TJ7334

JohninDC, yes.....it was actually less expensive for us to rent a car and park it (since our hotel allows free parking during the cruise) than to rent for the two shorter periods. Some say that is not the case, but from what we found for the duration we needed, it was true.

I ended up booking a car through Thrifty. We arrive 2 days prior to our cruise and leave 3 days after our cruise, so the rental was $212 total for 13 days. Country Inn & Suites at the port will allow us to park the car there for free during our cruise, so it ended up being well worth the price.

I'll post and let you know how it works out......because our cruise leaves May 20, 2012! Woohoo!!

I think we've decided to rent a car from the airport in Orlando, drive it to Cape Canaveral, park it at a hotel, shuttle to and from the port, and have the car waiting for us at the hotel after the cruise so that we can ultimately drive wherever we want and then return to Orlando. We're planning to stay overnight both before and after the cruise anyway, so we'll have transportation when we need it. Overall, we're thinking that it will be more convenient and probably less expensive for us.

Here is a list of hotels that we found that have free parking during the cruise (Snooze and Cruise):

http://www.visitspacecoast.com/Snoozeandcruise/

Cocoa Beach Suites $76

Hilton Cocoa Beach Oceanfront $129 Radisson at the Port $92

Days Inn $94 Residence Inn $169

Four Points $165 Clarion

Comfort Inn $79 Courtyard by Marriott $109

Best Western $85 La Quinta $109

Ramada Econolodge

Country Inn and Suites $116 (Some people say this hotel can be won less expensively by bidding on 2.5 hotels on Priceline.)

We'll be flying into Orlando and traveling from there to Port Canaveral. I wanted to share the various options I located. Please add to this thread with the options you have found. Thanks!

Cocoa Beach shuttle (ask for cruisecritic discount of 10% off of the following) http://www.cbshuttle.com/ 321-631-4144

1 person $33, 2 people $58, 3 for $68, 4 for $75, 5 for $85, 6 for $95, 7 for $100, 8 for $110

Cruisexpressfla https://www.cruisexpressfla.com/main/ 352-551-5032

1 person $50, 2 for $100, 3 for $150, 4 for $200

Star Trans http://www.orlandotransportation-shuttle.com/ 407-810-7272

Per family/group prices. 1-4 people $110 + 20% gratuity. 5-7 $125 + 20%.

TraveLynx http://www.travelynxusa.com/ 321-631-7777

Must fill out quote request form.

Executive VIP Limo http://www.executiveviplimousine.com/ 321-505-0009

Must call. Site claims $85+ for up to 3 passengers each way

Beachline Transportation. http://beachlineshuttle.net/ 321-453-9660

Must call. Suggests Snooze and Cruise 321-305-6969

Sunrise Florida Transportation http://www.transportationflorida.com/ 866-709-8769

1-4 passengers: $75 one way/$140 round trip

1-9: $90/$170

1-14: $140/$280

AAA Access Transport http://www.aaa-access-transport.com/ 407-832-1650

Must call. Supposedly $35 per person round trip

Family One Transportation https://familyonetransportation.com/ 866-351-9991

Must call.

Port Canaveral Cruise Shuttles http://portcanaveralcruiseshuttles.com/ 877-580-6672

1 person $35 one way/$70 round trip, 2- $60/$80, 3-$70/$120, 4-$80/$155

Rental Cars:

Priceline is showing rental cars at $53+ per day if you want to pick up at the airport in Orlando and drop off at Cape Canaveral. The reverse trip at the end of the cruise is showing $62+ per day. Two days would basically be $116+taxes.

To rent for a full week is $123/$159 with taxes and that might be a consideration if you are staying at a hotel that allows free parking.

Check http://www.mousesavers.com.