Capt_BJ

yes, there is a little park and rest room at the boat launch area which is outside of Jetty Park or go into Jetty Park and there's a lot more room BUT Jetty Park charges a per car admission which I believe you must PRE-PAY on line <phone> South of Jetty Park you can easily get to the beach but most side streets will have charges for parking (credit card) do of people go down to watch or do they now happen so often with SpaceX no one bothers? You seldom see a big crowd anymore. Routine starlink launches are pretty ho-hum for locals but tourists will stop and look. You don't see many special trip folks unless it is something unusual ... like 'people' going up or the recent 'last' Delta Heavy ... but NOTHING like the shuttle days or earlier .... BTW there WAS a free viewing are on the north side of the port near the ID and pass office just outside the Space Base gate but too many traffic accidents caused it to be shut down. And police have been NOT allowing you to just stop on shoulder of 401 or 528 as was common in the past ....

you CAN taxi/uber .. they are pretty readily available at the port ... BUT be aware that calling one for your RETURN can result in a wait at the visitor complex is kinda in the boonies and taxi/uber do NOT typically hang out there waiting for a fare. When you call it may take a bit for them to show up. Give yourself PLENTY of time Many choose to do a single day car rental ... it isn't too far and there isn't much traffic. This is 'small town' area There is no 'bus service' other than what an excursion might have You CAN find some private tour providers who can get you ON the space center property <versus the visitor center> but these tend to be $$ and require advance reservation

pretty much anyplace on the beach gives a good view the fishing pier at Jetty Park is ideal the SMALL park next to the port's boat launch area Coco Beach Pier (if open) any of the waterside restaurant in the port:; Grills, FishLips, Rusty's, Gators ... biggest difference is time of day ..... this impacts what places will be open versus just standing on the beach And up Titusville way are other places but I live on the south side ... I got 'on property' for a spacex launch a while back ... this is as close as you can get unless you work for spacex!! I was with a space center employee who has full access ...

there's not many ports where there's so much traffic that the pilot turns around immediately for another ship. Some, but not typical. Port Canaveral for example can have days with no movements at all, and one in or one out is not at all unusual. Another aspect to consider is the pilot MAY BE onboard for DAYS. On a Norway fjords cruise or an Alaska inland passage cruise the ship is sailing inland waters for days and typically law requires a pilot on board all the time ... on the bridge. In this case sometimes it is a pilot TEAM so they trade off 'the watch'. In Alaska the ship can bounce between Canada and US waters during a transit and BOTH pilots will be on board .... In a place like San Fran there will be MULTIPLE pilot 'jurisdictions' you might say ... An ocean pilot, a bay pilot and if going to Richmond or Sacramento yet additional pilots not to mention special docking pilots are often in play. It gets complicated!

to visit Miami and not eat Cuban is a crime. Often the best place will be a lil mom and pop. Ask the desk for a near recommendation. OR uber to La Carretta

update ... I just drove the area today and it appears the 'exact coin' lanes are gone .... I saw 4 'change' lanes - in each case only ONE was open .... on 'main line' plazas of 528, 417 and 408 .... not a huge change but ...

concur ... very doable unless there is a major hic - up .... especially with a private driver. I'm a local ....

this is something different ..... https://www.spacecoastslingshot.com/ altho once again the problem is they close at 5pm ..... This rest' in Cocoa Village just won a big national award ..... http://margaux.com/ Florida Today: Café Margaux in Cocoa Village is only one of only 16 restaurants across North America - and the only one in Florida - to earn the 2024 Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRōNA) Gold Award of Excellence.

first I'm hearing that Hertz has reopened in Canaveral ..... they closed shop during COVID

Enjoy the midnight sun and the North Cape. be prepared that it may be somewhat colder north of the arctic circle. We've done North Cape in July twice .. a light jacket was plenty both times .... take advantage of the opportunity to become a Blue Nose if your ship offers. This was on Viking Ocean .... they turn a hot tub into an ice bath ... those blue bags are all ice and they replenish frequently! Following your dip, a certificate, a dab of blue frosting on the nose and some aquavit ...

wrt FLAM there is ONE berth but on occasion there can be more than one ship visiting ... which will tender ....

pay attention as the 'cash' toll lane will look like an exit to many. To the far right is the attended lane for change or receipts ... if there is gonna be a backup it will be here. To the left is exact change lanes and a roll of quarters will cover your round trip and than some. If you will be in a rental it is a good idea to get receipts as it is not unusual for the rental to charge you (pluss their fee) even tho you paid cash ... earlier post has only shown the toll plazas on 528 between MCO and PC ... if coming from ORLANDO downtown or Disney there are additional tolls but in general a roll of quarters will still cover at least one way ...

there's a bunch of reliable off site paring places at Port Can' and they tend to charge significantly LESS than what the port charges. Yes, you add a little time due to riding a shuttle but for some the $$ savings is the winner. https://portcanaveralparking.com/ https://www.parkportcanaveral.com/ https://parkncruiseportcanaveral.com/

note zoo closes at 5 (actually some things close b4 that). You'd be hard pressed to get there b4 2 ....

Florida doesn't have drop-off charges for rental cars. this isn't a 'rule' or a law but true, most of the time tire is no one way fee added .... MOST.