Kennedy Space Center after cruise luggage logistics?

[Starryjean]

Hi friends!

We are booked on a cruise later this spring on the Disney Dream. We'd love to visit the Kennedy Space Center while we're in Port Canaveral but our flights come in late the night before the cruise and leave early the next morning after disembark. I can't change our flight times/days so trying to find out if anyone has visited KSC after a cruise and has any advice on what to do with your luggage while you visit? We're staying near the Orlando airport that night so dropping it off at our hotel isn't an option. I appreciate any guidance!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I highly recommend renting a vehicle. Then your luggage locks in the trunk.

 

[Mommb]

I highly recommend renting a vehicle. Then your luggage locks in the trunk.

That's what we did. We got off the ship, took the shuttle to the car rental agency, loaded the car, and were parked at the Kennedy Space Center by 9:30. It's easy drives from Port Canaveral to the Space Center and then to the Orlando airport (or to Disney Springs if you want to something to do in late afternoon/early evening).

 

[Chemist]

We did the same thing.
Rented a car (note: if you are a member of the rental cars (free) club program the process is so much faster) and had luggage in trunk.
We had a little guy and also rented a carseat. (Thankfully that part went well.)

It was super-duper easy and we had a great time at Kennedy.

 

[Starryjean]

For some reason, renting a car didn't even occur to me *face palm*. Booked to drop off at MCO afterwards. Thanks, everyone!

 

[kmedina]

That's what we did. We got off the ship, took the shuttle to the car rental agency, loaded the car, and were parked at the Kennedy Space Center by 9:30. It's easy drives from Port Canaveral to the Space Center and then to the Orlando airport (or to Disney Springs if you want to something to do in late afternoon/early evening).

Did you get off the ship as soon as you could? There's a program that starts at 8:30. I realize I will be late, but I do not want to pay for it if I am going to be an hour late.

Edited to add: what was the wait like at the car rental place or do you just go pick out your own car?

 

[Mommb]

Did you get off the ship as soon as you could? There's a program that starts at 8:30. I realize I will be late, but I do not want to pay for it if I am going to be an hour late.

This was about 15 years ago, so I don't remember exactly, but we probably had late dining and thus a late breakfast. If you have early dining, or don't go the dining room for breakfast, you could be off the ship by 8, if all goes well.

What was the wait like at the car rental place or do you just go pick out your own car?

The wait depends on how many other cruise ships are arriving on the same day. We have waiting as much as half an hour in line, but we don't have status at any rental companies.

I think getting to KSC by 8:30 would be optimistic, but not impossible. I don't know if recent capacity changes have affected debarkation times. I hope someone who has rented a car recently can provide more specific information about how long it's been taking.

 

[Chemist]

By the way... We had considered one of the paid programs. We really filled up our day just doing the stuff that was included.

I wouldn't count on getting somewhere that early. Depending on how many people are on the rental car shuttle you could be the first or the last in line.

 

[nancipants]

Did you get off the ship as soon as you could? There's a program that starts at 8:30. I realize I will be late, but I do not want to pay for it if I am going to be an hour late.

Edited to add: what was the wait like at the car rental place or do you just go pick out your own car?

What type of program? I used to work in the education programs there and it was very difficult to do the full program if any guests were late. The days are crammed with activities and need to run on a tight schedule due to tours, astronaut appearances, food, etc.

The visitor center has more than enough activities to keep busy for the entire day.

 

[mmouse37]

For some reason, renting a car didn't even occur to me *face palm*. Booked to drop off at MCO afterwards. Thanks, everyone!

If you have a Costco membership try booking through them....I find them consistently lower priced. You would book Port Canaveral to MCO. You can add a loyalty number to the reservation. Alamo/National/Enterprise share an office and are the closest to the port. They have shuttles at the port to take you to their office.

MJ

 

[_auroraborealis_]

FWIW we didn't do any of the paid programs, and we had a great, full day. Car rental did have a line, because debarkation at PC isn't just your ship, and the rental office holds multiple agencies.

 

[kmedina]

What type of program? I used to work in the education programs there and it was very difficult to do the full program if any guests were late. The days are crammed with activities and need to run on a tight schedule due to tours, astronaut appearances, food, etc.

The visitor center has more than enough activities to keep busy for the entire day.

I am waiting for them to release the schedule for our dates, but I am looking at Mars Base 1. We wanted to do the small group VIP tour, but that starts at 8am. That's definitely out.

 

[kmedina]

FWIW we didn't do any of the paid programs, and we had a great, full day. Car rental did have a line, because debarkation at PC isn't just your ship, and the rental office holds multiple agencies.

DH does not wait in line at car rental companies. He travels for work almost every week, so he has President's Circle status with Hertz and Chairman's Club with Avis. We might just tour on our own the first day to make it easier. It's our first time, so I wanted to try out a program. We have a day between cruising, so I am trying to decide whether to squeeze in the Astronaut Training Experience the morning we embark on our second cruise. They already released the schedule. We could do it if we arrived to the ship about 2 to 2:30. That would leave the day before open for us to explore ourselves. I just don't know if I want to get to the ship that late.

 

[kmedina]

By the way... We had considered one of the paid programs. We really filled up our day just doing the stuff that was included.

I wouldn't count on getting somewhere that early. Depending on how many people are on the rental car shuttle you could be the first or the last in line.

Good point. I had not considered the shuttle. Yeah, I think we will just tour on our own the first day. Thanks. We can always do the program on a return trip.

 

[nancipants]

We might just tour on our own the first day to make it easier. It's our first time, so I wanted to try out a program. We have a day between cruising, so I am trying to decide whether to squeeze in the Astronaut Training Experience the morning we embark on our second cruise. They already released the schedule. We could do it if we arrived to the ship about 2 to 2:30. That would leave the day before open for us to explore ourselves. I just don't know if I want to get to the ship that late.

I would recommend touring on your own for the first visit. The programs are intensive and I always felt you got more out of them if you were familiar with KSC. I would not recommend trying to do the Astronaut Training Experience the same day as your second cruise. That's one of the programs I used to run. It was a long time ago, but they always tended to run late. The last thing you'd want to do is commit all that money and then leave early so you can get to the cruise in time.

 

[kmedina]

I would recommend touring on your own for the first visit. The programs are intensive and I always felt you got more out of them if you were familiar with KSC. I would not recommend trying to do the Astronaut Training Experience the same day as your second cruise. That's one of the programs I used to run. It was a long time ago, but they always tended to run late. The last thing you'd want to do is commit all that money and then leave early so you can get to the cruise in time.

What time did it usually end? I am okay with getting to the port around 2:30ish. Getting to the ship earlier just means an extra day of free food, but this experience may not align with my trip next time. I will definitely tour on my own the day before, because I cannot guarantee what time I will get off the ship and get over there. This way, we'd get a day of self touring and a half day of a program.

 

[Chemist]

DH does not wait in line at car rental companies. He travels for work almost every week, so he has President's Circle status with Hertz and Chairman's Club with Avis.

The Avis at the port wasn't set up like Avis at the airports where you walk straight up to your car. You HAD to wait to get your keys from the ONE person at the desk.

 

[kmedina]

DH does not wait in line at car rental companies. He travels for work almost every week, so he has President's Circle status with Hertz and Chairman's Club with Avis.

The Avis at the port wasn't set up like Avis at the airports where you walk straight up to your car. You HAD to wait to get your keys from the ONE person at the desk.

Thanks, Hertz it is then. That said, I already decided not to do a program on debarkation day. I may still do one on embarkation day.

 

[princessmommyx3]

Thanks, Hertz it is then. That said, I already decided not to do a program on debarkation day. I may still do one on embarkation day.

I wouldn't rent from Hertz right now. Have you read the news stories about people being arrested for car theft because Hertz says that they didn't return the car when they did? Crazy stuff. Here's just one example:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hertz-car-rental-customer-arrested-new-hampshire/

 

[kmedina]

I wouldn't rent from Hertz right now. Have you read the news stories about people being arrested for car theft because Hertz says that they didn't return the car when they did? Crazy stuff. Here's just one example:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hertz-car-rental-customer-arrested-new-hampshire/

Yeah, my husband and I have talked about that. DH says "it's just 30 people out of everybody." I think that is 30 people too many. He has never had to trade the car before the due date, so he's been okay so far. He prefers Hertz to Avis, but he likes both.