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Disney Fantasy departing Port Canaveral, September 2026, sailing from Port Canaveral, Florida

Cruises Frog guide

Cruises from Port Canaveral, Florida

Port Canaveral, an hour east of Orlando, is one of the busiest ports for short Bahamas runs and week-long Caribbean sailings, with the Kennedy Space Center next door.

Things to do in Port Canaveral, Florida

  • Kennedy Space Center Visitor ComplexThe Saturn V and Space Shuttle Atlantis, fifteen minutes from the terminals.
  • Watch a launchRockets lift off from the Cape often; Jetty Park and the cruise decks have a front-row view.
  • Cocoa BeachSurf shops, the pier and a long beach a short drive south.
  • Merritt Island National Wildlife RefugeManatees, alligators and wading birds along Black Point Wildlife Drive.
  • A day in OrlandoThe theme parks make an easy pre-cruise stay, with shuttles to the port.

When to go

  1. Jan: shoulder season
  2. Feb: shoulder season
  3. Mar: high season
  4. Apr: high season
  5. May: shoulder season
  6. Jun: high season
  7. Jul: high season
  8. Aug: shoulder season
  9. Sep: low season
  10. Oct: low season
  11. Nov: shoulder season
  12. Dec: high season

School holidays drive the busiest sailings: spring break, summer and the Christmas weeks. September and October are the quiet months, in the heart of hurricane season.

Flying in and getting to the ship

Moderate transferPort Canaveral is about 45 miles (72 km) east of Orlando International, 45 minutes to an hour on the toll road (SR 528). Cruise lines and private shuttle firms run buses; taxis and rideshares are pricier. Orlando Sanford is a similar distance.

Rental cars: A good option: the big firms at Orlando have branches near the port that take one-way returns and run a shuttle to the terminals, saving the parking fee.

The airport for Port Canaveral, Florida is Orlando International (MCO), with 6 lounges to wait in before you board.

Orlando International (MCO) on Lounge Frog

Ships sailing from Port Canaveral, Florida

Disney Fantasy departing Port Canaveral, September 20264.3 ★Disney Cruise LineDisney Fantasy2012 · 129,690 GT · 2,500 guests · Bahamas · CaribbeanDisney Fantasy is the second Dream-class ship, built alongside Disney Dream by Meyer Werft and in service since March 2012 with 1,250 staterooms. She shares the AquaDuck water…Disney Treasure at Grand Cayman, 20254.3 ★Disney Cruise LineDisney Treasure2024 · 144,256 GT · 2,492 guests · Caribbean · BahamasDisney Treasure is the second Wish-class ship, delivered by Meyer Werft in October 2024 and christened in New York before her first cruise that December. Her theme is adventure…Disney Wish departing Port Canaveral, September 20264.3 ★Disney Cruise LineDisney Wish2022 · 144,000 GT · 2,508 guests · Bahamas · CaribbeanDisney Wish, in service since July 2022, is the lead ship of the Wish class and Disney's first ship to burn liquefied natural gas and use podded propulsion. She measures about…Star of the Seas docked in Cádiz, Spain, July 20254.2 ★Royal Caribbean InternationalStar of the Seas2025 · 248,663 GT · 5,610 guests · Caribbean · BahamasStar of the Seas, the second Icon-class ship, entered service in August 2025 and shares the record for largest cruise ship by gross tonnage. Built at Meyer Turku, she is…Utopia of the Seas departing Port Canaveral, Florida4.2 ★Royal Caribbean InternationalUtopia of the Seas2024 · 236,473 GT · 5,668 guests · BahamasUtopia of the Seas is the sixth Oasis-class ship and the first in the class to run on liquefied natural gas. Built at Chantiers de l'Atlantique, she entered service from Port…Adventure of the Seas at Grand Turk4.0 ★Royal Caribbean InternationalAdventure of the Seas2001 · 138,193 GT · 3,114 guests · Caribbean · BahamasAdventure of the Seas is a Voyager-class ship that entered service in November 2001 and is registered in the Bahamas. A US$61 million refurbishment in 2016 added staterooms, and…Celebrity Apex4.0 ★Celebrity CruisesCelebrity Apex2021 · 130,818 GT · 2,910 guests · Caribbean · Norwegian FjordsCelebrity Apex, the second Edge-class ship, was delivered in March 2020 but did not carry guests until 19 June 2021, when she sailed from Athens to the Greek islands after a…Explorer of the Seas departing Port Canaveral, February 20264.0 ★Royal Caribbean InternationalExplorer of the Seas2000 · 138,194 GT · 3,286 guests · Caribbean · MediterraneanExplorer of the Seas, completed in 2000, is the second Voyager-class ship and was briefly the world's largest passenger ship by tonnage. For several years she carried an…Harmony of the Seas departing Port Canaveral, September 20264.0 ★Royal Caribbean InternationalHarmony of the Seas2016 · 226,963 GT · 5,479 guests · Caribbean · BahamasHarmony of the Seas, the third Oasis-class ship, was built by STX France at Saint-Nazaire and became the world's largest passenger ship when she entered service in May 2016. Like…Mardi Gras off Hoek van Holland on her first visit to Rotterdam, December 20204.0 ★Carnival Cruise LineMardi Gras2021 · 181,808 GT · 5,282 guests · Caribbean · BahamasMardi Gras is the lead ship of Carnival's Excel class, part of Carnival Corporation's larger Excellence class, built by Meyer Turku in Finland and named after the line's first…Sky Princess at Trieste, Italy, October 20194.0 ★Princess CruisesSky Princess2019 · 145,281 GT · 3,660 guests · Caribbean · Northern EuropeSky Princess is the fourth Royal-class ship and the second Princess ship of the name, built by Fincantieri and in service since October 2019. She was the first of the last three…Carnival Freedom sailing out of Port Canaveral, February 20243.7 ★Carnival Cruise LineCarnival Freedom2007 · 110,000 GT · 2,980 guests · Bahamas · CaribbeanCarnival Freedom is the last of the Conquest-class ships, built at Fincantieri's Marghera yard, launched in Venice in April 2006 and delivered in February 2007. She carries about…Carnival Glory leaving Port Canaveral, June 20253.7 ★Carnival Cruise LineCarnival Glory2003 · 110,000 GT · 2,980 guests · BahamasCarnival Glory is the second of five Conquest-class ships, built by Fincantieri at Monfalcone and in service since July 2003. She carries about 2,980 guests and has a 214-foot…Carnival Vista in Willemstad, Curaçao, March 20173.7 ★Carnival Cruise LineCarnival Vista2016 · 133,596 GT · 3,934 guests · CaribbeanCarnival Vista is the lead ship of the Vista class, which includes Carnival Horizon and Carnival Panorama as well as Carnival Venezia and Carnival Firenze. She entered service in…MSC Seashore departing Port Canaveral, February 20263.7 ★MSC CruisesMSC Seashore2021 · 170,412 GT · 4,540 guests · BahamasMSC Seashore is the lead ship of the Seaside EVO class, an enlarged version of the Seaside design built by Fincantieri in Monfalcone and delivered in July 2021. She measures…Norwegian Epic at George Town, Cayman Islands, November 20163.7 ★Norwegian Cruise LineNorwegian Epic2010 · 155,873 GT · 4,070 guests · Mediterranean · CaribbeanNorwegian Epic is a one-of-a-kind ship of about 155,900 gross tons carrying 4,070 guests at double occupancy, built at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique yard in Saint-Nazaire…Norwegian Escape leaving Bremerhaven, Germany, for sea trials, 20153.7 ★Norwegian Cruise LineNorwegian Escape2015 · 164,998 GT · 4,218 guests · Caribbean · BahamasNorwegian Escape was the first Breakaway Plus-class ship, built larger than the original Breakaway pair at about 165,000 gross tons and 4,218 guests at double occupancy. Meyer…Carnival Venezia arriving in Bermuda for the first time, June 20233.5 ★Carnival Cruise LineCarnival Venezia2019 · 135,225 GT · 4,208 guests · CaribbeanCarnival Venezia was built by Fincantieri as Costa Venezia for Costa Cruises' Chinese market and entered service in 2019 as Costa's largest ship, at about 135,200 gross tons with…MSC Grandiosa leaving Kiel3.5 ★MSC CruisesMSC Grandiosa2019 · 181,541 GT · 4,842 guests · Caribbean · BahamasMSC Grandiosa is the first Meraviglia Plus-class ship, a larger version of the Meraviglia design that entered service in November 2019. She measures 181,541 gross tons and 331…

Quick answers

Which cruise ships sail from Port Canaveral, Florida?

On Cruises Frog, 19 ships sail from Port Canaveral, Florida: Disney Fantasy (Disney Cruise Line), Disney Treasure (Disney Cruise Line), Disney Wish (Disney Cruise Line), Star of the Seas (Royal Caribbean International), Utopia of the Seas (Royal Caribbean International), Adventure of the Seas (Royal Caribbean International), Celebrity Apex (Celebrity Cruises), Explorer of the Seas (Royal Caribbean International), Harmony of the Seas (Royal Caribbean International), Mardi Gras (Carnival Cruise Line) and 9 more.

Which cruise lines sail from Port Canaveral, Florida?

Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line sail from Port Canaveral, Florida.

What is the best-rated ship sailing from Port Canaveral, Florida?

Disney Fantasy (Disney Cruise Line), at 4.3 out of 5 in Cruises Frog's editorial ratings.

Which airport do you fly into for a cruise from Port Canaveral, Florida?

Orlando International (MCO). Lounge Frog lists 6 open lounges there for the wait before boarding.

Related news about Port Canaveral, Florida

  1. Florida cruise parking: the right garage depends on the terminal

    PortMiami, Port Everglades and Port Canaveral publish different parking arrangements. Match the actual departure terminal before comparing price.

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  2. Port Canaveral details Terminal 5 expansion and a 3,700-space garage

    The July update targets December 2026 for Terminal 5 and describes a separate 13-story parking facility beside Terminal 6.

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  3. Port Canaveral starts $95 million Cruise Terminal 10 expansion

    The August project announcement targets November 2027 completion and capacity for ships carrying up to 7,000 passengers.

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