Staying/ Parking near Port Canaveral- Need help!

[NNPMom]

Hi fellow cruisers!

We are in the Mid-Atlantic and usually fly to MCO night before but for our April cruise we are bringing my niece and nephew... and it is the week after Easter. Flights from PHL or BWI to MCO for five people are insane- almost more than I paid for the cruise! So we are driving for the first time.

I need help with:

1) Where should we stay for two nights near Port Canaveral - we will be arriving Saturday and spending Sunday at Cape Canaveral.

2) We are driving same car down and back- so I need to park for the time we are on the ship. Is it better to leave the car at the hotel (do any let you do this) or to park at the port? Pros and Cons if you have done this?

3) Prefer a hotel that has pool or beach to entertain three teenagers, and prefer breakfast included- we have 1030 PAT and so the plan is to be onboard at poolside with drink in hand as early as possible

Thanks in advance!

 

[FredtheDuck]

There’s a Residence Inn right near the port - less than five minutes of driving. We stayed there and then drove to the port and parked there for our cruise. It’s not cheap but it was convenient, especially since we had an early PAT too.
The hotel had free parking while we stayed and free breakfast. Also had separate spaces for us and our kid - plenty of space. Between that and the pool, it was ideal for us. We’ll stay there again for our CC double dip later this year.

 

[OKW Lover]

Its been several years for us but we have stayed at the Residence Inn that @FredtheDuck mentions above. It was a very nice place to stay and their breakfast was really good. You may want to check and see if they have a rate that includes parking during your cruise and transportation to the port. Compare it to the $140 that it will cost you to park at the port for a 7-night cruise if you drive there.

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

We stayed at Country Inn & Suites close to the port. It had a very nice pool, and breakfast was included. I would stay there again. It is not on the beach. As you will have a car, if you would like to get out on the beach, I recommend driving south to Lori Wilson park ... they have easy parking and beach access there.

Though the hotel had an option to park there and get a shuttle to the port, we opted to park at the port, because we wanted quick access to our vehicle when it was time to depart. When I saw the lines and piles of luggage waiting for the shuttle that morning, I was very happy with my decision to spend the extra $60-$80 or so in order to park at the port.

 

[mmouse37]

We just got off the Fantasy yesterday and we parked at the port. I debated whether we should do two one-way rentals or just rent once and keep the car the whole time and park at the port. I opted to park at the port with the rental. yes, it was more expensive than doing two one-way rentals but so very much more convenient. We had six adults and lots of luggage so we dropped the luggage when we first got there and then drove and parked in the garage. Easy peasy. You pay when you go in to park. The day we embarked there were 3 ships in port and on debarkation day there was 4 ships in port. I have had past experiences dropping off and renting at the car rental agencies near the port and they can get VERY hectic when that many ships are in. I know I am rambling but just trying to convey that parking at the port is so nice and convenient. I couldn't imagine all six of us hopping a shuttle to the car rental place with luggage to pick up a car and then not have the van we reserved there (it happened a few times to us).

It was worth the extra money ($17 per day, $136 for a 7 night cruise (including day of arrival and day of departure). Yesterday we just left the terminal and walked to the garage with our luggage and loaded up and were on our way. Loved it!!!

As far as hotels in the area...we have stayed at many of them.....

The Radisson - really nice pool area, rooms so so showing their age, close to the port

Marriott Residence Inn - all suite hotel with nice pool and free breakfast, close to the port

Country Inn and Suites - all suite hotel with nice pool and free breakfast, close to the port (liked the Marriott better)

Homewood Suites by Hilton - newest hotel in the area, close to port, nice rooms, nice pool, free breakfast

Doubletree - on the beach, older rooms showing their age, free chocolate chip cookie at check-in (at least when we were there), further from the port.

International Palms - motel type accommodations, on the beach, nice splash area for the kids, Tiki bar and restaurant. Stay, park and cruise specials. Further from port.

Four Points Sheraton - Next to Ron Jon Surf Shop, actually attached to another surf shop, decent room, terrible pool, Starbuck in the lobby, felt the hotel was very dark, a block or so from the beach, a few miles from the port.

MJ

 

[CruisingDad]

We have done two Disney Cruises out of Port Canaveral with our third booked for this May. The first time we did two one-way rentals through National. The second time we did a one-way rental from MCO to Port Canaveral and then took the GoPortCanaveral shuttle back to the airport after the cruise. I was happy with both.