We decided to go on a cruise out of Port Canaveral, Florida, because it’s a short drive from Orlando, where we live. However, if you’re flying into Orlando, Disney has special Disney Cruise buses that pick up and drop off from the airport and hotels to the cruise terminal. If you’re traveling on any cruise ship that debarks from Port Canaveral, these same tips can apply to you.
Where to Park at Port Canaveral
Our travel agent suggested we could save some money by parking our car at a nearby hotel and taking their shuttle to the cruise ship. There are several companies that provide parking for under $10 a day; the best rate I saw was about $6 a day, and there are free or low-cost shuttles to the ship. If you don’t want to wait for a shuttle, you can park at the cruise terminal parking for about $75 for a four-day cruise – that’s over three times as much at $18.75 a day! If you go early, you’ll have plenty of time to get to any of the nearby park-and-cruise lots and get to the ship.
Checking In Luggage
Once you’re at the terminal, one of the baggage handlers can help you with your bags for a tip. You’ll need your tickets and passport to show at the gate, like the airport — no one without a ticket and passport is allowed past the gate, so you’ll need to say your goodbyes at the curb.
Carry-On Bags
We had an assigned time to check in, but decided to wait until later when the large masses of people who usually come about 1 p.m. arrive in the tour buses. When we got into the building, we were motioned to go up to the second floor, sign a form that was something about illness, which you had to sign before going to the check in counter. From there they took our bags and we wheeled our carry-on bags onto the ship. I read that your check-in bags may not get to your room until 6 p.m. so if you wanted a change of clothing, swimsuit, medications – that all needs to be brought in a carry-on.
Once you check in you’ll be able to enjoy the ship’s pool and have lunch until about 4:00 when everyone is required to check in with their room card in a designated area for the Life Boat Safety Drill.
BYOW – Here’s a tip on bottled water – Carry-On Cooler
On Disney’s cruise line, although they say you cannot bring personal snack foods and drinks, their website does say you can bring on alcohol if it is hand-carried and they give the dimensions on their website. I actually brought a soft-sided rolling cooler, with no ice, on board, (all in plastic bottles) bottled water, flavored water and mineral water. The only thing I was asked when security saw the cooler was if it had ice, they scanned it and let me go without asking me to open it. Bottled liquid/drinks are not allowed in your checked in luggage, due to possible liquid damage if it breaks.
If you’re traveling on another cruise line, call or check their website for their policy on bringing your own drinks. I packed bottled water since I drink a lot of it and read on a forum that others have brought their own drinks on Disney cruise ships. I also didn’t want to pay the high price on the ship. Although you can have any fountain drink you want, all day for free, bottled water has a cost. Disney even has a sign that if you buy a case of Evian water from them before the ship debarks they give you a discount; it’s still not cheap at over $3 a bottle.
