Port Canaveral Hotel

[kathi]

I need to book one night in the Port Canaveral area for after our December cruise. We will be going to Kennedy Space Center and just relaxing for 2 days before we fly home. Where are the nicest places to stay?

 

[Spiffy MacSpiff]

The MacSpiffs stay at the Country Inn & Suites very close to the port, but usually before a cruise and not after. Lots of people recommend the Radisson Resort a bit further away, but we had a really non-family-friendly experience there and have not returned. If we ever do a cruise without the Young Spiffs, we might go back; the room was nice enough and the pool area is to die for; it was the company that we didn't care for. Others' mileage may vary, of course.

 

[twinsmom&dad]

We are staying at the crowne plaza in Melbourne after our cruise at the end of September. DW has stayed at this hotel or work years back and liked it. That being said she was there for work not pleasure. It's on the beach on a1a. We fly out of Melbourne so it's nearby also. The one thing I didn't like that I found out after we booked was the charge for parking . 9.95 a day ouch!

 

[Bumbum]

The MacSpiffs stay at the Country Inn & Suites very close to the port, but usually before a cruise and not after. Lots of people recommend the Radisson Resort a bit further away, but we had a really non-family-friendly experience there and have not returned. If we ever do a cruise without the Young Spiffs, we might go back; the room was nice enough and the pool area is to die for; it was the company that we didn't care for. Others' mileage may vary, of course.

What is a non family friendly experience?

 

[cgolf]

We have done the Courtyard by Marriott Cocoa Beach multiple times and loved it. There is beach access there and Ron Jon and a Walgreens (soda and snacks for in the room) is within walking distance. There has always been an orange store that has amazing orange juice that we would get a glass in the morning before we go to the port. Hope it’s still there.

Looking to go out of port canaveral in 2022 and that is where we will be staying again.

 

[cgolf]

The MacSpiffs stay at the Country Inn & Suites very close to the port, but usually before a cruise and not after. Lots of people recommend the Radisson Resort a bit further away, but we had a really non-family-friendly experience there and have not returned. If we ever do a cruise without the Young Spiffs, we might go back; the room was nice enough and the pool area is to die for; it was the company that we didn't care for. Others' mileage may vary, of course.

The above hotel I mentioned is so much better than the Radisson. It just wasn’t a great hotel the few times we stayed there. Rooms were so so at best. Up until the hotel we stayed at this year it ranked as my worst. It is amazing though how many people do stay there.

 

[Spiffy MacSpiff]

What is a non family friendly experience?

OK, with the disclaimer that the MacSpiff family experience may have been just bad timing and it was six years ago... but for what it's worth: we were at the Radisson for two nights before our first DCL cruise with our kids (6 and 9 at the time) and we spent both of them dealing with a resort full of liquored-up booze cruisers, wandering around drunk as heck and partying/yelling through the wee hours. Around the pool during the day it was pretty stressful; incredibly crowded, lots of adult behavior and profanity, and to top it off, a group of guys near us with major-league pornographic tattoos that had me not knowing which way to look. I'm no prude, but seriously... I'm not talking tasteful nudes here but full-out BDSM style chest pieces that kept me busy trying to direct my kids' attention in other directions. Our room was nice enough but there were some physical and cosmetic issues that didn't line up with the price we paid. Went to the Country Inn next time around and haven't looked back. As I said, the pool area is really nice and if you're looking for an adult venue, you might love it. I just wouldn't go there with children again.

 

[Racer X]

We have had good luck with staying at the Country Inns and Suite, as it is literally a stones throw from the port. Their park and cruise shuttle is very friendly and only about $40 as of last year. We have never waited more than 5 minutes at the port for the shuttle to come back around and take us back to the hotel. Unfortunately it has gotten very expensive in the past few years.. I recall staying for under a $100 4 or 5 years ago, last time it was close to $200 for just the basic room. Perhaps it was timing, but i guess everything is getting costly.

 

[Pooh93]

We have also made staying at the Courtyard Marriott our tradition when sailing out of Port Canaveral. It's close to Ron Jon's Surf shop and within walking distance of other shopping and easy beach access. It's easy to get an Uber to port if needed and we usually Uber to Fishlips the night prior to our sailing to watch other ships leave Port.

 

[mmouse37]

We are staying at the crowne plaza in Melbourne after our cruise at the end of September. DW has stayed at this hotel or work years back and liked it. That being said she was there for work not pleasure. It's on the beach on a1a. We fly out of Melbourne so it's nearby also. The one thing I didn't like that I found out after we booked was the charge for parking . 9.95 a day ouch!

$9.95 is not really bad at all for parking at a hotel. I have had to pay up to $40 per day at some hotels (not in the port area).

OP we have stayed at several hotels in the area over the years. Most recently this past May we stayed at the Homewood Suites very close to the port and across the street from Country Inn and Suites and the Marriott Residence Inn (both nice hotels as well). The Radisson has a nice pool area. If you want the beach you can try the Doubletree or the Hilton further down Astronaut Blvd.

MJ