The Happiest Travels on Earth

If you cruise from the Northeast frequently, especially from the port of New York or Bayonne in New Jersey, you’ll know that there are cruises that visit Florida. That’s right, a lot of cruise lines that leave from the New York/New Jersey area offer voyages that visit Florida and the Bahamas. More specifically, they visit Orlando, Florida or Port Canaveral. 

Usually people think they shouldn’t get off the ship when it docks in Port Canaveral. They say it’s only Florida, there’s nothing to do. But, there’s actually a ton of things you can do to pass the time and have some fun. Most cruises visiting Orlando don’t arrive in Port Canaveral until 12:00 pm or 1:00 pm so the excursions will be later afternoon excursions. 

We are offering 5 suggestions of things to do when you visit Port Canaveral. Keep in mind, we do recommend that you book an official cruise shore excursion for some of these options. 

Book Excursions for These Experiences 

We recommend you book a shore excursion for these experiences. That’s because they are quite a distance away from the port. If there’s an issue getting back to the ship, by using a ship excursion, they have to wait for you. 

If you decide to rent a car or take an Uber and you lose track of time or there’s a problem with your transportation, the ship can leave you at the port. 

Walt Disney World Transfer

It’s Central Florida, known for its theme parks. Of course, we’re going to recommend an afternoon at Walt Disney World. Almost all of the major cruise lines that stop in Port Canaveral offer a shore excursion that is a transfer only to Walt Disney World. 

This means that you’ll be paying for a ride to the parks and that’s it- you’ll be responsible for your park tickets. Most of these shore excursions drop guests off at the Ticket and Transportation Center, which is the parking hub for Disney’s Magic Kingdom. From here, guests can visit any of the 4 theme parks that they prefer. 

During my recent cruise on the MSC Meraviglia, we booked the tour for Walt Disney World. Our bus dropped us off at the TTC and that’s where we picked it back up. My family and I took the monorail over to EPCOT and spent the afternoon in EPCOT. 

Some people often wonder if it’s worth the cost to just spend the afternoon at the park. While you will only end up being in the parks for a little while, if you are an Annual Passholder (like me) or just need your Disney fix, it’s definitely worth it. 

To give you a bit of an idea of timing, here’s a breakdown of how our visit went: 

12:00 pm -1:00 pm: Our ship docked in Port Canaveral

1:00 pm: We are escorted off the ship to our bus for Walt Disney World

1:30 pm: Our bus departs Port Canaveral

2:30 pm: Our bus passes through the Walt Disney World archway

2:35 pm: We arrive at the Ticket and Transportation Center

2:45 pm: The EPCOT Monorail Arrives and We’re on our Way

3:00 pm: We arrive at the entrance of EPCOT 

3:00 pm- 4:40pm: We walk around EPCOT and Ride some Rides

4:45 pm- 5:15 pm: We have dinner at Regal Eagle Smokehouse in the America Pavilion

5:15 pm- 6:20 pm: Make our way around World Showcase and Head towards the front of the Park

6:30 pm- Take the monorail back to the TTC
7:00 pm- 7:15 pm: Arrive at the bus

7:15 pm- Leave the TTC and start the drive back to the ship

8:15 pm- Arrive at Port Canaveral

8:20 pm- Back on Board the Ship 

Our transfer was around $39 on the MSC Meraviglia and I would definitely say it was worth it. Again, I do have an Annual Pass so I didn’t pay any more for the tickets, but it’s a fun way to spend the day. 

Universal Transfer

Again, since it’s Central Florida, the theme parks are a major selling point. Another option that guests can explore is a visit to Universal Studios, also in Orlando. Almost all of the cruise lines do offer transfers from the cruise port to Universal. It is only a transfer, so tickets are required separately for this and you’re only paying for the ride itself. 

At Universal, the shore excursions will drop you off at CityWalk, which is essentially the entryway to both Universal and Islands of Adventure. From here, guests can decide to spend their time at Islands of Adventure, Universal or just hang out at CityWalk. 

On a cruise many years ago, we participated on one of the Universal tours on a Norwegian Cruise. We had to purchase our park tickets at the gate and spent the afternoon in Islands of Adventure. We finished the park before the pick-up time so we decided to head into the movie theater at CityWalk and watched a movie. 

If you love Universal or Universal movies, it’s definitely worth a fun afternoon. The distance from the port to CityWalk is around the same distance so you are looking at a ride of about an hour. From our research, the transfer is around the same cost as the MSC one at $39. 

Kennedy Space Center

Another popular attraction in Port Canaveral is the Kennedy Space Center. When visiting the Kennedy Space Center, guests have the chance to see rockets, an actual space shuttle and more. Some cruise lines include the price of the tours of Kennedy Space Center and some do not. Please check your shore excursions specifically to find more details. 

The ride to Kennedy Space Center is about 30 minutes and once you exit the bus, you can pick your desired ticket if it’s not included. Just like the Disney and Universal transfers, you’ll be given a return time for your excursion. 

Guests love this option since it shows off a piece of history and isn’t too far from your cruise ship. 

Cocoa Beach

If your cruise is all about sun and sand, then book an excursion over to Cocoa Beach. Only a 15 minute drive from the Port Canaveral cruise pier, a shuttle will take guests over to Cocoa Beach. Home to Ron Jon Surf Shop, delicious food and awesome shopping, a visit to Cocoa Beach won’t disappoint. 

Shuttles for this excursion typically run on a schedule throughout the day, but you’ll need to check with your cruise line for the schedule. When visiting Cocoa Beach, don’t forget your sunscreen, ship’s towel and ID. 

Excursions Not Required

This excursion is not offered by the cruise lines but we think it’s safe to get there on your own. 

Wizard of Oz Museum 

Located just 6 minutes from the cruise port is the Wizard of Oz Museum. Lovers of the Wizard of Oz can experience a collection of memorabilia from Dorothy and her friends. You’ll get a chance to see movie props, take photos and shop around for some Wizard of Oz collectibles. It’s a great option for those that want something to do but don’t want to spend the whole day away from the ship. 

Guests can take an Uber or Lyft from the cruise port for less than $10 and admission costs less than $29.99. 

It’s open daily and hours vary depending on the day of the week. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday it’s open between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm. All other days are between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm. 

Have you visited Port Canaveral on a Cruise before? Or do you have questions about it? Let me know in the comments below!

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