Cruising from Port Canaveral
is just getting better and better. Port Canaveral is located about 45mins from the Orlando International Airport.
It wasn’t too long ago when there was just “The Big Red Boat” (the original Disney cruise package, family friendly cruises to the Bahamas) departing from Port Canaveral. All of the ‘good’ ships (newest and largest) were sailing further south from Miami or Ft. Lauderdale.
Well not anymore! By this time next year, there will be NINE ships calling Port Canaveral their home. And NINE different reasons to visit Port Canaveral!
3 ships are currently sailing 3 and 4 nights to the Bahamas: Royal Caribbean’s Monarch of the Seas, the Carnival Sensation and the Disney Dream (Disney’s newest ship!).
- These sailings are excellent for first time cruisers that want to ‘test the waters,’ see if they will like cruising or experience any of that feared motion sickness. I would say that 98% of them come back and book a longer sailing for their 2nd cruise. After that, they are hooked!
Having a 5 or 6 night sailing is a great step up for your 2nd cruise.
- The Disney Dream also offers a 5 night sailing, stopping in Nassau, and making a two stops at their unrivaled private island retreat, Castaway Cay.
- The Disney Magic will offer a 6 night Christmas sailing this year heading to Cozumel, Key West and Castaway Cay. She will also sail this itinerary next spring 2012.
Now for you experienced cruisers, there are plenty of 7 night sailings departing from Port Canaveral, with an occasional 9 night thrown in.
- Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas alternating between Eastern (Nassau, St. Thomas, St. Maarten) and Western Caribbean (Labadee, Falmouth, Cozumel, Grand Cayman) itineraries.
- Carnival Dream alternating between Eastern (Nassau, St. Thomas, St. Maarten) and Western Caribbean (Cozumel, Belize City, Honduras, Costa Maya) itineraries.
- Disney Magic alternating between Eastern (Castaway Cay, St. Thomas, St. Maarten) and Western Caribbean (Key West, Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Castaway Cay)
- Norwegian Sun alternating between Eastern (Nassau, St. Thomas, St. Maarten) and Western Caribbean (Cozumel, Guatemala, Belize City) itineraries
- Starting next spring the Disney Fantasy will start doing 7 night sailings
Wait! I said there are going to be NINE ships, that’s only eight. It was just announced that the Carnival Ecstasy will be sailing 4 and 5 nights to the Bahamas beginning in November 2011!
- The 4 night sailings will stop in Freeport and Nassau
- Then the 5 nights will have 2 schedules: Nassau, Freeport and alternating between a stop in Half Moon Cay (private island) or Key West
You can’t lose! Find these great sailings from Port Canaveral here!
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