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Virgin Voyages Latest Update: Two Cruise Ships Delayed

Emrys Thakkar
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Virgin Voyages Latest Update: Two Cruise Ships Delayed

Virgin Voyages has announced that two of its cruise ships have been delayed even further due to remaining challenges on resuming operations. It’s going to take time for the cruise line to kick-start operations from the U.S. and a new update has been provided.

Scarlet Lady & Valiant Lady Postponed

Virgin Voyages has joined other cruise lines by announcing further delays in returning to service. The cruise company’s entry into the cruise market is bad timing as its new Scarlet Lady is yet to officially start regular sailings. The ship will now have to wait even longer as Virgin has delayed her cruise debut out of PortMiami until May 9, 2021.

Sister ship Valiant Lady is currently in the final stages of outfitting and was originally scheduled to debut in summer 2021. With the ongoing travel limitations and requirements to make sure cruises can resume safely, the ship won’t debut until November 14, 2021.

Message from Richard Branson

Richard Branson, the man behind the Virgin brand and “captain” has provided a message of hope and that travel brings us all together. We’ll just have to wait a little longer as the cruise line prepares for a safe return:

As we look toward 2021, we’re all beginning to see a very bright light at the end of the tunnel. And with that, we’re thrilled to be making plans for Scarlet Lady to set sail on May 9th, 2021, and Valiant Lady on November 14th, 2021.

You, our Sailors, inspire us to see beyond the expected and explore what hasn’t been seen — so we remain dedicated to crafting an experience at sea unlike anything ever imagined. We even turned our downtime into your future better time. Because for us, we’re not just building a ship and hurrying it to sea — we’re building a revolutionary way to explore the world.

And with that, a few words from our captain, Richard Branson

Branson also shared is message in a video that was posted on Tuesday which you can watch below:

Virgin Voyages Rebooking and Refunds

So the cruise line is offering some options for those guests who are impacted by the cancelled cruises for Scarlet Lady and Valiant Lady. Guests can head over to the offers page anytime until January 28, 2021, to choose to rebook or request a full refund.

Guests who book before March 31, 2021 for any departure in 2021 can also take advantage of Virgin’s flexible booking policy. This allows the cancellation of any cruise up to 48 hours before departure and still receive a full refund. The cruise line suggests contacting its Sailor Services Crew for any assistance.

Virgin Cruise Ships

Both ships are currently in Genoa, Italy and Valiant Lady is not yet fully completed and still being outfitted at the Fincantieri shipyard. Scarlet Lady has already completed some special cruises just before the pandemic hit earlier in 2020, she’s also spent some time docked at PortMiami before heading back to Italy.

The cruise line is working on implementing new health measures for when cruises do resume service. As the ships will be based out of the U.S. they will also need to follow the CDC Conditional Sailing Order.

The Virgin cruise ships are of the same class at 110,000 gross tons and a guest capacity of over 2,700 at double occupancy. They are adult-only vessels and offer many different experience compared to the more traditional cruise lines.

Photo Credit: Riccardo Arata / Shutterstock.com

The Original Mardi Gras: The First Carnival Cruise Ship

Robert McGillivray
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The Original Mardi Gras: The First Carnival Cruise Ship

In only a short two months Carnival Cruise Line expects to launch its newest member of the Carnival Family: Mardi Gras. It will be the ultimate fun ship, and one of the most ambitious that Carnival Cruise Line has attempted.

Back in 1972, it was a whole different challenge that Ted Arison was about to undertake when he purchased the RMS Empress of Canada. It would be a ship that changed the history of cruising forever and whose name lives on today.

Ted Arison certainly had an eye for choosing the right ship; the RMS Empress of Canada was a well-maintained vessel and certainly in better shape than some pre-war vessels offering cruises from Miami. 

RMS Empress of Canada was an ocean liner built in 1961 by Vickers-Armstrongs, Walker-on-Tyne, England, for Canadian Pacific Steamships Ltd.  The liner sailed in the trans-Atlantic trade between Liverpool and Canada.

So when Arison bought the ship, there wasn’t much to do. Which, it turns out, was a good thing.

Mardi Gras On The Rocks!

The RMS Empress of Canada was renamed Mardi Gras on February 21, 1972. She left for her first Caribbean voyage on March 11, 1972. As Ted Arison had no cash to do major refurbishments when Mardi Gras first sailed, these were done ‘on the fly’. Old wooden furnishings were covered with tin foil, the stuffy restaurant was converted, and thus the image of ‘Fun Ships’ was born.

Mardi Gras Ad

At the time, Miami wasn’t well suited for ‘large’ cruise ships, and Mardi Gras ran aground fully loaded while sailing out of port with 530 passengers and 200 crew on board, which led to some competitors calling the vessel ‘Mardi Gras On The Rocks.’ This didn’t stop staff pouring drinks and ensuring the fun continued!

Changing the furnishings and the general attitude of the staff generated a fun and relaxed image. Cruising was seen as something that old and rich people did, and it was not for young people. Mardi Gras changed that view forever.

Despite the 1973 Oil crisis and costs going through the roof, Mardi Gras was full most of the time. ​​She even did a 40-days and 40-nights cruise to the Mediterranean, Europe, and Israel.

Mardi Gras Set The Tone, The Rest Followed

Mardi Gras sailed for twenty years under the Carnival Flag. In that time, she set the tone for how cruising would be viewed in the next 50 years. Due to the successes she booked, Carnival cruise line managed to grow from a one ship line to the largest cruise company in the world.

To give you an idea of how far we’ve come, we’ve compared the old Queen with the New Princess. It’s safe to say there is a bit of difference there!

 S.S. Mardi GrasMV Mardi Gras
Cost$5 Million$950 Million
Passenger Number1248 Passengers(as built)6,500 Passengers
Tonnage27,284180,000
Decks1019
Power30,000 HP50,000 HP

It’s a shame Mardi Gras was broken up at a shipbreaking yard in India in many ways. She deserved to be kept as a museum, like Queen Elizabeth and S.S. Rotterdam are. In place of the SST Mardi Gras, we get the MV Mardi Gras, which will do the same for cruising as the first one. It will change cruising as we know it.

Also Read: The Ultimate Guide on Carnival Ships by Age

The New Mardi Gras

The new and much larger Mardi Gras is just around the corner and currently under constriction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland. She’ll be the largest ever Carnival cruise ship and the first in the XL-class for the cruise line.

Carnival Mardi Gras Begins Sea Trials
Photo Credit: Meyer Turku Shipyard

Mardi Gras has already completed two sets of sea trials in the Baltic and is now in the final stages of outfitting. With Carnival suspending operations until February 2021, Mardi Gras will be among the early few cruise ships to begin sailings from Florida.

She’ll debut on February 6 out of Port Canaveral, Florida after already being delayed twice. The mega-ship was originally scheduled to debut on August 31, 2020, in Europe so it’s been a long wait especially as she has the first roller coaster at sea along with tons of new venues that guests will enjoy.

Celebrity Cruises Has No Plans to Offload Ships to Pullmantur

Emrys Thakkar
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Celebrity Cruises Has No Plans to Offload Ships to Pullmantur

Following on from our earlier post that two Celebrity Cruise ships could be heading to Pullmantur Cruises, that seems now not to be the case.

Over the holiday weekend, news started circling that Pullmantur Cruises that are partly owned by Royal Caribbean was to make a comeback with the possible help of two Celebrity cruise ships.

Celebrity Cruises has now denied this and there is no plan on selling or leasing any Celebrity cruise ship to the Spanish-based sister line Pullmantur. This includes the Millenium-class vessels. However, the cruise line is in full support of Pullmantur’s reorganization efforts and continues to work with its sister lines with its new business plan on returning to operations.

Celebrity Cruises provided Cruise Hive with the following statement:

While we fully support the reorganization efforts of Pullmantur and continue to work productively with Pullmantur as it develops its new business plan, it is important to clarify that we have not agreed to lease or sell any of our ships, including any Celebrity Millennium class ships, to Pullmantur.

Even though it would make sense to offload some of the Celebrity Cruise ships that have not recently been upgraded that is not the plan at the moment. Pullmantur does not currently have any vessels as they were sold off after the cruise line file for reorganization which is a form of bankruptcy in Spain.

Monarch and Sovereign which were operated by Pullmantur and former Royal Caribbean too are already being scrapped at the Aliaga ship breaking facility in Turkey.

Celebrity Cruises currently has four Millennium-class vessels including Celebrity Millennium that entered service in 2000 and the first in her class, Celebrity Infinity that made her debut in 2001, Celebrity Summit that entered service also in 2001, and Celebrity Constellation that’s the newest in the class and entered service in 2002.

Two Celebrity Ships to Help Bring Cruise Line Back to Business

Emrys Thakkar
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Two Celebrity Ships to Help Bring Cruise Line Back to Business

It’s looking like Spanish-based Pullmantur Cruises, which is partly owned by Royal Caribbean, might be brought back to business with the help of two Celebrity Millennium-class cruise ships.

UPDATE: We’ve got an update on this after receiving a response from Celebrity Cruises, click here.

Pullmantur Cruises Making a Comeback

A new proposed corporation agreement has been accepted by the insolvency administrator of Pullmantur Cruises chaired by Francisco Vera. Royal Caribbean, a shareholder in the Spanish cruise line, is putting together a plan along with Pullmantur to bring it back to business.

This comes after the cruise line filed for a reorganization, according to Spanish law, a form of bankruptcy. This was due to the suspension of operations, which started in March 2020, and the global pandemic impacting travel. The cruise line was one of the first to go out of business.

With Royal Caribbean being one of the stronger and major cruise companies, thankfully, Pullmantur is being brought back to life.

New details are being drawn up so that kickstart operations can be started as soon as possible. Administrator Francisco Vera has already commented, “We believe in the potential of a shipping company with the size of Pullmantur Cruises, and we are working robustly on the Business Plan with the aim of betting on the viability of the company.”

Pullmantur Cruise Ship
Copyright Cruise Hive

Millenium-Class Ships to Transfer

So one of the main ways Pullmantur is being brought back to business is with two Millenium-class cruise ship from sister line Celebrity Cruises. These vessels would be more efficient to operate with more balconies and modern design.

Celebrity Cruises has suspended operations since March 2020 and transferring two ships to Pullmantur benefits them too as the restart of cruises in 2021 is set to be slow with only a limited number of ships.

There are four Millennium-class cruise ships that Celebrity operates, including Celebrity Millennium, which entered service in 2000 and is the first in her class; Celebrity Infinity, which made her debut in 2001; Celebrity Summit, which entered service also in 2001; and Celebrity Constellation is the newest in the class and entered service in 2002.

Celebrity Millennium and Summit were both upgraded in 2019 to bring them in-line with the newer Edge-class ships. Celebrity Infinity and Constellation were last upgraded in 2007, so they could likely be the ships to transfer to Pullmantur.

Pullmantur does not currently have any cruise ships as they were all sold off.

Royal Caribbean Supports Future Cruise Credit

Vera has also commented on Future Cruise Credits (FCC) as Royal Caribbean continues to offer compensation to those guests who were impacted by the cancellation of Pullmantur sailings. A 125% credit is being offered, and cruisers can use that to sail with Royal Caribbean International or Celebrity Cruises in the future.

Pullmantur Ships Being Scrapped

At the moment, Monarch and Sovereign, which were two cruise ships operated by Pullmantur, are being scrapped at the Aliaga shipbreaking facility in Turkey. Both ships were also operated by Royal Caribbean International, known as Monarch of the Seas and Sovereign of the Seas.

Carnival Ship Responds to Mayday Call

Emrys Thakkar
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Carnival Ship Responds to Mayday Call

The Carnival Ecstasy responded to a mayday call in the Bahamas on Tuesday and came to the rescue of an injured crew member from a yacht. Even if the cruise line has suspended operations into 2021, it doesn’t mean cruise ships can’t be involved in important rescue situations, and that was the case for the Carnival Ecstasy.

The Fantasy-class cruise ship responded to a mayday call from a private yacht named “Balista” with a crew member suffering from severe injuries. At the time the mayday was picked up, the Carnival Ecstasy was anchored in the Bahamas and just four nautical miles away from the yacht.

Carnival Ecstasy Rescue

Captain Domenico Calise immediately responded even though there was a vessel that was closer which did not seem to be responding to the mayday. Carnival Ecstasy notified all the relevant authorities including the U.S. Coast Guard, a normal procedure for these situations.

Carnival Ecstasy Rescue

It was not a straight forward rescue operation due to 30-knot winds at the time. The 29-year-old injured male crew member on the yacht could not be transferred to Carnival Ecstasy immediately as it was a complex operation. The initial transfer needed to be aborted but he was eventually brought aboard the Carnival cruise ship via its rescue boat.

Carnival provided Cruise Hive with video footage when the USCG met with the ship to take the crewman for further medical care on land:

The injured crew member was evaluated and treated by the Carnival Ecstasy medical team. He did need further treatment on land so as a result, the cruise ship headed north to meet a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter for urgent medical evacuation. He is now receiving the much-needed care at a medical facility on land.

Carnival Ecstasy Rescue

These kinds of rescue operations are not uncommon and often cruise ships will need to respond to small boats in distress. It often comes to bringing people aboard for further treatment or a checkup.

Just last month Cruise Hive reported on sister ship Carnival Sensation coming to the rescue of a small boat with 24 people on board. That boat started taking on water and thankfully the Carnival vessel was there to bring everyone on board.

Even when cruises resume, cruise ships will respond to any mayday call if possible and are well trained to do so. Well done to the crew of Carnival Ecstasy during these difficult times.

All Photos and Video Courtesy: Carnival Cruise Line

30 Port Canaveral Hotels With Cruise Shuttle Service

Gillian Birch
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30 Port Canaveral Hotels With Cruise Shuttle Service

You’ve booked a luxury cruise from Port Canaveral cruise terminal, but there are a few more things to organize before you set sail. Booking a night at one of the Port Canaveral hotels near the cruise terminal is a great way to extend your cruise from Port Canaveral by spending a night or two in a hotel near beautiful Cocoa Beach before or after your cruise.

Whether you are arriving by road or air, staying at one of the hotels near Port Canaveral cruise terminal is a smart move, and can actually save you money. By arriving in Florida well before your cruise departs means that you won’t miss your cruise if you encounter problems or delays with flights, traffic or wintry weather.

Even if your travel plans are thrown into chaos, you can stay calm and relaxed, knowing you have a couple days in hand before your cruise ships sails. Peace of mind is definitely worth paying for!

Another benefit of booking Port Canaveral hotels is the shuttle service to the cruise terminal. Most hotels offer free or cheap cruise shuttle transport to Port Canaveral cruise terminal.

If you need cruise parking, you can save money by booking a Port Canaveral Cruise, Park and Stay package at one of the nearby hotels. It includes secure parking for the duration of your cruise, a night’s stay and a hotel shuttle bus to the port – saving money on cruise parking and taxis.

Also Read: Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal – Your One-Stop Guide

Here’s our comprehensive list of top hotels in Port Canaveral, Cocoa Beach and Titusville that all have a cruise shuttle service to the port. We’ve done the hard work for you, rounding up all the options for the best hotels in Port Canaveral with cruise shuttle service. Just browse below and pick the hotel that best suits your budget and needs.

In This Article:

Best Port Canaveral Hotels Near the Cruise Port with Free Shuttle

Quality Inn Kennedy Space Center

The 2 star Quality Inn KSC puts you close to the beach, the Kennedy Space Center and St Johns Wildlife Refuge. Air-conditioned rooms have the latest technology including Wi-Fi, LCD TV, refrigerator and microwave. The Stay and Cruise Package also includes free cruise parking and shuttle transfer to Port Canaveral cruise terminal.

  • Distance from port: 23.4 miles
  • Address: 3655 Cheney Hwy, Titusville
  • Phone number: (321) 269 7110
  • Shuttle? Yes

Days Inn by Wyndham Cocoa Beach

Minutes from local attractions and 15 minutes from Port Canaveral cruise terminal, Days Inn Cocoa Beach is a popular choice for cruisers. Rooms are simple but comfortable and include Wi-Fi and a free breakfast. There’s also an outdoor pool and volleyball court.

  • Distance from port: 5.0 miles
  • Address: 5500 N. Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach
  • Phone number: (321) 784-2550
  • Shuttle? Yes

La Quinta Inn by Wyndham

Located south of Cocoa Beach and 5 miles from the port, the newly renovated La Quinta Inn Cocoa Beach provides a competitively priced night’s stay for two with free breakfast, outdoor pool, complimentary parking and shuttle transport to and from the cruise port at Port Canaveral.

  • Distance from port: 5.0 miles
  • Address: 1 Hendry Ave, Cocoa Beach
  • Phone number: (321) 784-3126
  • Shuttle? Yes

Ocean Landings Resort and Racquet Club Cocoa Beach

Ocean Landings Cocoa Beach is a beautiful resort and racquet club on Cocoa Beach with tennis courts and an activity center. Just 7 miles from Port Canaveral, the complimentary cruise shuttle is available when you book a Cruise and Stay package.

  • Distance from port: 7.4 miles
  • Address: 900 N. Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach
  • Phone number: 1-800-323-8413
  • Shuttle? Yes

International Palms Cocoa Beach

International Palms Cocoa Beach offers competitive pricing and a price match if you find a better rate. Right on the oceanfront, the hotel has 502 rooms, a pirate-themed pool and rescue gators in the lobby! Free parking and cruise transportation included in the package plus generous discounts on food and beverages.

  • Distance from port: 7.4 miles
  • Address: 1300 N. Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach
  • Phone number: (321) 783-2271
  • Shuttle? Yes

Country Inn and Suites

One of the closest hotels to Port Canaveral cruise terminals is Country Inn and Suites by Radisson. It offers a parking package that includes shuttle transport to and from the cruise port. You can even catch a glimpse of ships cruising in and out of Port Canaveral from some rooms!

  • Distance from port: 2.5 miles
  • Address: 9009 Astronaut Blvd, Cape Canaveral
  • Phone number: (321) 784-8500
  • Shuttle? Yes

Ramada Inn Titusville

Just off I-95 Exit 215, the Ramada Inn Titusville is a top choice for those driving to Florida and requiring cruise parking and shuttle as part of a Park and Cruise package. Relax by the pool or visit the nearby attractions such as the Kennedy Space Center before or after your cruise from Port Canaveral.

  • Distance from port: 23.4 miles
  • Address: 3500 Cheney Hwy, Titusville
  • Phone number: (321) 362-6053
  • Shuttle? Yes

Homewood Suites Cape Canaveral/Cocoa

Homewood Suites by Hilton Cape Canaveral is one of the closest Port Canaveral hotels to the cruise terminal and within easy reach of the beach. Packages include studios and suites with kitchenette, pull-out sofas, hot breakfast buffet and parking while you enjoy your cruise. Packages include shuttle drop-off and pick-up service.

  • Distance from port: 2.5 miles
  • Address: 9000 Astronaut Blvd, Cape Canaveral
  • Phone number: (321)868-1841
  • Shuttle? Yes

Quality Inn and Suites Cocoa Beach

Minutes from the beach, Quality Inn and Suites Cocoa is a great choice for families pre- and post-cruise. The hotel offers rooms and suites with king or 2 queen beds. There’s a heated pool, laundry, business services and free Wi-Fi.

  • Distance from port: 23.1 miles
  • Address: 3655 Cheney Hwy, Titusville
  • Phone number: (321) 269-7110
  • Shuttle? Yes

Best Western Cocoa Beach

Book a night or two at the 3 star Best Western Cocoa Beach on a Fly, Snooze and Cruise package. The hotel has rooms, family rooms and suites with kitchenettes. Packages include a free shuttle for two to the cruise port. Additional passengers are charged $14 return.

  • Distance from port: 4.9 miles
  • Address: 5600 N. Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach
  • Phone number: (321) 783-7621
  • Shuttle? Yes

Holiday Inn Express and Suites Cocoa Beach

Located on N. Atlantic Ave, Holiday Inn Express and Suites Cocoa Beach has comfortable rooms, cable TV, outdoor pool and hot tub. It also serves an amazing complimentary breakfast buffet. Cruise package includes room, parking and shuttle to Port Canaveral cruise terminal.

  • Distance from port: 4.8 miles
  • Address: 5575 N. Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach
  • Phone number: (321) 868-2525
  • Shuttle? Yes

Cheap Port Canaveral Hotels near the Cruise Terminal with Pay-for Shuttle

Budget Inn Cocoa Beach

Conveniently located for those driving and looking for Port Canaveral hotels, Budget Inn Cocoa Beach is at I-95 Exit 201 on SR-520. With a pool, free Wi-Fi and complimentary coffee in the lobby, it offers great value for money. Shuttle available to the cruise port, just 20 minutes away.

  • Distance from port: 13.9 miles
  • Address: 4150 W. King St, Cocoa
  • Phone number: (321) 632- 5721
  • Shuttle? Yes

America’s Best Value Inn

Americas Best Value Inn Cocoa/Port Canaveral is 15 minutes from Port Canaveral and offers rock bottom prices with free parking for up to two weeks. Packages include breakfast, outdoor pool, Wi-Fi and shuttle transport is $5 per person round-trip. Rooms have cable TV, mini fridge and microwave and the hotel has an outdoor pool.

  • Distance from port: 10.5 miles
  • Address: 3220 N. Cocoa Blvd, Cocoa
  • Phone number: (321) 632-4561
  • Shuttle? Yes

Best Western Space Shuttle Inn Titusville

Close to the Kennedy Space Center, St Johns National Wildlife Refuge and beaches, Best Western Space Shuttle Inn has a fitness room and outdoor pool for guests. Enjoy a free breakfast before the shuttle transfer to Cape Canaveral cruise terminal.

  • Distance from port: 23.0 miles
  • Address: 3455 Cheney Hwy, Titusville
  • Phone number: (321) 269-9100
  • Shuttle? Yes

Luxury Port Canaveral Hotels with Shuttle near the Cruise Port

Hilton Oceanfront Cocoa Beach

Start your cruise in style with a stay at the beautiful Hilton Oceanfront Cocoa Beach. This well-located 4 star hotel is right on the beach. Cruise and Park packages include one night’s stay, car parking and a shuttle to and from Port Canaveral cruise terminal just 15 minutes away.

  • Distance from port: 7.1 miles
  • Address: 1550 N. Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach
  • Phone number: (321) 799-0003
  • Shuttle? Yes

Radisson Resort at the Port

Radisson Resort at the Port boasts luxury accommodation just 2.5 miles from Port Canaveral including a resort style water park, free parking and shuttle transport to and from the cruise terminal. They also offer shuttle transport to and from Orlando Airport for those arriving by air from $33 per person one way.

  • Distance from port: 2.9 miles
  • Address: 8701 Astronaut Blvd, Cape Canaveral
  • Phone number: (321) 784-0000
  • Shuttle? Yes

Four Points by Sheraton

Six miles from the port and right in the heart of the action on Cocoa Beach, this upscale Four Points by Sheraton is within walking distance of the beach, restaurants, and the iconic Ron Jon Surf Shop. It has a fitness center, pool, spa, and Shark Pit Bar and Grill with an amazing 5,600-gallon exotic fish aquarium. Cruise packages include parking and a shuttle to the cruise port.

  • Distance from port: 5.8 miles
  • Address: 4001 N. Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach
  • Phone number: (321) 783-8717
  • Shuttle? Yes

Residence Inn by Marriott Cape Canaveral

On the banks of the Banana River, this upscale hotel offers all-suite accommodation close to Cape Canaveral cruise terminal.

  • Distance from port: 2.7 miles
  • Address: 8959 Astronaut Blvd, Cape Canaveral
  • Phone number: (321) 323-1100
  • Shuttle? Yes

Holiday Inn Titusville Kennedy Space Center

The stylish Holiday Inn Titusville is well located for exploring the Space Coast attraction and Cocoa Beach before or after your Port Canaveral Cruise. Shuttle transport is included in the Snooze Park Cruise package along with free onsite parking. Shops and restaurants are close by and the cruise terminal is about a 30-minute drive away.

  • Distance from port: 24.0 miles
  • Address: 4715 Helen Hauser Blvd, Titusville
  • Phone number: (321) 383-0200
  • Shuttle? Yes

Courtyard Marriott Cocoa Beach

Free shuttle to and from Port Canaveral cruises, free parking for the duration of your cruise, and a luxury suite with king bed, sofa bed and living area. That’s what you get with this upscale Courtyard Marriott cruise parking package and a tasty breakfast is included.

  • Distance from port: 6.2 miles
  • Address: 3435 N. Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach
  • Phone number: (321) 784-4800
  • Shuttle? Yes

Cape Crossing Resort and Marina

For those who want the ultimate Snooze, Park and Cruise package, book into the 5* Cape Crossing Resort and Marina. Accommodation is in a private luxury townhouse with waterfront views. Ideal for families or groups of cruisers, the package includes parking for up to two vehicles at a private parking lot. Shuttle transport to Port Canaveral is included from the car lot to the port and takes about 10 minutes.

  • Distance from port: 6.6 miles
  • Address: 201 Ivory Coral Ln, Merritt Island
  • Phone number: 1-800-727-6845
  • Shuttle? Yes

Orlando Hotels with Shuttle to Port Canaveral Cruise Port

If you’re driving to Orlando, book a hotel that offers complimentary cruise parking (near the cruise port) and shuttle transport to Port Canaveral. It allows you to spend a few days enjoying the Orlando theme parks and shopping malls before driving to the parking lot near Port Canaveral and hopping on the shuttle to the cruise port! It’s convenient and economical.

Econo Lodge Orlando Airport

It’s hard to beat the price of a Park and Cruise package at Econo Lodge Orlando Airport. It includes one night at the hotel, complimentary car parking near Port Canaveral for the duration of the cruise and shuttle transport between the parking lot and the cruise terminal.

  • Distance from port: 46.2 miles
  • Address: 3835 McCoy Rd, Building B, Orlando
  • Phone number: (407) 601-0928
  • Shuttle? Yes

Clarion Orlando Airport

Snooze Park Cruise packages at the Clarion Orlando Airport combine the excitement of Orlando attractions with convenient and cost-effective cruise parking and shuttle to Port Canaveral cruise terminal. Stay the night and enjoy a free breakfast before driving to the parking lot near Port Canaveral. Take the shuttle bus from there to the port. It’s very affordable and easy.

  • Distance from port: 46.2 miles
  • Address: 3835 McCoy Rd, Building A, Orlando
  • Phone number: (407) 845-0900
  • Shuttle? Yes

Fairfield Inn Orlando Airport

Snooze, Park and Cruise packages at Fairfield Inn Orlando Airport have excellent reviews by past cruisers. Package price includes one night’s accommodation, breakfast and cruise parking with shuttle just 10 minutes from Port Canaveral cruise terminal.

  • Distance from port: 45.7 miles
  • Address: 7100 Augusta National Dr, Orlando
  • Phone number: (407) 888-2666
  • Shuttle? Yes

Courtyard Marriott Orlando Airport

Do all your sightseeing from this modern Courtyard Marriott Orlando Airport hotel before your Port Canaveral cruise. It has a pool, restaurant, and free Wi-fi.

After a relaxing night’s sleep, drive to the parking lot near Port Canaveral where your car will be securely parked free during your cruise. The package includes shuttle transport between the Port Canaveral cruise port and the parking lot. Bon voyage!

  • Distance from port: 45.8 miles
  • Address: 7155 N. Frontage Rd, Orlando
  • Phone number: (407) 240-7200
  • Shuttle? Yes

Hyatt Place Orlando Airport

Book early to get a Cruise and Park package at stylish Hyatt Place Orlando Airport as it books up fast! The package includes a night in a beautiful room, use of the pool and an onsite restaurant.

Those flying into the airport get free shuttle transport to Port Canaveral. Those with a car should drive to the car park at Port Canaveral and take the complimentary shuttle to (and from) the cruise port.

  • Distance from port: 445.9 miles
  • Address: 5435 Forbes Pl, Orlando
  • Phone number: (407) 816-7800
  • Shuttle? Yes

Homewood Suites Orlando Airport Gateway Village

Enjoy a luxury stay at the Homewood Suites Orlando Airport before or after your cruise from Port Canaveral. It’s just two miles from the airport and within easy driving distance of SeaWorld, Universal Studios and Walt Disney World. Cruise parking with shuttle transport is just 10 minutes from the port, included in the package price along with breakfast.

  • Distance from port: 45.9 miles
  • Address: 5425 Gateway Village Circle, Orlando
  • Phone number: (407) 857-5791
  • Shuttle? Yes

Hampton Inn Orlando Airport Gateway Village

Enjoy a king-size room at the Hampton Inn Orlando Airport Gateway Village as part of a Snooze, Park and Cruise package from Port Canaveral. Cruise passengers stay the night in a luxury room with breakfast and Wi-Fi. Drive to the secure parking lot near Port Canaveral for free cruise parking and get the free shuttle to and from the cruise ship.

  • Distance from port: 45.9 miles
  • Address: 5460 Gateway Village Circle, Orlando
  • Phone number: (407) 857-2830
  • Shuttle? Yes

Holiday Inn Orlando Airport

Enjoy the comforts of the newly renovated 3-star Holiday Inn Orlando as part of their all-inclusive cruise package. Drive yourself to the parking lot near Port Canaveral where your car will be securely parked for the duration of the cruise. Price includes a shuttle between the parking lot and the cruise port.

  • Distance from port: 45.3 miles
  • Address: 5750 T.G.Lee Blvd, Orlando
  • Phone number: (407) 851-6400
  • Shuttle? Yes

Embassy Suites Orlando Airport

The modern Embassy Suites Orlando Airport is well located for cruisers flying into Orlando Airport. Overnight accommodation and shuttle transfer to the cruise is included. Drivers can also park their car free for the duration of their cruise from Port Canaveral.The hotel has a car park just 10 minutes from Port Canaveral cruise terminal where you can drop your vehicle and take the shuttle to the port.

  • Distance from port: 45.8 miles
  • Address: 5835 T.G.Lee Blvd, Orlando
  • Phone number: (407) 888-9339
  • Shuttle? Yes

Once you’ve booked your Orlando or Port Canaveral hotel with cruise shuttle, If you’re staying in Cocoa Beach before or after your cruise, you’ll find more attractions nearby in this fact-packed ebook of Days Out Around Cocoa Beach.

FAQ on Port Canaveral Hotels:

Which hotel is closest to Port Canaveral?

The closest hotels to cruise terminals at Port Canaveral is Country Inn and Suites by Radisson. It is 2.5 miles from the port and offers cruise shuttle transport to and from the cruise port. You can even catch a glimpse of ships cruising in and out of Port Canaveral from some rooms!

How far is Port Canaveral from Orlando?

Port Canaveral is 46 miles east of Orlando. It takes around 45 minutes to drive along the FL-528 Highway which has tolls.

Is it safe to stay near Port Canaveral, Florida?

Port Canaveral has a higher crime rate overall than Florida but cruise passengers are unlikely to be a victim of any serious crime. Most crimes in Port Canaveral are against property (ie. Burglary, car theft etc.) Take sensible precautions, such as traveling by taxi or car after dark and leave your passport and valuables in the hotel safe.

Knut Kloster, Founder of Norwegian Cruise Line Dies Aged 91

Emrys Thakkar
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0
Knut Kloster, Founder of Norwegian Cruise Line Dies Aged 91

Knut Kloster, a legend in the cruise industry and who co-founded Norwegian Cruise Line has sadly died at the age of 91.

Cruise Line Founder Knut Kolster Dies

The cruise industry has lost one of its greats, Knus Kloster who passed away today at the age of 91. He co-founded Norwegian Cruise Line (then named Norwegian Caribbean Line) in 1966 along with Carnival Cruise Line founder Ted Arison.

Kolster was born in Oslo, Norway in 1929 and he joined his family business named Kloster Redri in 1959. The business was founded by his father Lauritz Kloster in 1924. Thanks to his partnership with Arison he launched a cruise line which has since become the third-largest in the world.

Kloster who was a visionary kicked off his new cruise line with the 8,666 gross ton Sunward which first sailed for Norwegian Caribbean Line on December 19, 1966, and offering short cruises out of Miami, Florida to the Bahamas.

Kloster helped grow the cruise line with even more vessels including MS Starward, MS Skyward, MS Southward, and MS Sunward II. He found that turning these ferry type ships to more cruise focused vessels would be good and eventually a more serious cruise business started growing.

Once Norway joined the fleet it put Kloster’s cruise line on the map as she was the largest cruise ship in the world at the time. He eventually stepped back from running the business but he had even bigger plans!

In 1983 development began ion the ultimate cruise ship! It was the World City Phoenix that was to be a mind-blowing 250,000 gross tons, just unprecedented in those days. The innovative cruise ship was to have a passenger capacity of 5,200, 1,850 crew members, and 2,600 cabins.

Unfortunately, the ship never got past the design stage due to being too complex for her time and a number of feasibility reasons.

Kloster has been involved in many projects over the years including the founding of Norwegian Cruise Line’s current private island of Great Stirrup Caye in the Bahamas. It was purchased from Belcher Oil Company in 1977 and in fact the first cruise line to have a private island, another one of Kloster’s innovative decisions.

He truly will be missed across the cruise industry and we thank him for making what the industry is today. Thanks to all the new ship features, ideas, creativity, and more. RIP.

Photo Credit: StudioPortoSabbia / Shutterstock.com

Carnival Imagination Beached for Scrapping in Turkey

Emrys Thakkar
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0
Carnival Imagination Beached for Scrapping in Turkey

Carnival Imagination has become the third Carnival cruise ship to be beached in Turkey and will now be scrapped.

Third Carnival Cruise Ship Beached in Turkey

Carnival Imagination has been beached at the Aliaga ship breaking facility in Turkey and marking the end of life for the Fantasy-class cruise ship. The vessel was beached with limited crew onboard on Wednesday morning and is now sitting right next to the Carnival Fantasy.

The ship had spent the previous day anchored just off the coast to prepare for the beaching and the majority of the crew had already been transferred off. She had just completed her final journey from the Caribbean to Turkey.

Carnival Imagination has already been stripped of anything important when she was docked in Curacao in August. During that time it was rumored the ship was being scrapped and that was confirmed when the Cruise Ship Tracker showed her next destination as Izmir, Turkey which is where the scrapping takes place.

In the coming weeks and months, chunk by chunk the vessel will be scrapped and the materials recycled just like her sister ships. The work will begin from the bow and workers will make their way cutting the ship up.

Carnival Imagination has joined the Carnival Fantasy, Carnival Inspiration, the former Monarch of the Seas and Sovereign of the Seas that are all already being scrapped at the facility. It’s a very sad view indeed for ships with so much history and memories.

This comes as the parent company Carnival Corporation just announced that five more cruise ships across its nine brands will be disposed of. This brings a total of 18 cruise ships that are being let go by the company, and some have already been offloaded, including the three Fantasy-class ships at Aliaga.

With the Fantasy-class vessels showing their age we could see further ships from the fleet be scrapped and all eyes are on the Carnival Fascination, currently rusting up in Cadiz, Spain. The company needs to offload vessels to lower expenditure and make cash to rise out these unprecedented times.

Also Read: 13 Things About the Carnival Imagination Cruise Ship

Carnival Imagination was made her debut in 1995 and before the suspension of operations, the vessel was operating on the U.S. west coast. She’s 70,367 gross tons with a guest capacity of over 2,000 at double occupancy along with 920 crew members.

Photo Credit: Benson Truong / Shutterstock.com

60+ Creative Homeschool Ideas About Cruises

Melissa Mayntz
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60+ Creative Homeschool Ideas About Cruises

A cruise may be the ultimate vacation, but cruises also make great lessons for learners of all ages. Whether you are planning an entire homeschool curriculum, need creative project ideas for a single class, or want to add some enrichment to an exciting getaway, there are great homeschool ideas for every grade level and subject material.

Cruise Lessons for Young Children

Even the very youngest cruisers can enjoy simple lessons that incorporate cruise ships and vacations. Cruise ships can be part of all sorts of basic learning and lessons, such as…

  • Practicing colors with cruise ship pictures and drawings
  • Letter learning and recognition on cruise ship hulls or signage
  • Counting pictures of cruise-related scenes
  • Coloring pages of cruise ships to improve hand and finger dexterity
  • Spelling words for cruise ships and ship-related terms
  • Handwriting practice copying cruise ship names and words
  • ABC lists of cruise vacation words and phrases
  • Reading picture books of cruise ships and related topics

Cruise Lessons for Older Students

As students get older and develop interests in different subject areas, cruise ships, vacations, and cruise-related travel can become part of any curriculum. Popular options for adding cruise learning into different lessons will vary based on each student’s interests, grade level, and aptitude, but can include a wide range of subject materials.

Arts

All the fine arts can be studied with relation to cruise vacations, including how music, dance, and other performances are part of cruises. Many cruise ships have art galleries to view, and different paintings, sculptures, and other art installations around each ship, including hull art, can be fascinating introductions to different art forms.

Related: Everything You Need to Know About Crafts at Sea

Students can create their own sketches, paintings, sculptures, and other art forms related to cruise ships, including origami, craft projects, dramatic skits, and more.

Culinary Arts

Food is a delicious part of every cruise vacation, and cooking students can enjoy a wide range of different tastes on every sailing. Studying how different dishes are prepared at onboard cooking demonstrations or how ingredients are used creatively at different meals are great cooking lessons, or discovering different recipes from popular ports of call are other fun and tasty lessons.

Students could also learn how professional galleys are arranged, or how challenging it is to prepare massive food quantities for thousands of passengers. Food safety lessons can also be part of any cruise culinary studies.

Engineering

Cruise ships are an engineering marvel, and any student with an interest in engineering can learn a great deal from cruise ship structure and design. Students can also study a ship’s fuel systems and how airflow and ventilation are promoted through a ship.

How cruise ships steer into challenging ports or through canals can be intricate engineering problems, or students can create their own cruise ship deck plans or architectural diagrams to showcase their engineering creativity.

Geography

Geography is an easy subject to study with cruise ships. Maps of different itineraries and destinations can create a wide range of geography lessons, or students could study how ocean currents affect geography and cruise navigation.

Learning where crew members are from around the world can broaden geographic studies far beyond just one cruise ship or vacation. Students could also study the physical, political, and cultural geography of individual ports of call, or use ship locator websites to map voyages.

History

Cruise ships have played many important parts in history, including serving different roles in wartime or other emergencies. Studying that history can help students of all ages better appreciate cruise ships.

Other historical topics include how cruise ships have often carried mail and cargo, profiles of famous ships such as the Titanic and Lusitania, histories of cruise lines themselves, or the overall history of cruise travel and how cruises have changed over the decades.

Languages

Cruises have a language all their own, and students can improve their vocabularies by studying cruise-related words such as port, starboard, deck, galley, captain, tender, aft, bow, stern, wake, muster, and more.

Studying the different languages of crew members and different ports of call can also enhance students’ knowledge of languages and language learning. Learning how to say hello, good-bye, please, and thank you in different cruise languages is always a good lesson.

Literature

Cruise ships can be amazing settings for many books, plays, and poems for literature students. Students can also write their own stories or poems about ships, cruise travel, ports of call, or even the sea itself.

News stories can also be great for journalism students to learn more about cruising, or students could use the daily cruise newsletter to study how news and activities are shared with passengers or how print media is formatted. They can even make their own newsletters for family cruise fun!

Mathematics

Students can do a lot of calculating on a cruise ship, figuring out miles traveled, the passenger capacity onboard, how much food passengers may consume, and other fun facts.

Cruise ships are filled with geometric architecture that can be studied, and different currencies in different ports of call can be converted to better understand economics. Students could also practice financial literacy by calculating cruise vacation costs and budgeting for an oceangoing getaway.

Science

The science of cruise ships can involve everything from oceanic marine life, seabirds, and ecosystems to how hurricanes work to air purification processes onboard a cruise ship or the environmental impact of cruises on different marine ecosystems.

Astronomy studies can include ship navigation by stars, biology students may study how illnesses can spread on cruise ships and what can be done to keep crew members and passengers safe, and chemistry students could analyze seawater.

Social Studies

All types of social studies subjects – politics and government, religion, psychology, sociology, etc. – can be studied on cruises. Different cultures from different ports of call and crew members from around the world are all great subjects of study, and can foster greater appreciation for diversity and inclusion.

Laws at sea, governments of different ports of call, etiquette of different cultures, and current events involving ports and cruises are all great social studies topics for study.

Worth Reading: 15 Engaging Books to Read About Cruises

In addition to studying individual subjects as they relate to cruises, students of all ages can enjoy hands-on projects featuring cruise ships and cruise travel. These interactive projects can be part of an overall unit about cruises, or could be ideal options for subject fairs, such as a science fair, geography fair, or engineering showcase.

  • Create a boat out of commonplace materials and see how long it will float or how much weight it will hold while floating.
  • Create tanks with saltwater of different salinities, and determine how salty the water has to be to affect how a buoy or other object floats.
  • Cook an entire meal themed to a port of call, or create a formal night dining experience to share even if cruising isn’t possible.
  • Design a cruise ship, including deck plans, activity spaces, passenger cabins, and other features necessary for full operation.
  • Interview cruise ship crew members about their homes, cultures, and countries, compiling a report about how different cultures work together.
  • Plan and map a dream cruise vacation itinerary, calculating the distances between ports and how long the cruise would be sailing.
  • Create an advertising campaign for a cruise line, including ports of call, new ships, shore excursions, and other features of the company.

Cruise ships can be an amazing learning experience for all ages, no matter what subject areas are of the greatest interest to different students. No matter how many cruises you have taken, there is always something more to learn!

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