<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by juniperjen:
Hi! I have a question. We have sailed out of Port Canaveral before, but the circumstances were different. Before, we flew into Orlando the morning of the cruise and left from the Orlando airport the afternoon we returned. Then, it made sense for us to take the Mears Shuttle to the port and back to the airport.
I am currently planning our next cruise vacation. There will be two of us on the vacation (DH and I) We will be flying into Orlando on a Saturday evening. The cruise departs on Sunday and returns Thursday. When we get off the ship on Thursday, we will be spending three nights at the Royal Pacific Resort (on site at Universal Orlando). Since this vacation is different, I wanted to ask what our best option would be to get where we need to be.
*Should we arrange for a shuttle (any suggestions on companies?) to pick us up at the airport on Saturday evening and take us to a Port Canaveral hotel or should we get a hotel room close to the airport and take the shuttle to the port Sunday morning?
*Should we forget the shuttles and rent a car instead (neither of us have driven in Orlando) and drive to Port Canaveral ourselves on Saturday? What rental car company would be best?
*When we get off the ship on Thursday, what is the best way to get to our hotel? We could take the shuttle to the airport and then get a taxi to the hotel, but that seems so out of the way (and expensive).
*Is there any type of shuttle that goes directly from the port to Orlando hotels?
*If we rent a car to drive back to Orlando, how would we get from the port to the car rental location?
*How difficult would the drive be from the port to Universal Orlando?
I know that is a LOT of questions, but I was hoping someone would have some good advice!
Thanks,
Jennifer
03/01 - Imagination
07/03 - Glory
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Hi Jennifer...I can answer most of your questions for you. I live in Orlando and cruise frequently out of port canaveral, and live near the airport. You could either get a hotel in Orlando right by the airport, (there is a Hyatt in the airport.) Either way you can get a Mears Motor shuttle directly from the airport to Port Canaveral or from an Orlando hotel to the port.( and coming back you can arrange in advance for transportation to the Royal Pacific. The other option is renting a car (but then you have to pay for rental, gas and parking) there are Budget and National rental centers in the airport. Hertz and Thrifty have shuttles (free) from the airport to the rental center, about a half mile away. Driving to the port is super easy from the airport. You just get on the 528 (beeline) tollroad going east and follow the signs...you stay on it for about 40 miles, go over 2 bridges and the turnoff to the port is right after you get off the second bridge. Very easy, and traffic on the weekend is light, as it will be after debarking the ship on a weekday morning.
I would suggest taking a shuttle to the port, and renting a car at the port to drive back to Orlando after the cruise. All the major rental Co's have nearby dropoffs by the airport or in the airport with free shuttles.
Driving to the Royal Pacific from the port is easy. You get on the 528 (beeline) and go straight to I-4 eastbound, the universal exits are marked and less than 5 miles drive from the beeline.
If you are not planning on driving while in Orlando, I would just suggest the shuttle both ways.
You will love the Royal Pacific. Stayed there about 2 weeks ago. See if you can get Luau tickets for Saturday night..it's a lot of fun. They also have nice live bands at the poolside on weekend nights. I really liked Jake's American Grill....great food, they had karaoke the night we were there, which was fun to watch. Both my sons work at Universal and Islands of adventure, so we get out there a lot. Hope this helps. Feel free to email if you need more info.
Transportation to/from Port Canaveral
in Florida Departures
Posted
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by juniperjen:
Hi! I have a question. We have sailed out of Port Canaveral before, but the circumstances were different. Before, we flew into Orlando the morning of the cruise and left from the Orlando airport the afternoon we returned. Then, it made sense for us to take the Mears Shuttle to the port and back to the airport.
I am currently planning our next cruise vacation. There will be two of us on the vacation (DH and I) We will be flying into Orlando on a Saturday evening. The cruise departs on Sunday and returns Thursday. When we get off the ship on Thursday, we will be spending three nights at the Royal Pacific Resort (on site at Universal Orlando). Since this vacation is different, I wanted to ask what our best option would be to get where we need to be.
*Should we arrange for a shuttle (any suggestions on companies?) to pick us up at the airport on Saturday evening and take us to a Port Canaveral hotel or should we get a hotel room close to the airport and take the shuttle to the port Sunday morning?
*Should we forget the shuttles and rent a car instead (neither of us have driven in Orlando) and drive to Port Canaveral ourselves on Saturday? What rental car company would be best?
*When we get off the ship on Thursday, what is the best way to get to our hotel? We could take the shuttle to the airport and then get a taxi to the hotel, but that seems so out of the way (and expensive).
*Is there any type of shuttle that goes directly from the port to Orlando hotels?
*If we rent a car to drive back to Orlando, how would we get from the port to the car rental location?
*How difficult would the drive be from the port to Universal Orlando?
I know that is a LOT of questions, but I was hoping someone would have some good advice!
Thanks,
Jennifer
03/01 - Imagination
07/03 - Glory
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Hi Jennifer...I can answer most of your questions for you. I live in Orlando and cruise frequently out of port canaveral, and live near the airport. You could either get a hotel in Orlando right by the airport, (there is a Hyatt in the airport.) Either way you can get a Mears Motor shuttle directly from the airport to Port Canaveral or from an Orlando hotel to the port.( and coming back you can arrange in advance for transportation to the Royal Pacific. The other option is renting a car (but then you have to pay for rental, gas and parking) there are Budget and National rental centers in the airport. Hertz and Thrifty have shuttles (free) from the airport to the rental center, about a half mile away. Driving to the port is super easy from the airport. You just get on the 528 (beeline) tollroad going east and follow the signs...you stay on it for about 40 miles, go over 2 bridges and the turnoff to the port is right after you get off the second bridge. Very easy, and traffic on the weekend is light, as it will be after debarking the ship on a weekday morning.
I would suggest taking a shuttle to the port, and renting a car at the port to drive back to Orlando after the cruise. All the major rental Co's have nearby dropoffs by the airport or in the airport with free shuttles.
Driving to the Royal Pacific from the port is easy. You get on the 528 (beeline) and go straight to I-4 eastbound, the universal exits are marked and less than 5 miles drive from the beeline.
If you are not planning on driving while in Orlando, I would just suggest the shuttle both ways.
You will love the Royal Pacific. Stayed there about 2 weeks ago. See if you can get Luau tickets for Saturday night..it's a lot of fun. They also have nice live bands at the poolside on weekend nights. I really liked Jake's American Grill....great food, they had karaoke the night we were there, which was fun to watch. Both my sons work at Universal and Islands of adventure, so we get out there a lot. Hope this helps. Feel free to email if you need more info.
Laurie kemper1974@aol.com
Laurie