Carnival Magic From Port Canaveral
Carnival Magic became the sixth ship in the fleet to restart operations, and it comes after the vessel has remained on pause for 17 months. The ship departed on August 7 from Port Canaveral, Florida, on a five-day sailing including calls to the cruise lines private island of Half Moon Cay, the popular port of Nassau, and the stunning destination of Bimini, all located in the Bahamas.
The Dream-class vessel will continue to offer sailings to the Bahamas and the Caribbean well into 2022. The ship will have Carnivals Have Fun. Be Safe protocols in place to make sure everyone on board remains safe.
Carnival Magic is one of the most recently updated ships in the fleet and the first to receive the new red, white and blue livery during dry dock. The ship is all fresh and features a new non-smoking casino that has replaced the conference room.
- Resumed Cruises: August 7, 2021
- Homeport: Port Canaveral, Florida
- First Cruise Back: 5-Day Bahamas Cruise
Did You Miss It Don’t Worry There Are Many Chances To See This In 2019
It’s shaping up to be a busy spring and summer at Port Canaveral, as the port on Monday Memorial Day hosted six cruise ships for the first of nine times in 2019.
Having six cruise ships in port at the same day has happened only twice before in Port Canaveral’s 65-year history in February and March 2015.
What was different this time around is that Port Canaveral had to use what usually is a cargo terminal North Cargo Berth 5 to accommodate one of the ships, since the former Cruise Terminal 3 is torn down, and the new Cruise Terminal 3 is under construction.
Steve Linden, the port’s director of communications and public affairs, said more than 33,000 passengers got on or off the six ships on Monday.
That figure exceeds the population of Cocoa and Cocoa Beach combined.
At the port on Monday were Carnival Cruise Line’s Elation and Liberty Disney Cruise Line’s Dream Norwegian Cruise Line’s Dawn and Sun and Royal Caribbean International’s Mariner of the Seas.
The Norwegian Dawn was making a port-of-call stop at Port Canaveral, while the other five ships are based there. The Dawn was able to use the cargo berth, since there are less logistical issues with a port-of-call ship, involving such things as baggage, ticketing and customs.
Carnival Cruise Ships Currently Sailing
As the cruise industry makes a comeback, things will be moving fast as more and more Carnival cruise ships resume operations through the remainder of 2021. Were going to keep you updated and let you know what cruise ships are sailing now and bringing back the fun from various homeports around the United States.
So far, cruises have restarted with eleven ships with Carnival Vista out of Galveston, Carnival Horizon out of Miami, and Carnival Breeze became the third on July 15 out of Galveston. Carnival Miracle became the fourth to resume and the first in the fleet to begin Alsaka sailings from Seattle.
finally commenced sailings on July 31 out of Port Canaveral, Florida, rounding out the July ships that restarted. In August, the first ship to restart was the Carnival Magic, the second to resume out of Port Canaveral. Carnival Sunrise became the second to begin sailings out of Miami on August 14. On August 21, Carnival Panorama became the first cruise ship to restart sailings from California.
Having half of our U.S. fleet back in operations provides positive economic impact in our homeports and port of call destinations, along with giving our guests their much-needed vacations and helping our crew support their families back home,said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.We couldnt have accomplished this without the support of our travel advisor partners, business partners and port and destinations partners.
You May Like: How Much Are 7 Day Cruises
Parking At The Port Canaveral Cruise Port
If you are driving to the Port Canaveral Cruise Port, the Official Port Canaveral Cruise Parking is the most convenient option available. This official cruise parking is the only area directly adjacent to each of Port Canaverals cruise terminals.
With this option, you can park at your cruise terminals designated parking garage and simply take a short walk to your ship. The current parking rate is $17 per day, including day of arrival and day of departure.
The Port does not own or operate any off-site parking facilities. Though, independent off-site parking lots can be a cheaper option. This will entail taking a shuttle from the lot to the cruise terminal.
One of these options is the GoPort Plaza. Packages start at a flat fee of $55, plus $5 for each additional traveler. For a week-long cruise for two, this would be over 50% savings.
Royal Caribbean Allure Of The Seas
Allure of the Seas will be reunited with her sister ship, Harmony of the Seas in Port Canaveral this coming May. She is considered one of Royal Caribbeans largest ships, accommodating up to 6,780 passengers. Popular among couples and families, Allure of the Seas is considered the most awarded ship to ever exist. Best Individual Ship, Best Large Cruise Ship, and Best for Entertainment are just a few of the titles shes earned over the years.
Some activities you can expect on Allure of the Seas are ziplining, rock climbing, simulated surfing, ice skating, and plenty of drinking since Allure of the Seas is said to have more bars than any other cruise ship. Feel free to also sing your favorite karaoke hits at On Air Club and dont forget to catch a show at the AquaTheaters outdoor pool stage.
With so much to do onboard, leaving the ship may not be your priority. However, youll definitely want to get off at Perfect Day at Coco Cay, which is Royal Caribbeans private island that underwent a $250 million makeover in 2019. Here youll have an opportunity to experience the tallest waterslide in North America, the largest freshwater pool in the Bahamas, and even a 459-foot high helium balloon ride.
For more information about Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas cruises out of Port Canaveral, as well as what hotel packages, transportation, and parking fellow cruisers are booking, click here.
Recommended Reading: Best Time For Mediterranean Cruise
Disney Royal Caribbean Set For Port Canaveral Return Carnival Takes On 2nd Ship
Thank you for supporting our journalism. This article is available exclusively for our subscribers, who help fund our work at the Orlando Sentinel.
Port Canaveral is set for a busy weekend with three more ships readying for their first sailing with paying customers including the first for Disney Cruise Line in the U.S., the first for Royal Caribbean from Central Florida and Carnival Cruise Line adding a second ship to the port.
Disney Dream is readying for a Monday departure on a four-night sailing to the Bahamas, the first DCL ship to receive its conditional sailing certificate from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The ship performed a simulated sailing in July and has since made a practice run with Disney employees gearing up for Mondays return.
The cruise line already has begun sailing in the United Kingdom with Disney Magic while Disney Fantasy is slated to perform its test sailing from Port Canaveral from Aug. 12-14, which could lead to its return to service on Sept. 4. Disney Wonder is based on the West Coast and its first available sailing isnt until Sept. 24.
Royal Caribbeans Allure of the Seas will become the largest cruise ship in the world yet to return to service since the pandemic shutdown. The Oasis-class ship has a 6,780-passenger capacity, but sailing at reduced capacity, as is Disney Dream and all other ships currently in service.
Independent Van And Car Services
From MCO, there are several shuttle services, including Busy Traveler Transportation, Cocoa Beach Shuttle,Melbourne Airport Express and Mears. To get an idea of price, we asked for a quote on a one-way trip from MCO to Disney Cruise Line at Port Canaveral. A luxury sedan for a family of four cost $160. Upgrade to an SUV for $188.
There are also plenty of car services to hire. Look locally or go with Groundlink. The estimated cost from MCO to Port Canaveral is about $114 one-way for a standard vehicle that accommodates three people. Add $20 if you need a car seat for a child. A van accommodating up to 10 people priced out at $161.
Related: The ultimate guide to GroundLinks car service
Recommended Reading: What Is Aqua Class On Celebrity Cruises
Norwegian Cruises From Port Canaveral
Norwegian Cruise Line revolutionized the industry with the introduction of Freestyle Cruising, which gives guests more freedom and flexibility. NCL offers Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises out of Port Canaveral, Florida. See the details below.
Freestyle cruising is all about freedom. Freedom from stress and schedules. Create your own vacation. Eat where you want, with whom you want, when you want. Dress the way you want too.
The Norwegian Escape cruise ship features live shows, The Waterfront oceanfront promenade, 14 bars & lounges, Aqua Park, Sports Complex with Ropes Course, Mandara Spa, casino and family-friendly Splash Academy youth programs. Complimentary dining options include the 3 main dining rooms, O’Sheehan’s Grill and Garden Cafe. For an additional fee you can eat at Teppanyaki, Bayamo Seafood, Food Republic, Moderno Churrascaria, American Diner, Atrium Cafe, Cagney’s Steakhouse, Dolce Gelato, La Cucina Italian and Le Bistro French.
The Norwegian Prima is the line’s newest ship and offers cruises from Port Canaveral beginning in late 2022.
Carnival Pride From Baltimore
Carnival Pride became the ninth Carnival cruise ship to resume operations on September 12 and the first to restart out of Baltimore, Maryland. The spirit-class vessel brought back the fun to the city with a ribbon-cutting ceremony which was attended by Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy.
The ship departed on a seven-day itinerary from the Cruise Maryland Terminal in Locust Point to the Bahamas. The first voyage included calls at Half Moon Cay, Bimini, and Freeport, all in the Bahamas.
Carnival Pride wont remain sailing from Baltimore for too long as sister ship Carnival Legend will take over in November. Carnival Pride will then shift to restart operations out of Tampa, Florida.
From Baltimore, the cruise line is offering six-and seven-day cruises to Bermuda and the Bahamas, eight-day voyages to Canada/New England and to the Caribbean. There will also be a 14-day Carnival Journeys sailing to the Panama Canal and the Souther Caribbean along with a Carnival Sailabration cruise in March 2022 to celebrated Carnivals 50th birthday.
- Resumed Cruises: September 12, 2021
- Homeport:Baltimore, Maryland
- First Cruise Back: 7-Day Bahamas Cruise
Don’t Miss: Ncl Daily Service Charge
What Time Do Ships Sail Away From Port Canaveral
Your best bet is to check the websites for Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Disney to find out the sail away times. But do it a week before you plan to go to Port Canaveral. If you wait until the day of the cruise to check the departure times, they will have been removed from the cruise lines websites.
Generally speaking, the cruise ships leave from Port Canaveral beginning about 4pm. If youre heading out to Jetty Park, its about a 15-20 minute walk from the parking lot to the end of the pier.
Spur of the moment visit? Call the cruise lines for the sail away times.
Further Changes Are Possible
The situation worldwide is changing weekly, and cruise lines are working with the relevant authorities for a safe return. Its all very fluid, and the restart dates may change even further. The CDC has been making some adjustments recently with relaxing masks and social distancing rules for vaccinated guests.
Also Read: CDC Ditches Mask and Social Distancing Rules for Vaccinated Cruises
Norwegian Cruise Line still plans to restart in August from Florida but parent company Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings recently filed a lawsuit against Florida on the states vaccine passport ban. The result of this could have an impact on any protocols the line implements.
The ongoing saga between the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Florida has still not been resolved. In fact, just recently, the CDC successfully got a hold on Florida being allowed to overrule its Conditional Sailing Order. On July 19, the Florida Governor said it will come out on top and could take its lawsuit against the CDC as far as the supreme court.
Cruise Hive will continue to monitor any new developments, so keep checking this detailed page for when cruises resume, not just this year but in 2022.
You May Like: Best Time To Visit Alaska On Cruise
Carnival Vista From Galveston
Carnival Vista became the first ship in the fleet to resume operations after more than 15 months on hold. The long-awaited day finally arrived on July 3 when the Carnival cruise ship departed from the Port of Galveston in Texas at around 4:00 PM. The cruises included stops at Mahogany Bay , Cozumel, and Belize City.
The ship sailed with 2,960 guests, with 888 of those first-time cruisers with Carnival. There was a Back to Fun ribbon-cutting ceremony which Carnival Cruise Line president Christine Duffy attended.
- Resumed Cruises: July 3, 2021
- Homeport: Port of Galveston, Texas
- First Cruise Back: 7-Day Western Caribbean
Carnival Cruise Terminal 3
In late-April 2017 at Port Canaveral started construction works of a new cruise terminal. The facility is on the site of “Cruise Terminal 3” , west of Jetty Park and east of The Cove . On June 7, 2017, engineering and design works for the new terminal were officially approved. Canaveral Port Authority Commissioners approved USD 1,2 million funding for CH2M Engineering’s project management contract. This was the first phase of the 2-year work plan to construct a modern facility with capacity to serve vessels up to 8,000 passengers. At the new passenger terminal can berth even the world’s largest cruise vessels of RCI’s Oasis-class. CH2M Engineering provided engineering, support services and waterside design for the new Terminal 3.
The project’s budget is USD 163 million , of which US$50M were contributed by Carnival Corporation. Ranked the USA’s largest single building project, it included demolition of port’s oldest terminal, construction of a brand new 2-story building , upgrading the existing berth and building a new parking garage, roadway and utility improvements. This 20-months long, multi-phased project included 5 separate contracts. Demolition works of the existing Terminal 3 building started in April 2018, at the cost of USD 210,000.
Construction works officially started on March 18, 2019, and the Terminal was completed in September 2020. At the new CT3 terminal was homeported Carnival’s largest vessel . The new liner is LNG-bunkered by a barge dockside.
You May Like: Alaskan Cruise Cost Per Person
Carnival Panorama From Long Beach
Carnival Panoramabecame the eighth Carnival cruise ship to resume operations and the first to restart sailings from California on the U.S. West Coast. Following a Back to Fun ribbon-cutting ceremony in the terminal and welcoming guests onboard, the third-Vista class vessel departed the Long Beach cruise terminal at around 4:30 PM on August 21, 2021.
The first cruise was a seven-day itinerary including calls at Puerta Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Cabo San Lucas, all in the Mexican Riviera. Its the first time any cruise ship has returned to the ports since the cruise industry shutdown in March 2020.
Carnival Panorama will continue to offer sailings from Long beach year-round and will be joined by the Carnival Miracle in fall 2021. The Carnival Panorama cruise ship is among the newest in the fleet at 133,500 gross tons and a guest capacity of 4,008 at double occupancy. However, the vessel is only sailing at 70% capacity, following the CDC guidelines.
- Resumed Cruises: August 21, 2021
- Homeport: Long Beach, California
- First Cruise Back: 7-Day Mexican Riviera Cruise
The Largest Cruise Ship In The World Starts Operations
The worlds largest cruise ship, Symphony of the Seas, will restart operations with revenue guests on August 14 sailing from PortMiami, the 228,081 gross tons cruise ship will sail on a 7-days Western Caribbean cruise to Costa Maya, Roatan Island, Cozumel, and a Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas.
She will be switching her cruises between the Western, Southern, and Eastern regions of the Caribbean. Her Southern Caribbean cruises will call in Aruba, Haiti, and Curacao, while the Eastern Caribbean cruises will call in St. Maarten, St. Thomas, and a Perfect Day at CocoCay. Royal Caribbean strongly encourages all eligible guests age 12 and older to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before sailing for the Southern and Western Caribbean Cruises.
Also Read: Labadee, Haiti: What You Need to Know
Guests will need to be fully vaccinated for the cruises calling in St. Thomas. These voyages are available to all guests aged 12 and above who can present proof of COVID-19 vaccination, with the final dose of their vaccine administered at least 14 days before sailing. Guests under the age of 12 will need to undergo COVID testing, before, during, and towards the end of the cruise.
So far, there are two Oasis-class ships and two Quantum-class ships in operation in the U.S., and as we speak, the number of RCL cruise ships operational worldwide is growing steadily. The restart for Royal Caribbean is slowly but surely turning out to be a complete success!
Don’t Miss: Cost Alaskan Cruise
Cape Canaveral Port Statistics
Note: Port’s FY runs from October 1 through September 30 .
In FY2017, the cruise port handled 4,52+ million passengers . The number of multi-day passengers was 7,1% increase over 2016. Statistics showed that just in March 2017, the number of visiting cruiseship tourists was 469,847. This was the Port’s 1-month record and a 19% increase over March 2016. Port’s FY2017 total revenues were USD 47,4 million .
For FY2018, the seaport reported a record year with USD 103,75 million in total revenues . Cargo and cruise shipping volumes were also an all-time high. The number of handled cruise ship passengers increased by 7,7% – to 4,568431 million. Port’s handled cargo tonnage increased by 6,9% – to 6,404944 million tons. Port’s total economic output was USD 3,9 billion with around 32650 jobs supported including 17200 port workers .
For FY2019, the port had ~5% growth in revenues from cruise shipping. By homeporting operations Port Canaveral is currently ranked the world’s 2nd-busiest cruise port with handled in 2019 total 4,634154 million passengers .
For season 2019, the cruise port reported a record berth booking with estimated 4,7+ million passengers.