where to stay the night before cruise

[AnnMorin]

We are going on the western caribbean cruise in December and have decided to spend the night in Florida the day before. (the past two trips I have been exausted the first day and half for having to get up at 4am to get an early enough flight in. We don't know where to stay that friday night. Should we look for a place near Cape Canaveral or one near the airport? ann

 

[amy1007]

We are staying at the Cocoa Beach Hilton for a few days before our cruise. It is about 5-10 minuts from Port Canaveral.

 

[J.R.R.Hook]

We have stayed at the Cocoa Beach Hampton Inn. It is inexpensive, very clean, right near the ocean, has a very cool pool, and a free continental breakfast! What more could you ask for? Plus, its only 15-20 minutes from port! If you have rooms overlooking the parkinglot (that is, you can see the ocean to your left), you can even see the Magic from your balcony! (We took pictures with our zoom lens and video camera.)

 

[Señor Ferrari]

We always stay that the Hyatt at the airport in Orlando. I find it very convenient. We then catch the DCL transfers from the airport to the port on the morning of the cruise.

 

[disney6]

We are staying at the Radisson in Port Canaveral the night before our October cruise. The rate is a whopping $59 (yipee!) and they offer free shuttle to the boat! Put in FALL when you look up rates in the promotional code and a regular room is $59 and $99 for a 2 room suite. It's a beautiful hotel - pink with lots of palm trees - ahhhhhh just thinking about it.........

 

[cruisnfamily]

I was planning to stay at the Raddison the night before as well. Apparently it's quite the popular pre-cruise spot. But, I read several reviews here and elsewhere that led me to believe it is shabby and/or run down. Has anyone stayed recently and is it ok? Also, everybody say "great pool", I was just wondering what was "great" about it?

Thanks!

 

[disney6]

We were there Oct. 2000 so maybe it's more rundown now? We didn't get in until 2am and left in the morning but from what we did see it was Wonderful! The room was clean and very Floriday and the pool looked great but my glasses were rose colored! From what I remember it was really nice and we are looking forward to staying there again. Am still VERY interested to hear what other more recent guests have to say though.

 

[KeenHo]

We stayed at the Port Radisson in May '01 after our cruise (before going to Kennedy Space Center on Sunday). It was clean, up to date, not in the least bit shabby. It was one of the nicest rooms we've stayed in a while. We stayed in a jacuzzi suite with our children which was like new. The pool is large and interesting, not a mere rectangle in the ground. It is large, plenty of chairs/lounges to relax on, nicely lanscaped, a bar and hot tub just adjacent to it, and a "mountain" arching over a portion of it complete with eagle and mountain lion. The Radisson also has a nice restaurant, althought we didn't try it. We went to Kelsey's just next door for dinner.

My DW (Cam) and I are cruising in June (22nd) without our children on the Magic (Western). We are going down a day early and enjoying the suite and the hotel again. I believe our rate (thanks to Caroline) is $95.

In short, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the Radisson. Good Luck.

Howard

 

[hsteacher]

UMMM -- just stayed at the Radisson this past Sat. night as we left on the Wonder Easter Sunday (I'm at the internet cafe right now) and I wasn't thrilled with the Radisson. Thank goodness I got the FALL $59 rate as it certainly isn't a $109 hotel. It was a clean room (not the grounds -- spilled drinks all over the place and still there in the morning), the pool is OK (so there's a waterfall -- not a big deal to us), and yes, it is pretty BUT the toilet was overflowing several times and had to call maintenance, the ice machines NEVER had ice OR were broken and other than eating at the hotel, it's difficult to find a decent place (TGIFriday's, Appleby's type) in Cocoa Beach at all. Denny's was the best we could scrounge up and the smoking section was always full so the place stunk and the service was awful. I was unimpressed with Cocoa Beach and would probably never stay there again. Lots of drunk young teens/college students (never saw so many thongs walking the streets with most of them who shouldn't be in a thong to begin with) and driving on A1A was just a mess. Went to Ron Jon's just to experience it (heard we HAD to) and came out to yucky stuff on my rental car (my 10yr old thought it was bird poop -- my teenage daugther and I knew exactly what it was and it wasn't bird poop -- drunk people are so disgusting!!) I would probably check out some other hotels -- it was wonderful to have the shuttle and to have Avis right there but I won't do the Radission again. By the way, it looks alot like the Carribbean Beach Resort (room layout, building style, etc) but no where as clean or nice.

 

[idontknow]

hsteacher- Ooooh, you actually ate at the Denny's? The one just up from the Chevron where A1A splits? Are you alright?

Unless they have rebuilt that place, stay away from it. It needs to be condemmed unless it's been rehabbed. I used to work there in 1988 and it was fine. We did bug outs once a month and cleaned like there was no tomorrow. We went back and almost ate there in 1999. We ended up walking out when part of the ceiling fell onto our table before our food came. It was terrible to see how run down the place was.

 

[AnnMorin]

For all of you that stayed at the radisson how did you get there from the airport, and how did you return?

 

[NCRedding]

Ann Morin: There are a couple ways I've heard. Some people use a towncar service from MCO to the Radisson--Others rent from Avis which has places in MCO and at the Radisson. I have never stayed at the Radisson, but understand that the condition of your room depends upon which area of the hotel you stay in--the older part or the newer part. The newer part appears to have the suites, and is nicer. The older part is mainly rooms, and doesn't get the best review. What we did for our 7 night in Jan. We got the $99 cruise rate at the Dolphin--rented a car from Avis, and drove to port the next day. We had just had a beach vacation, so I chose to spend time at WDW instead that first night.

 

[atigeg]

We fly in the night before and get a hotel near the airport via Hotwire or Priceline. We typically pay $28 to $33 for a hotel with a free shuttle and often free breakfast too (we usually end up at the Amerisuites or La Quinta and have also gotten the Radisson). There are generally restaurants within walking distance. Then we take Happy Limo to the port in the morning.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[Ginny]

AnnMorin -

We have stayed at both the Hyatt Orlando Airport and the Radisson on our Halloween 01 cruise. I enjoyed them both for different reasons.

The grounds at the Radisson may not be as lush as some would imagine but we thought the $99.00 King Jacuzzi Suite was wonderful.
I found the hotel and grounds clean but I was there at a quieter time vice spring break for college kids. The restaurant was not anything to write home about but we did have a great Italian restaurant next door that we enjoyed.

Having read these boards, I learned from BethA's surprise to her husband that there were suites that had a view of the Magic/Wonder first thing in the AM. And, what a special way to wake up!! I just requested one of those suites when we checked in and they were very accomodating. I also put my name on the shuttle list for 1030 the next AM as I had read they fill up fast and there were names already on the list when we arrived. We used Barb & Tony's coupon for Happy Limosuine for our transport from the Airport to the Port on a Friday morning and we very relaxed the next AM.

On the way home we stayed at the Orlando Hyatt because our original flight was cancelled and we had to stay an extra day (darn!!)
Instead of a suite, we got two adjoining rooms and it was wonderful to have the two baths and all that room. Room service was great. But, the best part was having the bellman transport all of our luggage all the way to United. He will have my undying gratitude for that miracle.

I think there are lots of different options to choose from and the best part is - you get to go on a cruise!!! I'm so jealous!

 

[wdwobsessed]

I hope to get more input about the Radisson.

Is it really that bad, or are people being picky??

We just want somewhere clean, comforatable and fairly nice to spend the night.

Will we be happy?

Thanks

wdwo

 

[scottie]

We are sailing on the Disney Wonder Sept. 22nd. We just booked the Hilton at Cocoa Beach via HotWire for 54.00 plus tax and fee.

 

[Laurajean1014]

We stay at Vero Beach for 3 days! It's a beautiful place to sit back and relax and get in the mood for a cruise excursion. It's 50 miles from port canavral ~ we left at 8:30 am and made it to the cruise res desk by 9:30! I was the second person on the ship!

Yay!

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

...at www.dcltribute.com/spacecoast/lodging.htm.

I have unbiased descriptions of <i>most</i> lodging options near the port. And there's a locater map so you can have an idea where it is.

 

[AnnMorin]

well we ended up booking via hotwire (thanks to barb) for amerisuites for only 39.00 hope it is ok!