On one of the barrier islands fronting Florida’s Atlantic coastline, midway between Miami and Jacksonville, sits the city of Cape Canaveral. The city is hemmed in on the west by the Banana River, southwards by Cocoa Beach, eastwards by the Atlantic Ocean and northwards by Port Canaveral.
The powerful tides which sweep around the Cape are perilous to ships, and many sailors have perished in wrecks on the Cape. The headland was named Cape Canaveral by Spanish seamen during the 16th century. The Cape Canaveral Lighthouse was constructed in 1847 with the aim of making the coast less perilous for ships.
During the second World War the US Navy constructed the construction of Banana River Naval Air Station at the Cape to operate reconnaissance planes. After the war the US air-force, searching for a peninsula jutting into the Atlantic ocean to make an ideal launch base, selected the Cape.
The Cape Canaveral base needed a facility for importing large components by sea, and Port Canaveral was constructed and completed by 1953.
During the 1970s the port made a convenient port-of-call for cruise ships whose passengers were enthusiastic to make a trip to the amusement parks of Orlando. During the 1980s 3 cruise terminals opened, and Premier Cruises (now long defunct) and Carnival Cruises ships sailed out of at Port Canaveral, sailing on cruises to Nassau.
In the 1990s Disney cruises commenced operating cruise vacations from Port Canaveral, from the new specially built terminal 8. Two additional new cruise terminals were also constructed in this decade.
Today over 1 million passengers leave on their cruise trip from Port Canaveral every year. Disney and Carnival now have competition from Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line who also operate out of the port.
The powerful tides which sweep around the Cape are perilous to ships, and many sailors have perished in wrecks on the Cape. The headland was named Cape Canaveral by Spanish seamen during the 16th century. The Cape Canaveral Lighthouse was constructed in 1847 with the aim of making the coast less perilous for ships.
During the second World War the US Navy constructed the construction of Banana River Naval Air Station at the Cape to operate reconnaissance planes. After the war the US air-force, searching for a peninsula jutting into the Atlantic ocean to make an ideal launch base, selected the Cape.
The Cape Canaveral base needed a facility for importing large components by sea, and Port Canaveral was constructed and completed by 1953.
During the 1970s the port made a convenient port-of-call for cruise ships whose passengers were enthusiastic to make a trip to the amusement parks of Orlando. During the 1980s 3 cruise terminals opened, and Premier Cruises (now long defunct) and Carnival Cruises ships sailed out of at Port Canaveral, sailing on cruises to Nassau.
In the 1990s Disney cruises commenced operating cruise vacations from Port Canaveral, from the new specially built terminal 8. Two additional new cruise terminals were also constructed in this decade.
Today over 1 million passengers leave on their cruise trip from Port Canaveral every year. Disney and Carnival now have competition from Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line who also operate out of the port.
Port Canaveral Cruise Port
Port Canaveral has six major cruise terminals.. These are terminals 5, 8 and 10 which are positioned on the north west shore of the port. And terminals 1 and 3 on the south shore of the port.
Terminals 5, 6, 8 and 10
Cruise terminals 5, 6, 8 and 10 are situated on the north or A side, alongside Charles M Rowland Drive. These more up-to-date cruise terminals possess longer docks able to moor the biggest ships, and each can handle more than 3000 passengers. Cruise Terminal 5 is a stylish building, with a 30ft tall glass atrium filled with tropical vegetation and imaginative water features. Embarking cruisers are handled on the top floor, disembarking passengers on the bottom. Cruise Terminal 8 was specified by and built for Disney Cruise Line, and is an appealing art-deco style terminal with an impressive 80 ft high glass entrance lobby. Cruise Terminal 10 has a 3 layered passenger embarking/debarking system, with fully automated baggage handling.
Terminals 1 and 3
On the south side of the port you'll find terminals 1 and 3, the most modern cruise terminals in Port Canaveral. Both terminals also offer easy access to the Cove shopping/restaurant area.
All terminals provides the basic facilities including pay phones, cab rank, ATMs, check-in desks, restrooms and vending machines. And each terminal has a parking lot.
For a calendar of cruises, see cruises from Port Canaveral.
Port Canaveral has six major cruise terminals.. These are terminals 5, 8 and 10 which are positioned on the north west shore of the port. And terminals 1 and 3 on the south shore of the port.
Terminals 5, 6, 8 and 10
Cruise terminals 5, 6, 8 and 10 are situated on the north or A side, alongside Charles M Rowland Drive. These more up-to-date cruise terminals possess longer docks able to moor the biggest ships, and each can handle more than 3000 passengers. Cruise Terminal 5 is a stylish building, with a 30ft tall glass atrium filled with tropical vegetation and imaginative water features. Embarking cruisers are handled on the top floor, disembarking passengers on the bottom. Cruise Terminal 8 was specified by and built for Disney Cruise Line, and is an appealing art-deco style terminal with an impressive 80 ft high glass entrance lobby. Cruise Terminal 10 has a 3 layered passenger embarking/debarking system, with fully automated baggage handling.
Terminals 1 and 3
On the south side of the port you'll find terminals 1 and 3, the most modern cruise terminals in Port Canaveral. Both terminals also offer easy access to the Cove shopping/restaurant area.
All terminals provides the basic facilities including pay phones, cab rank, ATMs, check-in desks, restrooms and vending machines. And each terminal has a parking lot.
For a calendar of cruises, see cruises from Port Canaveral.
Port Canaveral Shore Excursions
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Whether or not you can remember ‘That's one small step for man; one giant leap for mankind’ most people are enthralled by the concept of traveling to space. The Kennedy Space Center is the base of NASA’s operations and was the launch site for the famous moon-landing missions. At the Center you can go to the LC39 Gantry and the Apollo/Saturn V Center, watch a space movie at the IMAX center, enjoy the Shuttle Launch Experience and learn about what the future holds for space exploration at the Exploration Space exhibition. The Space Center is only 10 miles north from Port Canaveral.
US Astronaut Hall of Fame
The Astronaut Hall of Fame honors US astronauts. Tour an interesting collection including the Science On A Sphere exhibition, the Sigma 7 Mercury rocket, space suits and a realistic astronaut training simulator. The Hall of Fame is only 4 miles westwards of the Space Center.
Cocoa Beach Pier
Constructed in 1962 Cocoa Beach Pier is amongst the best-known spots on Florida's Space coast. The pier offers four bars, souvenir shops, 5 restaurants and occasional live entertainment. The beach next to the pier offers beach-hire concessions, all year lifeguards, restrooms and showers. Cocoa Beach is sited about 4 miles south of the port.
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Whether or not you can remember ‘That's one small step for man; one giant leap for mankind’ most people are enthralled by the concept of traveling to space. The Kennedy Space Center is the base of NASA’s operations and was the launch site for the famous moon-landing missions. At the Center you can go to the LC39 Gantry and the Apollo/Saturn V Center, watch a space movie at the IMAX center, enjoy the Shuttle Launch Experience and learn about what the future holds for space exploration at the Exploration Space exhibition. The Space Center is only 10 miles north from Port Canaveral.
US Astronaut Hall of Fame
The Astronaut Hall of Fame honors US astronauts. Tour an interesting collection including the Science On A Sphere exhibition, the Sigma 7 Mercury rocket, space suits and a realistic astronaut training simulator. The Hall of Fame is only 4 miles westwards of the Space Center.
Cocoa Beach Pier
Constructed in 1962 Cocoa Beach Pier is amongst the best-known spots on Florida's Space coast. The pier offers four bars, souvenir shops, 5 restaurants and occasional live entertainment. The beach next to the pier offers beach-hire concessions, all year lifeguards, restrooms and showers. Cocoa Beach is sited about 4 miles south of the port.