In Port Canaveral for a Day: Rental Cars?

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

We're coming in on the Pride for a day, from 7 am to 6 pm. We're considering renting a car to go to Kennedy Space Center or Sea World.

 

(As of now, there are no ship excursions available for KSC, even though cruise is for Jan 10, 2016. In fact, there are only 5 excursions, and only Orlando based one is Aquatica)

 

For Budget and Avis, I assume I'd select the rental location, "Port Canaveral Shuttle for Cruise Ships." Is this correct?

 

And, do I call them when we dock, or do they have shuttles ready and waiting?

 

Thanks!

[Clarea]

We're coming in on the Pride for a day' date=' from 7 am to 6 pm. We're considering renting a car to go to Kennedy Space Center or Sea World.

 

(As of now, there are no ship excursions available for KSC, even though cruise is for Jan 10, 2016. In fact, there are only 5 excursions, and only Orlando based one is Aquatica)

 

For Budget and Avis, I assume I'd select the rental location, "Port Canaveral Shuttle for Cruise Ships." Is this correct?

 

And, do I call them when we dock, or do they have shuttles ready and waiting?

 

Thanks![/quote']

That is the correct location for the local rental car offices. I believe the Avis code for their office in Cocoa Beach is P3F.

 

I don't know about Budget, but the Avis shuttle runs continuously, no need to call.

Edited September 28, 2015 by clarea

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

Thanks!

 

I emailed Carnival about the lack of excursions for Port Canaveral, and they said they will have Kennedy available by the time our cruise starts.

 

As I can cancel our car reservation, and can wait until the last minute to buy KSC tickets online, I could still go with the ship excursion.

 

Ship excursion costs $200 for 2.

 

Going on our own would be $100 for tickets + $50something for the car, + gas + gps navigation rental from Avis. So, cost is too close to be a factor.

 

Which would be a better experience for us? Carnival's excursion for KSC has excellent reviews.

[E&B]

I would go with the Carnival excursion. All the hassle of renting the car, filling up, returning the car and parking the car just wouldn't be worth it to me. Plus, if you hit traffic Carnival will wait for you if you're on their excursion but not if you're on your own. I gave no experience with this excursion on Carnival, but did the same one on Norwegian and the bus ride out had a tour guide who was quite entertaining.