Cyndal BenulloPort Canaveral is one of the busiest cruise ports in the world, with millions of cruise passengers filtering in and out each year. And with the cost of flights continuing to rise, more and more guests are choosing to drive to their next cruise vacation. There are many parking options for guests leaving from this Florida cruise port including both onsite and offsite parking. In this guide, we’re providing you with everything you need to know about Port Canaveral cruise parking to help ensure your next trip is smooth sailing.
Located 45 minutes from Orlando and its attractions, many guests opt to have a car to explore what Orlando has to offer before or after their cruise vacation. Port Canaveral is located right next to Florida’s beaches, where many guests opt to extend their vacation. Not to mention, it’s conveniently located nearby Florida’s theme parks, so guests could spend some time at Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando while in the area as well.
If you choose to spend your time in the Port Canaveral area, there is plenty to keep you busy as well — from Kennedy Space Center, to an Everglades airboat ride, to the nearby Cocoa Beach.
Guide to Cruise Parking at Port Canaveral
Port Canaveral is a large terminal complex and has an ample amount of onsite parking. This will be the most expensive option, but likely the most convenient. Off-site parking lots are available, including shuttle service, but may take longer. Here, we break down all the parking options including price, location, and convenience to help you decide which is right for your travel party.
Port Canaveral Parking Lots
There is an ample amount of onsite cruise parking at the port. Each cruise terminal has an associated parking lot directly across from baggage drop off, making this short walk the most convenient option by far.
When parking directly at the port, guests can pull the car right up to baggage drop off and not have to lift a finger! Be aware that parking lots at the port do not open until 10 AM though. Oversized parking is available for buses and RVs at each cruise terminal if needed for the same cost.
Price: With convenience does come a higher cost. Parking at the Official Port Canaveral Parking lot costs $20 per day and includes the day of arrival and the day of departure. This means on a seven-day cruise, guests pay for 8 days of parking since debarkation is technically the 8th day.
Forms of payment are credit card only; no cash is accepted. Terminal 3 does offer payment in the form of a SunPass or E-Pass, but that is the only participating terminal at this time.
Location: Directly at the cruise terminal. All pre-boarding paperwork should tell you at which terminal your ship is located, as well as multiple signage areas at the port.
Shuttle: Not needed. Guests can walk directly to the cruise terminal from their designated Port Canaveral parking lot.
Reservations are not needed or accepted to park in the Port Canaveral parking lots.
Go Port Cruise Parking
Go Port is an off-site parking lot near Port Canaveral. While Go Port used to be a parking spot for all cruises, it now offers parking for Carnival’s Mardi Gras and Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas only.
In addition to cruise parking only, Go Port offers packages such as transfers between the airport and cruise port; transportation from select hotels to the port; and a package that includes a hotel stay and transfers between the airport, hotel, and cruise port.
Go Port’s paved parking lot offering 24/7 video monitoring, a seating area, and restrooms while guests wait on a shuttle to the ship.
Price: Parking for guests sailing aboard Star of the Seas costs $6 per day. Parking for passengers sailing on Mardi Gras costs $8 per day. These costs include the shuttle transfer to the cruise terminal.
Location: 3345 N. Courtenay Pkwy, Merritt Island, FL 32953
Shuttle: 10-minute shuttle rides are offered to the cruise terminal from 10:30 AM to 1 PM, and return shuttles are offered from 7 AM until ship debarkation is complete.
Park Port Canaveral
Park Port Canaveral is another one of the many off-site parking lots. It provides parking for passengers sailing Carnival, Disney, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, MSC, Princess, and Celebrity. Here, parking lot gates open at 9:30 AM and close at 2 PM, so be sure to plan your arrival accordingly.
This lot offers 24/7 security and video monitoring, is paved, and has wheelchair accessible shuttles.
Price: $14.95 per day with advanced reservations. $15.95 per day for drive up with no reservation. There is a 15% off offer for subscribing to their email list. Oversized vehicles over 17 feet are $24.95 with an advanced reservation, $26.95 without a reservation. There are additional taxes and fees added to your total here.
Location: 500 Thurm Boulevard, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920
Shuttle: 5-minute shuttle ride to Port Canaveral. Shuttles run every 15-20 minutes with guests being boarded by their assigned check-in time for their ship. The last shuttle leaves at 2 PM daily, guests needing assistance after 2 PM will need to call the office for arrangements. Return shuttles begin at 7 AM and will continue until ship debarkation is complete.
Park N Cruise Port Canaveral
Park N Cruise is one of the closest off-site parking lots to Port Canaveral, located two miles from the port. This lot is a family-owned and operated business with a law enforcement background. Security features include 24-hour surveillance, stadium lighting, and 8-ft tall gates at entry. The parking lot opens for check in at 10 AM and closes at 2 PM.
Their website has every cruise line listed EXCEPT for Disney Cruise Line. Although, it doesn’t specifically say they don’t service the Disney Cruise terminal, so we would suggest verifying before booking.
Price: $13.95 per day, with a shuttle included for up to 4 travelers. Additional one-time $20 fee per traveler over four people. Taxes and fees do apply at checkout. Discounts for active duty military, veterans, public service workers, first responders, and more are offered.
Location: 1700 Sea Ray Dr. Merritt Island, FL 32952
Shuttle: Shuttle service starts at 10 AM. The final shuttle leaves at 2 PM. Return shuttles on debarkation day start at 7 AM and continue until the last guest has been picked up.
Port Parking Space
Port Parking Space at Port Canaveral offers off-site parking for guests sailing with Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, and Norwegian Cruise Line. They do not operate for guests sailing with Disney Cruise Line. Port Parking Space is one of the newer cruise terminal off-site parking lots, and it touts itself as being the closest off-site cruise parking to the port (one mile away). Port Parking Space offers 24-hour video surveillance and a fully fenced-in lot.
They also offer “Snooze and Cruise” packages, partnering with nearby hotels for packages with a pre- or post-cruise night’s stay. For those arriving for a cruise, the parking lot is open from 10 AM to 3 PM, though you should arrive no later than 2:30 PM. For guests disembarking a cruise, the shuttle back to the parking lot begins at 7 AM.
Price: $13.95 per day when you use the promo code ‘CRUISE12’. Taxes and fees do apply at checkout. Military discounts are offered, as well as a five percent discount for creating an account with them.
Location: 8945 Columbia Road, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920
Shuttle: Continuous shuttle from roughly 10 AM to 2:30 PM. There is no charge for additional travelers or additional luggage.
Cruisetime Parking & Shuttle
Cruisetime Parking & Shuttle was previously the furthest parking lot from Port Canaveral, but has now moved to Park N Cruises’ location that it says is “just 2 minutes from Port Canaveral.” The lot is paved and gated, with a full perimeter fence and stadium lighting. It’s monitored 24/7 by high-definition surveillance cameras.
Through Cruisetime’s partnership with Park N Cruise, guests parking through both companies use the same bus transfers to and from the cruise port. Combined, they have a fleet of over 20 shuttle and coach busses.
Price: $14.95 per day, with shuttle service for up to 4 travelers. There’s an additional one-time $20 fee per traveler over four people.
Location: 1700 Sea Ray Drive, Merritt Island, FL 32952
Shuttle: For those arriving for a cruise, shuttles run from approximately 10:30 AM to 2 PM. The final shuttle leaves at 2 PM. For those who are headed back to their cars after a cruise, return shuttles start at 7 AM and continue until the last passenger has been picked up.
Hotel Parking
In addition to the onsite and off-site parking lots, many nearby hotels in Port Canaveral offer packages that include parking at the hotel for the duration of your cruise with an included shuttle service to the port.
Depending on the hotel, proximity, and any loyalty status you might have with the hotel brand, prices will vary.
Port Canaveral Cruise Parking Overview
There are an ample number of parking options for those seeking Port Canaveral cruise parking. With all of Port Canaveral’s expansions, the port sees millions of cruisers each year and continues to grow. Finding somewhere to safely keep your car while on vacation can seem intimidating, especially if this is your first cruise, but we have a summary below of the most popular parking options to help make your decision a little easier.
- Most convenient parking option: Onsite Port Canaveral parking lots
- Closest off-site parking lot: Port Parking Space
- Cheapest off-site parking lot: Go Port Cruise Parking
Comments
Have you parked at any of these locations before? What’s your preferred Port Canaveral parking lot? Drop us an anchor below to share where you park your car when sailing out of the Port Canaveral cruise port.
