As one of the biggest cruise ports in the world, Port Canaveral, Florida hosts ships from a variety of cruise lines. Serving as an embarkation port as well as a port of call on some Bahamas cruises, you might be wondering what activities there are to enjoy while visiting the Space Coast. In this post, we share our picks for the Top Things to Do Near Port Canaveral, Florida on a cruise.

Whether you are spending a few days pre-cruise or just visiting for the day, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

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Top Things to Do Near Port Canaveral, Florida on a Cruise

Kennedy Space Center

Kennedy Space Center is perhaps the most popular attraction near Port Canaveral. Admission to this active spaceflight facility includes a variety of exhibits and interactive attractions that are fun and educational for all age groups.

The Behind the Gates bus tour includes a narrated tour of historic launch sites and operational spaceflight facilities. It also includes a visit to the Apollo/Saturn V Center featuring an actual Saturn V moon rocket and real moon rocks along with other Apollo program artifacts.

In the Heroes & Legends zone, you can explore the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, and the new Gateway exhibit brings the future of space travel to life. Further, you can visit the permanent home of the Space Shuttle Atlantis and walk among giant rockets from NASA’s Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs in the Rocket Garden.

Other highlights include the Shuttle Launch Experience, 3D space films in the IMAX Theater, and so much more.

To enjoy everything Kennedy Space Center has to offer, plan on spending a full day here.

American Space Museum and Space Walk of Fame

In downtown Titusville, there is also the American Space Museum.

Inside the museum’s galleries, you will find items that have been donated by astronauts, space workers, NASA, and more in an effort to preserve the history of the United States’ Space Program and honor the astronauts and aerospace innovators.

Some of the galleries include Mercury and Gemini, Apollo, Space Shuttle, and Women of Space exhibits. You will also see actual Space Shuttle Launch Control Center consoles, Air Force Launch Pad 36A consoles, and a Pad 16 Launch Sequencer.

You can tour the museum self-guided or book a guided tour by a docent as available.

Following the museum visit, you can enjoy a stroll down the nearby Space Walk of Fame in the Space View Park. The Space View Park includes monuments, mission plaques, and bronze handprints of six of the original seven astronauts. 

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Airboat Ride

Another popular excursion in Florida is an airboat ride to set out in search of the wildlife lurking within. While many cruisers are probably aware of airboat tours near Port Everglades (Ft. Lauderdale), there are also similar tours offered in the Port Canaveral area.

Located about a half hour away from the cruise port, Airboat Rides at Midway offers 1-hour tours on the St. Johns River, sometimes referred to as the Central Florida Everglades.

On this adventure, you’ll glide through the grassy wetlands at speeds up to 45 mph. Prepare to see wildlife up close and personal, as you will be treated to appearances by alligators, various types of birds, and other creatures.

During the ride, your guide will provide narration and answer any questions.

After the airboat ride, you can interact with the animals on the property including baby alligators.

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

If you want to set off in search of more wildlife while in the area, a visit to the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge should also make your list of things to do near Port Canaveral.

This 140,000 acre U.S. National Park was established in 1963 in agreement with NASA and the Kennedy Space Center. It is home to more than 1,500 species of plants and animals. This area is a key resting stop for many migratory birds. Further, 15 federally listed threatened and endangered species call this refuge home.

At Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, there are a number of walking paths and hiking trails that are perfect for bird watching and photography. There is also the Black Point 7-mile Wildlife Drive and the Manatee Observation Deck that are perfect for wildlife sightings as well.

If you’d prefer to leave the planning to someone else, Canaveral Tours offers organized tours in the refuge. The company has knowledgeable tour guides, customizable itineraries, and small shuttles equipped with binoculars that are perfect for wildlife sightings.

You can even arrange for a wildlife tour with an airport drop-off after your cruise vacation.

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Canaveral Lighthouse & Spaceflight Tour

Another popular attraction near Port Canaveral is the Canaveral Lighthouse & Spaceflight Tour. This Cape Canaveral Lighthouse has stood on the cape for over 150 years.

On this tour, you will be transported from the meeting point at the Exploration Tower to the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

There are several stops during this 4-hour tour including the ability to climb the first five floors of the Lighthouse. The visit at the lighthouse is approximately 1-hour where there will be a semi-guided tour available. There is also a museum and gift shop on site.

Further, the tour visits Space Program museums with artifacts and exhibits of Air Force launch vehicles and programs. You even get to walk where the first U.S. astronauts were launched into space.

Given that this tour takes place at the Air Force station, reservations and pre-approved security clearance are required. In fact, a scheduled tour is the only way to visit these historic landmarks.

Helicopter Tour

If you are looking to get a whole new perspective of Port Canaveral, then a helicopter tour is a perfect option. There are a number of tours offered of varying lengths and prices that give you a bird’s eye view of areas including the Port with all the cruise ships, the Canaveral Locks, Cocoa Beach, and the Thousand Islands.

The Classic Tour is approximately 17-20 minutes of flight time for $99.99 per person. This option gives you the opportunity to see the port along with extended time over Cocoa Beach and the Thousand Islands. Here, you can often spot dolphins, sharks, stingrays, and more.

If you are looking for something a bit different, Florida Air Tours also offers biplane rides. You can even add a little extra excitement with aerobatic upgrades.

One of these tours definitely makes for the perfect add-on to your cruise vacation.

Bioluminescence Tour

Another tour that allows you to get a unique perspective of the area from sea level is a bioluminescence tour.

You’ve probably heard of the bioluminescent waters of Puerto Rico, but did you know that you can take a bioluminescent kayak or raft tour right in Florida? The Indian River and the Banana River lagoons both have glowing algae.

BK Adventure offers nighttime kayak tours and raft tours to experience this natural beauty. These tours are approximately 1. 5 hours and are offered from a couple different departure points in the Port Canaveral area.

Of course, if you’d rather explore the area’s ecosystem during the day, you can do that too.

The Manatee and Dolphin kayak tour is a popular eco-adventure. During this 1.5 hour journey, you will get to observe these sea mammals in their natural habitats. Some other wildlife you may be lucky enough to see along the way are herons, turtles, and otters.

Cocoa Beach

Cocoa Beach is located just outside Port Canaveral and is known for its sand and surf. It is also a popular pre-cruise hotel area due to the distance from the pier and the availability of amenities.

Besides the obvious beach day, visitors can stroll the Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier that stretches 800 feet over the Atlantic Ocean. This boardwalk is lined with restaurants, bars, shops, and live music.

There is also the Ron Jon Surf Shop, which is the largest surf shop in the world with its own surf museum, and the Kelly Slater statue. Kelly Slater grew up in Cocoa Beach and learned to surf all along the Space Coast. 

If you are looking for a bit more excitement, Cocoa Beach offers a variety of watersport activities like paddle boarding, kite surfing, and even surf lessons.

Or, if you’re cruising with the little ones, they might enjoy a visit to the nearby Dinosaur Store and Museum.

Jetty Park Beach and Pier

Jetty Park has over 30 acres to explore. The park offers 4.5 acres of sandy beachfront for relaxation, a fishing pier, a children’s playground, and more. With all the recreational activities available at Jetty Park, it is easy to spend the day here soaking up the Florida sun.

If that’s not enough, the 1,200 foot fishing pier that extends into the ocean is a great place to watch the cruise ships sail away. This is a popular location, so do expect a bit of a crowd around sail away time.

While rather bitter sweet, watching your cruise ship sail away with the next group of vacationers might be the perfect way to end your trip.

Fish Lips and Rusty’s are nearby restaurants and also popular spots to watch the ships sail out of port.

Exploration Tower

The Exploration Tower in Port Canaveral is an architectural landmark that offers several educational and interactive exhibits as well as observation decks with stunning views.

The Exploration Tower opened in November 2013 as part of the Canaveral Port Authority’s 60th anniversary celebration.

While visiting this popular attraction, guests can learn a bit of Central Florida’s history as well as the history of the port itself. The Air and Space Port on the 6th floor is an indoor observation deck that faces Kennedy Space Center.

The 7th floor is home to an outdoor observation deck that features panoramic views of Port Canaveral, the cruise ships, and surrounding beaches and wildlife.

There is even a state-of-the-art theater and a navigation simulator making a visit to the Exploration Tower fun for the whole family.

Currently (June 2022), only the gift shop and outdoor observation deck are open.

Cocoa Beach Aerial Adventures

If you are looking for a little excitement during your visit to Port Canaveral, then you will want to check out Cocoa Beach Aerial Adventures. Here, you can enjoy a day filled with plenty of zipping and climbing fun.

This aerial adventure park offers 7 different courses of varying levels of difficulty with a total of 49 different challenges. New in 2022, there is even the unique ZIPDROP free fall.

The unique ability to traverse through the course as an individual instead of as a group gives participants the flexibility to only complete the challenges with which they are comfortable. This makes it a great activity for all age and skill levels.

During a typical 2-hour climb session, participants usually complete 3 or 4 of the courses.

The park is located between the Banana River and Atlantic Ocean affording spectacular views from atop the lush canopy.

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Day Trip to Disney World

If you are taking a cruise from Port Canaveral, you should consider a pre-cruise or post-cruise visit to the most magical place on earth, Disney World. Walt Disney World is located in Orlando, Florida which is a little over an hour away from Port Canaveral.

Walt Disney World is home to the popular Magic Kingdom theme park and Epcot which hosts various festivals throughout the year like the Food and Wine Festival.

Additionally, Hollywood Studios is home to the new Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge. Not to mention, there is also Animal Kingdom with its popular Avatar-themed land, two waterparks, and Disney Springs which is home to several dining and shopping experiences.

While we recommend visiting Disney pre-cruise or post-cruise, some cruise lines do offer shore excursions to the parks during a day visit in port. In a previous post, we break down if it’s actually worth visiting Disney World as a shore excursion.

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