Capt_BJ

there are places closer to the pier that have been around for a LONG time with good reputations, this one is a bit further out .......

check https://www.parkportcanaveral.com/

and

https://parkncruiseportcanaveral.com/

I recommend Brickell area for mid range hotel and walkable rest' (Miami mid range $ !!!! may seem $$ to you)

Miami doesn't really have 'beach' .... Miami Beach is a sep' city. Near by, but a different place.

Or ..... discover UBER.

location of 'Asian Station' window on Saturn this past July ... it's small, easy to walk right past it.

https://www.miamidade.gov/transit/mover-upgrade-brochure.pdf

https://www.miamidade.gov/global/transportation/metromover-upgrade-project.page

there is a phone app that can provide real time vehicle tracking and system status   https://www.miamidade.gov/global/service.page?Mduid_service=ser1578323661475590

that's funny ... I live 3 miles from Avenue Viera and am there all the time. I never think of it as a "mall" as it is styled open air to resemble the town square of old. Rather spread out and lack the traditional large department store anchors but a nice handful of decent places to eat (why I go). About half way between MI and MS malls just off 95 at exit 191

https://www.avenueviera.com/

another 'non traditional' choice is Cocoa Village which is an area of small eclectic shops with a large river front park and again, several eating places. At one time some cruises visiting here ran excursion busses.

Dunno about it closing but it was struggling last time I went in and THAT was probably 2 years ago. Lots of empty units ....  The nearest decent mall is Melbourne Square but that's nearly 25 miles away and is nothing special, just 'healthier'. You might be better off with Florida Mall even tho it is Orlando .....

your friends might enjoy DRF even if they don't climb!  DRF is a national park and climbing the falls is just one thing you can do when you pay for a day admission. There is a shopping market (some hate), gardens and near the top of the falls some 'overlooks' s folks can see and watch the folks climbing The layout is you enter the park at the top of the climbing area and typically take stairs to the bottom then climb up. Along the way there are natural pool areas including one at the very top seen here 

at the left you might notice a safety railing ... this is the stairs in and out of the top pool (no climbing above this point) so your friends can enjoy the cool waters. And there are a couple more places where you can get in/out to pools along the way ... ya don't have to go 'all the way'

while not a fan of Brightline <too many half truths> it MIGHT work for you

BL cost 'advantages> fall apart when you talk about a family traveling ... 1 rental car versus 4 train tickets <and the adjacent rides to fill in the gaps>

BUT YOU might want to consider

1. from PC to MCO (cruise line transfer or local shuttle)

2. BL to Miami Beach (Ft L or Miami Station .. does not go to MB)

3. UBER from station to hotel

and reverse on the back side.

advantage is no car to worry about

disadvantage<s>

no car for local use

total cost<?>

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

(It is a bit of a tossup ad to whether Florida's Turnpike or 95 will be faster for you- timing is everything!)

NOT EVEN CLOSE ... get a car in Cocoa beach and it is 200 miles straight down 95 which tends to move FAST .... to get to the turnpike you'd need to west to Orlando first adding many miles and minutes ..... anyone look at a map?

However, the best snorkelling is usually at spots that don’t have great beach.

exactly!

7 mile's big draw is a sandy bottom for quite a distance out from shore which does not make for exciting snorkeling.  I go the other direction from town and go to Eden Rock or Sunset House. Here the coral runs right up to the shore line but there's no beach and it is 'big boy pants' snorkeling ... you will not find anyplace to stand up . . .

you can see what I'm talking about in the shot of Sunset House. When you get in at the sea wall the reef fingers are right there

no reservations

today .... uber/lyft is the way to go unless you are going "far" and even then it is debatable . . .

I live 45 minutes from Orlando Airport and an UBER usually costs me around $80 ....for two of us ... or one of us ... or 3 of us.

hint ... load the app on your phone .... you can enter a 'from here to ....' and get a price. Until you hit confirm you didn't book anything. Your actual price at the time might be different <U & L are very dynamic in their pricing adjustments> but I've never been burned.

concerning draft ... oasis class operate from Port Canaveral routinely ... without tugs under normal conditions

here's the ports depths and rules:

Main Channel Mean Low Water Levels

Channel Depths and Restrictions

The Canaveral Port Authority provides depths in channel of -13.4 meters (-44 feet)
Maximum Draft in Channel: -12.2 meters (-40 feet)
Minimum Under-keel Clearance for Vessels in Channel: 1 meter (3.3 feet)
 

Tide Restrictions

Vessels drawing 11.6 meters (38 feet) or less: Transit anytime

Vessels drawing more than 11.6 meters (38 feet) up to 12.2 meters (40 feet) and any cargo vessel proceeding to the West Basin, will be advised by the Harbormaster and Canaveral Pilots of the time of boarding by a pilot for transit with consideration given to the stage of the tide.

NOTE: Vessels drawing more than 11.6 meters (38 feet) draft require three tugboats and a 48-hour notice to ensure there are no delays.
 

here's the boat ramp area (yellow) and all that parking for boat trailer vehicles is open 24/7 (except hurricanes)

at my white circle you'll find this

I doubt that parking area will be full at zero dark hundred ..... but I could be mistaken .... folks who fish are often NUTS 🤣

p.s.  last time I arrived at MCO and tried to get an UBER to Cocoa area two rides cancelled on me when I was booking as a 'standard' / X <UBER drivers can do this I guess>

I changed to XL ... just a few dollars more and got a ride right away . . nicer car too!

can't recommend a spot until you know the berth that will be used and that schedule tends to be set about 6 months ahead of time .... RCCL uses CT-1 as their primary but depending on how many of their ships are turning over on a given day they also use 3 and 5

https://www.portcanaveral.com/getattachment/Cruise/Cruise-Lines-Schedules/Port-Canaveral-Cruise-Schedule-Dec23-Jul24.pdf.aspx?lang=en-US

>>>>>>>>>>>

what 'closes' at Jetty Park is the parking lot and 'facilities' ... the beach never closes. You can find 'street parking' just a little south of the park and access the beach then walk up the beach .... from anywhere along here you'll easily see the ship enter the jetties . . and the harbor.

there are signs for designated ride share pickup spots outside of bag claim ... typically at the far end of the 'row'

Last time it cost me about $100 for an 'XL'

I'm seeing $75 on the app at this time for 'X' aka standard .

noon 6 March 9 (Eastern Standard Time)

<when MT gets AIS via a participating land station they identify the vessel by name, they get this data 'free'  ... when they get it from a satellite source they had to pay to get the data and charge for anything other than vessel class>

marinetraffic.com

MarineTraffic,com shows a ship at the Labadee pier as of minutes ago. it does not provide the name unless you have a pay account when the information is obtained from a satellite source.

we're going to be taking a Christmas Markets River cruise departing from Amsterdam.  I stumbled onto a reference to train service from London to Amsterdam thru the Chunnel and as a train lover am intrigued. Cost seemed quite reasonable.

Anyone familiar / have experience? Comments?

we were in Norway July 2018 and it was very hot the whole time.  Shorts and t-shirts all the time.

US TOO ..... record heat in much of western Europe that year. Even at NorthCape ...  shirt sleeves! post cruise we sent a few days in Bergen, Flam and Oslo and the nights were miserable ...95 degrees and a/c is very uncommon in hotels in Norway.  Went again this past July and while temps were more normal we again experienced nothing more than light rain one day in Bergen . .  

>>>>>>>>>

The port is quite a bit of a haul from the city center and Bergen provided a free shuttle to the center.

welllll ... maybe ..... there are TWO docking locations for cruise ships and one (my 1) is a short walk for the main tourist area and fish market (my 3) while the other is buried in the cargo port (my 2)

 Thought maybe it would be easier to just go back to the airport to get a car.

last time I picked up at car at MCO I was in line for 90 minutes ....... stay away from Dollar!!!

DW and DS did Disney WISH maiden voyage and this is the swag haul ... some of which was  'free' - in the very $$ fare - and some cost extra yet. This cruise never got past being offered to 'platinum' status of the Castaway Club (returning customers)  

at least with DCL there is a significant difference between maiden (first 'regular' cruise with paying pax) and inaugural  .. we sailed inaugural on Disney Magic and Wonder where all sailings were inaug' for the first 12 months of operation. No swag for free on those but they did sell shirts with inaugural cruise on the sleeve.

So far as special food .... you may actually experience more booboo's food wise and they are still learning their way around!!!! My gang has no desire to do another maiden . . . there was a strong "me first - I'm special" attitude in the air . . .

it is doable but Disney may not allow you to book the transfer with this flight

if you get on an early Disney bus you can easily be at MCO before 10 and that gives you 2 hours b4 your flight ,,, you MIGHT be there by 9

BUT MCO international 'recommends' 3 hours b4 and therein be the problem ... Disney pays attention to these recommendations and as I recall didn't book their transfers for any flight b4 1230 and later for international.

you need to be on an early bus as the ride (normal circumstances) is a lil under an hour . . .

BEST BET is book a private ride EARLY ... or HOPE you can get an UBER ($70+)

best bet in vicinity of the port will be an "ABC" liquor store <in FL ABC is private and not a 'state store'>

IME the ones by me have a large humidor and appears to be a good selection <I don't smoke myself tho>

from post #1

I mentioned in another thread I saw similar past summer on SATURN on Norway/Iceland trip.

STARLINK constellation is still incomplete