Hotel reservations

[Sposs]

We're going on a cruise out of Port Canaveral that leaves December 19. We are planning to drive down and spend the night before close to the port. How soon should I make those hotel reservations? Do the hotels fill up quickly? We want to stay in a hotel close to the port.

 

[MUN]

We're going on a cruise out of Port Canaveral that leaves December 19. We are planning to drive down and spend the night before close to the port. How soon should I make those hotel reservations? Do the hotels fill up quickly? We want to stay in a hotel close to the port.

IMHO, the sooner the better. If rates go down, you can rebook.

MUN

 

[olookasquirrel]

If rates go down, you can rebook.

Just make sure you book a refundable room - some hotels/sites will list nonrefundable prices first, and if you're not paying attention, it's easy to grab those

 

[Sposs]

Just make sure you book a refundable room - some hotels/sites will list nonrefundable prices first, and if you're not paying attention, it's easy to grab those

Yes--that's what I'm trying to decide--book the lower non- refundable or pay extra and be able to cancel and rebook if needed. Do rates normally go down much?

 

[DisneySunPrincess]

If you are planning to stay in Port Canaveral the night before, I assume that means you have a car you will be parking as well. Have you been looking at the "snooze and cruise" packages that include your stay as well as your parking for the length of the cruise. I have been looking into doing this and we only live about an hour from the Port. Some of the hotels include breakfast and other extras. The only thing I warn with that is to pay attention to the time the shuttle for the port leaves with each hotel. If you are like me, and want a nice, early Port Arrival Time, there are very few that offer anything before 12 noon. But...they do exist.

 

[Quellman]

Yes--that's what I'm trying to decide--book the lower non- refundable or pay extra and be able to cancel and rebook if needed. Do rates normally go down much?

I'm not sure how many people stalk their rates and track them. Personally, I find a rate at a price I;m willing to pay and go with it. I don't know what the room occupancy would be so close to Christmas, but usually there aren't many ships in port on a Monday, though it is the beginning of Christmas week.

 

[olookasquirrel]

I always book refundable - if a certain hotel is trying to charge me extra to do so, I usually try to find another hotel. But that's my own stubbornness You can also try looking at the hotel's website directly vs third party sites, they usually have the same or lower prices, and are more likely to be refundable.

 

[FigmentSpark]

We've booked refundable AAA rates, to plan for the unforeseen. I've only seen rates go up from when I booked mine, but they've been steady for a couple of months, now. If I were you, I'd book now.

If you are 100% sure you won't need to cancel, then book the non-refundable, but if you're going to do that, you might as well check the resellers, like Hotels.com or Trivago to compare prices. Don't forget to check TripAdvisor and AAA, if you're a member.

 

[Sposs]

If you are planning to stay in Port Canaveral the night before, I assume that means you have a car you will be parking as well. Have you been looking at the "snooze and cruise" packages that include your stay as well as your parking for the length of the cruise. I have been looking into doing this and we only live about an hour from the Port. Some of the hotels include breakfast and other extras. The only thing I warn with that is to pay attention to the time the shuttle for the port leaves with each hotel. If you are like me, and want a nice, early Port Arrival Time, there are very few that offer anything before 12 noon. But...they do exist.

I have looked at those, but I also want an early port arrival time.

 

[disneyfreak33]

I have looked at those, but I also want an early port arrival time.

I can tell you that we've stayed at Country Inn and suites also Raddison for the snooze and cruise. Both times we have been on the shuttle at 10:30 and have been at the port by 10:45.

It is first come first serve basis, so make sure to book the shuttle 24 hours prior to your arrival, if you decide to go this route.

 

[RedSox68]

When we stayed in Vancouver pre-cruise, we had a room pre-booked for months. We waited until about a month or so out and rebooked our room to the non-refundable rate and it saved us lots. We figured by that time we knew we were going.

 

[DAPford]

We booked at Holiday Inn Express Cocoa Beach the shuttle time is 11:45-12:00