July 1, 2025 • 17 mins
Planning a cruise out of Port Canaveral? This Travels with Darley podcast episode is your essential guide to making the most of your pre- or post-cruise time in Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral. Just 45 minutes from Orlando, this affordable, space-inspired beach destination is not only convenient for cruisers boarding ships like Carnival Mardi Gras and RCL Utopia of the Seas, but it’s also full of opportunities to relax and explore. From family-friendly resorts and surf shops to tiki bars and rocket launch viewing spots, Darley Newman shares her weekend experience discovering where to eat, stay, and play before setting sail.
Darley rides the Cocoa Beach Express shuttle from Orlando International Airport to the Radisson Resort at the Port, meeting fellow travelers like Lisa and Michael Carso, who’ve taken 35 cruises, and newcomers like Denise and Terry Cochran from Knoxville. She explores shuttle options, hotel packages, and accessibility services. She chats with locals like Jonathan Bloomfield, a top-rated bellman who knows the ins and outs of parking, luggage, and hospitality. Darley also connects with solo female traveler Caretta Campbell of New York and a multigenerational group from Missouri to hear real cruiser tips—what to pack, where to eat (like Grills Seafood Deck & Tiki Bar), and how to make the most of an overnight stay.
Whether you’re headed out on your first cruise or your fifteenth, this episode offers insider insights and real traveler stories to help you navigate Port Canaveral and your Cocoa Beach vacation with confidence. From breakfast buffets and bike rides to beach days and sunset cocktails at Fishlips, it’s a relaxed yet informative listen to help you launch your next voyage smoothly—and with style.
Darley rides the Cocoa Beach Express shuttle from Orlando International Airport to the Radisson Resort at the Port, meeting fellow travelers like Lisa and Michael Carso, who’ve taken 35 cruises, and newcomers like Denise and Terry Cochran from Knoxville. She explores shuttle options, hotel packages, and accessibility services. She chats with locals like Jonathan Bloomfield, a top-rated bellman who knows the ins and outs of parking, luggage, and hospitality. Darley also connects with solo female traveler Caretta Campbell of New York and a multigenerational group from Missouri to hear real cruiser tips—what to pack, where to eat (like Grills Seafood Deck & Tiki Bar), and how to make the most of an overnight stay.
Whether you’re headed out on your first cruise or your fifteenth, this episode offers insider insights and real traveler stories to help you navigate Port Canaveral and your Cocoa Beach vacation with confidence. From breakfast buffets and bike rides to beach days and sunset cocktails at Fishlips, it’s a relaxed yet informative listen to help you launch your next voyage smoothly—and with style.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Are you taking a cruise vacation and leaving from Florida?
(00:03):
How about Port Canaveral and the Cocoa Beach area?
If you're considering it, this is a podcast that will help you with your planning.
Located approximately 45 minutes east of Orlando, along Florida's Space Coast.
Cocoa Beach is a popular destination for travelers in general,
but especially those cruising out of Port Canaveral, Florida,
(00:24):
where big ships like Carnival Mardi Gras,
RCL Utopia of the Seas, and Caribbean Princess dock.
But what's a gal, family, couple, or group to do pre or post cruising?
My producer, Evelyn Juan Green and I,
took a trip to Cocoa Beach, Florida, and Port Canaveral for a weekend
to explore the opportunities and options to give you the lowdown on
(00:45):
our take on the best ways to maximize your time,
pre and post cruising. Whether you want to relax at a family-friendly resort,
hit craft breweries, watch a rocket launch, go fishing,
sea local art, or hit up the beach or local event.
Our takeaway, you have lots of options.
So sit back and get ready to have some pre-cruising fun
(01:07):
in Coco Beach and Port Canaveral. It's the Travels with Darley Podcast,
where we take you on active adventures with locals as the guides.
We share first-hand tips and tricks to help you travel better,
from my own experiences being on the road for over a decade and a half,
and traveling all over the world. All aboard because we're bound for Florida.
(01:27):
There's something adventurous about taking a cruise.
But getting to a ship on time in today's sometimes hectic travel climate,
it can be stressful. Many cruisers we met on this adventure
recommend flying or driving in a day early before your cruise
(01:49):
to avoid the pitfalls that come with potential airline delays,
cancellations, traffic jams, and other tricky travel mishaps that could leave you
literally missing the boat. I arrived just before my consulting producer and
travel buddy Evelyn Kwan Green, who originally hails from Malaysia,
and now lives in Coastal Mississippi,
got into the Orlando International Airport.
(02:11):
This gave me a little time to explore and see what it's really like for
travelers coming into the area, and how it is to get from Orlando to Coco Beach
and the Cape Canaveral area. I checked out an outpost of the famous
Ron Jon Surf Shop, a local art gallery, and a Cuban cafe for coffee
before meeting up with Evelyn to catch the Coco Beach Express.
I've just arrived to the Orlando Florida Airport,
(02:34):
and we're about to see what a pre and post-cruis experience is like.
There are a variety of ways to travel the approximately 45 minutes from the
Orlando International Airport to Port Canaveral and Coco Beach.
You can run a car, take a car service like Uber or Lyft, or hop on with other
travelers on the Coco Beach Express Shuttle, which I found was easy and a cost
(02:56):
effective way to travel. I came into Terminal B.
So we're now headed from baggage lane down to where the shuttle buses
pick up people to go to specific cruise lines.
There's lots of signage for cruise transportation,
and also volunteers on-hand by an information desk as you come down the
escalator to baggage claim. They're usually there to answer questions.
(03:19):
Making it easy for you to get from baggage claim just outside and a few doors
down to meet the Cocoa Beach Express Shuttle. They're loading up the luggage
here for the different cruisers taking their luggage
separately. Pack lightly people! We saw a lot of bags
and just a few lines of people, but I guess if you're cruising you can bring
(03:40):
really what you want, within reason, because once you're on the ship you don't
have to move your luggage to hotels every day.
A benefit of cruising. We saw the branded vans labeled for the Cocoa Beach Express
and made our way to meet our driver. He loaded our small roller bags on board.
The AC was kicking inside as we hopped into the large van that would take us to our hotel.
(04:01):
The Cocoa Beach Express Shuttle is wheelchair accessible,
and I noticed a few people outside going to other buses as well who were using
wheelchairs. It's good to see when things are accessible.
There are a number of hotels that participate with this Shuttle service,
meaning you can get dropped off right at your front door.
Evelyn and I were staying at the Radisson Resort at the Port, located cheekily enough
(04:23):
on Astronaut Boulevard in Port Canaveral. We had some other passengers in our van,
and it turned out they were expert cruisers. I've taken 35 cruisers in my lifetime.
She definitely has me beat, though Lisa Carso has a first cruise story that's also similar to mine.
For her high school graduation, she got a cruise as her gift, and she took a Carnival Cruise.
(04:47):
I got started just a little earlier than that, taking a Carnival Cruise to Mexico, Jamaica,
and the Cayman Islands for my 16th birthday. I know, not too shabby,
but as we rolled down the highway from Orlando to Cape Canaveral in the Cocoa Beach Express Shuttle,
I was able to find out even more about what Lisa and I had in common. It was also Lisa and her
(05:07):
husband Michael's first time on the Cocoa Beach Express Shuttle. Our hotel is at the Radisson, so
we decided they offered, they said this is what you say. Yeah, it's included with your room,
so it's like why not? And we were also staying at the Radisson Resort at the Port.
The Cocoa Beach Express Shuttle operates seven days a week and 365 days a year, with one way rate,
(05:30):
starting as low as $28 per person. Depending on your hotel, it may also be included in your stay.
As we rolled up to the Radisson Resort at the Port, I was excited to experience what other cruisers
may want to try on their visit to this area. We stepped inside the lobby to check it out,
and found that there were mostly travelers taking cruisers staying here. It was a diverse group,
(05:51):
ranging from solo women travelers to large groups of families to couples,
and definitely those celebrating special occasions. We got our keys and headed just back from the
front desk to check out the outdoor pool and Tiki Bar, where lots of kids and adults were splashing
around, some with frosty drinks in hand. We were heading to our room to drop off our luggage,
(06:11):
and doubled back to speak with Michael Lemming, the general manager of the property, who would tell
us more about packages at this hotel and others like it may offer for cruisers. We're in Cape Canaveral,
right at the tip of the space coast, so we're about a mile from the port, and just north of Cocoa Beach.
(06:32):
Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral are year-round destinations. The space coast is in general.
Temperatures are mild year-round, and it places like the Radisson Resort at the port,
the pool is heated in the winter for those who want to take a dip. We took the Cocoa Beach
express to get here today from the airport. It was really easy to describe that kind of process
for travelers. Yeah, so I think it's great because that road 528 from the airport to here,
(06:56):
it can get pretty congested, especially on a big cruise ship day when there's four or five ships out
there. Being able to fly in the night before, take the shuttle over to the hotel, you no longer
have to worry about all that crazy traffic in the morning, you come here and have a great time,
and then you go out for the cruise in the morning, and we shuttle you right over to the port.
(07:17):
Tell me about the experience for travelers who are coming here to stay before or after a cruise.
Yeah, so we really try to make this as effortless as possible for somebody going on vacation.
So, you know, whether they're flying in, we'll go and pick them up from the airport,
bring them to the hotel, or if they're driving in, we offer cruise parking as well,
(07:40):
right here on the property. So kind of a one-stop shop, make it effortless, they come,
and then we give them an experience here at the hotel. So a big thing that we focus on is that
experience. We don't want it to just be a regular hotel. So really get that resort atmosphere,
we get the DJ going out by the pool, we'll do food specials, so we'll have a smoker out there and
(08:05):
do brisket specials and things like that. We do themed parties. For example, when the Mardis
Gras ship came to port here in Cape Canaveral, we every Friday would throw a Mardis Gras themed
party before they'd sail out the next morning. What are some ways that people can save money
who might be staying with you? Do you offer discounts at any restaurants or to any attractions or
(08:30):
things like that or partnerships with area businesses? Yeah, so our front desk goes
have discount coupons for various restaurants in the area. Cruise parking is typically, I believe,
12.95 a night, but we do sell different packages as well. Take me through someone who's coming in
to stay here maybe night before their cruise. The next day when they're going to take the cruise,
(08:54):
how do they get from A to B, is there a shuttle or how does it work? Yeah, so we sign them up at check-in
for their shuttle, so we ask them what their boarding time is. The ship usually signs you boarding time.
And then we get you on the shuttle before that boarding time. And so we tell you come down to the
lobby, 15 minutes ahead of time. We have a coordinator posted with a booth right there in lobby. You check
(09:18):
in with him, he'll mark you down, and then when it's time for you to board your shuttle, he'll call your name
and you just go hop right on the shuttle, we'll grab all your luggage and bring you right over.
Do you have any tips for travelers who might be taking a cruise and are looking to come to this area?
In general? Yeah, and I would definitely say I would want to stay the night before, seeing some of the
(09:41):
horror stories of people trying to come in the morning of, that just having that peace of mind where
you can come the night before and know that you're right down the street, that was definitely
something that I would recommend. How far in advance should someone book here, especially during
peak cruise season? I would definitely recommend that when you book that cruise, you book your hotel right
(10:02):
along with it. Peak cruise season for us is really January through March and even in April,
and then the summer months can be very busy as well, and then leading into holiday season. And so
when those cruise ships are filling up and we're getting a lot of people in the town, it's important
(10:22):
to book that early just to have that peace of mind. Another cool thing is we've basically built like a
complex here. So the radison were really the resort hotel with the pool and the teaky bar, and then
right in the same complex, we have the Spring Hill Suites and the town place, both Marriott hotels.
They're a little more geared towards extended stay, so they've got the kitchens and things like that,
(10:47):
but you know all travelers, they have a brand that, you know, they like to travel with, and so
it's a great perk that, you know, you're a Marriott person, you can stay at that hotel and you can still
come right over and experience the pool and the DJ and the fun things that we have going on.
And if you're a choice person, you can stay here. Absolutely, earn your points. Yeah, well we all
(11:09):
like to earn our points and try to use them. Yeah. Jonathan Bloomfield, a full-time bellman at
radison resorted the port, took us out in his golf cart to show us where you actually park.
So we are going now to see where you leave your car if you're taking a cruise.
Parking is just around the side of the hotel, maybe two blocks back.
(11:30):
I always suggest to people to park the night before. The cruise parking is on the other side of the
resort, so if you can park your car over here the night before, that's the best way to go. And then
all you have to do is walk to the lobby at your designated shuttle time and get under shuttle and go.
I had heard about Jonathan from various people at the hotel because he has so many all-star reviews
(11:53):
on TripAdvisor and other social media sites. He just loves his job. Do you think you love your job,
Jonathan? Not at all. No, I'm just kidding. I love my job. To hear about what other cruisers were doing
pre and post-crues, I spoke with a few more who were staying at the radison resort at the port,
including Denise and Terry Cochran from Knoxville, Tennessee, a couple who were taking their very
(12:15):
first cruise, with lifetime cruisers Lisa and Michael Carso, who were in the shuttle bus with me.
They spent last night eating it nearby Grills Seafood Deck & Tiki Bar in Port Canaveral.
It's pretty cool. You get to see all the ships up front and you know they had good seafood.
Nice drinks. I just drank. He did. I wasn't hungry. Their drinks was great.
(12:43):
I also spoke with Caretta Campbell from just outside of New York City, my home area. She stood out in a
lobby with her Vacay Mode t-shirt and sunny smile. No, this is my ninth Carnival Cruise for my first time
traveling solo. Okay, so why did you decide to take a solo cruise? Well, it was, I was supposed to be
(13:03):
traveling for two, but my other party that I was supposed to go with decided they didn't want to
go, so I'm left traveling by myself, but I'm okay with that. I think you're gonna have fun.
Make new friends. Yeah, why did you decide to come in a day early? I came in a day early because as you
know, with all the travel hiccups going on, I rather come and make sure I'm here and I'm present,
(13:28):
so that I can get on my ship. I've heard of people that take chances even leaving from New York,
leaving like a 6 a.m. flight or eight o'clock flight and to get their ship, but then sometimes if the
weather bad isn't Florida, it could be a delay or something happens. It's just, you know, you never
know what air travels, so I just rather be early, have a nice rest, eat breakfast, and then carry on my day.
(13:53):
Caretta took the Cocoa Beach shuttle as well and came in so she could be here a day early and
have a nice dinner and cocktail pre-cruise. Since she also used the Cocoa Beach shuttle, I wanted to hear
her review. The guy called me very thorough. They text you, they're on a way. They also told me that they
use flight tracker so they know to keep in sync with your flight if there's a delay or whatever.
(14:15):
He called me when he was 15 minutes away. It worked out well. I got off the plane, got my lugging
that was able to meet him at the exact location where he told me he would be, and it was great.
We got here like in 45 minutes with no traffic. The next morning, Evelyn and I headed over to
terminal 6 at Port Canaveral to see the process for actually boarding a ship. After a grape of A
(14:35):
breakfast complete with my favorite thing, the Omelet station, we met another large group from
Hannibal Missouri with Michelle Morgan and her sister leading the charge. They stood out with their
great memories, family crews matching t-shirts on. There's 20 of us actually. A multi-generational
group with grandparents, parents, nieces, nephews, grandkids, and more in tow. From 72 down to
(15:01):
two-year-old. This group did a beach day yesterday and then relaxed by the pool last night.
Evelyn and I took a short Uber ride to Port Canaveral, where it seemed like an orderly process to
board the large cruise ship and port at this terminal today, with accessibility being top of mind
for many travelers. It was nice to see choices available at Port Canaveral, including scooters.
(15:23):
Xavier Azzado with Scooteraround shares more. Scootaround is a company that do mobility
rentals. They do scooters, walkers, wheelchairs. They do chairs for like power chairs. We do this
internationally and almost pretty much every cruise terminal. We rent out mobility equipment for
the entire duration of your trip, excursions and all that. We do theme parks, we do convention centers.
(15:46):
Basically you'll rent equipment for whoever is needing it and then they'll take it on their trip,
vacation, whatever it is. They'll use it for the entire duration and then that's it. Like most
people they get them is it because they have a mobility challenge or they just they just maybe
want to get around faster. You'll see a good mix. We just had a teenager come and pick up because
their foot, you know, their foot was broken. They can't walk on it. So I mean all kinds of people
(16:07):
will use it. How fast do they go? The fastest that I've ever gotten one of these
to go is eight miles an hour. Oh okay. Yeah. Yeah. It's not bad. It it it it trusts me sitting on it.
On a scooter it'll go it'll feel a lot faster in it. But there are many more tips to share if
you're going out of Port Canaveral and the Cocoa Beach area for your cruise vacation. But to
cap it off, Evelyn and I traveled over to fish lips to dine and watch the cruise ships go in and
(16:32):
out of Port. The pina colada. Not a bad place to have a cocktail, a frozen drink where at fish
lips now everybody said you gotta go to fish lips. This is a great place to dine by the water. You can
see SpaceX. You can see rocket launches here. You can check out the cruise ships. The boats
(16:56):
going by. There's indoor dining. There's outdoor dining on a covered patio. You can be over here
with these umbrellas. The menu is really pretty awesome actually. They have like Korean nachos.
They've got ordered grilled mahi mahi sandwich. They've got a lot of good looking menu items and
(17:17):
it's just a fun vibe here. So really great. Pick for locals, travelers.
Let's see who's sailing today. I know I'd like to hop on a cruise and there are many choices here.
Thanks for listening to this podcast focused on pre and post cruise time in the Cocoa Beach area
(17:39):
for those sailing out of Port Canaveral. Check out my previous two podcasts focused on family
friendly fun and local insights into the Cocoa Beach area. There's a lot to explore in this legendary
beach location. I'm Darley Newman and thanks for listening to Travels With Darley.
Are you taking a cruise vacation and leaving from Florida?
(00:03):
How about Port Canaveral and the Cocoa Beach area?
If you're considering it, this is a podcast that will help you with your planning.
Located approximately 45 minutes east of Orlando, along Florida's Space Coast.
Cocoa Beach is a popular destination for travelers in general,
but especially those cruising out of Port Canaveral, Florida,
(00:24):
where big ships like Carnival Mardi Gras,
RCL Utopia of the Seas, and Caribbean Princess dock.
But what's a gal, family, couple, or group to do pre or post cruising?
My producer, Evelyn Juan Green and I,
took a trip to Cocoa Beach, Florida, and Port Canaveral for a weekend
to explore the opportunities and options to give you the lowdown on
(00:45):
our take on the best ways to maximize your time,
pre and post cruising. Whether you want to relax at a family-friendly resort,
hit craft breweries, watch a rocket launch, go fishing,
sea local art, or hit up the beach or local event.
Our takeaway, you have lots of options.
So sit back and get ready to have some pre-cruising fun
(01:07):
in Coco Beach and Port Canaveral. It's the Travels with Darley Podcast,
where we take you on active adventures with locals as the guides.
We share first-hand tips and tricks to help you travel better,
from my own experiences being on the road for over a decade and a half,
and traveling all over the world. All aboard because we're bound for Florida.
(01:27):
There's something adventurous about taking a cruise.
But getting to a ship on time in today's sometimes hectic travel climate,
it can be stressful. Many cruisers we met on this adventure
recommend flying or driving in a day early before your cruise
(01:49):
to avoid the pitfalls that come with potential airline delays,
cancellations, traffic jams, and other tricky travel mishaps that could leave you
literally missing the boat. I arrived just before my consulting producer and
travel buddy Evelyn Kwan Green, who originally hails from Malaysia,
and now lives in Coastal Mississippi,
got into the Orlando International Airport.
(02:11):
This gave me a little time to explore and see what it's really like for
travelers coming into the area, and how it is to get from Orlando to Coco Beach
and the Cape Canaveral area. I checked out an outpost of the famous
Ron Jon Surf Shop, a local art gallery, and a Cuban cafe for coffee
before meeting up with Evelyn to catch the Coco Beach Express.
I've just arrived to the Orlando Florida Airport,
(02:34):
and we're about to see what a pre and post-cruis experience is like.
There are a variety of ways to travel the approximately 45 minutes from the
Orlando International Airport to Port Canaveral and Coco Beach.
You can run a car, take a car service like Uber or Lyft, or hop on with other
travelers on the Coco Beach Express Shuttle, which I found was easy and a cost
(02:56):
effective way to travel. I came into Terminal B.
So we're now headed from baggage lane down to where the shuttle buses
pick up people to go to specific cruise lines.
There's lots of signage for cruise transportation,
and also volunteers on-hand by an information desk as you come down the
escalator to baggage claim. They're usually there to answer questions.
(03:19):
Making it easy for you to get from baggage claim just outside and a few doors
down to meet the Cocoa Beach Express Shuttle. They're loading up the luggage
here for the different cruisers taking their luggage
separately. Pack lightly people! We saw a lot of bags
and just a few lines of people, but I guess if you're cruising you can bring
(03:40):
really what you want, within reason, because once you're on the ship you don't
have to move your luggage to hotels every day.
A benefit of cruising. We saw the branded vans labeled for the Cocoa Beach Express
and made our way to meet our driver. He loaded our small roller bags on board.
The AC was kicking inside as we hopped into the large van that would take us to our hotel.
(04:01):
The Cocoa Beach Express Shuttle is wheelchair accessible,
and I noticed a few people outside going to other buses as well who were using
wheelchairs. It's good to see when things are accessible.
There are a number of hotels that participate with this Shuttle service,
meaning you can get dropped off right at your front door.
Evelyn and I were staying at the Radisson Resort at the Port, located cheekily enough
(04:23):
on Astronaut Boulevard in Port Canaveral. We had some other passengers in our van,
and it turned out they were expert cruisers. I've taken 35 cruisers in my lifetime.
She definitely has me beat, though Lisa Carso has a first cruise story that's also similar to mine.
For her high school graduation, she got a cruise as her gift, and she took a Carnival Cruise.
(04:47):
I got started just a little earlier than that, taking a Carnival Cruise to Mexico, Jamaica,
and the Cayman Islands for my 16th birthday. I know, not too shabby,
but as we rolled down the highway from Orlando to Cape Canaveral in the Cocoa Beach Express Shuttle,
I was able to find out even more about what Lisa and I had in common. It was also Lisa and her
(05:07):
husband Michael's first time on the Cocoa Beach Express Shuttle. Our hotel is at the Radisson, so
we decided they offered, they said this is what you say. Yeah, it's included with your room,
so it's like why not? And we were also staying at the Radisson Resort at the Port.
The Cocoa Beach Express Shuttle operates seven days a week and 365 days a year, with one way rate,
(05:30):
starting as low as $28 per person. Depending on your hotel, it may also be included in your stay.
As we rolled up to the Radisson Resort at the Port, I was excited to experience what other cruisers
may want to try on their visit to this area. We stepped inside the lobby to check it out,
and found that there were mostly travelers taking cruisers staying here. It was a diverse group,
(05:51):
ranging from solo women travelers to large groups of families to couples,
and definitely those celebrating special occasions. We got our keys and headed just back from the
front desk to check out the outdoor pool and Tiki Bar, where lots of kids and adults were splashing
around, some with frosty drinks in hand. We were heading to our room to drop off our luggage,
(06:11):
and doubled back to speak with Michael Lemming, the general manager of the property, who would tell
us more about packages at this hotel and others like it may offer for cruisers. We're in Cape Canaveral,
right at the tip of the space coast, so we're about a mile from the port, and just north of Cocoa Beach.
(06:32):
Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral are year-round destinations. The space coast is in general.
Temperatures are mild year-round, and it places like the Radisson Resort at the port,
the pool is heated in the winter for those who want to take a dip. We took the Cocoa Beach
express to get here today from the airport. It was really easy to describe that kind of process
for travelers. Yeah, so I think it's great because that road 528 from the airport to here,
(06:56):
it can get pretty congested, especially on a big cruise ship day when there's four or five ships out
there. Being able to fly in the night before, take the shuttle over to the hotel, you no longer
have to worry about all that crazy traffic in the morning, you come here and have a great time,
and then you go out for the cruise in the morning, and we shuttle you right over to the port.
(07:17):
Tell me about the experience for travelers who are coming here to stay before or after a cruise.
Yeah, so we really try to make this as effortless as possible for somebody going on vacation.
So, you know, whether they're flying in, we'll go and pick them up from the airport,
bring them to the hotel, or if they're driving in, we offer cruise parking as well,
(07:40):
right here on the property. So kind of a one-stop shop, make it effortless, they come,
and then we give them an experience here at the hotel. So a big thing that we focus on is that
experience. We don't want it to just be a regular hotel. So really get that resort atmosphere,
we get the DJ going out by the pool, we'll do food specials, so we'll have a smoker out there and
(08:05):
do brisket specials and things like that. We do themed parties. For example, when the Mardis
Gras ship came to port here in Cape Canaveral, we every Friday would throw a Mardis Gras themed
party before they'd sail out the next morning. What are some ways that people can save money
who might be staying with you? Do you offer discounts at any restaurants or to any attractions or
(08:30):
things like that or partnerships with area businesses? Yeah, so our front desk goes
have discount coupons for various restaurants in the area. Cruise parking is typically, I believe,
12.95 a night, but we do sell different packages as well. Take me through someone who's coming in
to stay here maybe night before their cruise. The next day when they're going to take the cruise,
(08:54):
how do they get from A to B, is there a shuttle or how does it work? Yeah, so we sign them up at check-in
for their shuttle, so we ask them what their boarding time is. The ship usually signs you boarding time.
And then we get you on the shuttle before that boarding time. And so we tell you come down to the
lobby, 15 minutes ahead of time. We have a coordinator posted with a booth right there in lobby. You check
(09:18):
in with him, he'll mark you down, and then when it's time for you to board your shuttle, he'll call your name
and you just go hop right on the shuttle, we'll grab all your luggage and bring you right over.
Do you have any tips for travelers who might be taking a cruise and are looking to come to this area?
In general? Yeah, and I would definitely say I would want to stay the night before, seeing some of the
(09:41):
horror stories of people trying to come in the morning of, that just having that peace of mind where
you can come the night before and know that you're right down the street, that was definitely
something that I would recommend. How far in advance should someone book here, especially during
peak cruise season? I would definitely recommend that when you book that cruise, you book your hotel right
(10:02):
along with it. Peak cruise season for us is really January through March and even in April,
and then the summer months can be very busy as well, and then leading into holiday season. And so
when those cruise ships are filling up and we're getting a lot of people in the town, it's important
(10:22):
to book that early just to have that peace of mind. Another cool thing is we've basically built like a
complex here. So the radison were really the resort hotel with the pool and the teaky bar, and then
right in the same complex, we have the Spring Hill Suites and the town place, both Marriott hotels.
They're a little more geared towards extended stay, so they've got the kitchens and things like that,
(10:47):
but you know all travelers, they have a brand that, you know, they like to travel with, and so
it's a great perk that, you know, you're a Marriott person, you can stay at that hotel and you can still
come right over and experience the pool and the DJ and the fun things that we have going on.
And if you're a choice person, you can stay here. Absolutely, earn your points. Yeah, well we all
(11:09):
like to earn our points and try to use them. Yeah. Jonathan Bloomfield, a full-time bellman at
radison resorted the port, took us out in his golf cart to show us where you actually park.
So we are going now to see where you leave your car if you're taking a cruise.
Parking is just around the side of the hotel, maybe two blocks back.
(11:30):
I always suggest to people to park the night before. The cruise parking is on the other side of the
resort, so if you can park your car over here the night before, that's the best way to go. And then
all you have to do is walk to the lobby at your designated shuttle time and get under shuttle and go.
I had heard about Jonathan from various people at the hotel because he has so many all-star reviews
(11:53):
on TripAdvisor and other social media sites. He just loves his job. Do you think you love your job,
Jonathan? Not at all. No, I'm just kidding. I love my job. To hear about what other cruisers were doing
pre and post-crues, I spoke with a few more who were staying at the radison resort at the port,
including Denise and Terry Cochran from Knoxville, Tennessee, a couple who were taking their very
(12:15):
first cruise, with lifetime cruisers Lisa and Michael Carso, who were in the shuttle bus with me.
They spent last night eating it nearby Grills Seafood Deck & Tiki Bar in Port Canaveral.
It's pretty cool. You get to see all the ships up front and you know they had good seafood.
Nice drinks. I just drank. He did. I wasn't hungry. Their drinks was great.
(12:43):
I also spoke with Caretta Campbell from just outside of New York City, my home area. She stood out in a
lobby with her Vacay Mode t-shirt and sunny smile. No, this is my ninth Carnival Cruise for my first time
traveling solo. Okay, so why did you decide to take a solo cruise? Well, it was, I was supposed to be
(13:03):
traveling for two, but my other party that I was supposed to go with decided they didn't want to
go, so I'm left traveling by myself, but I'm okay with that. I think you're gonna have fun.
Make new friends. Yeah, why did you decide to come in a day early? I came in a day early because as you
know, with all the travel hiccups going on, I rather come and make sure I'm here and I'm present,
(13:28):
so that I can get on my ship. I've heard of people that take chances even leaving from New York,
leaving like a 6 a.m. flight or eight o'clock flight and to get their ship, but then sometimes if the
weather bad isn't Florida, it could be a delay or something happens. It's just, you know, you never
know what air travels, so I just rather be early, have a nice rest, eat breakfast, and then carry on my day.
(13:53):
Caretta took the Cocoa Beach shuttle as well and came in so she could be here a day early and
have a nice dinner and cocktail pre-cruise. Since she also used the Cocoa Beach shuttle, I wanted to hear
her review. The guy called me very thorough. They text you, they're on a way. They also told me that they
use flight tracker so they know to keep in sync with your flight if there's a delay or whatever.
(14:15):
He called me when he was 15 minutes away. It worked out well. I got off the plane, got my lugging
that was able to meet him at the exact location where he told me he would be, and it was great.
We got here like in 45 minutes with no traffic. The next morning, Evelyn and I headed over to
terminal 6 at Port Canaveral to see the process for actually boarding a ship. After a grape of A
(14:35):
breakfast complete with my favorite thing, the Omelet station, we met another large group from
Hannibal Missouri with Michelle Morgan and her sister leading the charge. They stood out with their
great memories, family crews matching t-shirts on. There's 20 of us actually. A multi-generational
group with grandparents, parents, nieces, nephews, grandkids, and more in tow. From 72 down to
(15:01):
two-year-old. This group did a beach day yesterday and then relaxed by the pool last night.
Evelyn and I took a short Uber ride to Port Canaveral, where it seemed like an orderly process to
board the large cruise ship and port at this terminal today, with accessibility being top of mind
for many travelers. It was nice to see choices available at Port Canaveral, including scooters.
(15:23):
Xavier Azzado with Scooteraround shares more. Scootaround is a company that do mobility
rentals. They do scooters, walkers, wheelchairs. They do chairs for like power chairs. We do this
internationally and almost pretty much every cruise terminal. We rent out mobility equipment for
the entire duration of your trip, excursions and all that. We do theme parks, we do convention centers.
(15:46):
Basically you'll rent equipment for whoever is needing it and then they'll take it on their trip,
vacation, whatever it is. They'll use it for the entire duration and then that's it. Like most
people they get them is it because they have a mobility challenge or they just they just maybe
want to get around faster. You'll see a good mix. We just had a teenager come and pick up because
their foot, you know, their foot was broken. They can't walk on it. So I mean all kinds of people
(16:07):
will use it. How fast do they go? The fastest that I've ever gotten one of these
to go is eight miles an hour. Oh okay. Yeah. Yeah. It's not bad. It it it it trusts me sitting on it.
On a scooter it'll go it'll feel a lot faster in it. But there are many more tips to share if
you're going out of Port Canaveral and the Cocoa Beach area for your cruise vacation. But to
cap it off, Evelyn and I traveled over to fish lips to dine and watch the cruise ships go in and
(16:32):
out of Port. The pina colada. Not a bad place to have a cocktail, a frozen drink where at fish
lips now everybody said you gotta go to fish lips. This is a great place to dine by the water. You can
see SpaceX. You can see rocket launches here. You can check out the cruise ships. The boats
(16:56):
going by. There's indoor dining. There's outdoor dining on a covered patio. You can be over here
with these umbrellas. The menu is really pretty awesome actually. They have like Korean nachos.
They've got ordered grilled mahi mahi sandwich. They've got a lot of good looking menu items and
(17:17):
it's just a fun vibe here. So really great. Pick for locals, travelers.
Let's see who's sailing today. I know I'd like to hop on a cruise and there are many choices here.
Thanks for listening to this podcast focused on pre and post cruise time in the Cocoa Beach area
(17:39):
for those sailing out of Port Canaveral. Check out my previous two podcasts focused on family
friendly fun and local insights into the Cocoa Beach area. There's a lot to explore in this legendary
beach location. I'm Darley Newman and thanks for listening to Travels With Darley.
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