NASA or Kennedy Space Center?

[patters08086]

We are going on a cruise in May and one of the ports in Cape Canaveral, Florida. One of the excursions is going to NASA and the other is the Kennedy Space Center. I wanted to know if anyone has good to either place and which do you prefer, and why.

[John&LaLa]

12 minutes ago, patters08086 said:

We are going on a cruise in May and one of the ports in Cape Canaveral, Florida. One of the excursions is going to NASA and the other is the Kennedy Space Center. I wanted to know if anyone has good to either place and which do you prefer, and why.

 

They are the same place 

[iahawkfan21]

As a part of the KSC Visitor's Center, there is a bus tour that goes around NASA property but they aren't separate excursions/places all part of one.

[Clarea]

1 hour ago, patters08086 said:

We are going on a cruise in May and one of the ports in Cape Canaveral, Florida. One of the excursions is going to NASA and the other is the Kennedy Space Center. I wanted to know if anyone has good to either place and which do you prefer, and why.

 

Supposedly the RC excursion has a bus tour portion that goes to different areas than the normal public tour.  This is what we were told anyhow.

[patters08086]

I was wondering what the difference is. I don't want a bus tour I rather walk around at my once pace. Does anyone know if you can walk from the port or need to take a taxi if we go on our own.

Thanks

[dst]

13 minutes ago, patters08086 said:

I was wondering what the difference is. I don't want a bus tour I rather walk around at my once pace. Does anyone know if you can walk from the port or need to take a taxi if we go on our own.

Thanks

You could not walk to it from the port, its about a 40 minute drive.  Not sure how long your stop is but you could rent a car, they are really close to the port (Hertz is the closest) and then drive up on your own; see what you would like and head back. Hertz will also shuttle you to the port or an Uber would be inexpensive.

 

As others have said NASA and Kennedy are one in the same....

[Capt_BJ]

I don't know the specifics for your cruise / excursions

 

but if you go the the KSC web site you see the general admission ticket includes a bus tour to current launch pads and then the Saturn 5 building/display ... most will spend an hour or more here (just this out building .. the bus tour in all tends to be 3 hours or more).

 

OPTIONALLY and at extra cost is a tour that goes into the Cape Canaveral facility (Cape Canaveral Air Force Station) which is DIFFERENT from KSC and is where you see the 'early stuff' ...... if the excursion requires ID this is probbly what they are talking about as you enter the AFS

 

Does anyone know if you can walk from the port or need to take a taxi if we go on our own.

 

No .. you can not walk it .... well, I suppose you could ... about 15 miles . . . 

 

Edited October 23, 2019 by Capt_BJ

[Norwich Cruiser]

We’ve never actually done the ships excursion but on two occasions have toured on our own and both times had superb days.

Can highly recommend visiting.

[patters08086]

Thanks sounds great!

[BND]

On 10/22/2019 at 6:42 PM, Host Clarea said:

 

Supposedly the RC excursion has a bus tour portion that goes to different areas than the normal public tour.  This is what we were told anyhow.

We've done the RCI tour and you do get more than when going on your own. It also starts on the bus (picks you up at the pier and does the first half of the tour) and ends at the area where it's self-guided and there's imax movies and a few other things.  If you go on your own, you start at the display/IMAX area and have to wait for a bus that takes you on a tour.  The RCI excursion also takes you directly back to the ship via bus.  

[Sanz]

1 hour ago, BND said:

We've done the RCI tour and you do get more than when going on your own. It also starts on the bus (picks you up at the pier and does the first half of the tour) and ends at the area where it's self-guided and there's imax movies and a few other things.  If you go on your own, you start at the display/IMAX area and have to wait for a bus that takes you on a tour.  The RCI excursion also takes you directly back to the ship via bus.  

We went on the RCI tour too, and  we agree that you see more on the guided tour than when you tour on your own (we have also spent several  full days at KSC  when we were not on a cruise).  The tour starts on the bus, when they pick you up.  A video is shown on the bus.  Our bus had people who were on the guided tour, as well as people who were touring on their own.  Everyone on the bus saw the video.

Edited October 24, 2019 by Sanz

[iahawkfan21]

On 10/22/2019 at 4:42 PM, Host Clarea said:

 

Supposedly the RC excursion has a bus tour portion that goes to different areas than the normal public tour.  This is what we were told anyhow.

I haven’t been on the RC tour, but there are numerous “add-ons” you can purchase normally that may be included with that one.  Either way, it really is a fascinating place!

[DISFANS3]

Thanks for info..

[pstone1]

The RCL “Legends of Cape Canaveral” tour takes you into the Air Force side of space exploration and includes a visit and entry into the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse.  It is a very cool historical look at the Space Program and is completely different than visiting Kennedy Space Center.  You have to give your ID because the tour is on the other side of the security gate.

 

There is also a free Air Force Space Museum that is fun to visit.  It’s close to the AF gate on SR 401 (north side of Port) so you’d have to take a short taxi/Uber ride to get there.  There are exhibits and a nice, but small gift shop.  Their website link is   afspacemuseum.org 

[Ashland]

We just returned yesterday from the Snowbird cruise on Adventure (Oct 7th- Oct 20th) and opted to pre-book the KSC through Royal on our cruise planner many months before the cruise. We did the 8 hour tour and it was just amazing...so glad we opted for this...worked out great !! 

[RickinStl]

We did it on our own.. One suggestion.. Get there when they open and go straight to the Atlantis exhibit.. All I could say is WOW! 

[LB_NJ]

On 10/24/2019 at 5:40 AM, pstone1 said:

The RCL “Legends of Cape Canaveral” tour takes you into the Air Force side of space exploration and includes a visit and entry into the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse.  It is a very cool historical look at the Space Program and is completely different than visiting Kennedy Space Center.  You have to give your ID because the tour is on the other side of the security gate.

 

There is also a free Air Force Space Museum that is fun to visit.  It’s close to the AF gate on SR 401 (north side of Port) so you’d have to take a short taxi/Uber ride to get there.  There are exhibits and a nice, but small gift shop.  Their website link is   afspacemuseum.org 

 

Thank you for your insight.

 

I am debating between the 3 tours offered: “Legends of Cape Canaveral”, "Kennedy Space Center Shuttle", and "Kennedy Space Center Guided Tour."

 

For the two of us it is easier and probably about the same cost to just use the ship tours.  I was at Kennedy decades ago and would probably do the Legends tour (requires ID).

 

However, my wife has never been there and I am wondering if the  Kennedy Space Center Shuttle (I assume this includes the standard admission ticket, listed at 6 hours) or Guided tour (listed at 8 hours) might be the better option.

 

Any thoughts?

[Ashland]

3 hours ago, LB_NJ said:

 

Thank you for your insight.

 

I am debating between the 3 tours offered: “Legends of Cape Canaveral”, "Kennedy Space Center Shuttle", and "Kennedy Space Center Guided Tour."

 

For the two of us it is easier and probably about the same cost to just use the ship tours.  I was at Kennedy decades ago and would probably do the Legends tour (requires ID).

 

However, my wife has never been there and I am wondering if the  Kennedy Space Center Shuttle (I assume this includes the standard admission ticket, listed at 6 hours) or Guided tour (listed at 8 hours) might be the better option.

 

Any thoughts?

We ended up getting a great price for our ship booked 8 hour guided tour last month...canceled and rebooked several times through my cruise planner and ended up with $79.99 pp.

[Tatka]

We did full guided tour last year (8 hours?) and we were brought first to Launch pad and Apollo/Saturn V Center, then they drove us to main place with Atlantis pavilion ( it is a large museum with Shuttle Launch Experience , movie) , Rocket Garden, U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame (when we had free time we returned there to watch short 3D movie I think Heroes & Legends. Great experience), we also went into part of 3D IMAX and were shown new invention (and later returned on our own to watch 3D movie. I recommend when you get free time to check schedule. 3D fills fast).

 

It was amazing day even though we felt like our guide loved to exaggerate. 🙂

[pstone1]

4 hours ago, LB_NJ said:

 

Thank you for your insight.

 

I am debating between the 3 tours offered: “Legends of Cape Canaveral”, "Kennedy Space Center Shuttle", and "Kennedy Space Center Guided Tour."

 

For the two of us it is easier and probably about the same cost to just use the ship tours.  I was at Kennedy decades ago and would probably do the Legends tour (requires ID).

 

However, my wife has never been there and I am wondering if the  Kennedy Space Center Shuttle (I assume this includes the standard admission ticket, listed at 6 hours) or Guided tour (listed at 8 hours) might be the better option.

 

Any thoughts?

 

I don’t think you can go wrong!  Either tour will give you a great day.  Perhaps you need to book another cruise onboard that includes a Port Canaveral stop so you can take both tours.  The Space Program is constantly evolving so there is always something new to see!  Have fun!

[The Fun Researcher]

Kennedy Space center is incredible.  Being so close to Disney World, you can tell that they took some design and crowd handling queues from them, as well as the whole customer experience.  The space program is so inspiring, and seeing Atlantis up close is really cool.  If you can, make sure you take the bus tour out to the launch pads and then do the Saturn 5 rocket center.

 

Hope you have a great day!

 

DAn