On this page I've collected some useful hints about where to stay before or after your cruise, ground transportation (limo or rental car) and other pre/post cruise information.

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Where to Stay the Night Before Your Cruise

What to Do If Your Return Flight Leaves Late

Transportation and Parking at the Cruise Ports

Where to Stay the Night Before Your Cruise

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Near Port Canaveral

For those who want to spend the night at Cape Canaveral before their Disney Cruise, there are three good choices for hotels very close (5 miles or less) to the port: Residence Inn Cape Canaveral Cocoa Beach, Radisson Resort at the Port and Four Points by Sheraton Cocoa Beach.

These hotels are also good places to stay if you want to visit the Kennedy Space Center, by the way.

Residence Inn Cape Canaveral Cocoa Beach

The Residence Inn Cape Canaveral Cocoa Beach opened in April 2006. This all-suite hotel has a nice Florida-style ambiance and a heated pool and whirlpool. Your stay includes a complimentary full hot breakfast buffet. Rooms feature FREE high-speed Internet access.

There are three room types: studios (bedroom with king bed, living room area with sofabed but not separated by a wall), 1-bedroom suites (one bedroom with two queen beds, one bath, separate living room with sofabed) and 2-bedroom suites (two bedrooms, each with a king bed, two baths, separate living room with sofabed).

All room types include a full kitchen with stove/oven, microwave, dishwasher and refrigerator. Beds at the Residence Inn are equipped with high-quality mattresses and bedding. Bathrooms have granite countertops.

The Residence Inn does not have a restaurant (just a breakfast room where the complimentary breakfast is served), but there are several restaurants within a mile of the hotel.

If you book any suite at the Residence Inn, they will allow you to park your car in their lot for free during your cruise. Just let them know you're doing this when you check in. You can take a taxi to the port from this hotel for around $10. Try Checker Cab at (321) 799-0377.

		Residence Inn Cape Canaveral Cocoa Beach is part of the Marriott chain, so they guarantee you'll get the best rates when booking through their web site.

Radisson Resort at the Port

Standard rooms at Radisson Resort at the Port are pleasantly decorated and include Sleep Number beds. The one-bedroom suites give you more space than a standard room, plus a wet bar and a whirlpool tub. There are a few 2-bedroom suites that are very spacious and quite luxurious, but these are almost never discounted very deeply.

The Radisson has an elaborate waterfall pool, a koi pond and beautifully landscaped grounds. There are tennis courts and a fitness room. There is a buffet-style restaurant (extra charge) that has a nice atmosphere, with lots of windows, white-washed walls and high ceilings. The hotel lobby/restaurant entrance has a small lounge for evening drinks.

The Radisson will allow you to park your car in its lot for free while you are on your cruise, and provides a shuttle to the port.

Four Points by Sheraton Cocoa Beach

Although located a little bit further from the port than the other two hotels, Four Points by Sheraton Cocoa Beach has some appealing features, including its reasonable rates, 5,600 gallon shark and tropical fish aquarium, and its location in The World’s Largest Surf Complex^tm offering surfing lessons, surf merchandise and beach rentals of all kinds, including surfboards, body boards, beach chairs and beach umbrellas. It's about two blocks from the beach.

The hotel offers a small pool with a waterfall feature and a spa, which are unfortunately located more or less in a parking garage, so if a great pool is critical to you, don't stay here. There is a Starbucks at this location and there are various chain restaurants nearby. Because of the fun surf theming, this hotel appeals to many teens.

Guest rooms feature a casual surf/beach décor with original artwork and complimentary high speed Internet. Room types include standard rooms with a King bed or two Queen beds; Junior Suites with two Queen beds and a separate seating area, microwave and small fridge; and Whirlpool Suites with one King bed, separate living area and a two-person whirlpool tub. The Sweet Sleeper beds are very comfortable.

Be sure to see what's listed on the hotel web site under "Hotel Offers" (upper right side of screen) -- you may find a great offer that won't show up otherwise. There is a "Park and Cruise" rate if you'd like to leave your car at the hotel during your cruise and take the hotel's shuttle to the port.

At the Orlando Airport

If you will be coming in from the West Coast and arriving in Orlando very late at night, you might want to consider the Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport. It's an upscale hotel that is actually located in the airport terminal, so you don't have to worry about traveling any further. Just collect your bags, take them up on the elevator, check in and crash! (The rooms are well insulated from the airport noise, by the way -- we stayed there on the first night of our Walt Disney World honeymoon and did not hear the planes.) Check the Hyatt web site for special rates.

The Hyatt has a relationship with Disney, so you can arrange Disney transportation to the ship from the hotel, or you can book a private car transfer or rental car if you prefer.

What to Do If Your Return Flight Leaves Late

You'll be getting off the cruise ship early in the morning on the last day. If your flight out of Orlando doesn't leave for hours, and you don't know what to do, here are a couple of suggestions:

• Get a"day room" at the Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport. For a modest charge (usually under $100), you can hang out in a hotel room from 10:00 am until as late as 6:00 pm and watch TV, use the hotel pool, etc. When flight time rolls around, you're already in the terminal! Call the hotel directly at (407) 825-1234 to book a day room. The Hyatt has a relationship with Disney, so you can arrange Disney transportation to the hotel from the ship, or you can book a private car transfer or rental car if you prefer.

• If you have loads of time, you can rent a car for the day and either drive about one hour to the Disney theme parks, go the Kennedy Space Center and explore the NASA exhibits, or even go to Cocoa Beach and play in the sand.

Transportation and Parking at the Cruise Ports

Disney's bus transfers to and from the port are expensive for what you are getting. Currently it costs $35 per person, (one way) or $69 per person (roundtrip) to take the Disney bus between a Disney resort and Port Canaveral, or between the Orlando airport and Port Canaveral. Past bus transfers for California cruises have been similarly expensive.

The other down side of using the Disney bus system is that you will arrive at the port with a big group of people and at a time dictated by Disney -- the result is often a long wait in the check-in lines.

Below are alternate options that are often both cheaper and more convenient.

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Port Canaveral - Rental Car

Your most economical option may be to rent a car one-way between the airport and Port Canaveral. None of the rental car companies listed below have a one-way or drop-off charge. Depending on the rental car company, you can either take a shuttle or a cab to the port.

Renting a car gives you the flexibility to stop and grab some groceries or last-minute items, and you can arrive at the ship earlier than the bus passengers, which allows you to board ahead of the crowd and get yourself settled, make Palo and spa reservations, etc.

There are five major rental car companies with offices near Port Canaveral:

• Budget is usually the best bet for transfers to and from the port. For one thing, Budget often has the best prices on one-day rentals. It also has on-site facilities at the Orlando International (MCO) and its office in Cape Canaveral (location code CC5) is the closest rental car agency to the cruise terminal. Budget offers free shuttle service between its office and the port, though several people have reported that they find it easier and faster to take a cab to and from the terminal instead, which costs about $8-$10 each way.

• Avis has a location on-site at MCO and an office in Cape Canaveral (location code P3F), a bit further away than Budget. There have been some complaints that the Cape Canaveral office is disorganized, with long lines. Avis has free shuttle service between its office and the cruise terminal, or you can take a cab for around $10-$12 each way.

• Thrifty is off-site at MCO -- you'll have to take a short shuttle ride to the lot, so allow extra time -- but has an office in Cape Canaveral (location code MU2). They offer a free shuttle from their office to the port.

• Hertz is not terribly convenient because its location at MCO is off-site (you must take a shuttle at the airport), but there is a Hertz office near the port in Cape Canaveral (location code HLE). Hertz has free shuttle service between its office and the cruise terminal, or you can take a cab for around $10-$12 each way.

• National has an on-site location at MCO and two locations at Walt Disney World. Its location in Cocoa Beach (location code COIC06) is about seven miles from the cruise terminal. (The Cocoa Beach location will be closing effective 11/30/08.) It does not offer a shuttle to the port. It does offer a negotiated cab fare to/from the port through a particular cab company -- ask about it when you arrive at the office. Otherwise, a cab from the National office will probably run you $15-$20 each way.

See my Rental Cars page for many discount codes, coupons and tricks to help you save on your rental car!

Port Canaveral - Luxury Sedan, Limo or Private Van/SUV Service

A fun, relaxing (and surprisingly economical) way to get from Walt Disney World or the Orlando Airport to the cruise terminal at Port Canaveral is to use luxury sedan, limo or private van/SUV service.

The great thing is, you can schedule the vehicle to get you to the ship earlier than the bus passengers, which allows you to board ahead of the crowd and get yourself settled, make Palo and spa reservations, etc.

A luxury sedan is generally cheaper than Disney's bus transfers if you are transporting a family. For larger groups, a private van, SUV or limo is definitely the way to go. You'll save money and time.

Click here to learn lots more about towncar, limo or private van service to/from Port Canaveral and to get a coupon that will help you save money!

To check information on parking at Port Canaveral, click here.

Port of Los Angeles - Rental Car

If you will be taking a West Coast Disney cruise in Summer 2008 and you are also planning to make a "grand tour" of Southern California, with a visit to Disneyland as well as other Southern California tourist destinations, a rental car is definitely your best bet.

Taking taxis, limos or shuttles between the major attractions would cost a fortune because the distances are significant -- for instance, it's a 1.5 hour drive between SeaWorld San Diego and Disneyland. Southern California is a very car-oriented culture, with relatively poor public transportation. Trying to get between a number of different attractions without a car can be an exercise in frustration.

It's not very cost-effective to rent a car and leave it at the port during your cruise, though. Parking at the port is expensive. You may find it is a better deal to take a private towncar or limo transfer from the airport to the port, and then rent a car after your cruise.

Be sure to check my Rental Cars page for many discount codes, coupons and tricks to help you save on your rental car!

Port of Los Angeles - Luxury Sedan, Limo or Private Van/SUV Service

If you will be taking a West Coast Disney cruise in Summer 2008, your plans may call for you to do a simple transfer between two points, such as the airport and the cruise terminal. Disney will offer bus service, but the quickest and most efficient way to accomplish your transfer will be a private limo service.

The great thing is, you can schedule the vehicle to get you to the ship earlier than the bus passengers, which allows you to board ahead of the crowd and get yourself settled, make Palo and spa reservations, etc.

If you're just doing the cruise and a Disneyland vacation, it may still be worthwhile to use limo transfers. That will allow you to sit back, relax and let someone else do the driving, so that you don't have to navigate the Los Angeles freeway system.

Click here to learn more about towncar, limo or private van service to/from the Port of Los Angeles.

Port of Los Angeles - Shuttle

If you need to transfer between the Disneyland area and the Port of Los Angeles, your least expensive option may be SuperShuttle, a shared van service. The shuttle will make multiple stops, so allow plenty of time.

However, for the ultimate in convenience and luxury, consider using a private towncar or limo transfer. It may cost a bit more than a shuttle, but it is much more comfortable and efficient.

Port of Los Angeles - World Cruise Center Parking

Parking at the port is $12 per day ($84 for a 7-night cruise). Click here for more information.

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