Cruise ship cabins are small and storage space is limited so you’ll only want to bring the essentials. Even if you forget something, it’s probably available in the ship’s store or at a port stop. You also don’t need to bring your whole closet. For the most part, cruising has become a casual affair. Guests can typically get away without bringing any formal attire. It’s wise to look up the dress code ahead of time and plan accordingly. Don’t make the mistake of stuffing your suitcase to the point of barely being able to zip it. You can even take advantage of on-board laundry services if you run out of outfits. Again, only pack exactly what you need. There isn’t much room for storage in your stateroom.
If you think Port Canaveral is just a spot to catch a cruise ship, think again. The area around the port offers a lot to do. Things you can enjoy include Kennedy Space Center, nearby Cocoa Beach, as well as a ton of tourist activities from food to amusements. Many people spend their entire vacation visiting the area, so there’s plenty for you to do for a day or two before your cruise. More info on Port Canaveral parking.
When you drive to your cruise, baggage is easy to handle. Flying brings you those bag fees, the never-ending wait at the baggage carousel and the fight to haul a family’s worth of wheeled bags through a busy airport, but driving is so much simpler: pack the car, drive, give the porters the bags, park and go. That’s right, just pull up, show your cruise line’s porters your reservation paperwork and hand your bags off to them. You only have to worry about the bags once — when you pack them in the car — then they’re safely making their way to your room. (OK, you’ll have to worry about your bags twice, but on the way back, send someone for the car while the rest of the group waits with the luggage, then load up when your car comes around.)
Once you exit the ship, you’ll head downstairs towards customs. If you’ve tagged your bags to be picked up outside your room and delivered to your room, you’ll need to find them before going through customs. There are lots of bags, but the sections are well labelled so they are easy to find. I usually check bags for longer cruises, and carry my own for shorter ones. After you see the customs officials, you’ll walk out of the terminal to find the various transportation options. If you are taking the Disney transportation to the airport or the theme parks, they are very easy to find and run continuously.
We’ve upgraded! Our shuttle fleet now includes eight 14 & 20 passenger buses. Park N Cruise can comfortably transport larger groups of customers to and from Port Canaveral. When combined with such a close location, you can imagine the speed of our complimentary shuttle service!
