Our first port is Port Canaveral - What to do?

We will cruise out of Baltimore MD and our first stop is Port Canaveral.

This is our first time on this Itinerary (Freeport and Nassau next)

We have done eastern and western Caribbean and are familiar with just getting off the boat and finding local tour operators for a fraction of the cost of booking onboard. ALso allowing us to decide what we want to do without too much planning, and getting up when we want. This is vacation after all ;)

Can we find things to do at Port Canaveral (or the others in the Bahamas if you are familiar) on the fly?

Or does the port area have activities in walking/cab distance?

Thanks

Nothing much within walking distance.

Kennedy Space Center is a popular attraction.

PC is a port that requires some pre-planning to fully enjoy/experience.

You need to do some homework and figure out what you want to do - Orlando and them parks? Kennedy Space Center? Beach? Swamp/gator tour? :confused:

There is really nothing at Port Canaveral. So we rent a car. You can get off the ship and hop on ta shuttle that takes you to the car rental agency that you pre booked with. We cruise with another couple, so in total it was like $45. We drove around and shopped a bit. we are doing the same thing at the end of April......

Nassau, the shopping street is walking distance from the Port. If you want to go to Atlantis, then it is a cab fare.

Freeport, unfortunately you are not in freeport very long, but there is a little shopping at the Port, or you can take the shuttlle to the shopping/casino area. it isnt too expensive. In freeport, we just stay at the Port and wander around, ending up at Senior frogs...lol

We will cruise out of Baltimore MD and our first stop is Port Canaveral.

 

This is our first time on this Itinerary (Freeport and Nassau next)

 

We have done eastern and western Caribbean and are familiar with just getting off the boat and finding local tour operators for a fraction of the cost of booking onboard. ALso allowing us to decide what we want to do without too much planning, and getting up when we want. This is vacation after all ;)

 

Can we find things to do at Port Canaveral (or the others in the Bahamas if you are familiar) on the fly?

 

Or does the port area have activities in walking/cab distance?

 

Thanks

We think there is a lot to do near the Port - even Disneyworld and other theme parks are just an easy hour away by road!

Please look at this map of Port Canaveral, Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach for orientation:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zH-7o_mJABR0.kguiZnGCjDj0

Step 1:

What is your cruise terminal? If 5, 6, or 10 then you need transport. Either a rental car shuttle or a pre-arranged ride. Cocoa Beach Shuttle is a good starting point for pre-arranged pickups. 888-taxi is available and despite some bad press about prices they are popular and efficient.

If 1, 3 or 4 then you have some activities within walking distance:

1. Jetty Park (FREE) for a beach/suntan. Very scenic area and very nice beach. http://www.jettyparkbeachandcampground.com/

2. Beach bus stop – For $1.25 one-way, the local beach bus will take you to Cocoa Beach (Shepard Park for Ron Jon area) or within walking distance of the famous Cocoa Beach Pier (use Publix Stop). About 30 minutes to these stops. http://www.ridescat.com/

3. The Cove at the Port – All the famous restaurants (Millikens, Rusty’s, Fishlips, Grills) http://visitportcanaveral.com/

4. The Exploration Tower – A bit expensive ($6.50+tax) but interesting info about the port with games for kids and 360 degree view from the 7th floor. http://www.explorationtower.com/

5. Helicopter and biplane rides - http://www.floridaairtours.com/ the chopper is right there behind terminal 2.

Step 2:

So you want to explore further afield in private and not using a shore excursion?

Rental Cars:

Unless you just want a simple single visit somewhere in Cape Canaveral or Cocoa Beach, I think the best option is to rent a car for the day. Start price-shopping with Payless (within walking distance of terminals 3 & 4) but all offer port shuttles. To avoid boring waiting time with kids in tow, I suggest that one adult go early to get the car then come back to pick the family!

Please know some of the popular rental car companies share shuttles and offices. See the map above for locations and pictures of their shuttles for easier identification.

I am working on an 8-hour itinerary around the area for self-drive cruisers! Stay tuned…

Shuttles:

If you do not want to drive or use the public beach bus, then shuttle/taxi services are available. 888-taxi - http://cab888.com/ has a port contract with hail privileges whereas others have to pay port entry fees ($5 or more depending on vehicle size, I believe) which add to the costs. So while other companies may offer cheaper per mile or metered rates, it is best to compare them with 888-taxi before booking. They will all be busy so it is best if you call ahead.

Here is a list of the shuttles I see most often in the area: Cocoa Beach Shuttle - http://www.cbshuttle.com, Beach Line - http://www.beachlineshuttle.net, Space Port - http://spaceporttransport.com/ , Hoo Ha taxi – (321) 749 3232, etc.

Expect to pay around $20 for two people for a one-way trip to Ron Jon Surf shop for example.

Kennedy Space Center:

One of the most popular shore excursions. I always see a line of KSC buses waiting on each ship! So you can expect a crowded day at KSC. There are ways to manage your day in order to avoid lines at the top attractions – I am planning to write it up in a separate note.

A private return shuttle to Kennedy Space Center averages between $80 and $120 roundtrip for 2 people (total) plus 20% tip. If you self-drive, the parking costs are $10.

Beach:

During winter months and if Port Canaveral is the first stop when sailing from NY for example, the beach is what a lot of people want! I totally understand and highly recommend to walk over to Jetty Park. The beach there is wide with some wave action and life guards are on duty. You can rent chairs and umbrellas and some beach toys (beach chair/umbrella rentals for 2 people are about $15 a day). The beach café is pretty good too! http://www.jettyparkbeachandcampground.com/

If you want to go to the beach near restaurants/bars, try the Cocoa Beach Pier area - http://www.cocoabeachpier.com/ or further down near Coconuts on the Beach. Cruise ship shore excursions go to Shepard beach (near Ron Jon) so do not go there if you want to avoid your fellow passengers!

The SCAT public transport is cheap and easy (30 minutes) down to the Pier and Ron Jon areas. There are several areas (and companies) for learning how to surf, paddleboard, etc. I know the kids love the surfing lessons so please consider that but do be aware the water is cold in winter and I recommend you use a surf school that supply wetsuits.

Activities (Orlando area):

I understand the attraction but it is tough for me to recommend a whirlwind bus or private tour of any of the Orlando theme parks. It is almost impossible to experience the parks in a long day, so a half-day trip is pretty intense! Ride lines will be long, it may be very hot, the transfers take at least an hour each way and it is very expensive for what you can achieve on such a rushed excursion.

It may be best to rent a car and visit just Downtown Disney (a free Disney-like experience but be aware it is mostly restaurants and shops) and perhaps a lesser-known place like Gatorland. I will think more about this and perhaps write a separate note about Orlando options.

Activities (other than Orlando and Kennedy Space Center):

The best activities around Port Canaveral are beach or nature-based but there are very good museums too. Manatees, gators, airboats, learn to surf, kayak, hike, etc. are on offer. Airboats are a lot of noisy fun!

Pre-arrangements/bookings are crucial.

Disclaimer - I do not endorse any of the companies/establishments listed and I have no relationship (personal or business) with them. My list is just a starting point of different activities so please do your own research! However, we’ve had have positive experiences with many of the listings below and are constantly trying new ones!

a) Sunward Tours - http://www.sunwardtours.com They can arrange just about any activity

b) FunDay Tours - https://www.facebook.com/funday.tours Work primarily with pre-formed groups such as shore trips but check them out anyway

c) Segway Tours - http://spacecoastsegwaytours.com/ will guide you around the port

d) Airboat rides – There are several but most shore excursions go to Midway - http://www.airboatridesatmidway.com/ or Lone Cabbage - http://www.twisterairboatrides.com/ . To get away from the crowds, try Grasshopper - http://www.airboatecotours.com/ , Old Fashioned Airboat Rides - http://airboatrides.com or Switchgrass - http://switchgrassoutfitters.com

e) Kayaking to see manatees and wildlife - Adventure Kayak - http://kayakcocoabeach.com/, Fin Expeditions - http://www.finexpeditions.com for Cocoa Beach’s Thousand Islands. Also Calypso - http://calypsokayaking.com at Manatee Cove not far from Kennedy Space Center. Note – from November to March the Manatees prefer warmer water in other areas and may not be seen regularly around Canaveral.

f) Learn to Surf. Cocoa Beach Surf Company - http://cocoabeachsurf.com/surf_lessons_camp.html or Ron Jon http://www.ronjonsurfschool.com are solid representatives of the surf school companies

g) Air Force Space and Missile History Center – http://www.afspacemuseum.org/historycenter/ The history of the launch areas around Canaveral. Very informative.

h) Warbird Museum – http://www.vacwarbirds.net/ If you love aviation then this is the place to go. Lovingly maintained by volunteers (mostly ex-armed forces). It is an amazing museum.

i) Police Hall of Fame – http://www.aphf.org/museum.html More interesting than most expect. Various exhibits of the history of major crime as well as impressive though very sad memorial.

j) Astronaut Hall of Fame - https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/the-experience/us-astronaut-hall-of-fame.aspx is part of the Kennedy Space Center experience but in a different location.

k) Brevard Zoo and Treetop Trek - https://brevardzoo.org/

l) Shopping - Dinosaur Store and Museum - http://dinosaurstore.com/ and Ron Jon Surf Shop - http://www.ronjonsurfshop.com/ Fun for kids old and young!

m) Wildlife Parks - Jungle Adventures – http://www.jungleadventures.com - An old-time Florida animal park. Not fancy but friendly and interesting. Larger than Expected. Shore excursions often combine the Jungle and a Midway Airboat ride in the same package.

n) Boat rides on the Banana River to see wildlife including manatees (not many around during Nov and Apr). Start with Island Boat Lines - http://www.islandboatlines.com/ and also Wild Side Tours http://wildsidetours.com/

o) Forever Florida - http://foreverflorida.com a really adventurous safari with swamp buggy rides, ziplines, etc! A bit far unless you have car.

p) Cocoa Beach Skatepark - http://cocoabeachskatepark.com/ Certainly unusual for cruisers but a seriously fun and safe skatepark for the cool kids in your family if they packed skate boards! Open at 4pm during school days so plan accordingly so they can skate for 2 hours or so before returning to your ship.

q) Brewery – Florida Beer Company - https://www.facebook.com/FloridaBeerCompany a very good tour and tasting arrangement! Close to the Port.

r) Sightseeing – Some cruisers prefer more leisurely excursions and most ships offer affordable hourly hop-on, hop-off bus trips to Cocoa Beach and Cocoa Village. Passengers can explore the areas on foot and return to the ship when they want. The beach buses stop between Ron Jon Surf Shop and Shepard Park in Cocoa Beach (for a typical East Coast Florida beach and surf experience). From there they offer constant bus shuttles to the north end of Riverfront Park in Cocoa Village (for a historic downtown experience). You can easily do the same in private using a rental car or taxis/shuttles (watch the costs though). SCAT buses (Route 9 and the 520 connector) will be cheapest but will take much longer.

This is a work in progress – being updated daily as we discover and try new adventures!

Awsome information. I agree. We love Cocoa Beach area, but you have to either get on an excursion, or find transportation to get to anything......

We did an airboat/gator tour thru the ship, but it was only 4 hours. Once we got back to the port, we grabbed the bus that does continuous trips to and from Cocoa Beach and went to Ron Jons Surf Shop and walked around the beach. I can't remember for sure, but I think the bus ticket was about $3 round trip for adults and free for my girls (8 & 10 at the time) and it dropped off right by Ron Jons. We picked the bus back up right by the beach. You will see a lot of cruise ship employees on the bus as well. The driver told everyone as they were getting off what time the last bus would be.

No, not my favorite port, but we did find things to pass the time for not a whole lot of money.

great info, thanks.

Thankful for good info

We stopped in Port Canaveral as the last port before Miami on our fall TA on the Eclipse. We had been in Bermuda the last stop so everyone had to go through immigration again. We had many Europeans/Brits on our ship because we left from Southampton. Immigration was super long because the attack in Paris had taken place a day or two before and security was very tight. Our ship excursion was one of the last off, which didn't make sense. We had a long way to travel. I don't think we left until eleven or so.

My husband and I had decided to take the bus to Disney because we have annual passes (and Magic Bands) and our older daughter and family from Minnesota were at Magic Kingdom that day. Our daughter had all of our Fast Passes set up and a lunch reservation.

I felt sorry for others on our bus because by the time we got there it was close to 12:30 (if I remember right) and we had to be back to the bus by 5. They had to buy their tickets (fairly long line) and figure out what to do and how to get there. If you didn't have fast passes the lines were really long. Also, they only dropped off at the transportation center. The guide gave a convoluted way to get to the other parks, but I wouldn't have chanced it, not enough time. One involved walking a long way and catching a bus (who knows how long it would take for the bus to come) to a hotel and then wait for another bus to the park.

My advice if you want to do Disney is to go to Magic Kingdom (or Epcot may work okay) and buy your ticket in advance. You would have to check on this, but I think if you buy your ticket in advance you can get fast passes. Get fast passes to the rides you really want to go on while you are still home. Look at a map and familiarize yourself with what there is and how to get around. I would not plan to go to Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom. Just too far.

Bottom line is do your research. Do not count on the shore excursion to do any more than transport you. They were absolutely no help to the people on the bus that didn't know what they were doing.

We are cruising on the Pride in October. Hw do you know what terminal you will be pulling into? We have a large group ( around 20 people). Trying to find something to do that does not cost a lot of money

We are cruising on the Pride in October. Hw do you know what terminal you will be pulling into? We have a large group ( around 20 people). Trying to find something to do that does not cost a lot of money

I've only seen her at Terminal 6. Nothing will be within walking distance unfortunately.

What do you think will interest the group? Is the idea to stay together or split up?

I guess we will see about renting a car- to see the local sights. or should I say a large van

in the US

unlike in the islands

you can't just take your van to the port and hold up a sign saying you are now a tour company .... there's insurance and licenses and all sorts of other crud to comply with ...

in the last year a local company set up an excursion to Brevard Zoo that is offered on some cruise (RCL and NCL) .... the hoops the guy had to go thru and special arrangements with the zoo to meet ship requirements were many ....

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS AWESOME INFORMATION!!

Trying to figure out what to do at this stop on an upcoming cruise. Trying to keep it real cheap and definitely not doing Disney or Space Center.

This is awesome Information!! May be a silly question or if I missed this part..but how would one get to the bus/shuttle to cocoa beach from terminal 6? Is it within walking distance to the stop?

Will be on the Anthem of the Seas in December. Is it possible to walk from where the Anthem docks at Port Canaveral to Jetty Park. If not walkable, will there be taxis at the port and what would the fare be.

Very walkable. All new sidewalks leading to Jetty Park. It's about a half mile walk. There is a new snack bar, bait shop, and bike rentals. The snack bars food is from Fishlips in the port. You will pass a Subway sandwich shop on your walk to Jetty park also.

CarolRoy-

On the attached map you should be docked where the number 4 is.

Very walkable. All new sidewalks leading to Jetty Park. It's about a half mile walk. There is a new snack bar, bait shop, and bike rentals. The snack bars food is from Fishlips in the port. You will pass a Subway sandwich shop on your walk to Jetty park also.

I think you are talking about where the Grandeur of the Seas docks. You can see Jetty Park from the top deck of the ship. I don't think that the Anthem will dock here. If anyone knows for certain where the Anthem docks, please let me know.

I think you are talking about where the Grandeur of the Seas docks. You can see Jetty Park from the top deck of the ship. I don't think that the Anthem will dock here. If anyone knows for certain where the Anthem docks, please let me know.

Actually the Granduer is CT3 directly to the West of Jetty Park in the first ship position adjacent to Jetty Park and the new public boat launch . CT1 is where you will be if you are not in Port with Oasis directly to the east of the Cove Restaurant row where the new cruise terminal was built last year. If Oasis is in they will most likely put you in the west turning basin. If you end up at the west turning basin at CT6 you will need to cab to Jetty.

Anthem of the Seas is the only ship in port that day. So where will the Anthem dock?

if ANTHEM is the only ship in that day it is likely they will park at Terminal 1, RCL's "main" terminal ......

In 2015, Anthem docked at Terminal 6 and Terminal 1.

As others stated and pending ship traffic, Terminal 1 is the most likely because it is the "home" of RC at PC.

From terminal 1 it is 1.7 miles to reach the Jetty Park beach (not the park entrance).

Uber is available and also the trolley covehopper, a free service but donations most welcome.

if ANTHEM is the only ship in that day it is likely they will park at Terminal 1, RCL's "main" terminal ......

In 2015, Anthem docked at Terminal 6 and Terminal 1.

 

As others stated and pending ship traffic, Terminal 1 is the most likely because it is the "home" of RC at PC.

 

From terminal 1 it is 1.7 miles to reach the Jetty Park beach (not the park entrance).

 

Uber is available and also the trolley covehopper, a free service but donations most welcome.

Thank you....I knew i was not losing my mind.