Port Canaveral to Orlando Airport

[jll2800]

Hi everyone! My husband and I are just booking a kind of last minute cruise for May, a 4 day Bahamas cruise with RCI. This is only our second cruise ever, and the first with our son who'll be 3.5 at the time we sail. I had a couple questions about getting from the port to the airport, and searching the forums hasn't yielded quite the right advice!

On the way there, we're going to come 2 days early and visit some family in Orlando, so we'll be renting a car. We plan to drop the car off before we get on the ship though.

On the way back, we will need to get back to the airport, which is where my question come in.

We have the chance to book a 12pm non stop flight. (Need to fly Southwest for various reasons, and I really want nonstop so we don't have to deal with connections with a kid in tow.) This is preferable as it will get us back in the afternoon. I'm worried we'll be cutting it a little close though. The ship docks on a Friday morning, so I assume there will be some rush hour traffic. The other option would be a flight that leaves at 4pm, but that means we have long day to kill and by the time we finally make it home we'll be late for bedtime (leading to a very tired kid). I know the cruise line recommends flights later than 11:30am, but as anyone with small children knows things tend to just take longer. Those of you with experience making this transfer, what would your advice be?

Also, anyone have any thoughts about the best transportation method given our specific situation? Is a shuttle easier since it's just that one trip? Or would renting a car again be smarter?

Thanks for the advice! These boards are SO incredibly helpful. I've learned so much already!

[okgirl]

When I cruise out of Port Canaveral we fly in a day early rent a car from Budget and a hotel out near the pier, then rent the car again to drive back to the airport after the cruise. Budget shuttles us to and from the port.

It's about a 45 minute drive from the airport to the port.

I don't know what RCCLs early debarkation methods are but on Carnival the ship is usually back at the dock by 6:30ish and self assist debarkation begins around 7:15ish........so a noon flight is very doable.

[JanineM]

Royal Caribbean suggests flights no earlier than noon, so you should be fine with your return flight. There's rarely a great deal of traffic on 528, unless there are brush fires - and even then it shouldn't take you more than 1.5 hours to travel the 45 miles or so. And Orlando is such an easy airport to get through.

You can either rent a car for the return, or take a shuttle.

Please check out the Florida Departures Board - they will have a ton of information on recommended transportation.

[Capt_BJ]

97 times out of 100 you'll be fine

The drive is easy & there is no traffic or 'rush hour' betwen the port and the airport so no delays UNLESS there is an accident. That's the risk factor. For all practicle purposes there is only 1 road 'tween the port and Orlando airport and a decent accident can shut that road down for hours. It is not a daily event but not all that unusual either. The alternate routes can add an hour to the trip IF you know where you are going, more if you don't, and if you are ON 528 when it happens there's usually no place to get off. Not intended to scare you - just a word of warning. (I live here and make this drive regularly)

Getting the rental car at the end could become an issue - there's gonna be a number of people like you rushing to do the same thing. If you are not first in line . . . I'd either book an outside shuttle or bite the bullet for the ship's transfer ($$$). Better yet - any chance that Orlando relative could pick you up and take you to the airport????? (see florida board for local shuttle recommendations - WAY less $$ then the RCI cost)

[suezyq50]

I agree, you shouldn't have any problem with that flight time. I would book a private shuttle, just for ease of mind. We have done that before and really not much more than booking a group shuttle. With the shuttle, no fretting or time involved in getting a rental and returning it.

[Keith1010]

For more information be sure to post this on the Florida Departures Board.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=495

Keith