Cruises Out of Cape Canaveral: A Guide

It's time to start planning your next big vacation. You'll find plenty of options departing from Florida cruise ports, including Port Canaveral, the Cape Canaveral point of departure that serves the Orlando area. Whether you're looking for a weekend getaway, a family-friendly vacation or an extended voyage, you'll find cruises out of Port Canaveral that tick all your boxes.

You can spend a weekend sailing to The Bahamas, two weeks crossing the Atlantic Ocean or a week sampling the many beautiful ports of call in the Caribbean. Ready to look into cruises from Orlando? Here are the six best cruises from Port Canaveral.

Key Takeaways: Cruises Leaving From Florida

● Port Canaveral, the cruise port of Cape Canaveral, is a premier place to find a cruise from Florida to the Caribbean and beyond.

● Cruise options from Cape Canaveral include short itineraries in the Caribbean, long journeys across the Atlantic and everything in between.

● There are cruise offerings for foodies, adventure seekers, world travelers, weekend vacationers and any other curious traveler, no matter your interests.

● It's easy to get started booking a cruise from Cape Canaveral, because there are countless departures in all seasons.

1. The Bahamas and Perfect Day at CocoCay

The recently launched Utopia of the Seas® is the sixth Oasis Class ship, packed with adventure and entertainment. The new ship focuses on three- and four-night cruises from its year-round home port in Port Canaveral, with onboard upgrades that include reimagined pool decks, a Giovanni's℠ Italian Kitchen location that spans two decks (try the osso buco!) and the new Pesky Parrot℠ tiki bar, serving fruity cocktails on the Royal Promenade.

An itinerary to The Bahamas is perfect for a long weekend. On this cruise vacation, you'll explore the highlights of The Bahamas, with a day in Nassau followed by a day at Perfect Day at CocoCay, a private island destination exclusive to Royal Caribbean. You may also be able to experience thrills and chills at Royal Beach Club℠ Paradise Island.

2. Southern Caribbean

An itinerary to the Southern Caribbean routes you to the farthest corner of the Caribbean for some of its best beaches. Sailing for eight nights from Port Canaveral, you'll stop in ports that may include:

● Perfect Day at CocoCay.

● Cabo Rojo, Dominican Republic.

● Oranjestad, Aruba.

● Willemstad, Curaçao.

Each port will welcome you with easily accessible, powdery sand beaches primed for world-class swimming, snorkeling and diving. This is an ideal itinerary if you like to spend sunny days on the world's most beautiful beaches — though really, who doesn't?

3. Best For A European Adventure

4. Private Island Getaways

You can sign up for a truly unique Port Canaveral cruise itinerary that visits not one but two private destinations, where paradise is just steps away from the ship. On one of these journeys, you'll cruise to Labadee, a private peninsula adventure park and beach. Soak up this private spot by relaxing on the beach, enjoying the destination's signature cocktail specialty, the Labadoozie (a fruity rum cocktail) or by opting for a zip line ride that will send you soaring over the ocean.

The next private island destination is Perfect Day at CocoCay, an oasis in The Bahamas. Here you'll port within short distance of pristine beaches, a thrilling water park and countless ways to unwind beneath the palm trees.

5. Western Caribbean

6. Eastern Caribbean

A seven-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary is a top choice if you want to change things up and go on a unique adventure in each port. On your first stop, Perfect Day at CocoCay, everyone in your group can enjoy a seemingly endless array of activities. If the beach is calling, grab a spot on one of the many cushy beach loungers close to a bar serving up island cocktails that go great with the ocean view. For the adventurous ones, Daredevil's Peak® waterslide is North America's tallest and promises an adrenaline rush.

When the ship arrives in the U.S. Virgin Islands at Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, head straight to Magens Bay, often short-listed as one of the world's most beautiful beaches. Or dive into a snorkeling tour to get face time with some sea turtles and coral reefs. Your final destination is Philipsburg, St. Maarten, where you can tour the island on an ATV, sample rum from a local distillery or end the day with a sunset horseback ride on the beach.

Plan a Trip From Cape Canaveral and Enjoy the Orlando Area

When you're planning your next Cape Canaveral cruise, there's something else to remember: The Orlando area is fun in its own right and worth seeing before or after your voyage. Not far from Port Canaveral, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is a great place to spend a day admiring the vast scope of NASA. I also love tacking on an extra day or two at an Orlando theme park, usually before my cruise departs. I always appreciate racking up thousands of steps traversing a theme park before boarding a cruise, where I know I'll be able to lounge on a deck or relax in a hot tub.

For those seeking a more peaceful retreat before boarding their cruises out of Orlando, Port Canaveral is near the white sands of Cocoa Beach. Spend the day enjoying calm, low waves — great for year-round swimming, learning to surf and kayaking alongside manatees and dolphins. Or take a seat on an airboat ride through the wetlands for encounters with alligators and, depending on the season, bald eagles, herons and osprey.