Dave_from_Marietta
DIS Veteran
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- May 19, 2001
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In a separate thread (<a href="http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=376197">link</a>) there was some discussion about the Norwegian Dawn calling on Port Canaveral as a port of call. Passengers can debark from New York, call at Port Canaveral, Miami, Nassau, and NCLs private island before returning to New York. (Alternatively you can board at Port Canaveral and visit Miami, Nassau, NCLs private island, and New York before returning to Port Canaveral.)
Anyway the question was asked What is there to do at Port Canaveral? Here is a transcription of the formal excursions being offered by NCL:
<b><u>Universal Studios Theme Park</u></b> (9 hours)
<b><u>Universal's Islands of Adventure Theme Park</u></b> (9 hours)
Both excursions are offered with Standard Access or Express Access options. Both packages offer transportation to/from the park and park admission. Express Access also offers a tour guide, Universal Express priority access (an option usually available only to guests of the on-site hotels), and lunch.
<b><u>SeaWorld Adventure Park</u></b> (9 hours)
Tour features transportation and park admission.
<b><u>Wet 'N Wild</u></b> (9 hours)
Tour features transportation and park admission.
<b><u>Shuttle to the Magic Kingdom</u></b> (1 hour each way)
The only Disney-oriented excursion option is this transportation-only tour. Park admission is not included in the tour price.
<b><u>Kennedy Space Center</u></b> (7 hours)
Where else in the world can you tour restricted areas of a working space flight facility, meet a real astronaut, touch a piece of Mars and stand inches away from the largest rocket ever built? Only at Kennedy Space Center! Located just minutes from Port Canaveral on Florida's Space Coast, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at one of mankind's most fascinating and remarkable achievements... the space program... where history was, and still is, made every day. On your tour into restricted areas, you'll see Space Shuttle launch pads from the four-story Observation Gantry. Next, the Apollo/Saturn V Center offers an inspirational and exhilarating look into mankind's quest for the moon. Youll relive the historic launch of Apollo 8 at the Firing Room Theater, marvel at a monstrous 363-foot Saturn V moon rocket and witness the harrowing final moments before man landed on the moon. You can float effortlessly along with astronauts in the International Space Station featuring the heart pounding 3-D Space Station IMAX movie, shown on a 5½ story screen. Come face-to-face with a real astronaut during the interactive Astronaut Encounter program and finally, take home a souvenir from the world's largest Space Shop.
<b><u>Ageless Airboat Adventure</u></b> (2 hours)
Imagine seeing the world in a whole new light. This educational excursion takes you into the seldom-visited heart of natural Florida. You will experience beautiful protected wetland hammocks and travel by airboat into pristine sections of fresh water marshes and up river, into the bald-cypress swamp, home of the Florida alligator, American bald eagle and a huge assortment of wildlife. You'll fall in love with the original beauty of old Florida. Certified eco-guides, biologists, botanists, and Audubon experts are trained to assure that you come away with a new and profound understanding of Florida's vastly different land and plant communities and the importance of their interrelationship and preservation. You'll see up close a marvelous assortment of birds, reptiles and plants as your expedition explores an area affectionately called: The Central Florida Everglades. Here in the outback, the day's experience starts with your guide's narrative en-route to Lone Cabbage, a 100-year old outpost, turn-of-the-century fish camp. Here you will board your 15-passenger airboat for a ride to the Central Florida Everglades. Learn about the freshwater ecosystem of the St. John's River, alligators and the huge assortment of wonderful creatures that call this swamp habitat home. Afterwards, you may sample alligator-tail and enjoy a soft drink.
<b><u>Canoe or Kayak on the Indian River Lagoon</u></b> (3 hours)
This is an interactive wildlife tour by kayak or canoe. Your experience begins on the Ocean Hammock's Boardwalk Trail. Here you will take an easy 30-45 minute nature walk through the offshore, barrier island's diverse ecosystem and learn of its significance and it's [sic] interrelationship with the estuary. Board your coach for the brief five-to-eight minute transfer to the estuary. Imagine it is 150 years ago; you are a pioneer family navigating down the Banana River. Hundreds of birds, many species of animals, along with one thousand species of plants create a sanctuary where tropical and temperate climates meet. Nearly one-third of the U.S. population of the endangered West Indian manatees lives here along with hundreds of bottlenose dolphins. You will paddle through this wildlife splendor with your eco-guides. Keep your eyes open... wildlife is all around you and only inches away. Binoculars are provided. This is a safe, inland water paddle and easy nature walk. The paddle is not a contest of speed or endurance. It's a slow, peaceful exploration through nature's splendor. This is a great opportunity for the first time older kayaker or young family.
<b><u>Wildlife Encounter: A Pontoon Boat Cruise</u></b> (3 hours)
On this fascinating educational adventure you will experience unique wildlife on the Banana River, except that it is not really a river, it's American's [sic] largest estuary. The Banana River, part of The Indian River Lagoon system, contains over 5,000 species of plants and animals. You will learn of its significance as you cruise the smooth, inland waters around Cocoa Beach's Thousand Islands aboard the shallow-draft, 55-passenger pontoon boat, in safety and comfort. You'll observe bottle nose dolphins as they feed and swim around the boat. Also keep your eyes open for the endangered manatees, as more of these unique marine mammals live in these waters than in any other area in Florida. Water wildlife abounds. Bring your cameras. This is an easy, guided and narrated tour that requires no walking. The pontoon boat is completely covered, and has inclement weather side curtains and a surround-sound speaker system. You will be treated to a soft drink during the cruise.
The remaining tours for Port Canaveral are called <b><i>Dive In to Adventure Tours</i></b>
<b><u>Swamp Buggy Tour</u></b> (5 hours)
<b><u>Guided Trail Bicycle Tour</u></b> (5 hours)
<b><u>Guided Trail Hike</u></b> (5 hours)
<b><u>Guided Horseback Tour</u></b> (5 hours)
<b><u>Rawhide Roundup</u></b> (8 hours)
Saddle up and experience a gold ole' Cracker style cow drive with authentic Cracker cattle, Cracker cowhands and cracking bullwhips. Help move a herd of cattle into greener pastures and experience a part of what Florida is all about. After you move 'em cattle, herd yourself into the Cypress Restaurant for some real southern cookin' [included]
Anyway the question was asked What is there to do at Port Canaveral? Here is a transcription of the formal excursions being offered by NCL:
<b><u>Universal Studios Theme Park</u></b> (9 hours)
<b><u>Universal's Islands of Adventure Theme Park</u></b> (9 hours)
Both excursions are offered with Standard Access or Express Access options. Both packages offer transportation to/from the park and park admission. Express Access also offers a tour guide, Universal Express priority access (an option usually available only to guests of the on-site hotels), and lunch.
<b><u>SeaWorld Adventure Park</u></b> (9 hours)
Tour features transportation and park admission.
<b><u>Wet 'N Wild</u></b> (9 hours)
Tour features transportation and park admission.
<b><u>Shuttle to the Magic Kingdom</u></b> (1 hour each way)
The only Disney-oriented excursion option is this transportation-only tour. Park admission is not included in the tour price.
<b><u>Kennedy Space Center</u></b> (7 hours)
Where else in the world can you tour restricted areas of a working space flight facility, meet a real astronaut, touch a piece of Mars and stand inches away from the largest rocket ever built? Only at Kennedy Space Center! Located just minutes from Port Canaveral on Florida's Space Coast, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at one of mankind's most fascinating and remarkable achievements... the space program... where history was, and still is, made every day. On your tour into restricted areas, you'll see Space Shuttle launch pads from the four-story Observation Gantry. Next, the Apollo/Saturn V Center offers an inspirational and exhilarating look into mankind's quest for the moon. Youll relive the historic launch of Apollo 8 at the Firing Room Theater, marvel at a monstrous 363-foot Saturn V moon rocket and witness the harrowing final moments before man landed on the moon. You can float effortlessly along with astronauts in the International Space Station featuring the heart pounding 3-D Space Station IMAX movie, shown on a 5½ story screen. Come face-to-face with a real astronaut during the interactive Astronaut Encounter program and finally, take home a souvenir from the world's largest Space Shop.
<b><u>Ageless Airboat Adventure</u></b> (2 hours)
Imagine seeing the world in a whole new light. This educational excursion takes you into the seldom-visited heart of natural Florida. You will experience beautiful protected wetland hammocks and travel by airboat into pristine sections of fresh water marshes and up river, into the bald-cypress swamp, home of the Florida alligator, American bald eagle and a huge assortment of wildlife. You'll fall in love with the original beauty of old Florida. Certified eco-guides, biologists, botanists, and Audubon experts are trained to assure that you come away with a new and profound understanding of Florida's vastly different land and plant communities and the importance of their interrelationship and preservation. You'll see up close a marvelous assortment of birds, reptiles and plants as your expedition explores an area affectionately called: The Central Florida Everglades. Here in the outback, the day's experience starts with your guide's narrative en-route to Lone Cabbage, a 100-year old outpost, turn-of-the-century fish camp. Here you will board your 15-passenger airboat for a ride to the Central Florida Everglades. Learn about the freshwater ecosystem of the St. John's River, alligators and the huge assortment of wonderful creatures that call this swamp habitat home. Afterwards, you may sample alligator-tail and enjoy a soft drink.
<b><u>Canoe or Kayak on the Indian River Lagoon</u></b> (3 hours)
This is an interactive wildlife tour by kayak or canoe. Your experience begins on the Ocean Hammock's Boardwalk Trail. Here you will take an easy 30-45 minute nature walk through the offshore, barrier island's diverse ecosystem and learn of its significance and it's [sic] interrelationship with the estuary. Board your coach for the brief five-to-eight minute transfer to the estuary. Imagine it is 150 years ago; you are a pioneer family navigating down the Banana River. Hundreds of birds, many species of animals, along with one thousand species of plants create a sanctuary where tropical and temperate climates meet. Nearly one-third of the U.S. population of the endangered West Indian manatees lives here along with hundreds of bottlenose dolphins. You will paddle through this wildlife splendor with your eco-guides. Keep your eyes open... wildlife is all around you and only inches away. Binoculars are provided. This is a safe, inland water paddle and easy nature walk. The paddle is not a contest of speed or endurance. It's a slow, peaceful exploration through nature's splendor. This is a great opportunity for the first time older kayaker or young family.
<b><u>Wildlife Encounter: A Pontoon Boat Cruise</u></b> (3 hours)
On this fascinating educational adventure you will experience unique wildlife on the Banana River, except that it is not really a river, it's American's [sic] largest estuary. The Banana River, part of The Indian River Lagoon system, contains over 5,000 species of plants and animals. You will learn of its significance as you cruise the smooth, inland waters around Cocoa Beach's Thousand Islands aboard the shallow-draft, 55-passenger pontoon boat, in safety and comfort. You'll observe bottle nose dolphins as they feed and swim around the boat. Also keep your eyes open for the endangered manatees, as more of these unique marine mammals live in these waters than in any other area in Florida. Water wildlife abounds. Bring your cameras. This is an easy, guided and narrated tour that requires no walking. The pontoon boat is completely covered, and has inclement weather side curtains and a surround-sound speaker system. You will be treated to a soft drink during the cruise.
The remaining tours for Port Canaveral are called <b><i>Dive In to Adventure Tours</i></b>
<b><u>Swamp Buggy Tour</u></b> (5 hours)
<b><u>Guided Trail Bicycle Tour</u></b> (5 hours)
<b><u>Guided Trail Hike</u></b> (5 hours)
<b><u>Guided Horseback Tour</u></b> (5 hours)
<b><u>Rawhide Roundup</u></b> (8 hours)
Saddle up and experience a gold ole' Cracker style cow drive with authentic Cracker cattle, Cracker cowhands and cracking bullwhips. Help move a herd of cattle into greener pastures and experience a part of what Florida is all about. After you move 'em cattle, herd yourself into the Cypress Restaurant for some real southern cookin' [included]
It's different each time, depending on the "best deal" available and the changing personal preferences. BK (before kids), we always opted for a window cabin. With 
