Driving into Port Canaveral

[ZsLuvDisney]

We are driving into Port Canaveral the day before from NC. We have done lots of internet searching on the various parking options - hotel with Port Discount, Off-site parking, Park N Cruise and similar, Port Canaveral Parking - but what is really the best way to go? Recommendations? Horror Stories? Watch out for?

 

[dcassetta]

I have only parked at the port itself. I haven't use the offsite parking. It is more expensive, but I like the convenience. Both recent times we have stated a hotel the night before that offered the 40% off discount coupon. It works just fine.

 

[Sweetsarj]

We booked a one night stay at Radisson at The Port. They offered free parking for our car while on the cruise and free shuttle to and from port.

 

[openwater]

It is tough to argue against parking ship-side as the best option. Your vehicle is safe at the Port (most parking spots are under cover in the garage) and you do not have to deal with shuttle services.

So it comes down to your budget - convenience versus costs. If you want to pick the perfect hotel and not just a 40% discount partner, you will pay full price ship-side. If you want to save a bit of money while enjoying ship-side parking then book a 40% partner (there are 20-something to pick from).

If saving money is more important to you than convenience, then you have to compare the park, snooze & cruise packages from the many hotels in the area with the off-site parking options (where you independently book the cheapest room and go park in an off-site location). Hotel shuttles and parking shuttles are less convenient than parking ship-side but you can save $$.

 

[kennc]

We are driving from NC to Port Canaveral next month. It will be our fourth such trip.

We stay the night before the cruise at the Fairfield in Titusville. Closest 40% parking discount hotel to NC.

Clean, friendly and safe ( in our experience). Continental breakfast included. Fast food and gas is close by.

30 minutes or so to Port, drop bags at curb, drive into the parking garage and walk into terminal. Tip- park on level 3-4 and take the skywalk to the terminal. It is covered and less crowded. They have a seperate security check that you can breeze through.

After cruise, we walk off with our luggage and are free and clear on the road home within 10 to 15 minutes of clearing customs. Possibly even faster.

Added bonus: On a B2B, since you pay on your way into the parking garage, you only pay for first leg. After the second leg, you just drive out.

 

[hoffman1]

We have stayed at a hotel with a shuttle, used Park n Cruise, and parked at the port.
Even though it is the most expensive option, parking at the port it worth it for us. It is so easy and there is no hassle or wait time.

 

[squirk]

We are driving into Port Canaveral the day before from NC. We have done lots of internet searching on the various parking options - hotel with Port Discount, Off-site parking, Park N Cruise and similar, Port Canaveral Parking - but what is really the best way to go? Recommendations? Horror Stories? Watch out for?

Hard to say what is best specifically for you and your family, but we always park on-site in the premium lot. It is so nice to be in your own car three minutes after you clear customs.

 

[BigJon]

We also drive from NC to the port. I've done all of the parking options you mention, except for the Port Discount. As others have mentioned, it's very nice to step off the ship, and go directly to your car. With that said, it's also nice to have an additional $40 dollars in your wallet (7 night cruise: off-site vs on-site). On our last 2 Port Canaveral cruises, we've stayed at the Comfort Suites in Cocoa Beach (7 night Disney cruises). For just a few dollars more than what the PC terminal charges for a 7 night parking fee, we stayed at the Comfort Suites, with free parking, free shuttle and free hot breakfast. And yes, we did have to wait about 15 to 20 minutes for a shuttle (after the cruise), and by the time we got back to the hotel, and unloaded our bags and placed them in our car, and drove by the cruise ships on the way home, we had probably used an extra 35 to 40 minutes more than parking at the port. We've also done the ParkNCruise option at least 2 times (maybe 3), and we've had good results each time with them. Basically it comes down to what best suits your family.....have fun, jonathan

 

[dsdeleon]

I have had a bad shuttle experience with Budget and Hertz at port canaveral. I have not done the hotel shuttles but we will be staying at one that offers it. We will not be using it. From what I personally have experienced, it will be worth it to have a car right there in the expensive lot and do early walk-off.

 

[ZsLuvDisney]

It is just myself and my husband going, so we don't have to worry about multiple persons, kids, extra luggage and etc. He is more concerned about cost (is it really worth it) and I think I would rather pay a little extra for more convenience. I am leaning towards the hotel with the discount voucher, but the husband is concerned that the garage will be filled when we get there. I haven't seen where anyone has run into this predicament and don't know how likely of a thing that is.

I really appreciate all the insight!

 

[BW813]

We have only cruised once so I don't have a ton of experience but I'm happy to share my thoughts. We used Park Cruise 2 weeks ago because it was cheaper and not that far of a ride over. It was maybe 10-15 minutes drive time. Their website states that shuttles run every 15 minutes but that was not the case with us. We boarded the bus first and waited almost 30 minutes for the driver to fill every seat. I get that they are maximizing their profits that way but you shouldn't advertise something that isn't actually taking place. On debarkation day, we were off, through customs, and at the curb at 7:30 AM. There was a gentleman from the company that took down our name, how many of us there were and what car we drove so they could get it pulled around in the lot. He said the shuttle would be there soon. We were the only ones waiting at this point. It was 40 minutes later of waiting in the cold wind before a shuttle actually arrived. A family of 11 that had came up just a few minutes before that was seated, and then a family of 5 that had arrived shortly after us was seated. When the gentleman who had taken our names finally got to us, he took a quick look at the bus and asked how many of us there were, while looking a little puzzled as to how they were going to get everyone on. He said there would be another shuttle coming soon. No way I was going to stand there any longer with my family and wait after being the first there and being patient for so long. I let him and the driver know that was not going to work for me and I would be on this shuttle one way or the other. Of course we were finally loaded and shuttled back but after it was all said and done, it was 8:30 before we arrived at our vehicle. We lost almost an hour that we could have picked up our car and got on the road to home. For me, time is money and next time I will spend that extra money to have the time saved.

My apologies for this being a little lengthy but I had read something like this before hand, I would have saved myself the headache and parked at the port without a doubt.

 

[bovioask1]

We've used Park n Cruise before, but the rates were like $9.95 a day plus an extra day for some reason it costed roughly $85 or so, still much cheaper than parking at the port. Instead we found www.goportcanaveral.com and their packages included everything we needed and thensome. Their snooze park cruise package offers free cruise parking with the hotel stay, and a shuttle to and from the cruise. We ended up paying like 100 bucks at Americas best value, it came with free breakfast and we got to eat lightly cuz we wanted to save room for all the cruise food lol. Speaking of, there was probably another hotel it stopped at but we got to the terminal by 1pm and boarded almost immediately. Great service overall

 

[luxlvr]

Can someone post the link to the Hotels that offer the discounted PC parking rate? I can't seem to find it on the search. TIA!!

 

[squirk]

I think this is what you're looking for:

http://www.portcanaveral.com/PortCanaveral/media/Cruise-Assets/Parking-Voucher-Program_3.pdf

 

[over50visits]

Parking at the port is easy, safe, covered (parking garage), and fantastically convenient for arriving and especially departure. It is also priced so high as to be almost insulting that they would charge that much, plus they charge you for one more day than you actually park there.

Offsite parking is inexpensive, outdoors, safe, and the people we have dealt with have been very nice. But you do have to load on a shuttle bus going to the ship, and you have to stand on a curb and wait for the shuttle to pick you up and take you back to your car. We stood there almost 30 minutes once, not fun at all. But their price is about half of the port parking rates.

Both work. You get what you pay for. Plenty of people supporting both options, and they're all right.

 

[luxlvr]

I think this is what you're looking for:

http://www.portcanaveral.com/PortCanaveral/media/Cruise-Assets/Parking-Voucher-Program_3.pdf

Yes! Thank you!!

 

[ahamlet]

For those of you who have driving from NC, how far did you have to drive? How tired where you after the cruise? Taking my kids on our first cruise in Jan. 2017. Looked at flying but it seems that with transfer time and flight time that i would end up spending almost as much time as if i flew. Estimated driving time is 10 hours 30 minutes. If I wait on a shuttle to the airport then flight time. Then drive time from the airport not much time saved. But will i be so tired that any amount of time saved is a good thing? For those who stayed at the 40% parking discount hotels which are the best? TIA

 

[mmouse37]

Be glad you don't live or cruise out of NYC....parking at the Manhattan Cruise Ship Terminal is $40.00 per day.

MJ

 

[darnheather]

Drove down two weeks ago from Virginia. Used Park n Cruise with no issues. We might have waited a bit more than 15 minutes, but I arrived early, we got to the port in plenty of time, and since we are military paid 50% less than port costs. To me that's the cost of small excursion and worth it.

 

[bumbershoot]

Estimated driving time is 10 hours 30 minutes.

I fly from Seattle in less time than that (ignoring time change). 2 hours prior, just over 5 hours flying time, get my rental car and go wherever I'm going.

I highly doubt it would take you longer, total, to fly from NC.


I won't drive 10 hours in one day; haven't done that since I was 18. So that means a hotel room. And more restaurant food. And time and money. Lots of fun for the kids, but maybe not what you're imagining.