Arriving at Pt. Canaveral

[chris330r]

We have a couple of errands needed to run on the morning of the cruise and estimate our arrival to the port at around 1pm.

Is that still considered peak time when most are still "cattle boarding" or should most of the boarding crowds have dissipated by then? The last time we cruised out of Pt. Canaveral was back in 2003.

 

We're just driving over from Orlando so having a short 45 minute drive over, we can arrive later to avoid all that while giving us a bit more breathing room for the morning errands.

 

Is even 2pm ok for arrival or would that be cutting things too close?...We don't have FTTF for this cruise, so I'm thinking the later the better for boarding anyway.

[uckhenry]

My pre-cruise ritual......(Note-I stay in a hotel in Cocoa the night before.)

 

Saturday morning: Have a nice breakfast at the hotel and take a stroll on the beach. Head toward PC around 11am. I usually stop at thw Walmart or Walgreens in Cocoa for any last minute items. Head to Rusty's and eat lunch on the deck. You can look across the water and see your ship while you eat. I like their lobster bisque with a sandwich.

 

If the weather is nice we'll hang out till 2:30pm. Drive 5 minutes to the parking deck after unloading luggage at the terminal drop-off. Walk to the terminal.....show our documents and within 15 to 20 minutes we are headed up the gangway....well before the 4pm departure.

 

The crowds and long lines are gone by now.

Edited July 20, 2014 by uckhenry

[chris330r]

My pre-cruise ritual......(Note-I stay in a hotel in Cocoa the night before.)

 

Saturday morning: Have a nice breakfast at the hotel and take a stroll on the beach. Head toward PC around 11am. I usually stop at thw Walmart or Walgreens in Cocoa for any last minute items. Head to Rusty's and eat lunch on the deck. You can look across the water and see your ship while you eat. I like their lobster bisque with a sandwich.

 

If the weather is nice we'll hang out till 2:30pm. Drive 5 minutes to the parking deck after unloading luggage at the terminal drop-off. Walk to the terminal.....show our documents and within 15 to 20 minutes we are headed up the gangway....well before the 4pm departure.

 

The crowds and long lines are gone by now.

 

This eases my mind tremendously, thanks! We'll set it for a 2pm arrival then...And I'm Google mapping directions to that Walmart in Cocoa now. Great idea for those last minute items.

[golfadj]

This eases my mind tremendously, thanks! We'll set it for a 2pm arrival then...And I'm Google mapping directions to that Walmart in Cocoa now. Great idea for those last minute items.

 

I would not get there so late. If you get a flat tire or hit serious traffic you are in danger of missing the cruise.

 

IMHO better to sit at the terminal for an hour than risk missing the ship.

[chris330r]

I would not get there so late. If you get a flat tire or hit serious traffic you are in danger of missing the cruise.

 

IMHO better to sit at the terminal for an hour than risk missing the ship.

 

I think we can have all errands finished and depart by noon...this way we arrive port by 1PM at the latest. Car is well maintained & I don't anticipate serious traffic on a Sunday morning. Thankfully, it's only a 45 minute drive.

[Havingfun2010]

I would not get there so late. If you get a flat tire or hit serious traffic you are in danger of missing the cruise.

 

IMHO better to sit at the terminal for an hour than risk missing the ship.

 

The poster lives 45 minutes away. From Orlando, to the port, there are numerous ways to drive. Flat tire takes 15 minutes to change.

[saltwaterfixes]

be careful when googling. Cocoa and Cocoa Beach are 2 different cities. You will be way off track if you end up in cocoa.

[Swampbabe]

be careful when googling. Cocoa and Cocoa Beach are 2 different cities. You will be way off track if you end up in cocoa.

 

He lives in the next county, I think he can figure it out :D

[pauleydm]

We never arrive before 2:00pm. The crowds are gone, the cabin is clean, and the buffet lines are short:)

[Tapi]

We just sailed from Port Canaveral a few weeks ago. We arrived around noon and walked into an almost deserted cruise terminal. Even though it was a full 4th of July sailing, we parked front row, right across from the main entrance to the terminal. Once inside, there were maybe 2-3 people ahead of us at the security checkpoint and nobody at the check in line. We went from car to boarding in maybe 10-15 minutes! :)

 

 

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[RuthlessBoss]

In December I was there boarding Ecstasy (a small ship) but shortly after 11 the lines were gone. I actually had never seen the terminal so empty. I am one of those who simply cannot wait till afternoon to board. Kind of silly because then I just wait to leave and get that casino open.. I too am 45 minutes from the port, go in the 528, leave the car at Park n Cruise, then let them drive me over and back.

Edited July 21, 2014 by RuthlessBoss

[golfadj]

The poster lives 45 minutes away. From Orlando, to the port, there are numerous ways to drive. Flat tire takes 15 minutes to change.

 

All kind of stuff can happen so dont see any reason for me to cut it that close.

 

Besides vacation starts when I board the ship so the earlier the better.

[Linerguy]

...vacation starts when I board the ship so the earlier the better.

 

This.

[jimbo5544]

This.

 

I agree

[jimbo5544]

All kind of stuff can happen so dont see any reason for me to cut it that close.

 

Besides vacation starts when I board the ship so the earlier the better.

 

I agree with this as well, although my wife sometimes thinks I worry to much.:o

[Out to sea!]

All kind of stuff can happen so dont see any reason for me to cut it that close.

 

Besides vacation starts when I board the ship so the earlier the better.

 

Same here. Only thing I'm thinking of on cruise day is to start my vacation as soon as possible. Even though I only live 70 minutes from PC, I've seen I-95 closed for hours on end and then US1 becomes almost not navigable. I leave at 0830, get parked by 1000 and usually on board and having a good time by 1100.

 

As the military taught me, I'd rather be 2 hours early than 2 minutes late. ;)

[snc_cam]

Before FTTF came about, I was actually the "first person" to check into a cruise out of PC. I drive in from North Orlando with a rental car and drop it off getting a ride from the car company to the port. And now with FTTF, I still get there early. Like has been said, I would rather wait at the port getting there early with lots of time for potential issues that may occur.

[golfadj]

Same here. Only thing I'm thinking of on cruise day is to start my vacation as soon as possible. Even though I only live 70 minutes from PC, I've seen I-95 closed for hours on end and then US1 becomes almost not navigable. I leave at 0830, get parked by 1000 and usually on board and having a good time by 1100.

 

As the military taught me, I'd rather be 2 hours early than 2 minutes late. ;)

 

Wow we agree again:):)

[Out to sea!]

Wow we agree again:):)

 

I know........whuddathunkit????? :D

 

If we ever cruise together I'll have to buy you a beer to celebrate! :) Truthfully though, we agree on more than we disagree on.......as you know, it's really only the smuggling that bothers me but at least you're nice about it and not all in someone's face with it. I respect that.