Airport - Melbourne (MLB) vs Orlando (MCO)

[Frequent Flyer]

Currently planning to fly in the night before our sailing in May, rent a car for the day/night, and stay somewhere in the area (maybe Cocoa Beach?). My husband is proposing that we fly into Melbourne (MLB) instead of Orlando (MCO). Thoughts?

 

[OKW Lover]

Currently planning to fly in the night before our sailing in May, rent a car for the day/night, and stay somewhere in the area (maybe Cocoa Beach?). My husband is proposing that we fly into Melbourne (MLB) instead of Orlando (MCO). Thoughts?

That would work. The Melbourne airport is a very small terminal so it's easy to deal with. The drive from there to the Cocoa Beach area is scenic in a way and should only take you about 45 minutes or so. There also aren't any tolls to worry about.

 

[Liastaob]

Melbourne is also a lovely little airport (I used to live in Melbourne years ago). It's going to be more expensive, and of course you'll have to transfer flights and rent a car, but it's certainly doable.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

Flown into Melbourne-lovely regionsl airport. Hands down better experience then MCO. More $$ for your convenience. Lovely drive along the coast to the port.

 

[Capt_BJ]

if you can use MLB you completely skip the Orlando TSA hassles! They don't always happen at Orlando but more often than not. I've also stood on queue for over an hour trying to pick up a reserved rental car in Orlando ... at MLB I need to wake up the napping agent! Funny thing is drive time wise they are about equal but if an accident impacts the Beachline to Orlando your options are limited while there's a bunch of ways to get 'tween MLB and the port/Cocoa area: A1A, US-1, I-95 .....

 

[Frequent Flyer]

Thanks everyone. Sounds like plenty of pros to MLB, and only con (other than cost) is no direct flight.

 

[RedHead0186]

Thanks everyone. Sounds like plenty of pros to MLB, and only con (other than cost) is no direct flight.

Also look at home many flights there are from where you are to MLB daily. Said another way: if your flight gets delayed, or cancelled, what are your other options to get there? If there's only one flight daily, then it might be harder to find another way to get there (as opposed to MCO, which may have several flights a day so more 'options' to reschedule too).

 

[Minniesgal]

If we ever sail out of Fort Lauderdale again we will fly into Melbourne and stay at Vero Beach the few days before.