is that the port complex and the surrounding area have a number of things to do nearby.

Restaurants In the port area are several restaurants that sit right on the water. Not only can you get a bite to eat or something cold to drink, but you can also have a first-rate spot to see the ships in port. If you aren’t sailing, then the cruise ships also pass right in front of you as they head out to sea. Places to eat include Grills Seafood Deck & Tiki Bar and Fishlips Waterfront Bar & Grill (along with many others).

Exploration Tower When you arrive at the port, you can’t miss the tallest structure in the area that looks like the sail of a ship. It’s the Exploration Tower — an observation deck with exhibits about the port area on each floor. It offers a great view of the area and a unique vantage point where you can see all the ships in port.

Kennedy Space Center Of course, being on Cape Canaveral you are right near the Kennedy Space Center . Here you can see rockets launch (if they match your schedule) or visit the center to get up close an personal with NASA’s history with tons of exhibits. They even have the retired space shuttle Atlantis on display for visitors.

Cocoa Beach While you are headed to the beach on your cruise, why not get it started early? Cocoa Beach is just a short distance from the port. There you can hit the beach or explore the area where there are a ton of tourist activities, shops, and restaurants. Check out the area near the Cocoa Beach pier for one of the most popular hangouts.

Cruise Terminals

All told, Port Canaveral has six terminals that serve cruise ships, including Terminal 3, which is the newest addition that was built during the pandemic.

CT1 Located on the south bank of the port and to the east of most of the other terminals, CT1 is home to Royal Caribbean. There’s a small retail area and a parking garage right at the terminal. If you’re into ship spotting, there are restaurants right near the terminal that can give you an up-close look at the ship in port.

CT3 Cruise Terminal 3 is home to Carnival Mardi Gras — the cruise line’s largest class of ship to date and the first in North America to run on cleaner-burning LNG. The terminal is the largest single project in the port’s history and measures a staggering 185,000 square feet. It also includes a parking garage right next to the terminal.

CT5 Located in the northern part of the port, CT5 is home to Royal Caribbean ships. As with other ports, a parking garage is just a few steps from the cruise terminal.

CT6 Right next to CT5, this terminal is home to Carnival. It’s also in the middle of the northern part of the port, giving great views of any other cruise ships in port on embarkation day.

CT8 As you might expect given the relatively short distance to Disney World in Orlando, Disney Cruises has a large presence at the port. CT8 is the Disney terminal, where you’ll find its ships embarking to take families on cruises to the Bahamas and Caribbean.

CT10 The last cruise terminal on the western side of the port is CT10, which serves Norwegian ships and MSC. From here it’s a nearly straight shot down the channel and out to sea.

Dropping Off/Picking Up Passengers

Are you taking someone to the cruise port? Or maybe you are picking up someone after their vacation? That can save a lot of money in parking fees, and make it much easier for them to start their cruise.

If you do plan to drop off or pick up, then just know that it’s a relatively simple concept. Just follow the signs to the appropriate terminal. From there, you will see signs pointing you to the drop-off and pick-up areas, which are clearly marked.

The procedure is much like the airport. You can pull up, let passengers out and they get their bags. In all, it should only take you a few minutes.

One word of warning — the port area (especially the western terminals) can be a bit confusing to get around. There are lots of signs, but also lots of twists and turns. It’s helpful to have a passenger to focus on the signage to direct you where to go while driving.

Parking for a Port Canaveral Cruise

If you are driving into Port Canaveral, then there is the question of what to do with your car while you are on your cruise. Given the size of the port, there are a number of parking options. We cover all your options on our Port Canaveral cruise parking page — including prices and locations. Below, we cover the main options — parking at the port, independent lots, and hotels with cruise parking.

Official Port Parking Looking for the most convenient parking for your cruise? Look no further than the official port parking. Each terminal has a parking garage that’s right at their respective terminals. In other words, you can park and be at the terminal. When it’s time to head home, you have only a short walk back to your car. Most garages offer more than 1,000 spaces, meaning there are plenty of spots.

It it hard to beat the convenience of parking right at your ship. The port charges $17 per day for most vehicles (card only, no cash). Oversized vehicle parking is also available.

One thing to note is that the garage charges for days of arrival and departure. Say you have a three-night cruise that departs Friday afternoon and gets back Monday morning. In this case, you’re charged for four days (Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday), even though your ship gets back first thing Monday morning.

If you’re a disabled cruise passenger then you may be able to park for free at the port . If your vehicle has accommodations such as ramps or lifts, or you have a Florida Toll Exemption permit, or a Disabled Veteran plate from Florida, then you can get free parking. If you think you might be eligible, then call the port at 321-783-7831 for more details.

Independent Parking Lots One of the great things about sailing from Port Canaveral is that there are a number of independent parking lots near the cruise ships. The lots may not be right at the port, but they are close and offer shuttles. Best of all, they offer cheaper parking rates that can be around $10-12 per day (and in some cases even less expensive).

Similar to the cruise port, these lots usually charge by the day instead of the night. So a three-night cruise will have you paying for four days of parking, even if you get your car back early in the morning.

Hotels with Cruise Parking A nice perk with such a tourist hotspot is that there are a lot of hotels competing for your business. And as a cruise town, that means many hotels in Cape Canaveral will allow you to park your car while you cruise in return for a night’s stay. Sometimes parking is free, but usually it’s part of a package or an extra charge each night. Hotels will also set up a ride to the port for you.

In general parking at the hotel is even cheaper than parking at independent lots. That said, if you don’t plan to stay in a hotel before you trip, the added expense of a night’s stay isn’t worth the savings on cheaper parking. You can see our full list of Port Canaveral hotels with parking here .

Check-In & Security

Ready to get on your ship? Before you can board, you’ll have to go through two things at the port: security and check-in. The good news is that both are relatively easy.

As you reach the port, the first thing you’ll do is drop any checked bags with a porter before you enter the terminal building. These bags will be taken, loaded on the ship, and arrive at your cabin later in the evening. You don’t have to check any bags if you don’t want to. It simply makes it easier to board the ship than having to carry all your luggage around.

For most passengers, they likely envision security like going to the airport — long lines, invasive searches and tight rules on liquids. Cruise security is more relaxed.

As you enter the building, you’ll have someone check your boarding documents. You’ll then place your bags on an x-ray machine while you walk through the metal detector. Unless something comes up, that’s it. From there you head to check-in.

These days many cruise lines have online check-in, which speeds up the process. If checked-in online, you simply have your documents checked and finish up any last issues that need to be cleared before you board. You then walk your way to the ship and your room keys will be waiting for you at your cabin door.

Normally there are dozens of agents working, making the line move quickly. Once at the agent’s desk, you’ll set up your onboard spending account (if you didn’t already online), get your room key and then head to the ship. That’s all there is to boarding your cruise.

Disembarkation

One of the funny things about cruising is that while everyone can’t wait to get on the ship to start their vacation, they are just as eager to get off the ship when it arrives back in port. And as a major and modern cruise port, the disembarkation of the ship at Port Canaveral is usually smooth and relatively quick given the number of passengers on a modern cruise ship.

When you get back to Port Canaveral, you’ll have the option of carrying all your bags off the ship yourself, or setting out the larger bags to be picked up and brought ashore by the porters. Many people opt to just carry all bags themselves as this means you can be among the first group to get off the ship.

Once you depart the ship, you’ll enter the terminal and pick up any luggage that you had the porters carry off the ship ahead of time. You’ll then enter the line to be checked back into the country by customs agents. All told, the process will vary in length of time depending on a few factors — most notably the number of agents working to process the ship and if there are automated kiosks.

If sailing with a passport, terminals have kiosks that allow you to quickly take a photo, and once confirmed via facial recognition, head on your way. If you have a birth certificate, then expect to wait in line to meet with a Border Patrol agent to review your documents.

Once cleared, simply head out the doors to find your ground transportation. If using a shuttle service or if someone is picking you up, be sure to make plans on where you’ll be picked up before you get back to port. This will make it much easier and faster to get out of the port area after disembarking.

Frequently Asked Questions

What About the Casino Cruise Terminal? Not every cruise ship that calls Port Canaveral home heads to the Caribbean or Bahamas. Victory Casino Cruises operates out of CT2, next door to CT3 (the new Carnival terminal). The casino ship runs two daily trips (most days) to out-of-state waters where gambling is legal.

On board you will find slot machines, dozens of table games, sports betting, a buffet and more. Considering that gambling is localized to only a few spots in Florida, the casino ship is a big draw for those looking to get their fix for a few hours. For more details on the Victory Casino Cruises, see our article here .

What’s the Cheapest Place to Park? As we mentioned above, parking at the port itself is convenient, but runs $17 per day. The cheapest spot we’ve found is parking with CruiseTime Parking . They actually allow you to park for as little as $10 per day. That rate is considerably less than what the port charges, though you don’t get the convenience of parking right at the ship.

What’s the Cheapest Way to Get to the Port? Thanks to the competition between shuttle companies, there are a number of inexpensive options to get between Orlando and the cruise port. A hotel with a shuttle will likely be the cheapest overall way assuming you plan to stay anyway. Other shuttles can be around $40-60 roundtrip. See our article on inexpensive transport options here .

What’s the Earliest I Should Schedule a Return Flight? Many people fly into Orlando for their cruise. That leaves the question of when should you schedule the flight back home? Cruise ships return to port early in the morning (6-7 a.m.), and then it can take 2-3 hours for everyone to get off the ship. That means you can get off the ship and on your way anywhere between 8-10 a.m. in many cases. Of course, you then have a 45 minute ride to the port, followed by security screening.

That’s why we suggest not scheduling a flight back until after 1 p.m. Yes, you may be able to get to the earlier, but this will allow plenty of time so that it’s not a mad dash to catch your flight. It’s also helpful if you have TSA PreCheck as the large number of families flying from Orlando can mean long security lines.

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My husband and I will be doing back-to-back cruises on the Mardi Gras Aug-Sept 2023. How do we pay parking for both cruises at the same time of the 1st cruise in Aug?

Same question. Back to back cruises in March.

My husband has a handicap sticker because he has a bad hip. Can he park for free at the port? We are from South Carolina and parked free in Charleston earlier this year.

My understanding is that he must have a special license plate and/or modifications to the vehicle to park for free.

Yes need to know is it that know you don’t need travel insurance for the cruises now I see that they have updated also unvaccinated people do they get their Covic testing where they reside at 72 hours in advance or where and is it that unvaccinated people cannot get off in the Bahamas nor in Dominican Republic Carnival Mardi Gras‘s ship

Is the port conducting Covid-19 tests before you board? If they are how much is it?

That will depend on your cruise line, not the port. Some lines have a limited number of tests at the terminal. Contact who you are sailing for more.

I want to take a shared shuttle from Port Canaveral back to a Orlando. Is it necessary to prebook the shuttle or are there companies that allow walk on? I not in a hurry so would rather not commit to a 9:30 bus or 11ammif I’m processed very quickly.

You need to pre-book your ride. Not sure of any shuttle company that allows walk-ons.

Hi Tanner, do you think a United flight (in first class, which hopefully makes airport procedures a bit quicker) at 12:20pm is doable after a cruise on Carnival Mardi Gras next year (back in Port Canaveral on Jan 9)

Ooof. That’s a tough one. I’d think you’d be fine, but Orlando is our least favorite airport to fly out of. It ALWAYS seems to be backed up at security. It’s a major reason why we got TSA Precheck. If you have precheck, I’d say no problem. If you don’t, I’d say it is tight but doable if there are no delays.

Is there anyplace to store luggage if you get to the port early or in our case we have an entire day to explore the area between disembarking and going to the airport. We wont be renting a car.

Thanks very much Tanner. The distances aren’t a problem. My concern was that PC is like Port Everglades-dangerous to navigate on foot,but it sounds like there are walkways or paths to the Tower and Park.

There might be a few tight areas, but it’s a bit easier than Port Everglades in our opinion.

My NCL ship will be at Port Canaveral for a day in Feb. If I want to visit Jetty Park and the Exploration Tower and eat at the port-are all of these easily accessible on foot from my ship’s pier?

That’s a great question. If you are in shape and used to walking, then yes, it can be done but it’s a bit of a walk. The port complex is fairly large. It’s about 1.5 miles to the Exploration Tower and then another 1.5 miles to Jetty Park. So you’re looking at about six miles roundtrip.

Need info on excursions to Kennedy center

All the cruise lines will have an excursion to the KSC from Port Canaveral. They take place once your ship returns. On a recent trip Royal Caribbean had an offer for $120 that included an airport transfer to Orlando.

I want to travel up the East Coast of USA to NY Brooklyn. What cruises do you have? I live in Parrish , FL about 80 miles away

Mary, we aren’t the port or a cruise line. We’re an information website about cruising. Check with your travel agent, online cruise retailers, etc. Just FYI, it’s likely there are no cruises that go from Port Canaveral to New York. Most cruises depart and return to the same cruise port.

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Port Canaveral Cruises

Port Canaveral is on the Atlantic coast of central Florida, directly east of Orlando. Four cruise lines sail from the busy port. It is next to Cape Canaveral and the resort community of Cocoa Beach.

Our schedule of cruises from Port Canaveral in 2024 is complete for all ships. We include year-round trips to the Bahamas , Eastern Caribbean , Southern Caribbean , Western Caribbean and Bermuda .

The most popular cruises are short trips to the Bahamas, which are great for a quick getaway or can be combined with a trip to the theme parks in Orlando for a vacation. Check the complete list of 3-day cruises from Port Canaveral .

Port Canaveral is the Orlando Cruise Port

Port Canaveral serves as the Orlando cruise port . It is the closest port to Disney World and the other theme parks.

Families love Disney Cruises . The line offers 3- to 7-day cruises and a few longer special voyages. It has the features and activities that kids want, and carries on the tradition that started with the Big Red Boat .

Carnival Cruise Line offers affordable cruises to the Bahamas and the Caribbean from Port Canaveral. Make a quick getaway or take a week-long vacation cruise -- they all have a casual fun spirit.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line also offers short Bahamas cruises and longer Caribbean cruises from Cape Canaveral. Their big ships are loaded with amusements, attracting active young people and families.

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What to do before or after your cruise from port canaveral.

By Janet K. Keeler

The act of “blasting off” is certainly an apt way to describe the action of Florida’s Space Coast, home to the Kennedy Space Center .

But Port Canaveral Cruise Por t is also taking off. Last year, nearly 7 million cruisers boarded one of the 13 ships that set sail from Port Canaveral. A fourth terminal is being built to accommodate even more travelers.

Port Canaveral is the closest of Florida’s seven cruise ports to the Orlando theme parks, including Walt Disney World and Universal Studios. That means travelers can fly into Orlando International Airport , spend a couple days in the parks, then head over to Port Canaveral, about an hour away. In fact, Disney is banking on that and has theme-park-and-cruise packages with transportation included to shuttle vacationers to its ships homeported at Port Canaveral.

Besides the theme parks, there is a variety of things to do around Port Canaveral either before or after a cruise. A novelty for many visitors is riding bikes on the hard-packed sand of Brevard County. There are loads of places in Cocoa Beach to rent bicycles by the hour and hit the sand, among them Beach Bums , A1A Beach Rentals and Village Cycle Shoppe .

Many of the bike shops also have kayaks, paddleboards plus fishing and beach gear. And surfing? They hang 10 along the Space Coast and you might want to book a lesson which usually comes with board rental. The Cocoa Beach Surf School caters to families and kids. Sebastian Inlet State Park is the epicenter of Florida competitive surfing and finding a place to watch the surfers ride the waves is a cool thing-to-do near Port Canaveral Cruise Port if you’re not ready to go all cowabunga.

Port Canaveral is near lots of small cities that have their own flavor. You could head over to the historic downtown of Melbourne and browse the unique shops then stop into Meg O’Malley’s for some serious Irish grub. Drive south to Indialantic and visit the Sea Turtle Preservation Society . North of the cruise port is Titusville and Dixie Crossroads restaurant, a favorite local spot that serves shrimp, shrimp and more shrimp and other seafood landed at the docks just miles away.

If you don’t have a car and depending on where you are staying for your extended vacation, the Brevard bus and trolley system could get you where you want to go. Tickets cost about $1.50 per ride, less if you qualify for a reduced fare or buy a multi-ride pass.

Here are four more things to do before or after a cruise from Port Canaveral.

 - Merge Studios

The Space of the Space Coast

For more than 50 years, Brevard County has been the center of America’s space program and there’s no better place to experience the history than the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex . The visitors complex is every bit as much of a theme park as the ones in Orlando except there’s no roller coaster—yet. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t lots of thrills. The Rocket Garden gets you up close to some of the towering vessels that explored space, including the Mercury-Atlas which launched John Glenn’s historic mission to orbit the Earth in 1962. Like the brochure says, you really do feel like you’re walking among giants, literally and figuratively. Visitors have opportunities to meet astronauts in person. There is a shuttle simulation ride that punctuates both the excitement and danger of space travel, and astronaut training simulators , too. Don’t forget that the visitor center is part of the working space center. Look at the schedule in advance and you might be able to hear a bonafide countdown and watch a launch. You can also watch launches for free almost anywhere in the county. The beaches will be lined with folks and their binoculars.

 - Lauren Tjaden

The Natural World on Display

Just north of the cruise port is the Canaveral National Seashore , the longest stretch of undeveloped Atlantic coastline. With so much development all around, the national seashore offers a respite to the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The visitors center in New Smyrna Beach provides the history of the area and more information on things-to-do. There are 24 miles of beach and since this is Florida’s East Coast, the sunrise is a big draw. The park opens at 6 a.m. so you can get there in time for the daily sun show. The beach is also a nesting ground for protected marine turtles so you’ll need to tread lightly. Two-thirds of the park is Mosquito Lagoon , a favorite place for kayakers. Nearby is the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge , a favorite spot for birders—there are 350 species in the refuge—and photographers (keep that smartphone charged!). Even without a fancy camera you can capture photos of bald eagles and egrets. Merritt’s bird population swells from November to April as migratory birds take to the Atlantic Flyway.

 - Florida Travel

The Zoo the Locals Love

The Brevard Zoo in Melbourne holds a special place in the hearts of many people who grew up on the Space Coast. They remember birthday parties, summer camps and feeding the giraffes especially. Giving nibbles to the lorikeets might come in a close second. If you’ve got young children in tow, the zoo is a wonderful spot to entertain them for at least a half a day—just remember that the giraffes take a rest on Tuesday and Thursday mornings so if you have your heart set on feeding them, plan accordingly. There are 900 animals from all around the world at the zoo, and the adventurers among you might want to kayak past the giraffes, rhinos and lemurs. The gentle train trip—it’s just 10-minutes long— past the camels might be more your wee kids’ style.

 - The Wizard of Oz Museum

Oddly, the Wizard of Oz

No, you for sure aren’t in Kansas. The new Wizard of Oz Museum in Port Canaveral is just minutes south of the cruise port. Why Florida? Mostly, the operators say, because there are so many tourists in Central Florida either going to theme parks or sailing away on cruises and they figured if they build it, they will come. The museum houses historic displays and artifacts from the making of the movie, including Dorothy’s iconic blue pinafore . But what sets this museum apart is the immersive experiences. Through modern technology, mostly laser projectors, visitors feel like they're caught in that movie’s tornado, traveling through Munchkinland or even floating in the poppy field. But wait, there’s more. The museum also houses immersive experiences via the paintings of Vincent Van Gogh and a space experience using images from the James Webb telescope. Keep an eye out for the Wicked Witch everywhere. It’s open daily and tickets are $29 for adults and $15 for kids, immersive experiences included.

Places to Remember

Cape Canaveral

Cocoa Beach

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Port Canaveral Cruise Guide: What You Need to Know

With more than 4 million cruise passengers setting sail out of Port Canaveral, it’s a bustling port offering access to the Caribbean and beyond. It is the closest port to Orlando, about 45 minutes from Orlando International Airport and about 10 minutes from Interstate 95. 

If you’re planning a cruise from Port Canaveral on Florida’s Space Coast, it’s important to know about the port’s parking options, closest airports, and transportation options. Not to mention, the many hotels that offer Stay and Cruise Packages for those looking to arrive the day (or days) prior to their cruise departure. 

Plus, there are activities and restaurants near the port that you don’t want to miss. In this guide, we’ll take a look at all these important details to help ensure a smooth experience before and after your cruise.

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Port Canaveral Parking

Many Port Canaveral cruisers drive themselves there since the port is easily accessible. The port itself offers parking, and there are independent parking lots nearby. Plus, some hotels offer cruise parking. Regardless of which option you choose, we recommend you book a spot early.   

Official Port Canaveral Parking  

Parking onsite at Port Canaveral is available only directly adjacent to each of Port Canaveral’s cruise terminals. Once you park at your cruise terminal’s designated parking area, simply take a short walk to your ship; no need for shuttles. All parking facilities are convenient, secure, and patrolled 24 hours a day. Please note that no cash is accepted. For the latest daily rate, please click here .

Independent Parking Lots  

There are many independent parking lots surrounding the port that offer parking at discounted rates such as Port Parking Space and Park Port Canaveral , which is actually the closest offsite parking to Port Canaveral at just 1.5 miles away.

Hotels that Offer Cruise Parking  

Many hotels in the Port Canaveral area will offer complimentary parking for the length of your cruise as part of their Park, Stay and Cruise packages. This package typically includes a one-night, pre-cruise accommodation, parking for the duration of your cruise, and shuttle service to the port. Additional nights can be added if you want more time on Florida’s Space Coast.

There are many hotels throughout the area that offer these packages, but here are just a few:

• Radisson Resort at the Port
• TownePlace Suites
• SpringHill Suites
• Cocoa Beach Suites
• Four Points by Sheraton Cocoa Beach

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Hotels Close to Port Canaveral

Florida’s Space Coast has a variety of places to spend the night prior to your cruise vacation. There are many hotels in the Port Canaveral area that are less than one mile from the port. Cocoa Beach is another town about 5 miles south that offers beachfront stays with beautiful ocean views. 

If you plan to arrive early, it is recommended that you partake in a Stay and Cruise Package at one of the many hotels. Check out the packages and the hotels here .

Airports Close to Port Canaveral

Port Canaveral is located in Brevard County on Florida’s Space Coast. The closest major city is Orlando, which is about 45 miles directly west of the port. 

If you’re looking to fly in for your cruise vacation, you have a few options. 

• Melbourne Orlando International Airport (MLB) is located about 40 miles south of Port Canaveral. This airport has limited carriers which include Allegiant, American, Delta, Sun Country, & More
• Orlando International Airport (MCO) is located 45 miles west of the port. It is the state’s busiest airport with more than 19 million passengers a year, and as a result, there are more carriers and flight times available to choose from.
• Sanford Orlando International Airport (SFB) is 60 miles northwest of Port Canaveral. Similar to Melbourne, they have limited carriers which include Allegiant, Flair, Swoop, and Sun Country. 

There are many ways to get to Port Canaveral from all airports listed above, including shuttles, rideshare services, and taxis. Shuttle services like Cocoa Beach Express cost approximately $50 round trip per passenger. Ridesharing services like Uber will cost $60 to $90+ one way, depending on the option you choose. Taxis will run you about $120 one way.

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Restaurants Close to Port Canaveral

The Cove at Port Canaveral is the area’s entertainment and dining district. Here you can meet the locals as you sit waterside, enjoy great eats and see boats (or even cruise ships) pass by.

• Grill’s Seafood Deck : Grill’s has a unique island atmosphere with live entertainment. Enjoy a great meal or grab a drink and relax while watching the fishing boats come in and hang their catch. It’s a casual restaurant that serves seafood dishes, sandwiches, and salads. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
• Fishlips Waterfront Bar & Grill : This casual waterfront dining restaurant has a downstairs plus a covered patio, indoor sports bar, and sun deck with a Tiki bar upstairs. From hot burgers and cold beer to fresh fish and fine wine – Fishlips Waterfront Bar & Grill in Port Canaveral has something for everyone. Open for lunch and dinner.
• Rusty’s Seafood & Oyster Bar : Dive into raw or steamed oysters, peel-and-eat shrimp, seared ahi tuna, buffalo wings, and snow crab legs all with a great view of the port. The environment is casual and relaxing. Open for lunch and dinner.
• Seafood Atlantic : Here you can enjoy the freshest local seafood possible without owning a boat! Whether you have a Local Fish Sandwich or a Bucket of Clams, you will experience the best fresh local Florida seafood. Open for lunch and dinner. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
• Rising Tide Tap & Table : Overlooking the Exploration Tower, this restaurant offers 60 craft beers on draft and specializes in Street Tacos, Stone Baked Pizzas, Smash Iron Burgers, and Handcrafted Cocktails. Enjoy fabulous sunsets and live music on the weekends on the lakefront deck.

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Things to Do Near the Cruise Terminal

No matter what your interests may be, the Port Canaveral area has something for everyone. From beaches and out-of-this-world experiences to nature and arts & culture, an unforgettable time awaits you. 

• Rocket Launch : In 2022, there were 57 rocket launches that took place, and in 2023, there are 80+ rockets projected to launch from here. Planning a trip here likely means you may be able to time it around a launch, but if you can’t make a launch, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is just 20 minutes away. Here you’ll be inspired to dive into the past, present, and future of space travel.
• Cocoa Beach Aerial Adventures & Zip Lines : Located just a few miles south of Port Canaveral, this park offers seven different trails separated by three levels of difficulty to choose from. All ages, strengths, and adventure levels will enjoy this opportunity to challenge your fears while enjoying the Florida sunshine.
• Museum of Dinosaurs & Ancient Cultures : This indoor museum in Cocoa Beach showcases hundreds of artifacts and fossils from around the world. Explore authentic artifacts from Egypt, China, Mesoamerica, and Tribal Africa.
• Cocoa Beach Surf Company : Before you set sail, stop by the world’s largest surf complex and get all your beach essentials. Offering over 1,500 surfboards, one-of-a-kind clothes, beach rentals, and more, Cocoa Beach Surf Company also features the Shark Pit Bar & Grill with its 5,600-gallon Shark & Exotic Fish Tank and an all-new Starbucks.
• Historic Cocoa Village : Visitors love Historic Cocoa Village which is home to incredible restaurants such as Ossorio , Thai Thai, and Villa Palma . Plus, boutique art galleries like Carolyn Seiler Studio and shops with one-of-a-kind clothing and souvenirs.

Ultimately, Port Canaveral offers a great experience for cruisers. There is a range of convenient parking options, a wealth of activities to enjoy before you set sail, and comfortable pre-cruise accommodations via Stay and Cruise packages.

Need help arranging your pre-cruise stay? Our team of reservations agents is available to assist you.

CALL US TODAY!  321.783.8655

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Travel | Port Canaveral chalks up record month amid…

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Subscriber only, travel | port canaveral chalks up record month amid growing cruise demand.

Port Canaveral saw just under 800,000 cruise passengers move on and off its ships in March as part of a record year that keeps topping expectations.

That set a one-month record for the port with an average of nearly 25,600 people a day around 93 cruise ship calls. March is traditionally one of the strongest months of the year for the port with its spring break traffic.

It also marked the halfway point of the fiscal year that began in October 2023. Six months in, the port has seen 3.9 million passenger movements from 479 ship calls.

“The industry itself is very, very strong right now,” said Port CEO Capt. John Murray at the port commission meeting on Wednesday. “There’s a lot of expansion plans. The companies are starting to reorder ships again after the pandemic.”

NCL details new dining on Canaveral-bound Norwegian Aqua

That includes more ships from Norwegian Cruise Line, which has been sending its new vessels to Port Canaveral as they debut including next year’s Norwegian Aqua.

“So a lot of great things, a lot of great things, a lot of enthusiasm and I can say that the industry is 110% of what it was prior to the pandemic,” Murray said. “They are back and booming right now. So we’re fortunate to be taking advantage of that here at the port.”

Operating revenue for the year is already at $98 million, which is $3.6 million above budget. It also means the record projection of $187 million in operating revenue through the end of the fiscal year in September is likely to get surpassed as well.

Ship capacity is determined to be at 100% if each stateroom is occupied by two passengers, so ships sailing with families, for instance, will push capacity above 100% and in turn increase revenue for the port from the cruise lines as well as add to an uptick in parking charges.

Royal Caribbean to send massive Utopia of the Seas to Port Canaveral

One of the big drivers has been the addition of a second Oasis-class vessel by Royal Caribbean so that the port hosts two of the largest cruise ships in the world.

Allure of the Seas joined Wonder of the Seas last fall to begin short three- and four-night sailings to the Bahamas, and will continue that until the debut of Royal’s new Utopia of the Seas this summer. Since arriving, it has added more than 650,000 passenger movements to the port’s growing tally.

The port has been home port to 13 ships from Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian and MSC Cruises, and is set to welcome its first ships from both Princess Cruises and Celebrity Cruises this fall.

Port Canaveral plots timeline to take over marina for new cruise terminal

Right now it has six cruise terminals, but is beginning the work to eventually build a seventh later this decade. During an interview earlier in April at the Seatrade Cruise Global conference in Miami Beach, Murray said the key to growth for the port will be a shift in how the port gives access to each terminal, such as how it plans to operate its seventh terminal.

“It’s going to be multiuser. It’s not going to be a single-use facility. That’s going to be how our concept of operations would be going forward,” Murray said. “The only way you’re going to get good utilization of a terminal is if you can put multiple brands in there and not have it dedicated to just one user.”

That’s how it runs several of its terminals now including Disney Cruise Line at Cruise Terminal 8 and Carnival Cruise Line at its newest terminal, Cruise Terminal 3.

“If they’ve got seven days a week at one terminal and they’re only using three, maybe four days, that’s not high utilization,” Murray said. “Yet, it’s a facility that we’ve got blocked out that we’re not getting any benefit from it for the investment we’ve made.”

He notes Cruise Terminal 10, which gets used by three brands, gets used six days a week.

Murray said with newer and bigger ships on order from all the major lines, the demand is just going to continue to spike for parking space at Florida’s big three ports.

“I think the point now for all of the major brands is finding somewhere to operate,” Murray said. “Because there’s only Miami, [and] we all know how full Miami is; Everglades, [which has] limited capacity or opportunity for growth; and we have more land, but you know, it’s not all going to get committed to the cruise industry.”

“So the question is, how do we allow more opportunities for the cruise lines to operate? This is one — get high utilization out of the terminal.”

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Port canaveral breaks record for most cruise passengers in a month, nearly 800,000 guests cruised in march.

James Sparvero , Reporter

PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. – More people are sailing out of Central Florida’s cruise port than ever before.

After reporting 734,000 passengers in December , the port this week again announced record-breaking numbers for March at nearly 800,000 guests.

At that record pace, the port said it could outpace last year’s record numbers by a half-million by the end of this fiscal year in October.

The 16 months between 2020 and 2021 when no passengers departed because of the COVID-19 shutdown are distant memories now.

Capt. Murray said the industry now has a lot of plans for expansion, and new ships are being ordered again.

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“The industry is 110% of what it was prior to the pandemic,” the port’s CEO said. “We’re fortunate to be taking advantage of that here at the port.”

It’s fortunate if you ask port commissioners, but not everyone else is so excited.

Another opinion about the port’s growth can be found in the marina district.

In February, News 6 reporter James Sparvero interviewed fisherman Jamie Glasner after learning the port won’t renew the Cape Marina’s lease to build another cruise terminal.

In a few years, the new terminal could open around the same time the Brevard Zoo’s aquarium at the port is built.

“We’re concerned with having another cruise terminal and then the aquarium going in across the street - the congestion of the traffic over here on the south side of the port, and what it’s going to do to the already existing businesses,” Glasner said. “We just want to make sure that we still have a place that we can come to work.”

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About the Author

James sparvero.

James joined News 6 in March 2016 as the Brevard County Reporter. His arrival was the realization of a three-year effort to return to the state where his career began. James is from Pittsburgh, PA and graduated from Penn State in 2009 with a degree in Broadcast Journalism.

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Carnival freedom returns to cruising within 2 weeks of funnel fire, ‘canoe’ unearthed by hurricane irma might not date back hundreds of years as initially believed, port canaveral won’t renew marina’s lease in plans to build next cruise terminal.

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Canaveral Port Authority Opens Applications for Junior Ambassador Program

• April 27, 2024

The Canaveral Port Authority Board of Commissioners is again inviting Brevard County high school students to apply to become young ambassadors for Port Canaveral.

Applications are open for the 2024-25 school year closing on June 30, 2024.

  The Port’s Junior Port Ambassador Program offers local students an opportunity to see how a seaport works and explore career options in the maritime industry. To be eligible for the program, the student applicant must be a junior in the 2024-25 school year and attending a public school, private school or homeschooling program in Brevard County.

Chairman of the Canaveral Port Authority Micah Loyd said: “This program introduces local students to the diverse range of jobs and career paths within the maritime industry. All Commissioners are looking forward to working closely with the upcoming group of Junior Ambassadors this fall.”

All Canaveral Port Authority Commissioners will participate in this year’s program, which starts later this summer, after the start of the school year.

Launched in 2019, the Junior Ambassador Program introduces students to the port’s partners representing the cruise, cargo, recreation, hospitality, military and environmental sectors.

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Carnival cancels 2 planned cruises from Port Canaveral after ship catches fire

Passengers on a Carnival cruise ship that caught fire over the weekend disembarked at Port Canaveral on Monday.

▶ WATCH CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS

Videos sent to Ch. 9 show dark smoke and flames coming from the Carnival Freedom’s exhaust funnel on Saturday.

Carnival says lightning may be to blame.

In response to this fire, the next two cruises on the ship have been canceled.

Read: 2 crew members killed on Holland America cruise ship during incident onboard

The ship was scheduled to depart from Port Canaveral on Monday, and then again on Friday.

The fire was reported while the ship was near the Bahamas.

Passengers reported seeing lightning strike the boat, but the investigation is still underway.

Read: New cruise line coming to Port Canaveral this year

Carnival Cruise Lines released the following statement:

Carnival Freedom experienced a fire in the port side of the exhaust funnel on Saturday. Our onboard team acted quickly to contain and put out the fire. While we continue to investigate multiple eyewitness reports of a lightning strike, our technical team completed a thorough assessment during the ship’s visit to Freeport today. Regrettably, the damage is more than we first thought and will require an immediate repair to stabilize the funnel, resulting in the cancellation of the March 25 and March 29 cruises from Port Canaveral.

The funnel has been stabilized for the ship’s return to Port Canaveral overnight to disembark guests, and then it will go to the Freeport shipyard on Monday afternoon to begin the required repairs.

We sincerely regret the impact to our embarking guests, as we know they have been looking forward to their spring break vacation. We are providing all guests on both cancelled cruises a full refund and a 100% future cruise credit so they can come back and enjoy a future cruise with us. We also greatly appreciate the terrific guests who are currently sailing with us, for their outstanding cooperation and support.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

Port & Cruise Facts

Our cruise partners at royal caribbean cruise line teamed up with the wall street journal to produce this fascinating video on how we dock the world's largest cruise ship, the wonder of the seas, at port canaveral., watch the video below:, port canaveral voted best u.s. cruise homeport for the third consecutive year in a row from cruisehive's annual cruise ship awards.

The Cruise Hive Cruise Ship Awards are an annual event recognizing the best in the industry, as voted on by Cruise Hive readers. One of the most closely contested categories is Best Homeport, which recognizes the top ports that serve as the starting point for cruise vacations. 

This year, Port Canaveral came out on top, earning 24% of the votes and taking the first-place spot. It is the third year in a row that Port Canaveral has taken the top spot, followed closely by Miami and Fort Lauderdale.  “We’re thrilled to have earned this valued distinction three years in a row,” stated Capt. John Murray, Port Canaveral CEO. “What an honor for us and our cruise partners to be so well recognized for providing a high quality guest experience. It’s tremendous gratitude of our efforts from the millions of cruise guests sailing from Port Canaveral year after year.”

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2023 port map - cruise.

Cruise Terminal Locations 

   (north side) - exit 54a,   (south side) - exit 54b.

• ​ ​  Cruise Terminal #1 - 9050 Discovery Rd. • ​ ​  Cruise Terminal #2 - 180 Christopher Columbus Dr. • ​ ​  Cruise Terminal #3 - 220 Christopher Columbus Dr.  

2024 Port Canaveral Cruise Fast Facts

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It’s Time to Come to Port Canaveral

Today, Port Canaveral is ranked as the world’s busiest cruise port in multi-day embarkations. We’ve been in the top for years, but this isn’t yesterday’s Port Canaveral and now we’re aiming to stay at the top. Tomorrow’s Port Canaveral – a product of vision, tremendous effort and many man-hours – already is an in-demand port-of-call, a popular vacation destination in its own. We invite you to be front and center and join us as we welcome the world to cruising’s future and to its number one port of innovation.. Bring us your best; you’ll find we’re ready to provide the perfect home. 

The right facility, the right ship, the right match.

Sustainable Growth

Today, we have a homeported fleet that typically sails above 100 percent capacity, both because our predominantly family market typically results in more passengers per stateroom and because we know how to respond to our market’s needs and wants with:

On Track for World Leadership

A Proven Market - Port Canaveral/Orlando

Carnival Cruise Line sets its sights on new Bahamas port of call

Carnival to open grand bahama celebration key in summer of 2025.

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Carnival Cruise Line has released another round of updates on what travelers can expect when its new private destination Grand Bahama Celebration Key opens.

Debuting in summer 2025, the port of call will welcome ships from Florida ports Port Canaveral, PortMiami, Tampa and Jacksonville, as well as six other U.S. ports.

The 369-acre site less than 20 miles east of Freeport will be the first dedicated to Carnival Cruise Line, although Carnival ships have used sister line destinations Princess Cays and Half Moon Cay for years.

The largest port construction project in the line’s history will be carved into five segments the company calls portals. Carnival released details about the third one tied to retail, an artisan village called Lokono Cove. (“Lokono” means “the people” in the native Lucayan language.)

The name was the winning selection from Grand Bahamas resident Deidre Rahming, who was on hand in Miami Beach with an entourage from the Bahamian government on Tuesday at the Seatrade Cruise Global conference.

She received a check for $5,000 from Carnival and a future day pass for the resort, which won’t normally be open to visitors from the island. The line says at least 300 jobs will be generated for locals serving the cruise guests.

Lokono Cove will have kiosks and stores alongside “an authentic Bahamian artisan market” showcasing local craftsmanship, according to Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy. Beyond the items for sale, the space will have music and murals to enhance the space, and local food.

“Lokono Cove will be a treasure trove — a place for our guests to immerse themselves in the spirit of the Bahamas and find locally inspired keepsakes, symbols of paradise they can share with loved ones or cherish for themselves for years to come,” Duffy said. “Honoring the beauty and culture of the Bahamas is integral to our plans for Celebration Key, and that will be on display throughout Lokono Cove.”

The space also will be the gateway for visitors to explore Grand Bahama.

It’s the third name drop by Carnival following the reveal of welcome area Paradise Plaza and adult-friendly area Calypso Lagoon. The final two space names and details, which will be a family-friendly area and an adults-only private area, will be revealed later.

The site will also have a south-facing, mile-long beachfront expanse and a massive freshwater inland lagoon that the line says is the largest in the Bahamas and Caribbean.

Paradise Plaza features a rainbow-colored walkway through a sunshine entranceway with a 10-story “Suncastle” as a centerpiece. The welcome area is the place to book the day’s activities, including cabanas, water sports and shore excursions. The area will also feature a Bahamian-themed fountain and ice cream shop.

Calypso Cove is the name of an adult-friendly area coming to Carnival’s Celebration Key on Grand Bahama island when it opens in summer 2026.

Calypso Lagoon, just to the west, is home to the sport court, the freshwater lagoon and lounging options galore. It’s home to a bar with 50 swings that let visitors dip their feet into the water, and just one of many bars serving the space and two full-service restaurants and other casual snack shacks. The adults-only area of the portal will feature a swim-up bar with a DJ, food trucks and more lounging options.

Future expansion will build beyond the five portals, including the construction of a water park.

The port of call will open with one dock capable of handling Carnival’s largest ships, the 6,000-passenger Excel class.

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Cruising the Moskva River: A short guide to boat trips in Russia’s capital

There’s hardly a better way to absorb Moscow’s atmosphere than on a ship sailing up and down the Moskva River. While complicated ticketing, loud music and chilling winds might dampen the anticipated fun, this checklist will help you to enjoy the scenic views and not fall into common tourist traps.

How to find the right boat?

There are plenty of boats and selecting the right one might be challenging. The size of the boat should be your main criteria.

Plenty of small boats cruise the Moskva River, and the most vivid one is this yellow Lay’s-branded boat. Everyone who has ever visited Moscow probably has seen it.

This option might leave a passenger disembarking partially deaf as the merciless Russian pop music blasts onboard. A free spirit, however, will find partying on such a vessel to be an unforgettable and authentic experience that’s almost a metaphor for life in modern Russia: too loud, and sometimes too welcoming. Tickets start at $13 (800 rubles) per person.

Bigger boats offer smoother sailing and tend to attract foreign visitors because of their distinct Soviet aura. Indeed, many of the older vessels must have seen better days. They are still afloat, however, and getting aboard is a unique ‘cultural’ experience. Sometimes the crew might offer lunch or dinner to passengers, but this option must be purchased with the ticket. Here is one such  option  offering dinner for $24 (1,490 rubles).

If you want to travel in style, consider Flotilla Radisson. These large, modern vessels are quite posh, with a cozy restaurant and an attentive crew at your service. Even though the selection of wines and food is modest, these vessels are still much better than other boats.

Surprisingly, the luxurious boats are priced rather modestly, and a single ticket goes for $17-$32 (1,100-2,000 rubles); also expect a reasonable restaurant bill on top.

How to buy tickets?

Women holding photos of ships promise huge discounts to “the young and beautiful,” and give personal invitations for river tours. They sound and look nice, but there’s a small catch: their ticket prices are usually more than those purchased online.

“We bought tickets from street hawkers for 900 rubles each, only to later discover that the other passengers bought their tickets twice as cheap!”  wrote  (in Russian) a disappointed Rostislav on a travel company website.

Nevertheless, buying from street hawkers has one considerable advantage: they personally escort you to the vessel so that you don’t waste time looking for the boat on your own.

Prices start at $13 (800 rubles) for one ride, and for an additional $6.5 (400 rubles) you can purchase an unlimited number of tours on the same boat on any given day.

Flotilla Radisson has official ticket offices at Gorky Park and Hotel Ukraine, but they’re often sold out.

Buying online is an option that might save some cash. Websites such as  this   offer considerable discounts for tickets sold online. On a busy Friday night an online purchase might be the only chance to get a ticket on a Flotilla Radisson boat.

This  website  (in Russian) offers multiple options for short river cruises in and around the city center, including offbeat options such as ‘disco cruises’ and ‘children cruises.’ This other  website  sells tickets online, but doesn’t have an English version. The interface is intuitive, however.

Buying tickets online has its bad points, however. The most common is confusing which pier you should go to and missing your river tour.

“I once bought tickets online to save with the discount that the website offered,” said Igor Shvarkin from Moscow. “The pier was initially marked as ‘Park Kultury,’ but when I arrived it wasn’t easy to find my boat because there were too many there. My guests had to walk a considerable distance before I finally found the vessel that accepted my tickets purchased online,” said the man.

There are two main boarding piers in the city center:  Hotel Ukraine  and  Park Kultury . Always take note of your particular berth when buying tickets online.

Where to sit onboard?

Even on a warm day, the headwind might be chilly for passengers on deck. Make sure you have warm clothes, or that the crew has blankets ready upon request.

The glass-encased hold makes the tour much more comfortable, but not at the expense of having an enjoyable experience.

Getting off the boat requires preparation as well. Ideally, you should be able to disembark on any pier along the way. In reality, passengers never know where the boat’s captain will make the next stop. Street hawkers often tell passengers in advance where they’ll be able to disembark. If you buy tickets online then you’ll have to research it yourself.

There’s a chance that the captain won’t make any stops at all and will take you back to where the tour began, which is the case with Flotilla Radisson. The safest option is to automatically expect that you’ll return to the pier where you started.

If using any of Russia Beyond's content, partly or in full, always provide an active hyperlink to the original material.

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