Port Canaveral expecting record numbers of cruise passengers

[Capt_BJ]

In 'Florida Today' the Port Authority is warning of record setting passenger counts expected several days from now thru new years ... some days will see SIX ships turning around ... 50,000+ heads (combined arriving and departing)!!!

Traffic and parking systems are going to be stressed . . .

cruise ship schedule for the port can be checked at: https://www.portcanaveral.com/getat...site-Schedule-Nov22-Mar23.pdf.aspx?lang=en-US

 

[auntlynne]

Thanks for the (50,000+) heads up!

 

[insureman]

Awesome.

 

[NEGeekymama]

I guess we got lucky...only five ships on our embarkation date, and only four on debarkation!

 

[CampbellzSoup]

Awesome get your travel on

 

[tvguy]

Forget Port Canaveral. MCO will be a nightmare. It was at the end of our cruise on a January 3rd.

 

[Girl of the South]

I was told the Fantasy was going to be nearly full over Christmas including 2000 passengers under 18 (aka “kids”). MCO was a madhouse Saturday December 10th. Leave plenty of time.

 

[SandyinMonterey]

Well, I'll be in the PC nightmare. We're staying the night before in PC hotel on Astronaut Blvd. Our PAT is 11:45 a.m. Any recommendations as to what time we should leave hotel for port if traffic will be that bad?

 

[Girl of the South]

Going TO the Port on Dec 3 (with DCL transfer) was not an issue. Leaving PC on Dec 10th was another story. Took us 20 minutes just to get out of the port area due to traffic. So journey time was an hour and 15 minutes. You’re parking your car at PC? Will they let you into the garage before your PAT?

 

[Bellhop97]

Seems Port Canaveral is getting to be more popular than sailing out of Miami or Fort Lauderdale.

 

[SandyinMonterey]

Going TO the Port on Dec 3 (with DCL transfer) was not an issue. Leaving PC on Dec 10th was another story. Took us 20 minutes just to get out of the port area due to traffic. So journey time was an hour and 15 minutes. You’re parking your car at PC? Will they let you into the garage before your PAT?

We have our own car and parking at PC. From my understanding, not allowed to arrive before your PAT. With all the traffic they're expecting, the trick will be getting there before the ships leaves.

 

[insureman]

Forget Port Canaveral. MCO will be a nightmare. It was at the end of our cruise on a January 3rd.

That's why we have TSA pre check.

 

[tvguy]

That's why we have TSA pre check.

So do a LOT of other people.

 

[lklgoodman]

Forget Port Canaveral. MCO will be a nightmare. It was at the end of our cruise on a January 3rd.

Especially with some parts of the country getting winter storms. We've done 4 Jan cruises, luckily we never had bad weather getting to PC. Several years ago a huge snow/ice storm hit the Midwest and New England. Our flight along with everyone else had flights canceled. I'm sure there were a lot of people who missed their cruises.

 

[cvjw]

We have our own car and parking at PC. From my understanding, not allowed to arrive before your PAT. With all the traffic they're expecting, the trick will be getting there before the ships leaves.

They seem to have relaxed the not arriving before your PAT. They didn’t even ask to see our PAT when we pulled into the port to unload our luggage during our late October cruise. CM’s on our previous cruises always wanted to see your PAT before allowing you to unload luggage.

 

[Girl of the South]

It's supposed to be COLD in Orlando on Saturday - 47 for a high. 30 for the low. The good thing is that everyone is in the same boat - I mean, the port is expecting it to be tough, Disney is expecting crowds, so the ship might not leave on time. Can you enter the parking garage and NOT leave bags for the porters? I mean, if you drag stuff yourself (and it fits in the scanner) maybe you can arrive at the garage and sit there for an hour before your PAT? Does Port Arrival Time mean dropping off people and bags or does it mean to enter the parking garage??

I had TSA Pre when MCO was a ZOO but I noticed that the lines for the new Clear Reserve were very sparse. I think there is still time to sign up for it? But give yourself some leeway. Took me 45 minutes to self tag my Southwest checked bag.

https://www.kennythepirate.com/2022...ed-to-know-about-the-reservation-lane-at-mco/