gorgotron

The QI is on 95 ... no where near the beach. There is some eating nearby but think the standard cluster of chain places at an exit ... not the "beach side" places you might have access to closer to the port. PC is in a small town ... there is "never" a lot of traffic by city standards.

 

The Days Inn .... is well, a Days Inn, miles from the port and the beach and I would not leave MY car there while on a cruise. Not necessarily a crime area, but in the boonies so any kids walking by . . . [this is trailer park country]

 

If your choice is tween the two I'd pick the QI

 

BUT, expand your search is my recommendation. Look around exit 191 of 95 aka Viera. There is a Holiday Express, Hampton Inn and a La Quinta .... with a lot of places to eat close by at 'The Avenues' ... an upscale mall. Via 95 you are 30 minutes from the port.

 

my 2 cents . . . I've lived in the port/Melbourne area for 9 years

 

In ANY case, I would consider one of the nearby (to the port) off-site parking places like Park n Cruise or Park Port Canaveral. Safer and cost 1/2 what the port charges and 10 minutes from the port with free shuttle when you get back

Viera is gorgeous, if booking a hotel there and you have kids then the Melbourne Zoo is a great attraction.

The plus to being at Quality Inn in Titusville is that its near Kennedy Space Center, and the space program has expanded a lot recently so its a pretty cool place to visit. It's peaceful in Titusville, but not many places to eat or attractions to visit.

That looks very cool, wish I was around to check it out this weekend! Seems like they go around a lot of places, might have to go down to the keys soon :p

You can find a hotel within your budget at https://www.goportcanaveral.com they've got several near mco that include shuttle to the hotel and then shuttles to the cruise ships and a shuttle back to the airport. It's all preference, I like the Holiday Inn its a 4 star hotel and with all the services included it is showing for $149

I'm interested in this info, too. I know the options:

• stay near MCO and shuttle, shared ride or private car to port in the morning
  
• shared ride or private car to hotel near port and then taxi or shuttle to port in the morning
  

 

But what I really want to know is what option did you pick and why? If you stayed near MCO, why did you chose that option and vice versa?

 

Do the hotels near the port offer free shuttles to the port? Or is there a cost?

I've stayed near the port by the beach at Oceans Landings because we got there early and actually got the enjoy the beach.

I have stayed at Embassy Suites by the airport because we flew late and really just wanted to relax afterwords. The happy hour was a huge plus lol

Either way, got both all in one packages with Go Port Canaveral.

I think people don't know that Orlando is still a good option before a cruise. 1, because its near the airport. 2, because its near so many aattractions to help keep kids entertained.

Near the port has its obvious plusses. Easy to get to the terminal, and hang out at the beach before sailing out.

What day are you going? I think it really depends on the time of year and day of the week. If its during the slow season on a weekday, you can get everything done a few times by the end of the day and definitely have a blast

Fortunately, there now more transport/hotel choices than ever to meet most budgets.

 

All the hotels within 10 miles or so from the Port have shuttle services, with only one or two exceptions. No worries there.

 

The choices are plenty and way too much to repeat here, but you can read all about it on this site - transportation options.

 

Hotels near the Port are grouped in clusters. Go here for maps and hotel average costs, shuttle info, etc. Hotel Options

Great list! I'd recommend http://www.executiveviplimousine.com/ if you want private transportation. Or https://www.goportcanaveral.com/airport-shuttle/day-of-cruise.php $14.50 each way for shared shuttle on TravelLynx you won't find cheaper.

Here ya go bud https://www.goportcanaveral.com/fly-snooze-cruise/orlando-sanford-airport

That included transportation from sanford airport to the hotel of choice, a night at the hotel, transportation to your cruise terminal, and transportation back to sanford airport. Goportcanaveral has some sweet deals and makes it so much easier to book it together for cheaper. Call em also if you want any customization to the package

beating the crowd isn't always the best idea. Usually turns out that you get there first, and watch the crowd come in while you're still waiting for hours...

https://www.goportcanaveral.com/airport-shuttle/day-of-cruise.php these guys got the cheapest for $14.50 each way from the airport but not really the times you're looking for. maybe a car rental or call them to see what else they can do for ya

theyve got a bunch of places in las olas, YOLO is one of our favorites, and a bit further is rustic inn, any local can tell ya about it!

check out the doubletree or the hilton in cocoa beach! Cocoa beach is prob the best and more beautiful location if you want to visit kennedy space center as well

https://www.goportcanaveral.com/fly-snooze-cruise/orlando-airport

look over those packages they can customize your stay almost any way you want. I stayed at the embassy once and got to go back after the cruise with no extra charge before my flight home :cool:

Havnt stayed there myself but it seems like a really nice place. Great location tho, let me know how it goes!

when is your trip? check out international palms, kid friendly place and only 15 minutes away. https://www.goportcanaveral.com/fly-snooze-cruise/orlando-airport/international-palms-cocoa-beach/6-people/2

these guys got a variety of hotels you can choose from, and the packages include airport shuttles to the hotel if youre flying in plus cruise transfers. Or cruise parking if driving in.

A hotel with parking & transfers costs just a little more, but yeah I'd go with Park n Cruise theyve got a pretty good rep and its fairly priced

Go Port Canaveral has got a variety of hotels with cruise parking and shuttles, choose one that fits your liking the most. Personally leaning towards the Residence Inn at lake nona, heard nothing but great things since they've opened up. And as someone said, it's further away so you prob won't deal with as many people on the shuttle to the port.

Oriana does look pretty! Is it just stopping by from New York or something?

A bit further away is Galuppis, amazing Sunday brunch!

Also a bit closer than Galuppis is Bistro 1902, best eggs benedict and salmon with all you can drink mimosas.

Park n Go, or enjoy your vaca early and stay at Embassy or Fairfield Inn theyve both got cruise parking included, errr its been a while since I stayed at Fairfield. Anyone know if they still do there park sleep cruise deal?

Can't ever go wrong with Embassy, free drinks, great breakfast, and in a super convenient location

South Beach, not even for the beach, but everything around it is beautiful.

Miami Seaquarium, Jungle Island, get on a sightseeing bus.

I got nothing but high praise to them and their customer service, I really wish they'd open up in other locations. My DW and I have booked twice with them, once in Orlando at the Econolodge and once in Cocoa Beach at the Ocean Landings.

basically got what I paid for at the econolodge. Spent more for Ocean Landings and it was worth it. Either way the transportation services provided were on point, we had a blast on the cruise and got to the airport with plenty of time to spare. Just make sure you dont have a flight around or before noon lol

Will be booking again with them for our New Years cruise, gonna scope out the events in Orlando and Port Canaveral to see what we'd like to do pre and post cruise.

I've stayed at several Homewood Suites, not this one in particular, but I have never had a bad experience. I would expect the same from this location, it's always provided a pleasant stay especially during my business trips

Yeah Bags to Go is the one in Ft Lauderdale. This is something Port Canaveral has been lacking unfortunately. I know goportcanaveral offers return use to their packages and you can check your bags back at the hotel after cruising but...ive never needed it before, too pooped for anymore excursions or sightseeing.

I noticed that too.

 

Ocean Landings is quite far down the road to the south. Is the package $125?

 

Also, it is not clear how that shuttle works. It appears the shuttle is a shared one between the different hotels under contract by goportcanaveral and thus it makes several stops on its circuit to/from the cruise terminals as well as at the cruise terminals? Meaning you will sit on the bus and endure several stops with pickups to the terminal? How many stops does it make?

 

Maybe someone can explain the goportcanaveral shuttle circuit in its packages and answer why it departs so late for the cruise terminal.

 

In this case I still think the $95 a night park/shuttle/sleep deal from Park Port Canaveral and its partner Cocoa Beach Suites is a great one for cruisers looking for one of the cheapest stays before a cruise. And you can hop on any shuttle leaving every 15 minutes or so starting around 10am as you stated!

What?! Late? Who wants to stay at the port waiting around in crowds lol I stayed here last summer and when we took the shuttle it stopped one time at another hotel (didnt care enough to see which) but we still got to our terminal around noon when the crowd wasnt too crazy. And last feb we booked with go port as well and stayed by the FL mall at the econolodge.

Yeah, not the greatest but we had spent a pretty penny on our cruise already. But we had a blast and didnt have to deal with too much planning precruise.

Going on Norwegian epic for new years :D wife and i are still debating whether we want beach or parks prior to cruising and we'll be booking with them again

All beached out? There's some beautiful beaches on Las Olas Boulevard. A lot of nice dining options in that location as well. If you're bored you can always go to the IMAX and if you have kids, the Museum of Discovery and Science is a nice attraction for them.