Recommend a hotel for cruise out of Port Canaveral?

[peaches0605]

Good morning!

Trying to decide whether to fly or drive ~9 hours. The best prices on flights would involve us getting in the day before the cruise departs. Are there any hotels that offer a shuttle to pick you up at the airport and then take you to the port the following morning?

The extra expense of a hotel and the crazy prices of ground transportation might make it *way* cheaper to drive, but 9 hours in the car kind of makes me not so excited.

Any tips? (we are first time cruisers!)

 

[pillow]

We are 12 hours away and find it easier/cheaper to drive for the reasons you mention. Even if driving, you probably still want to arrive a day early. We like La Quinta Oceanfront. Not luxury, but the rooms have been renovated and are nice (+ I like being able to walk the beach in the morning pre-cruise). There is a free breakfast. You can leave your car and take the shuttle to the port ($5 pp I think).

If you shuttle from the airport, you have to pay. We've used Cocoa Beach Shuttle, and they were fine. Good luck to you!

 

[FigmentSpark]

I get what you're saying, but remember, to make that flight, which is, what, an hour? You have to get to the airport an hour and a half early (at least), so you're already in for at least 3 hours ( including travel from home, if you live near the airport). Then you have to wait to get off the plane, navigate the airport and wait for your luggage. That often adds another hour. You may not be in the car, but you're already at half the driving time. You also have to park your car at the airport, which may or may not be cheaper than at Port Canaveral. And you are limited to what luggage you can take and how you will pack when taking a plane.

But yeah, even if you drive, you'd probably want to stay a night in Cocoa Beach, arriving a day before your cruise anyway, so you don't run into traffic or other unforeseen issues. You may not have that extra day off work to make it possible.

 

[klug_bug2010]

We will be cruising for our first time in December. We live in ND, so we will be flying in the day before. We're staying at the Hyatt right in MCO, as there is a Dinsey shuttle service that will take us right to Port Canaveral. As far as the 9 hour drive.... IMO, it really depends on the riders. Kids? Ages? Mine are 9 and 5, and I would consider the drive, but any younger and it would be a huge no for me.

 

[tee11]

I highly recommend the MCO Hyatt. Just stayed there first time post cruise, and would definitely book again pre and post cruise!

 

[Neptune's Fork]

Country Inn & Suites is the closest and has views of the Disney terminal. It's pretty good quality too and serves breakfast.

 

[Barbie C]

We stay at Radisson at the Port. They have a cruise, parking and shuttle package and are located almost directly across the street from the port.

 

[RedSox68]

Good morning!

Trying to decide whether to fly or drive ~9 hours. The best prices on flights would involve us getting in the day before the cruise departs. Are there any hotels that offer a shuttle to pick you up at the airport and then take you to the port the following morning?

The extra expense of a hotel and the crazy prices of ground transportation might make it *way* cheaper to drive, but 9 hours in the car kind of makes me not so excited.

Any tips? (we are first time cruisers!)

Stay at the Hyatt in the airport, then you can take the Disney cruise bus in the morning. They offer AAA rates, and when you check in you tell them you are on a cruise and they give you an envelope with all the information about meeting time, luggage, etc. We've done it twice and find it so convenient. For dinner they have a restaurant, or you can eat in one of the airport restaurants or food court. You never have to leave the airport to get to the hotel.

 

[MUN]

Good morning!

Trying to decide whether to fly or drive ~9 hours. The best prices on flights would involve us getting in the day before the cruise departs. Are there any hotels that offer a shuttle to pick you up at the airport and then take you to the port the following morning?

The extra expense of a hotel and the crazy prices of ground transportation might make it *way* cheaper to drive, but 9 hours in the car kind of makes me not so excited.

Any tips? (we are first time cruisers!)

9 hours is nothing. I would drive. If you drive, would you drive in the morning of the cruise of the day before?

 

[Marc D]

Good morning!

Trying to decide whether to fly or drive ~9 hours. The best prices on flights would involve us getting in the day before the cruise departs. Are there any hotels that offer a shuttle to pick you up at the airport and then take you to the port the following morning?

Any tips? (we are first time cruisers!)

If flying, the cheapest option is certainly to stay at MCO and grab the DCL shuttle in the morning. If you decide to drive down, I recommend the Residence Inn at Cocoa Beach. The breakfast is very good and included, the 1 BR suites offer the parents a bit of privacy and are not overly expensive, they have a rate that includes parking for the duration of the cruise and it's (almost) the closest hotel to the terminal. We usually call a cab (which is a flat rate of 15 $ or 20 $) but there is a paid shuttle available.

 

[peaches0605]

Thanks for all of your replies! My head is swimming with options. Kids will be 9 and 4, and the 4 year old is not a good car rider. My options seem to be:

1) split the drive into two parts of about 5 and 4 hours, departing our "halfway" point the morning of the cruise
2) drive all 9 hours in one go (this kind of makes me want to poke my eyes out), arriving in Florida the night before the cruise
3) fly in the night before and head to the port the morning of the cruise--but the airport with the best flight options is 2 hours away from home
4) fly in the morning of the cruise--but again, the airport is 2 hours away, so we would need to stay by the airport the night the night before to avoid leaving at like 2 AM

I'm thinking options 1 and 3 are my best bets. If option 1, we would leave Sunday at around 10 am CST and arrive to the halfway point at about 4:00 EST. Leave the following morning at 8:00 am and arrive in PC at noon-ish. If option 3, we would leave Sunday at around 10 am CST and land in Orlando around 5:00 and settle in for the night either at the airport or at Cocoa Beach.

Flying doesn't seem to save us THAT much time, but some of that time can be spent walking around instead of being strapped in a carseat.

If I could only get a good priced flight out of my city we would be in business! I'm stalking Southwest daily!

Any advice is definitely welcome!

 

[MUN]

Thanks for all of your replies! My head is swimming with options. Kids will be 9 and 4, and the 4 year old is not a good car rider. My options seem to be:

1) split the drive into two parts of about 5 and 4 hours, departing our "halfway" point the morning of the cruise
2) drive all 9 hours in one go (this kind of makes me want to poke my eyes out), arriving in Florida the night before the cruise
3) fly in the night before and head to the port the morning of the cruise--but the airport with the best flight options is 2 hours away from home
4) fly in the morning of the cruise--but again, the airport is 2 hours away, so we would need to stay by the airport the night the night before to avoid leaving at like 2 AM

I'm thinking options 1 and 3 are my best bets. If option 1, we would leave Sunday at around 10 am CST and arrive to the halfway point at about 4:00 EST. Leave the following morning at 8:00 am and arrive in PC at noon-ish. If option 3, we would leave Sunday at around 10 am CST and land in Orlando around 5:00 and settle in for the night either at the airport or at Cocoa Beach.

Flying doesn't seem to save us THAT much time, but some of that time can be spent walking around instead of being strapped in a carseat.

If I could only get a good priced flight out of my city we would be in business! I'm stalking Southwest daily!

Any advice is definitely welcome!

I would make the drive. Have you tried occupying your 4 year old on car drives? A good book or some kind of game might do the trick.

 

[peaches0605]

I would make the drive. Have you tried occupying your 4 year old on car drives? A good book or some kind of game might do the trick.

She's a bit of a diva (i.e. whiny ) and gets a little carsick. We've never attempted longer than 4 or so hours. Maybe lots of stops and lots of new fun toys to play with. She can't do movies or ipad or anything because of the carsickness (she gets it honestly from me so I understand the struggle!).

 

[MUN]

She's a bit of a diva (i.e. whiny ) and gets a little carsick. We've never attempted longer than 4 or so hours. Maybe lots of stops and lots of new fun toys to play with. She can't do movies or ipad or anything because of the carsickness (she gets it honestly from me so I understand the struggle!).

I would go with option 1. Split the trip and arrive at the Port on the morning of the cruise. I've been in your shoes, the kids get easier to travel with as they get older.
Have you thought about giving her Nyquil before the drive?

Enjoy your cruise!

MUN

 

[pillow]

I would make the drive. Have you tried occupying your 4 year old on car drives? A good book or some kind of game might do the trick.

Or Benadryl!

 

[pillow]

I would go with option 1. Split the trip and arrive at the Port on the morning of the cruise. I've been in your shoes, the kids get easier to travel with as they get older.
Have you thought about giving her Nyquil before the drive?

Enjoy your cruise!

MUN

Ha - hadn't read your response before posting. We are thinking alike - lol!!

 

[diznymom]

Fly in the day before and stay at Disney's All Star Sports (or other Disney value resort).
Transportation from MCO to AS Sports (Disney's Magical Express) is free.
Take the DCL bus from the resort to the port ($70 per person round trip). They come and get your bags the morning of the cruise, before you get on the bus. Taking the DCL bus after the cruise is super easy.

 

[tigerchic89]

We've done it a few ways. Flying and staying at MCO was super easy, but it was most expensive. The disney shuttle before and after is so nice, easy and efficient... and I feel like it extends the vacation on both sides!

We've driven and stayed the night before at Country Inn. Their shuttle was great, I thought fast. organized and we saved a lot of $$$ not having to pay the $140 to park at the port. However, I found the hotel in desperate need of updating and cleaning. I will not stay there again.

For our upcoming cruise, we do not have a full day to drive down. We are driving part of the trip the day before and staying in Jacksonville the night before. We will make the last 3 hour drive the morning of the cruise. We plan to leave the hotel at 7am, I want plenty of time for traffic, flat tire, etc. I will be a nervous wreck that morning worried about missing the ship. We are paying $140 to park at the port.

Next time, we will drive down to titusville (I think is the name) and stay at one of the hotels that offers 40% voucher off of port parking. We will be close the night before and will have $60 saved from parking to put toward the hotel fee.

 

[pillow]

Ask 1 question, get 50 million different answers! Everyone has a different way to do things. We used to fly, but now we drive to save cash to use on other vacations. Also, its nice to have a car to do things either pre or post cruise since we tend to do the 4 night cruise these days versus the 7.

One year, we drove down and stayed on the Gulf coast pre cruise to swim with the manatees. For our next cruise, we're driving down and spending 2 nights at WDW beforehand. Driving isn't so bad if you can stay a while and make it worth your drive. You'll have fun regardless!

 

[RedSox68]

She's a bit of a diva (i.e. whiny ) and gets a little carsick. We've never attempted longer than 4 or so hours. Maybe lots of stops and lots of new fun toys to play with. She can't do movies or ipad or anything because of the carsickness (she gets it honestly from me so I understand the struggle!).

Have you tried children's Bonine? I use that not only for the ship, but on excursions because of the movement of the buses. I understand about the carsickness -- I get that way when I'm not the one driving!