Best US Cruise Ports - Port Canaveral, Florida
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Let's Cruise From Port Canaveral
On Florida's Atlantic coastline, midway between Jacksonville and Miami, sits Cape Canaveral. Bordering the city to the north is Port Canaveral, on the south side is Cocoa Beach, on the east side is the Banana River and to the west is the Atlantic Ocean.
From long ago this dangerous section of the coast was well-known to sea captains, who named the headland Cape Canaveral. Due to the hazards to boats, the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse was built in 1844, allowing boats to sail without danger in the seas by the Cape.
In the 1910s a little settlement based around fishing was established a short distance to the south of the Cape. The town was called Artesia. South of Artesia the little town of Avon-by-the-Sea, with streets called after famous presidents, was established by the Brossier bros.
In the second World War two naval air stations were set up on the coast of Florida, one of which was positioned at the Cape. After World War II the US air-force, seeking a peninsula extending into the Atlantic ocean to make an ideal rocket launch site, selected the Cape. The new influx of people led to a building boom on land southwards from the Cape, and in the early 1950s Artesia and Avon-by-the-Sea merged to become the urban center Cape Canaveral.
Work on constructing a deep-water harbor at Port Canaveral started in 1950, and was finished by 1953. The port role was to handle the receipt of large seaborne components. The amusement parks of Florida are a huge lure, and in the 1970s the port was first used by cruise ships as it was a port-of-call convenient to Orlando. In the next decade, Premier Cruises and Carnival Cruises homeported at Port Canaveral, offering cruises to Nassau from newly opened cruise ship facilities. The 1990s were a time of rapid growth for the cruise port, with the construction of cruise terminals 5, 8, and 10. Disney cruises began operations from the port.
Today more than a million people depart on their cruise voyage from Port Canaveral each year. Disney and Carnival have been joined by Royal Caribbean and NCL at the port.
From long ago this dangerous section of the coast was well-known to sea captains, who named the headland Cape Canaveral. Due to the hazards to boats, the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse was built in 1844, allowing boats to sail without danger in the seas by the Cape.
In the 1910s a little settlement based around fishing was established a short distance to the south of the Cape. The town was called Artesia. South of Artesia the little town of Avon-by-the-Sea, with streets called after famous presidents, was established by the Brossier bros.
In the second World War two naval air stations were set up on the coast of Florida, one of which was positioned at the Cape. After World War II the US air-force, seeking a peninsula extending into the Atlantic ocean to make an ideal rocket launch site, selected the Cape. The new influx of people led to a building boom on land southwards from the Cape, and in the early 1950s Artesia and Avon-by-the-Sea merged to become the urban center Cape Canaveral.
Work on constructing a deep-water harbor at Port Canaveral started in 1950, and was finished by 1953. The port role was to handle the receipt of large seaborne components. The amusement parks of Florida are a huge lure, and in the 1970s the port was first used by cruise ships as it was a port-of-call convenient to Orlando. In the next decade, Premier Cruises and Carnival Cruises homeported at Port Canaveral, offering cruises to Nassau from newly opened cruise ship facilities. The 1990s were a time of rapid growth for the cruise port, with the construction of cruise terminals 5, 8, and 10. Disney cruises began operations from the port.
Today more than a million people depart on their cruise voyage from Port Canaveral each year. Disney and Carnival have been joined by Royal Caribbean and NCL at the port.
Things To Do Near Port Canaveral
Jetty ParkJetty Park is a attractive coastline park which has a beach, pavilions, camping grounds, picnic tables and a playground. Popular with both fishermen and walkers is Jetty Park pier, which gives great views of marine traffic departing from/arriving at Port Canaveral, and super fishing for redfish, common jacks and tarpon. The well-kept sandy beach offers lots of facilities like restrooms, easy parking, year-round lifeguards and showers. The lively Cove Waterfront area situated between the port and the park has shops, restaurants and cafes. The park is part of the Port, and is located on the south side of the port's exit channel.
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
The excitement of space travel affects almost everybody. The Kennedy Space Center is the base of NASA's operations and served as the launch pad for the famous landing on the moon Apollo missions. At the Center you can see a space movie at the IMAX center, undergo the Shuttle Launch Experience, go to the LC39 Gantry and the Apollo Center and learn about the future of space travel at the Exploration Space show. The Center is around 10 miles north from Port Canaveral.
US Astronaut Hall of Fame
The US Astronaut Hall of Fame pays tribute to American astronauts. Tour an absorbing collection including the Sigma 7 Mercury rocket, space suits, the Science On A Sphere exhibit and an astronaut training simulator. The Hall of Fame is about 4 miles west from the Space Center.
Cocoa Beach Pier
Originally built in 1962 Cocoa Beach Pier is one of the best-known landmarks on Florida's Space coast. The 800 ft long pier houses occasional live entertainment, four bars, 5 restaurants and souvenir shops. The beach next to the pier has beach-hire stalls, year-round life guards, showers and restrooms. Cocoa Beach is positioned only 4 miles southwards from the port.
Orlando Amusement Parks
Head west from Port Canaveral on Highway 528 to reach fabulous attractions like Sea World of Florida, Disney/MGM Studios, Universal Studios and Walt Disney World all of which are no more than an hour's car drive away.
Recommended Cruises
Cruises available include the Eastern Caribbean (St Thomas, San Juan and St Maarten), the Western Caribbean (Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Belize and Roatan), or the Bahamas (Nassau and Freeport). More extensive vacations are occasionally to be had, examples would be transatlantic cruises to Europe.
For a complete listing of cruises see cruises from Port Canaveral.
For a complete listing of cruises see cruises from Port Canaveral.
Port Canaveral Cruise Port
A Side (North) Terminals 5, 8 and 10Cruise ship terminals 5, 8 and 10 are sited on the north or A side, next to C M Rowland Drive. These more up-to-date terminal buildings have larger docks able to moor the biggest cruise ships, and all 3 can process 3000 or more passengers. Cruise Terminal 5 is an attractive 2 story building, with a thirty foot tall glass hall resplendent with verdant greenery and waterfalls. Embarking passengers are handled on the top storey, debarking cruisers on the bottom. Cruise Terminal 8 was specified by and built for Disney Cruise Line, and is an appealing modern terminal with an impressive 90ft circular glass tower foyer. Cruise Terminal 10 has a 3 layered passenger embarking/debarking arrangement, with completely automated baggage processing.
For the port website see Canaveral Port Authority..
Map Of Port Canaveral Cruise Port
Traveling to the Cruise Port
By Car
Drive towards Port Canaveral on Highway 528, go across Merritt Island, and leave at the sign marked A Cruise Terminals joining SR 401 North. Carry on for 1 mile next leave at the sign for the cruise terminals.
By Air
Orlando International Airport
Orlando International Airport, situated on the south eastern region of Orlando, is approximately 45 minutes drive west from Port Canaveral. Transfer can be arranged by cab or shuttle.
Melbourne International Airport
Melbourne International Airport is around 30 miles south from Port Canaveral. Travel from the airport is possible by cab or shuttle.
Drive towards Port Canaveral on Highway 528, go across Merritt Island, and leave at the sign marked A Cruise Terminals joining SR 401 North. Carry on for 1 mile next leave at the sign for the cruise terminals.
By Air
Orlando International Airport
Orlando International Airport, situated on the south eastern region of Orlando, is approximately 45 minutes drive west from Port Canaveral. Transfer can be arranged by cab or shuttle.
Melbourne International Airport
Melbourne International Airport is around 30 miles south from Port Canaveral. Travel from the airport is possible by cab or shuttle.
Cape Canaveral Tour Guides
Port Canaveral Cruise Port News
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