Port Canaveral, FL, USA cruises
Port Canaveral port guide
With so much to see and do within an hour from where your ship docks in Port Canaveral, a call to this vibrant part of Florida will leave you spoilt for ways to spend your time. Will you step inside some the world’s most famous film sets at Universal Studios or discover the furthest reaches of our galaxy at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center? Prefer to stay within walking distance of your ship? You’ll find plenty to entertain you within a stone’s throw of the cruise terminal. Helicopter tours and pier-front dining. Arial adventures and dolphin kayaking. Beaches and parks for fishing and surfing. This hub of the Space Coast is filled with all the joys that only life in Florida can deliver.
Top Landmarks and Sights in Port Canaveral
Kennedy Space Center
A visit to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center always features highly on Port Canaveral to-do lists. Located just a short drive from the Port Canaveral cruise terminal, this world-famous launch site has facilitated many of NASA’s most high-profile missions into outer space, including the historic 1969 moon landings. Once inside you’ll have the opportunity to walk among rockets from NASA’s Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo space programmes, access restricted areas on a Kennedy Space Center bus tour, and experience the sensations of blasting off in a realistic rocket simulator.
Wizard of Oz Museum
This quirky independent museum is a must-visit for fans of Dorothy, Toto, the Tin Man, Scarecrow, and the Cowardly Lion. Born out of one collector’s love of the movie, the museum now hosts the widest range of Wizard of Oz artifacts in America, including film props and costumes. It also offers an interactive exhibit that puts you directly into the heart of the action. Make your own journey along the Yellow Brick Road as sound and movement create the vivid sensation of being immersed into key scenes from this cinematic sensation that’s delighted audiences for decades.
Manatee Sanctuary Park
This ten-acre park, nestled on the banks of the Banana River, really makes the most of its waterfront location. As well as stretches of grasslands offering uninhibited river views, the park also plays home to a paved fitness trail, pavilion with kitchen, and a covered boardwalk. As the name suggests, it’s not only dogs and humans who enjoy spending time here. Manatees are also frequent visitors to this stretch of the river, most commonly in warmer seasons when the water temperatures are a little more to their liking. They can often be spotted feasting on the fresh sea grass that takes root near the park’s boardwalk, so take up residence here for your best shot at a sighting.
Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier
Built in 1962, the same year as NASA opened Kennedy Space Center, the 800-foot Cocoa Beach Pier has long been a popular spot to soak up the Floridian sunshine. Today it boasts a selection of shops, restaurants, and bars, as well as a long promenade stretching out across the Atlantic. Having undergone multiple refurbishments over the years, the pier continues to stand strong as one of the Space Coast’s most established landmarks. Cocoa Beach itself is a beautiful expanse of sand that attracts sunbathers and surfers in equal numbers. You can observe them in action from the pier, or even sign up to a lesson with one of the resident surf schools.
Things to do in Port Canaveral
Rise to the challenge at Cocoa Beach Aerial Park
Just minutes from Port Canaveral, this fun aerial park in Cocoa Beach offers you a chance to literally see Florida from a whole new height – suspended on a series of 45-foot poles! Your path back down to earth will take you through canopies of oak trees, where you’ll face 48 unique challenges in bid to return to ground level. Fret not though, time is on your side. The course is designed to be completed at your own pace, whatever that may be, so you can take things comfortably in your stride and exercise your problem-solving skills in the process.
Visit Florida’s theme parks (one hour’s drive away) in Orlando
If you’ve ever wanted to visit Florida’s theme parks, a cruise to Port Canaveral presents you with the perfect chance to fulfil your dream. The cruise terminal is just an hour’s drive from Orlando, Florida’s theme park epicentre, home to world-famous attractions like Universal Studios and Disney Land. Whether you’re seeking thrills or enchantment, there’s a park to suit your preference. Meet Disney icons like Mickey and Minnie in the Magic Kingdom. Take part in a host of sensory experiences at Epcot. Step behind the screen, with rides based on your favourite films and TV shows, at Universal Studios. Wherever in Orlando you choose, a good time sure to follow.
Go flightseeing in a helicopter
You’ve seen Port Canaveral by land and sea, so why not see it by air too? A helicopter tour isn’t only a great way to take in the sights, it’s also an incredible experience you don’t get to enjoy every day – one that’s sure to provide a memorable highlight of your holiday. Helicopter tours of Port Canaveral depart from Cocoa Beach. You’ll be piloted in air-conditioned comfort, usually in a group of no more than three people. Exactly which sights you’ll see boils down to conditions on the day and the flight itinerary you choose, but you could find yourself flying over the Kennedy Space Center or even your very own Cunard Queen. Don’t forget to give the captain a friendly wave if you do.
Kayak in the company of curious marine mammals
Port Canaveral’s position on the Florida coastline makes it an excellent spot for outdoor adventurers looking to get a closer look at some of the state’s natural scenery and wildlife. One of the best ways to experience both is by taking a daytime kayaking tour of the Thousand Islands. This unique Floridian ecosystem is a picture of lush green scenery, where tunnels of mangroves guide your path. The area is home to a wealth of winged and underwater inhabitants who are all too happy to make an appearance. Manatees, dolphins, herons, and ospreys are just some of the locals you might find yourself getting closely acquainted with.
Eating and Drinking in Port Canaveral
From upscale eateries to satisfying seafood broils, Port Canaveral offers a dining experience for every appetite. For a meal you barely have to step ashore for, look no further than The Cove. This local dining and entertainment district is right on the cruise terminal and offers countless spots for oceanfront eating. The choice of vendors varies from oyster bars and tap rooms to cafes serving up tall stacks of buttermilk pancakes. You’ll also find a choice of international restaurants, most prominently Italian and Caribbean, along with an impressive catalogue of fine dining restaurants, where refined dishes taste as good on the palate as they look on the plate.
Of course, we can’t talk about eating and drinking in Port Canaveral without mentioning seafood. Port Canaveral’s menus are inundated with underwater delicacies of all descriptions. Blue crab, lobster, hardshell clams, pompano, oysters, and mahi mahi are just some of the local favourites you’ll have the chance to wrap your lips around. Don’t, however, forget to leave a little room for a slice of key lime pie. Creamy, crumbly, and with a citrus tang that cuts through the richness, this deeply-loaded dessert is a quintessential taste of Florida you won’t want to miss.
Shopping in Port Canaveral
Freeze packed ice cream and swimsuits. Art and housewares. There’s a little something for everyone among Port Canaveral’s shops. You’ll find an excellent gift shop at Kennedy Space Center offering a huge selection of NASA themed merchandise that will make any wannabe astronaut’s day. The aforementioned freeze-dried ice-cream is of course from here.
Cocoa Beach, and Cocoa itself, is your best bet for independent shopping, in particular surf apparel, shells, art, and clothing. There’s also a shopping mall (centre to us Brits) in Cocoa Beach, with a wider range of American and international brands – perfect for the serious shopper. Around 30-minutes from port you’ll also find Avenue Viera, an open-air retail, dining, and entertainment complex, with a mix of clothing, lifestyle, and beauty brands.
Getting around, Port Canaveral Transport
If you’re exploring independently in Port Canaveral (as opposed to joining one of our Shore Experiences) there are local busses and taxis to help you get around. Taxis are usually easy enough to hail down in front of the cruise terminal, or you could book a journey using a ride share app such as Lyft or Uber, both of which operate in the area.
The SCAT (Space Coast Area Transit) run trolleys (busses) throughout the county, including services from Port Canaveral to Cocoa Beach and back again. The trolley can be picked up once you’ve exited the cruise terminal and there are discounts for students, seniors, veterans, and disabled travellers.
Port Canaveral Port Facilities
Port Canaveral is a busy cruise port with seven terminals shared by different cruise lines. Paid parking is available on site for a flat rate and there’s a passenger and luggage drop-off point at each terminal building, with porters available to assist with heavy cases. Wi-Fi is available in terminals 1, 3 and 6, and public toilets and passenger seating are offered in all terminals.
Port Canaveral Quick Tips
Currency
The currency in Port Canaveral is the US Dollar. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted (the port terminal itself is cashless) and plenty of ATMs are available locally. You can also exchange currency on board your Cunard Queen by charging it to your voyage card.
Tipping
Tipping is customary in the US and a 15-20% tip is the normal accepted amount in restaurants, cafés, and bars in Florida. If the tip has already been added to your bill, there’s no need to add a further tip.
Weather
The weather in Port Canaveral varies from intensely hot summers with frequent rain showers to cool and cloudy winters. July and August typically experience the most rainfall (around 12-13 days on average) when temperatures are at their hottest (usually in the region of 30˚C). The driest months to visit Port Canaveral are February, March, November, and December when average rainfall is at its lowest. At these times of year you can expect temperatures ranging from 15-24˚C.