Cruising out of Port Canaveral on Florida’s Space Coast is an exciting experience for the whole family. With plenty of places to stay, things to do, and incredible food to eat, your stay on the Space Coast can be just as memorable as your time on the ship. Check out all the fun and exciting family-friendly activities you can get into before you set sail!
Hotels with Cruise Packages near Port Canaveral
Snooze’n’Cruise is all about making your cruise getaway as easy as possible. Thankfully, the hotels and other lodgings around Port Canaveral and Cocoa Beach offer several options for shuttle service to and from MCO & MLB to Port Canaveral on the day of your cruise, cruise parking options, and tons of other deals.
Looking for additional shuttle services? Check out Go Port’s extensive list of transportation and parking resources.
Check into your Hotel then Check out Port Canaveral
After checking into the hotel, head out to explore Port Canaveral, one of the busiest and most exciting ports in the world. The Cove at Port Canaveral is a collection of waterfront restaurants and tiki bars that provide an incredible view of The Port and a great experience for the whole family. See your ship, rocket parts, and wildlife like dolphins and sea turtles make their way through the water while you enjoy delicious meals and drinks. Some popular waterfront dining options are:
Rusty’s Seafood and Oyster Bar
Rising Tide Tap & Table
Fishlips Waterfront Bar & Grill
Grills Seafood Deck and Tiki Bar
If you don’t mind taking a quick jaunt to Cocoa Beach there are tons of other family-friendly dining options just down the A1A
Hit the Beach
If you’re looking for a good old-fashioned beach day before you hit the high seas, check out these nearby beaches with convenient parking, access to beach rentals, and more!
Fish off the 1,200 foot fully lit pier, or just find a nice spot in the sand and watch the ships come and go in the relaxing sea breeze. Jetty Park is very easily accessible and is also one of the best places to watch a rocket launch if one happens to be going up before your trip. A local vendor rents everything you need for a day at the beach so it’s an easy, worry-free outing. A parking pass needs to be reserved online in advance. Find a way to fit it into your plans!
This popular, secluded family-friendly beach has just what you need for a fun, low-key trip to the shoreline. There are grills to cook out and pavilions to relax and enjoy your meal in the shade. It’s another fantastic spot to watch a rocket launch, and early risers can take in a gorgeous sunrise over the water. Free parking can fill up so it’s best to come early, but you can also find street parking within a few blocks. Whether you are heading back to your hotel or setting sail directly, you’ll appreciate the handy bathrooms for changing and the outdoor showers for washing off the sand and saltwater before your next stop onboard. Watch out for Peacocks!
Here you’ll enjoy free parking and easy access to exciting and lively Cocoa Beach. It’s a beautiful stretch of sandy beach that’s a popular location for first-time surf lessons if you set one up with a local surf shop. A truly family-friendly beach, you’ll find picnic tables, a kids’ playground, bathrooms, and showers for cleaning up before you head out.
Burn Off Energy at these Cocoa Beach Attractions
When the kids start feeling cooped up before your boarding window, take some time to burn off extra energy with these nearby Cocoa Beach Attractions.
Golf N Gator is a fantastic attraction for everyone in your party. They have two 18-hole mini-golf courses and an animal encounter where you’ll see a variety of alligators and other reptiles for a true Florida experience. Teens won’t want to miss out on Beachside Grand Prix, a one-of-a-kind, multi-level go-kart experience, located inside Golf N Gator.
If you prefer a nostalgic beach experience over reptiles, head to Lighthouse Cove Adventure Golf. Here you’ll find two 18-hole mini-golf courses with unusual challenges for different skill levels. A craft beer bar and hand-made ice cream shop make a stop at this Cocoa Beach attraction a win for everyone.
Cocoa Beach Aerial Adventures is an incredible space for your teens to test their skills before setting sail. The high-flying ropes course gives you an unparalleled view of Cocoa Beach with challenging obstacles that will make your time on land fly by as you wait to board your cruise ship.
Dinosaur Store and Museum of Ancient Cultures is an awesome stop in Cocoa Beach is perfect for the little dinosaur lovers in your family. Here you’ll find larger-than-life displays of dinosaurs and prehistoric skeletons, a musuem of artifacts from ancient cultures, an epic gift shop filled to the brim with fossils, and an indoor arcade that will keep toddlers and school-aged kids busy for hours! It’s a wonderful stop for the whole family.
Wizard of Oz Museum in the City of Cape Canaveral boasts an incredible collection of Wizard of Oz memorabilia including a first edition, first print of the original story written by L. Frank Baum in 1900. Spend some time in the Immersive Oz experience as you see pieces of the story that weren’t included in the major motion picture, in addition to a Van Gogh experience sure to awaken your family’s sense of wonder.
Grab a Souvenir Before You Sail
Just in case you forgot to pack a few things, be sure to stop by one of these hot spot souvenir shops for last-minute cruise supplies like sunscreen, bathing suits, flip-flops, beach hats, sunglasses, Florida shirts, or some wonderful mementos of your pre-cruise adventure.
From the exterior of the world-famous Ron Jon Surf Shop, you’ll see why it’s a Space Coast point of interest in its own right. It’s also an amazing place to buy anything surf, skate, or sun-related, boasting 52,000 square feet of fun-in-the-sun merchandise. Surf enthusiasts will also want to check out the area’s rich surfing history showcased in the Florida Surf Museum, which is located in the rental shop across the street!
Whether it’s on-trend beachwear, a surfing lesson, or the rental of bicycles or beach gear for the day, Cocoa Beach Surf Company has you covered. They have a large selection of name brands in clothing, shoes, and accessories so you’ll be sure to find whatever you might need. This is also a great stop to prepare you for a day at the beach. You and the kids will be captivated by exotic sea life in the enormous shark and tropical fish aquarium. If you’re hungry, grab a bite in the full-service restaurant, all with quick easy access from the parking garage. For those staying at the Four Points by Sheraton, it’s even easier because you can just walk right over.
Your stop on the Space Coast isn’t just a layover! When you snooze’n’cruise out of Port Canaveral, there are a ton of things your family can see and do to enjoy your cruise adventure even more. You may even be a bit sad to watch Florida’s Space Coast fade into the background as your “real” vacation begins. But we’ll be here ready for you when you get back to Port from your Caribbean adventure. There’s still some space for fun when you return!
Happy Sailing!