One of the more popular ports in the United States is Port Canaveral. Did you know that the airport you fly into for a cruise out of Port Canaveral would be Orlando? Extending your trip to add in some time in Orlando is the perfect way to keep the fun going.
How Far Away is Orlando?
If you have a cruise that leaves and returns to Port Canaveral, it is about an hour (or a little less) drive west to get to Orlando. Tampa is the next closest port to Orlando at about an hour and a half away. It is fairly centrally located to the rest of the Florida ports, so it truly makes a great option to add on when cruising from Florida.
Before or After?
Often theme park days are long with quite a lot of walking and standing. With that in mind, you may want to have more active days ahead of the more relaxing days of a cruise. If you are not planning on going to a theme park, then staying in Orlando would be great to do after your cruise so that you are not rushing to the airport after you get off the cruise ship. Once you are on your cruise you can choose to have as many active or slower days as you like.
Walt Disney World
By far, the most popular choice in Orlando, the massive complex of Walt Disney World will make you feel like you are in a whole new world. You can delight in days at one or more of their four theme parks and two water parks. Choose from more than twenty on site resorts to stay at and keep you in the magic during your pre or post cruise portion of your vacation. We would suggest at least two extra days to your cruise vacation to enjoy Walt Disney World.
Universal Orlando Resort
Universal Studios has you covered if you are a fan of movies and thrills. Spend at least one extra full day beyond your cruise to relish in the fun to be had at the two theme parks.
Other Delights
Orlando offers something for everyone to enjoy for a pre or post cruise vacation. For other theme parks you can venture to SeaWorld and Legoland. Great and unique attractions such as Ripley’s Believe It or Not, Gatorland, and museums can add much to explore. There are also great shopping opportunities, so make sure you bring an extra bog!
Getting Around
While there is not a standard public transit between ports and Orlando, there are several ways to get to where you want to go. You can always rent a car for your stay and this is a great option if you would like to go to more than one place. A variety of independent shuttle services are available from port to Orlando and back. The last main source of transportation service would be Uber or Lyft which are rideshare services you can order on demand.
If you have the opportunity, extending your cruise from Port Canaveral or Tampa with an Orlando vacation is a wonderful option to really boost your vacation time.
When you are ready to book your next cruise, Orlando, or combo trip; our professional Journey Planners are ready to make it great! Reach out to start curating your trip today.
Thank you to Stephenie Surber, the Embrace the Journey Travel’s Cruise Manager for writing this blog. Learn more about Stephenie here.