Please help, question about staying near Port Canaveral before cruise.

[dreday3]

Hi,

 

We are sailing on FOS leaving 11/29. Due to it being Thanksgiving weekend, for some reason it is a few hundred dollars cheaper for us to fly out on Friday instead of Saturday including the cost of a two night hotel stay.

 

We booked Friday/Saturday night at Residence Inn Cape Canaveral Cocoa beach.

 

I'm kind of iffy when I don't know the area I'm staying at. I was fine with one night before the cruise because it wouldn't be that long a stay, but now we have two nights, an entire day there. It feels like a long time to hang out before the cruise.

 

What to do there? Is the beach okay? I've read differing opinions.

Would you go to the Space Center? Is the area okay or kind of rundown?

Stay somewhere else or just shut up and hang out at the pool?:p

 

I can't stay near WDW or I'd never leave!! :D (seriously, I have a problem, I love WDW)

 

I just don't want a bad start to the trip, so I'm just making sure of our choice.

 

thanks!

[GTO-Girl]

The Residence Inn is a nice place to stay so no worries there.

 

You should go to the web site for Cape Canaveral/Cocoa Beach area to see what might interest you.

 

If you have time you should check out Kennedy Space. You might also contact your local Congressman's office because from time to time they have free tickets.

 

We sail from PC a lot........we love the area!!

[Twinswithtwins]

Back a few weeks from staying in Cape Canaveral for a week (timeshare). Also did the short 2 night cruise (just before the drydock) of FOS while we were there. We did lots of things in the area.

 

Two standouts were the Space Coast Segway tour on Friday night (did the evening tour with the neon lights on the Segways) and the Yummy Florida walking food tour on Saturday. SO much fun. Both activities have Groupons available for big reductions in cost.

 

Go to Jetty Park for beach access- right there in Cape Canaveral. Softest powdery sand I've ever been on. Fee per car of $15-(out of Brevard County rates). You can rent chairs/umbrellas there, too.

 

Drove down to Cocoa Beach (10 min.) to go to Ron Jon's. Just to say we did. Huge gift shop- 80% of the stuff is 'branded' with Ron Jon's name. Won't have to do that again...

Went 'night' kayaking to see the bioluminescent jellyfish with A Day Away Kayaking (also a Groupon). First time doing something like that. NO experience needed- REALLY.

 

Didn't do Kennedy- did it years ago- was a bit of a bore to me. Just how many 'space' rocks do I need to see. Maybe they've changed the tour?

 

Liked the area so much I bought a condo while I was there. Close in 2 weeks!

[John&LaLa]

Back a few weeks from staying in Cape Canaveral for a week (timeshare). Also did the short 2 night cruise (just before the drydock) of FOS while we were there. We did lots of things in the area.

 

Two standouts were the Space Coast Segway tour on Friday night (did the evening tour with the neon lights on the Segways) and the Yummy Florida walking food tour on Saturday. SO much fun. Both activities have Groupons available for big reductions in cost.

 

Go to Jetty Park for beach access- right there in Cape Canaveral. Softest powdery sand I've ever been on. Fee per car of $15-(out of Brevard County rates). You can rent chairs/umbrellas there, too.

 

Drove down to Cocoa Beach (10 min.) to go to Ron Jon's. Just to say we did. Huge gift shop- 80% of the stuff is 'branded' with Ron Jon's name. Won't have to do that again...

Went 'night' kayaking to see the bioluminescent jellyfish with A Day Away Kayaking (also a Groupon). First time doing something like that. NO experience needed- REALLY.

 

Didn't do Kennedy- did it years ago- was a bit of a bore to me. Just how many 'space' rocks do I need to see. Maybe they've changed the tour?

 

Liked the area so much I bought a condo while I was there. Close in 2 weeks!

 

Welcome to the neighborhood.

[turning40withMickey]

Back a few weeks from staying in Cape Canaveral for a week (timeshare). Also did the short 2 night cruise (just before the drydock) of FOS while we were there. We did lots of things in the area.

 

Two standouts were the Space Coast Segway tour on Friday night (did the evening tour with the neon lights on the Segways) and the Yummy Florida walking food tour on Saturday. SO much fun. Both activities have Groupons available for big reductions in cost.

 

Go to Jetty Park for beach access- right there in Cape Canaveral. Softest powdery sand I've ever been on. Fee per car of $15-(out of Brevard County rates). You can rent chairs/umbrellas there, too.

 

Drove down to Cocoa Beach (10 min.) to go to Ron Jon's. Just to say we did. Huge gift shop- 80% of the stuff is 'branded' with Ron Jon's name. Won't have to do that again...

Went 'night' kayaking to see the bioluminescent jellyfish with A Day Away Kayaking (also a Groupon). First time doing something like that. NO experience needed- REALLY.

 

Didn't do Kennedy- did it years ago- was a bit of a bore to me. Just how many 'space' rocks do I need to see. Maybe they've changed the tour?

 

Liked the area so much I bought a condo while I was there. Close in 2 weeks!

 

Thanks for this review!

We have also done the giant gift shop and Kennedy Space center and we are looking for something else to do during a day in port. I love Groupon!

 

We are thinking of the Segway tour (bummer that the group size is four with Groupon) but we can make it work. (there are five of us)

We almost did Jetty Park last year but the weather was iffy and the 15 per car entrance fee with storm clouds looming sent us packing.

[Capt_BJ]

Suggestion is to rent a car .. public transportation around here is kinda weak

 

things to do

 

Brevard Zoo - a nice little zoo, good for half a day or more - a nonprofit organization. Has a zip-line/adventure course adjacent.

https://brevardzoo.org/ http://www.treetoptrek.com/

 

Airboat rides to see 'gators and the like

http://www.airboatridesatmidway.com/

http://www.twisterairboatrides.com/

 

dolphin/manatee spotting nature cruise

http://spacecoastdolphintours.com/ca...area-map-find/

http://www.groupon.com/biz/cocoa-bea...radise-tours-2

{others too, google it}

 

Eco tour kayak - manatee spotting

http://kayakcocoabeach.com/

{others too, google it}

 

Historic Cocoa Village - eclectic shops and cafes

http://visitcocoavillage.com/

 

free manatee spotting

http://www.cityofcapecanaveral.org/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={61D4D3CB-D4FE-428A-9F29-B26957B5B809}

 

more manatee, nature drive

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Haulover_Canal

 

RON JON!

http://www.ronjonsurfshop.com/locati...x?LocationId=7

 

 

***************

 

eating places (some close to the hotel and none more than 10 minutes)

 

Kelsey's Restaurant & Pizzeria (family friendly pizza / Italian near the port)

http://kelseyscanaveral.com/

{my Feb 15 update ... this place has the best food in the area ... but you miss the view}

 

Fishlips

http://fishlipswaterfront.com/

{the Port Canaveral web cam sits on the roof}

 

Rusty's Seafood and Oyster Bar

http://www.rustysseafood.com/

 

Grills Seafood (Grills/Rustys/Fishlips .. the portside trilogy ... I prefer Grills)

http://www.grillsseafood.com/newly-r...ort-canaveral/

 

The Mango Tree (a bit more $ in Cocoa Beach)

http://mangotree-restaurant.com/

 

Heidelberg Restaurant (Bavarian with an attached Jazz Cub .. Cocoa Beach)

http://heidelbergcocoabeach.com/

 

Coconuts on The Beach (this one is on the ocean if the wx is nice)

http://coconutsonthebeach.com/

 

Atlantic Ocean Grille (on the cocoa Pier - best view of all)

http://cocoabeachpier.com/cbp/restau...-ocean-grille/

 

Florida's Seafood Bar & Grill (popular for QUANITITY and selection ... but no view)

http://www.floridas-seafood.com/

 

 

 

btw .. your hotel is not on the beach, and not really walkable ... but just a few minutes by car to miles and miles of beach . . .

Edited February 7, 2015 by Capt_BJ

[Cruiser Who Knows Nothing]

Why not grab a value room at WDW? You don't even have to go to the parks. Swim in the day, resort hop, DTD. Magic Express can take you there and a one way rental to the port.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[Karroons]

We have done FOS numerous times (it's our favorite ship). The post above has a lot of great things for you to do. Here's a suggestion if you need it. We rent a car from Hertz in Orlando and drive out and stay at Country Inn and Suites. We love having a car for our day or two. We like the hotel but we like that the Hertz rental car is about 100 yards away from the hotel. We drop off the car, walk back to the hotel and then take a cab to the ship. We don't take the hotel shuttle as it almost the same amount and we can leave whenever we want.

 

The hotel also has parking if you want to keep your car there all week so you can drive back to Orlando. We usually take the ship shuttle back to the airport. Or if you do leave your car there all week, arrange with the hotel to take the shuttle back from the ship back to the hotel.

 

Hope you have a great time. We love sailing out of Port Canaveral as we enjoy a more laid back area than downtown Miami.

[dreday3]

Why not grab a value room at WDW? You don't even have to go to the parks. Swim in the day, resort hop, DTD. Magic Express can take you there and a one way rental to the port.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

 

I can't, not going to the parks would be torture for me and we don't want to spend the money on tickets. :D We just went for a fantastic 9 nights last year, going there again in 2017. I promised no WDW for a few years (and if we stayed for just one night, I would feel like it's not enough and end up booking a trip! :p)

Edited February 9, 2015 by dreday3

[dreday3]

Thanks for all your suggestions everyone! Very helpful.

 

It sounds as if we will have plenty to do for a day and a half before the cruise. The manatee ideas really interest me.

 

I'm excited to watch the cruise ships leave! A question -for restaurants by Port Canaveral - can we walk to them from Residence Inn? We walk all the time, not worried about distance. Just wondering if it's a decent area to walk through?

 

That probably sounds stupid to someone who lives there, but being from Chicago, there are areas where it's fine to walk and then two blocks later, run!!:D

 

Oh, just noticed the above post says our hotel isn't really walk-able to the beach - why? Safety, logistics, no sidewalks? Thanks!

Edited February 9, 2015 by dreday3

[GTO-Girl]

Kelseys is probably the only one close enough to walk....it's down a little ways from Country Inn & Suites.

 

But do yourself a favor and grab a cab or drive over to the pier to Fishlips, Grills or Rustys, so fun right before a cruise!

[Capt_BJ]

I'm excited to watch the cruise ships leave! A question -for restaurants by Port Canaveral - can we walk to them from Residence Inn? We walk all the time, not worried about distance. Just wondering if it's a decent area to walk through?

 

I don't recommend walking

 

first you have to cross A1A and where you need to do that is a bad area for traffic. Cars are coming over a bridge as 528 ends ... they should be slowing down ... should be ... but many come over the rise at 70+. You can go around to the bridge, but it adds to the walk.

 

once across A1 you are in a sparsely developed industrial area. Kinda dark for a while . .

 

my recommendation is a taxi ... distance is only a mile so it won't cost much and will be safer IMO. I've never heard of a mugger or the like in the area .... just not pedestrian friendly.

[dreday3]

I'm excited to watch the cruise ships leave! A question -for restaurants by Port Canaveral - can we walk to them from Residence Inn? We walk all the time, not worried about distance. Just wondering if it's a decent area to walk through?

 

I don't recommend walking

 

first you have to cross A1A and where you need to do that is a bad area for traffic. Cars are coming over a bridge as 528 ends ... they should be slowing down ... should be ... but many come over the rise at 70+. You can go around to the bridge, but it adds to the walk.

 

once across A1 you are in a sparsely developed industrial area. Kinda dark for a while . .

 

my recommendation is a taxi ... distance is only a mile so it won't cost much and will be safer IMO. I've never heard of a mugger or the like in the area .... just not pedestrian friendly.

 

Taxi it is, thanks!

[dapaddo]

Hi,

 

We are sailing on FOS leaving 11/29. Due to it being Thanksgiving weekend, for some reason it is a few hundred dollars cheaper for us to fly out on Friday instead of Saturday including the cost of a two night hotel stay.

 

We booked Friday/Saturday night at Residence Inn Cape Canaveral Cocoa beach.

 

I'm kind of iffy when I don't know the area I'm staying at. I was fine with one night before the cruise because it wouldn't be that long a stay, but now we have two nights, an entire day there. It feels like a long time to hang out before the cruise.

 

What to do there? Is the beach okay? I've read differing opinions.

Would you go to the Space Center? Is the area okay or kind of rundown?

Stay somewhere else or just shut up and hang out at the pool?:p

 

I can't stay near WDW or I'd never leave!! :D (seriously, I have a problem, I love WDW)

 

I just don't want a bad start to the trip, so I'm just making sure of our choice.

 

thanks!

 

We are renting a car for about $60 for our trip you can return it at the port and they drop you at your ship.

[Cruiser Who Knows Nothing]

I can't, not going to the parks would be torture for me and we don't want to spend the money on tickets. :D We just went for a fantastic 9 nights last year, going there again in 2017. I promised no WDW for a few years (and if we stayed for just one night, I would feel like it's not enough and end up booking a trip! :p)

 

It so fun to explore WDW without the parks. I never thought I could do it either, but now when we go for 4 nights, we only do 1 park day :eek:

 

If you don't want to do WDW, you'll be shocked to hear that you can stay in a pretty fancy schmacy place in Orlando for the cost of a moderate room at WDW. We've stayed at the JW Marriott with the lazy river, and did Sea World/Aquatica on that trip. When we arrive one night prior to the cruise, we stay in near the Port....2 nights, we like to venture out a bit. :D