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5 things to know about new Port Canaveral cruise ship, including why locals can't sail

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Marella Cruises is scheduled to start service out of Port Canaveral on May 7, when the Marella Discovery begins sailing from there.

But Space Coast residents generally won't be able to book a cruise on the Marella Discovery.

Here's are answers to why that's the case, plus other information about the ship and its cruises out of Port Canaveral, the world's busiest cruise port.

Why can't I buy a ticket to sail on the Marella Discovery?

Marella is component of the TUI Group, a major international travel company.

We're No. 1: Port Canaveral surpasses Miami as world's busiest cruise port

Port Canaveral officials say TUI's business model is to sell full-scale travel packages. So the cruise is part of a package that includes a flight from a United Kingdom airport to Melbourne Orlando International Airport. Some packages have an option to add a hotel stay in Florida.

When will the Marella Discovery start sailing from Port Canaveral?

The ship will have its first cruise from Port Canaveral's Cruise Terminal 5 on May 7, with 26 sailings scheduled between then and Nov. 5. Most are seven-night sailings, departing and returning on Sundays.

Marella will be the sixth cruise line with ships based at Port Canaveral, joining Carnival, Disney, MSC, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean.

Marella originally planned to base the Discovery at Port Canaveral in 2021, but those plans were scuttled by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Where will the Discovery cruise?

There are various itineraries from Port Canaveral. A typical one is called "American Dream," with stops in Charleston, South Carolina; New York City; and Freeport, Bahamas.

Is the Discovery a big ship?

Not compared with some of the megaships now operated by other cruise lines.

Positive outlook: CEO Murray delivers upbeat report on state of Port Canaveral after record year

The Marella Discovery has 915 cabins; a double-occupancy capacity of 1,830 passengers; and a full capacity of 2,076 passengers. It is 866 feet long and has a gross tonnage of 69,130 tons.

It has sailed under various names over the years. It initially sailed for Royal Caribbean International as the Splendour of the Seas, starting in 1996. The ship was refurbished in 2016, after being acquired by TUI.

In comparison, Royal Caribbean's Port Canaveral-based Wonder of the Seas ― the world's largest cruise ship now in operation — has 2,867 cabins; a double-occupancy capacity of 5,734 passengers; and a full capacity of 7,084 passengers. It is 1,188 feet long and has a gross tonnage of 235,600 tons.

What are some other features of the Discovery?

The ship has seven restaurants and seven bars, plus an 800-seat Broadway Show Lounge, an outdoor cinema and a five-story atrium.

It also has a rock-climbing wall, a mini-golf course and two pools onboard, one of which is indoors.

Contact Berman at   [email protected] , on Twitter at  @bydaveberman  and on Facebook at  www.facebook.com/dave.berman.54

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Home » Home » Marella Cruises’ Discovery Departs from Port Canaveral Terminal 5, Kicks Off Slate of 26 Weekly Sailings

Marella Cruises’ Discovery Departs from Port Canaveral Terminal 5, Kicks Off Slate of 26 Weekly Sailings

By Space Coast Daily  //  May 12, 2023

The sailing of the Discovery is Marella’s first from a United States Port

BREVARD COUNTY • PORT CANAVERAL, FLORIDA – Marella Cruises’ Discovery sailed from Port Canaveral’s Cruise Terminal 5, kicking off a slate of 26 weekly sailings between now and November. The sailing of the Discovery is also Marella’s first from the United States.

“We are excited to extend a warm welcome to Marella Cruises’ Discovery and honored that they’ve chosen to base their first homeport in the United States at Port Canaveral,” said Capt. John Murray, Port CEO.

“Their decision to join us is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team and only adds to our reputation as the world’s busiest port. We are proud to be associated with a high-quality brand like Marella and look forward to providing an exceptional customer experience for their guests.”

Marella is a division of TUI United Kingdom and Ireland and TUI World Group. To that end, five flights will arrive weekly at Melbourne Orlando International Airport from the U.K. with roughly 1,500 British passengers weekly who will sail on each cruise.

In keeping with maritime tradition, Canaveral Port Authority Commissioner RADM Wayne Justice (USCG-Ret.) presented Marella Discovery Capt. Chris Douglass with a plaque welcoming the ship to Port Canaveral for the first time.

The ship was escorted as she departed Port Canaveral out to sea with a traditional water gun salute led by Canaveral Fire Rescue’s “Fireboat 2,” and two tugboats provided by Seabulk and E.N. Bisso.

“It gives me a great amount of pride to welcome the Marella Discovery as Port Canaveral’s newest homeported vessel,” said Admiral Justice.

“This exciting milestone marks a significant moment for our Port, and we look forward to welcoming passengers from around the world as they embark on unforgettable adventures from Florida’s Space Coast. We’re honored to have Marella Cruises as a valuable partner in our community.”

The Discovery will have varying itineraries on its “American Dream, Floridian Favourites and Sunshine State and Sands” programs that it offers with port-of-call visits set for the Ports of Charleston, S.C., New York City, Norfolk, Va., New Orleans, Key West, Miami, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, and Freeport and Nassau, Bahamas.

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Complete Guide to Cruising From Port Canaveral

While Miami might take the title of “Cruise Capital of the World,” many people don’t realize that Port Canaveral near Orlando is right with it in terms of popularity. In total, the port sees more than 4 million passengers each year (with a record 4.6 million in 2019, likely eclipsed in 2023), making it among the busiest cruise ports in the world.

Meanwhile, the port continues to grow. With a new terminal recently constructed to serve Carnival’s largest ship (Mardi Gras), the capacity of Port Canaveral simply keeps increasing. All told, each year sees hundreds of cruise ship departures from the port. That’s not to mention the ships that dock here during their cruises to allow passengers to visit nearby Orlando.

But as with any major port, first-time cruisers (or those who simply haven’t visited recently) may have lots of questions about sailing. To help you out, we’ve covered everything you need to know about cruising from Port Canaveral, along with tons of information about parking, terminals, navigating the port, and much more.

Have more questions about Port Canaveral? Let us know in the comments below.

• Distance from Orlando Airport: 45 miles
• Number of Cruise Terminals: 6 (plus one casino ship terminal)
• Passengers Carried Each Year: ~5 million
• Cruise Ship Dockings Each Year: ~ 800+

Port Location

Port Canaveral is located in eastern central Florida, approximately a 45-60 minutes from Orlando. Just south of the famous Kennedy Space Center, the area surrounding the port offers a lot to see and do within minutes. Nearby are the towns of Cocoa, as well as Cocoa Beach and Titusville.

The port itself is a large, “L-shaped” complex with a number of cruise terminals on the far western edge. In addition, there are cruise terminals along the southern end of the port.

While each terminal has a slightly different address, they are all in the same complex. If you plan to drive in, you can use the following address for navigation:

9241 Charles M Rowland Dr Port Canaveral, FL 32920

Once in the port area, you’ll see signage directing you to each individual cruise ship in port that day.

If you are flying into the Orlando area, then the chances are good you’ll be spending some time in the area, perhaps at the numerous attractions and theme parks. Here are the distances and times to get to Port Canaveral from a number of popular spots in the region.

• Orlando Airport: 45 miles | 45 minutes
• Disney World: 67 miles | 1 hour 15 minutes
• Universal Studios: 60 miles | 1 hour
• Downtown Orlando: 55 miles | 55 minutes
• Kennedy Space Center: 18 miles | 30 minutes
• Cocoa Beach: 5 miles | 10 minutes

Not sure how to get the Port Canaveral from Orlando? We outline your choices below.

Getting to Port Canaveral (Transportation)

The bad news about Port Canaveral is that it’s not extremely convenient to get to if you are flying into or staying in the Orlando area. The good news? There’s a thriving industry that caters to cruise passengers, including transportation options to get you back and forth between Orlando and the cruise terminals.

On our Port Canaveral transportation page , we’ve covered the main transportation options in depth. Below, we hit the highlights of how you can get to the port.

Driving to Port Canaveral If you live in the area, then driving to the port is convenient. Driving allows you to arrive whenever you want and head home on your schedule without waiting on anyone else. As well, given the distance between Orlando and the port — along with the number of things to do in the area — driving is especially nice as an easy way to get around.

If you do drive, keep in mind you’ll need to park your car. Parking at the port is convenient, but costs $17 per day. There are independent lots that are cheaper. See more details in our parking section below.

Independent Shuttles Not driving? As we mentioned earlier, there’s an entire industry that’s popped up catering to cruisers. Case in point: There are a number of companies offering shuttles back and forth between Orlando and Port Canaveral. The most convenient place to catch one of these shuttles is from the airport, however many will pickup from other spots like Disney. Expect to pay $40-60 per person roundtrip for the shuttles, which isn’t bad considering the distance.

Click here to see our article on port transportation to see a list of shuttle companies offering rides to the port.

Hotel Shuttles With so many hotels around Port Canaveral, there are several that will provide a plum service — they will pick you up at the airport with a shuttle, take you to the hotel, and then give you a ride to the cruise port. When you return, they will offer the same in reverse. It’s a nice perk for those flying in and planning to stay at a hotel the night before their cruise.

You can see our full list of hotels with airport and cruise shuttles here .

Other Modes Interested in other modes of transportation to Port Canaveral like taxis, Uber/Lyft, and cruise line shuttles? They can all get you to the port, but are typically more expensive and/or less convenient than the ways listed above. Still, you can read about all your options on our Port Canaveral transportation page .

Hotels in the Cruise Port Area

Given the location of Port Canaveral — about 45 minutes from the Orlando Airport and an hour from the city proper — it’s a good idea to head to the area the day before your cruise and stay the night. That way there’s no rush on embarkation day and you can relax before your cruise starts.

And Cocoa Beach, right next to the port, offers a ton of options on where to stay and things to do. Many hotels include shuttles to the port and/or cruise parking, making them especially attractive for cruise passengers.

Here are a few hotels in the area that are near the port:

• Country Inn & Suites By Radisson
• Homewood Suites by Hilton Cape Canaveral-Cocoa Beach
• Radisson Resort at the Port

You can see a more complete list of hotels here . For the most part, the hotels near the port are well-known, reputable chains. Nearly all will have a shuttle available to take you to the cruise port. 

Things to Do Near the Port

One of the good things about Port Canaveral is that the port complex and the surrounding area have a number of things to do nearby.

Restaurants In the port area are several restaurants that sit right on the water. Not only can you get a bite to eat or something cold to drink, but you can also have a first-rate spot to see the ships in port. If you aren’t sailing, then the cruise ships also pass right in front of you as they head out to sea. Places to eat include Grills Seafood Deck & Tiki Bar and Fishlips Waterfront Bar & Grill (along with many others).

Exploration Tower When you arrive at the port, you can’t miss the tallest structure in the area that looks like the sail of a ship. It’s the Exploration Tower — an observation deck with exhibits about the port area on each floor. It offers a great view of the area and a unique vantage point where you can see all the ships in port.

Kennedy Space Center Of course, being on Cape Canaveral you are right near the Kennedy Space Center . Here you can see rockets launch (if they match your schedule) or visit the center to get up close an personal with NASA’s history with tons of exhibits. They even have the retired space shuttle Atlantis on display for visitors.

Cocoa Beach While you are headed to the beach on your cruise, why not get it started early? Cocoa Beach is just a short distance from the port. There you can hit the beach or explore the area where there are a ton of tourist activities, shops, and restaurants. Check out the area near the Cocoa Beach pier for one of the most popular hangouts.

Cruise Terminals

All told, Port Canaveral has six terminals that serve cruise ships, including Terminal 3, which is the newest addition that was built during the pandemic.

CT1 Located on the south bank of the port and to the east of most of the other terminals, CT1 is home to Royal Caribbean. There’s a small retail area and a parking garage right at the terminal. If you’re into ship spotting, there are restaurants right near the terminal that can give you an up-close look at the ship in port.

CT3 Cruise Terminal 3 is home to Carnival Mardi Gras — the cruise line’s largest class of ship to date and the first in North America to run on cleaner-burning LNG. The terminal is the largest single project in the port’s history and measures a staggering 185,000 square feet. It also includes a parking garage right next to the terminal.

CT5 Located in the northern part of the port, CT5 is home to Royal Caribbean ships. As with other ports, a parking garage is just a few steps from the cruise terminal.

CT6 Right next to CT5, this terminal is home to Carnival. It’s also in the middle of the northern part of the port, giving great views of any other cruise ships in port on embarkation day.

CT8 As you might expect given the relatively short distance to Disney World in Orlando, Disney Cruises has a large presence at the port. CT8 is the Disney terminal, where you’ll find its ships embarking to take families on cruises to the Bahamas and Caribbean.

CT10 The last cruise terminal on the western side of the port is CT10, which serves Norwegian ships and MSC. From here it’s a nearly straight shot down the channel and out to sea.

Dropping Off/Picking Up Passengers

Are you taking someone to the cruise port? Or maybe you are picking up someone after their vacation? That can save a lot of money in parking fees, and make it much easier for them to start their cruise.

If you do plan to drop off or pick up, then just know that it’s a relatively simple concept. Just follow the signs to the appropriate terminal. From there, you will see signs pointing you to the drop-off and pick-up areas, which are clearly marked.

The procedure is much like the airport. You can pull up, let passengers out and they get their bags. In all, it should only take you a few minutes.

One word of warning — the port area (especially the western terminals) can be a bit confusing to get around. There are lots of signs, but also lots of twists and turns. It’s helpful to have a passenger to focus on the signage to direct you where to go while driving.

Parking for a Port Canaveral Cruise

If you are driving into Port Canaveral, then there is the question of what to do with your car while you are on your cruise. Given the size of the port, there are a number of parking options. We cover all your options on our Port Canaveral cruise parking page — including prices and locations. Below, we cover the main options — parking at the port, independent lots, and hotels with cruise parking.

Official Port Parking Looking for the most convenient parking for your cruise? Look no further than the official port parking. Each terminal has a parking garage that’s right at their respective terminals. In other words, you can park and be at the terminal. When it’s time to head home, you have only a short walk back to your car. Most garages offer more than 1,000 spaces, meaning there are plenty of spots.

It it hard to beat the convenience of parking right at your ship. The port charges $17 per day for most vehicles (card only, no cash). Oversized vehicle parking is also available.

One thing to note is that the garage charges for days of arrival and departure. Say you have a three-night cruise that departs Friday afternoon and gets back Monday morning. In this case, you’re charged for four days (Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday), even though your ship gets back first thing Monday morning.

If you’re a disabled cruise passenger then you may be able to park for free at the port . If your vehicle has accommodations such as ramps or lifts, or you have a Florida Toll Exemption permit, or a Disabled Veteran plate from Florida, then you can get free parking. If you think you might be eligible, then call the port at 321-783-7831 for more details.

Independent Parking Lots One of the great things about sailing from Port Canaveral is that there are a number of independent parking lots near the cruise ships. The lots may not be right at the port, but they are close and offer shuttles. Best of all, they offer cheaper parking rates that can be around $10-12 per day (and in some cases even less expensive).

Similar to the cruise port, these lots usually charge by the day instead of the night. So a three-night cruise will have you paying for four days of parking, even if you get your car back early in the morning.

Hotels with Cruise Parking A nice perk with such a tourist hotspot is that there are a lot of hotels competing for your business. And as a cruise town, that means many hotels in Cape Canaveral will allow you to park your car while you cruise in return for a night’s stay. Sometimes parking is free, but usually it’s part of a package or an extra charge each night. Hotels will also set up a ride to the port for you.

In general parking at the hotel is even cheaper than parking at independent lots. That said, if you don’t plan to stay in a hotel before you trip, the added expense of a night’s stay isn’t worth the savings on cheaper parking. You can see our full list of Port Canaveral hotels with parking here .

Check-In & Security

Ready to get on your ship? Before you can board, you’ll have to go through two things at the port: security and check-in. The good news is that both are relatively easy.

As you reach the port, the first thing you’ll do is drop any checked bags with a porter before you enter the terminal building. These bags will be taken, loaded on the ship, and arrive at your cabin later in the evening. You don’t have to check any bags if you don’t want to. It simply makes it easier to board the ship than having to carry all your luggage around.

For most passengers, they likely envision security like going to the airport — long lines, invasive searches and tight rules on liquids. Cruise security is more relaxed.

As you enter the building, you’ll have someone check your boarding documents. You’ll then place your bags on an x-ray machine while you walk through the metal detector. Unless something comes up, that’s it. From there you head to check-in.

These days many cruise lines have online check-in, which speeds up the process. If checked-in online, you simply have your documents checked and finish up any last issues that need to be cleared before you board. You then walk your way to the ship and your room keys will be waiting for you at your cabin door.

Normally there are dozens of agents working, making the line move quickly. Once at the agent’s desk, you’ll set up your onboard spending account (if you didn’t already online), get your room key and then head to the ship. That’s all there is to boarding your cruise.

Disembarkation

One of the funny things about cruising is that while everyone can’t wait to get on the ship to start their vacation, they are just as eager to get off the ship when it arrives back in port. And as a major and modern cruise port, the disembarkation of the ship at Port Canaveral is usually smooth and relatively quick given the number of passengers on a modern cruise ship.

When you get back to Port Canaveral, you’ll have the option of carrying all your bags off the ship yourself, or setting out the larger bags to be picked up and brought ashore by the porters. Many people opt to just carry all bags themselves as this means you can be among the first group to get off the ship.

Once you depart the ship, you’ll enter the terminal and pick up any luggage that you had the porters carry off the ship ahead of time. You’ll then enter the line to be checked back into the country by customs agents. All told, the process will vary in length of time depending on a few factors — most notably the number of agents working to process the ship and if there are automated kiosks.

If sailing with a passport, terminals have kiosks that allow you to quickly take a photo, and once confirmed via facial recognition, head on your way. If you have a birth certificate, then expect to wait in line to meet with a Border Patrol agent to review your documents.

Once cleared, simply head out the doors to find your ground transportation. If using a shuttle service or if someone is picking you up, be sure to make plans on where you’ll be picked up before you get back to port. This will make it much easier and faster to get out of the port area after disembarking.

Frequently Asked Questions

What About the Casino Cruise Terminal? Not every cruise ship that calls Port Canaveral home heads to the Caribbean or Bahamas. Victory Casino Cruises operates out of CT2, next door to CT3 (the new Carnival terminal). The casino ship runs two daily trips (most days) to out-of-state waters where gambling is legal.

On board you will find slot machines, dozens of table games, sports betting, a buffet and more. Considering that gambling is localized to only a few spots in Florida, the casino ship is a big draw for those looking to get their fix for a few hours. For more details on the Victory Casino Cruises, see our article here .

What’s the Cheapest Place to Park? As we mentioned above, parking at the port itself is convenient, but runs $17 per day. The cheapest spot we’ve found is parking with CruiseTime Parking . They actually allow you to park for as little as $10 per day. That rate is considerably less than what the port charges, though you don’t get the convenience of parking right at the ship.

What’s the Cheapest Way to Get to the Port? Thanks to the competition between shuttle companies, there are a number of inexpensive options to get between Orlando and the cruise port. A hotel with a shuttle will likely be the cheapest overall way assuming you plan to stay anyway. Other shuttles can be around $40-60 roundtrip. See our article on inexpensive transport options here .

What’s the Earliest I Should Schedule a Return Flight? Many people fly into Orlando for their cruise. That leaves the question of when should you schedule the flight back home? Cruise ships return to port early in the morning (6-7 a.m.), and then it can take 2-3 hours for everyone to get off the ship. That means you can get off the ship and on your way anywhere between 8-10 a.m. in many cases. Of course, you then have a 45 minute ride to the port, followed by security screening.

That’s why we suggest not scheduling a flight back until after 1 p.m. Yes, you may be able to get to the earlier, but this will allow plenty of time so that it’s not a mad dash to catch your flight. It’s also helpful if you have TSA PreCheck as the large number of families flying from Orlando can mean long security lines.

More on Sailing From Port Canaveral:

• Port Canaveral Cruise Parking (Where to Park) Options, Prices, and Map
• 15+ Easy Port Canaveral Hotels With Airport & Cruise Shuttles

7 Easy Ways to Get From the Orlando Airport to Port Canaveral for a Cruise

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My husband and I will be doing back-to-back cruises on the Mardi Gras Aug-Sept 2023. How do we pay parking for both cruises at the same time of the 1st cruise in Aug?

Same question. Back to back cruises in March.

My husband has a handicap sticker because he has a bad hip. Can he park for free at the port? We are from South Carolina and parked free in Charleston earlier this year.

My understanding is that he must have a special license plate and/or modifications to the vehicle to park for free.

Yes need to know is it that know you don’t need travel insurance for the cruises now I see that they have updated also unvaccinated people do they get their Covic testing where they reside at 72 hours in advance or where and is it that unvaccinated people cannot get off in the Bahamas nor in Dominican Republic Carnival Mardi Gras‘s ship

Is the port conducting Covid-19 tests before you board? If they are how much is it?

That will depend on your cruise line, not the port. Some lines have a limited number of tests at the terminal. Contact who you are sailing for more.

I want to take a shared shuttle from Port Canaveral back to a Orlando. Is it necessary to prebook the shuttle or are there companies that allow walk on? I not in a hurry so would rather not commit to a 9:30 bus or 11ammif I’m processed very quickly.

You need to pre-book your ride. Not sure of any shuttle company that allows walk-ons.

Hi Tanner, do you think a United flight (in first class, which hopefully makes airport procedures a bit quicker) at 12:20pm is doable after a cruise on Carnival Mardi Gras next year (back in Port Canaveral on Jan 9)

Ooof. That’s a tough one. I’d think you’d be fine, but Orlando is our least favorite airport to fly out of. It ALWAYS seems to be backed up at security. It’s a major reason why we got TSA Precheck. If you have precheck, I’d say no problem. If you don’t, I’d say it is tight but doable if there are no delays.

Is there anyplace to store luggage if you get to the port early or in our case we have an entire day to explore the area between disembarking and going to the airport. We wont be renting a car.

Thanks very much Tanner. The distances aren’t a problem. My concern was that PC is like Port Everglades-dangerous to navigate on foot,but it sounds like there are walkways or paths to the Tower and Park.

There might be a few tight areas, but it’s a bit easier than Port Everglades in our opinion.

My NCL ship will be at Port Canaveral for a day in Feb. If I want to visit Jetty Park and the Exploration Tower and eat at the port-are all of these easily accessible on foot from my ship’s pier?

That’s a great question. If you are in shape and used to walking, then yes, it can be done but it’s a bit of a walk. The port complex is fairly large. It’s about 1.5 miles to the Exploration Tower and then another 1.5 miles to Jetty Park. So you’re looking at about six miles roundtrip.

Need info on excursions to Kennedy center

All the cruise lines will have an excursion to the KSC from Port Canaveral. They take place once your ship returns. On a recent trip Royal Caribbean had an offer for $120 that included an airport transfer to Orlando.

I want to travel up the East Coast of USA to NY Brooklyn. What cruises do you have? I live in Parrish , FL about 80 miles away

Mary, we aren’t the port or a cruise line. We’re an information website about cruising. Check with your travel agent, online cruise retailers, etc. Just FYI, it’s likely there are no cruises that go from Port Canaveral to New York. Most cruises depart and return to the same cruise port.

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Port Canaveral (Orlando) tours and MSC Shore Excursions

Port Canaveral Florida is surrounded by miles of pristine beaches that form a homebase for America’s space program. Our Port Canaveral tours ensure you witness the magic that gives this central Florida region its nickname: the Space Coast . MSC shore excursions let you imagine an astronaut’s life with visits to the Kennedy Space Center , home to the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame and a Rocket Garden complete with crafts from NASA’s Mercury , Gemini and Apollo programs, as well as a life-sized model of the Apollo 11 moon landing.

Lovers of sand and sea get their fill during excursions to Cocoa Beach , a world-famous destination for surfing, swimming and sunbathing (not to mention shopping, especially at the popular Ron Jon Surf Shop).

Peek into a unique coastal ecosystem on shore excursions along the Indian River Lagoon , and witness endangered manatees, friendly dolphins and countless species of birds and fish.

Orlando tours are easily accessible from Port Canaveral and bring visitors to Orlando theme parks like Walt Disney World and Universal Studios , resorts that immerse you in the magic and wonder of the silver screen. Complete your Orlando holidays at Disney Springs , where you’ll find dining, shopping and entertainment. Our Port Canaveral excursions wow with natural wonders and family-friendly thrills that keep visitors coming back to this part of central Florida.

Excursions in Port Canaveral and Orlando

With boundless things to see in Port Canaveral, it’s tough to know where to begin. On Port Canaveral tours, you can learn space travel from astronauts, explore a natural gem by boat, or indulge in dining and shopping at Orlando attractions.

Port Canaveral excursions plant you in the middle of a rare coastal ecosystem with pontoon cruises of the Indian River Lagoon. Orlando tours take you inland to ‘ The City Beautiful ’, home to theme parks like Walt Disney World and Universal Studios.

Learn from a real astronaut at Kennedy Space Center

Ever wondered what travelling through outer space is like? Ask a real astronaut on an excursion to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. If the exhibits, displays and live shows about NASA’s journeys beyond Earth’s atmosphere don’t impress you, the Rocket Garden – where you can stroll among real rockets from NASA’s Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo space programs – surely will.

At the Apollo Saturn V Center, housed within Kennedy Space Center, you can stand underneath the 111-metre long Saturn V rocket, the largest to ever soar through space.

Orlando theme parks: rides and games for the whole family

Immersive rides, unique dining experiences, shopping and live entertainment – it’s no wonder that Orlando theme parks attract dreamers of all ages. Dress up like a princess or your favourite Disney character at Walt Disney World Resort, home to EPCOT , a special corner where you can try cuisines from vendors representing 11 nations. And then there’s Universal Orlando Resort , a massive entertainment complex where you can get up-close and personal with your favourite television and movie characters at three theme parks, including a water park.

Drop in on a wildlife sanctuary by boat on Merritt Island

Excursions to Merritt Island bring you to a sanctuary for species of coastal animals you’re unlikely to see anywhere else, including endangered or threatened species such as the dinosaur-like wood stork and the gentle West Indian manatee .

These animals and more call the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge home, and you can learn what life is like for them on a pontoon cruise excursion guided by eco-tourist experts. Bring binoculars to catch glimpses of bald eagles, brown pelicans or bright pink roseate spoonbills soaring through the air.

Book your cruise to Port Canaveral (Orlando)

Central Florida’s Space Coast is a place of wonder. Book a Port Canaveral cruise to visit Kennedy Space Center, take a boat tour around the Indian River Lagoon or indulge in retail therapy and worlds of entertainment at one of several Orlando theme parks.ì Port Canaveral cruises also unlock dream-like Caribbean settings – islands such as Antigua and Barbuda, Martinique, and St. Maarten are easy to fall in love with, but difficult to leave.

Why choose MSC Shore Excursions to Port Canaveral and Orlando

Port canaveral tours and excursions faq, in which language port canaveral excursions are conducted, are port canaveral tours always available to be booked, can port canaveral excursion programme be changed.

The MSC shore excursions programme gives a guided summary of available Port Canaveral tours. The exact itinerary and cost will be confirmed during the cruise. Both the programme and schedules may change depending on conditions within the tour area.

The shore excursions programme is subject to change in order to comply with local regulations, laws and other factors.

Is there a boat tour of Orlando?

MSC Cruises doesn’t offer a boat tour of Orlando, but it does offer an excursion around the lagoons surrounding Port Canaveral. The ‘ Pontoon Lagoon Cruise ’ tour involves a cruise along the Banana River south of Port Canaveral, exploring the Thousand Islands Conservation Area at Cocoa Beach, an area known for its range of wildlife.

The cruise then moves to the saltwater marshes and mangrove tunnels of the Indian River Lagoon – look out for manatees, eagles and bottlenose dolphins.

What is included in the Kennedy Space Center tour?

Cape Canaveral is synonymous around the world with Kennedy Space Center, the place where NASA’s rockets are spectacularly launched into space, as you'll learn on MSC Cruises’ ‘ Kennedy Space Center ’ excursion.

Explore the history of the launch area and walk amongst engineering marvels in the Rocket Garden, before visiting the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame and the famous countdown clock. Thrill-seekers can also get an idea of what it feels like to blast off into space via the Shuttle Launch Experience, a thrilling eight-and-a-half-minute simulation.

What is involved in the Space Coast Highlights tour?

The ‘ Space Coast Highlights ’ excursion offered by MSC Cruises involves a coach tour of this beautiful region’s varied sights. During the course of the tour, you’ll visit Space View Park (a pretty area by the water, with monuments and plaques paying tribute to astronauts and other space workers) and Playalinda Beach on the Canaveral National Seashore, with fantastic coastal views.

Continue on to the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge for more fantastic views and potential wildlife-spotting, before driving past NASA’s history-making Kennedy Space Center.

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• Florida Departures

Excursions in Port Canaveral

By celeste1234 , February 18, 2022 in Florida Departures

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celeste1234

We will be docking in Port Canaveral from 1pm-9pm. 

I am looking at excursions but don't know if they are worth it based on time we have at that port.

The options are to go to the Kennedy space centre ($125pp) or take a shuttle over to Disney or Disney springs.

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Even though KSC closes at 5pm it might still be worth it. We've done it as a port stop and even though we docked earlier it was worth it.

For Disney/Orlando, you will have a longer bus ride to get there, and spend most of your time standing in lines.  EM

With those as my options it's KSC hands down. Too long a ride to Disney and as mentioned, waiting in long lines most of the time. 

I'd do Disney Springs .... KSC @ $125 for a couple of hours is as bad as a Disney Park .... with the springs you'll just walk around what amounts to a nice shopping center. It will certainly be open longer.

To each their own. I've never seen a shopping area (no matter how nice) that I would pay to go walk around. 😉 😄

celestialcruiser

We have a long layover in return also. We rented a car (friend has discount with work so it’s only $50 - can rent from Costco for $100). Cost of a private shuttle to the airport was $80. Thinking of going to Disney Springs. Free to get in, walk around, have a place to store the luggage. 

Thanks everyone. I've never been to Florida, and would love to go to Disney. But I'm not too keen on spending that kind of money to get into the park for 4 hours. I think we might go to KSC, they have a launch that day 

if there's a launch (and remember that a cancellation is FAR from unusual) save your money

top deck of the ship will be some of the best views you can get ... the height of eye and a set of binoculars or a decent camera lens and you have prime viewing.

Or head over Grills and still have decent view from their bar ....

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Port Canaveral Cruise Guide

Millions of passengers stop by Port Canaveral each year, the cruise port located in Orlando, Florida. Major cruise lines such as Carnival, Disney, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean frequent this port. These ships primarily cruise to the Bahamas, the Caribbean and the Panama Canal. The port itself also features many family-friendly attractions nearby, making it a good place to extend your trip before or after a cruise.

A must-see is the Kennedy Space Center, an original NASA Launch Operations Center where launch operations for the famous Apollo, Skylab and others were held. The site features educational experiences, dining, an IMAX theater, and shuttle launch simulations. For more interactive fun, stop by the Exploration Tower, which has seven floors of games, exhibits, and an observation deck at the very top.

If you’re looking to optimize your beach time before heading off to the beautiful beaches of the Caribbean, Cocoa Beach is a popular spot. It’s home to the original Ron Jon Surf Shop, where you can take surf lessons, or just soak in the warm temperature.

Lastly, no stay at Port Canaveral would be complete without a day trip to Walt Disney World. Some cruise lines even offer motorcoach transfer to the parks, so you won’t need to worry about transportation. When you’re just miles from the “Happiest Place on Earth,” visiting this park is a must, especially when travelling with kids!

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Florida officials warn Port Canaveral over changes for cruise ships

State says plans impact space operations negatively.

Jim Turner , News Service of Florida reporter

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The state has warned Port Canaveral leaders that they are putting at risk current and future infrastructure money if they don’t reverse dock plans that appear to favor cruise ships over the space industry.

In a letter Friday, Department of Commerce Secretary J. Alex Kelly and Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue expressed dismay about Port Canaveral --- one of the world’s busiest cruise ports --- changing cruise terminal plans in a way that would affect expansion of liquified natural-gas facilities that serve the space industry.

“Florida’s cruise tourism and commercial space launch sectors are both vitally important,” Kelly and Perdue wrote. “Port Canaveral bears the responsibility of housing and supporting both. We will help you do both. But in this case, the port has announced its intention to support one sector to the direct detriment of the other. That decision must, therefore, be reversed.”

Unless the port returns to its earlier plans, Kelly and Perdue warned Florida will take actions such as the Department of Transportation shifting planned investments to other seaports and spaceports and the Department of Commerce halting funding for Port Canaveral projects.

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The letter said the Department of Commerce will “stringently” review whether the port complied with terms of an $8.245 million grant received in 2018 through the state’s Job Growth Grant Fund. That grant made up the bulk of funding for a $12 million road project and was provided, in part, to support the aerospace industry, the letter said.

Also, the letter warned that the Department of Commerce and the Department of Transportation would not certify three recent applications to the Florida Seaport Tourism Economic Development Council for projects related to the cruise industry.

Port spokesman Steven Linden said in a statement that the port’s board understands the concerns and will work with the state on resolving the issues.

“The port has been an integral part of the commercial space industry’s growth and operations in our state, and our commitment to the enterprise remains strong,” Linden said in the statement. “We look forward to working in partnership with Secretary Perdue and Secretary Kelly towards a positive resolution.”

The board’s next meeting is scheduled for Aug. 21.

In May, the port announced that instead of building new cruise terminals on the southern portion of port property, what is known as North Cargo Berth 8 would be redesignated for cruise operations and adjacent property would be used for parking garages.

Kelly and Perdue contended the change “reneges” on plans to expand access to liquified natural gas by reallocating some of the berth’s displaced cargo operations.

Also in May, Space Florida, the state’s aerospace agency, announced it must nearly double by 2033 the current footprint of about 2,800 linear feet of wharf space around Port Canaveral to help the expanding private space industry over the next half-century.

The need would incrementally grow to an additional 9,135 linear feet by 2073, according to the agency’s “Florida Spaceport System Maritime Intermodal Transportation Study.”

The estimated cost ranges from $42.2 million for the first phase to $2.1 billion for what is outlined as a seven-phase project. In part, the additional space would help with retrieval of boosters and capsules.

Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station have had 55 launches in 2024. Florida had a record 72 orbital rocket launches in 2023, up from 57 in 2022 and 31 in 2021.

Port Canaveral handled 6.92 million cruise passengers in 2023, globally behind only PortMiami with 7.3 million cruise passengers.

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About the Author

Jim is a Capitol reporter for the News Service of Florida, providing coverage on issues ranging from transportation and the environment to Legislative and Cabinet politics.

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TUI Cruises

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Mein schiff 9, mein schiff relax, mein schiff 7, mein schiff 2, mein schiff 1, mein schiff 6, mein schiff 5, mein schiff 4, mein schiff 3, tui al horeya, review of tui cruises.

TUI Cruises GmbH (tuicruises.com) is a 50-50 Joint venture company between TUI AG (Germany) and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (US corporation). The Hamburg -based company was founded in 2008 and operational since 2009. On April 22, 2018, the cruise line celebrated its 10th anniversary. In 2018, TUI fleet's capacity was 14,784 berths, serving 0,5+ million passengers annually. By year 2024, TUI will have annual capacity ~800,000 passengers - compared to 2017 (500,000), 2018 (550,000) and 2019 (650,000, berths 17,500),

TUI Group fully owns three England-registered subsidiary companies (TUI UK Ltd, TUI Airways Ltd, TUI Ireland Ltd) plus one Ireland-registered (Adehy Ltd).

On February 7, 2020, TUI AG announced that Hapag-Lloyd Cruises (valued ~EUR 1,2 billion) becomes part of TUI Cruises. The contract with RCCL was signed in Hamburg (Feb 7), the cash transaction from RCCL (~EUR 700 million) was closed on July 6, 2020.

The Hanover Germany-based TUI Group (British-German multinational) is currently ranked the world's largest leisure and travel company. It was founded in 1923 and until 2002 was named "Preussag AG". TUI Group's companies specialize in hospitality and tourism services worldwide, with a portfolio including passenger airlines, cruise shipping (shipowner), package vacations, hotels and resorts, travel agencies, retail shops. TUI Group's current CEO is Sebastian Ebel, who (in October 2022) succeeded Fritz Joussen (2013-2022).

TUI Cruises GmbH's current CEO is Wybcke Meier (since 2014). In March 2023 was created the "Mein Schiff Destinations Department". Other executives include Marcus Puttich (director of destinations), Dennis Tetzlaff (VP of fleet operations and newbuilds), Denis Wiechert (VP of product management and guest experiences).

For 2021-Q1, TUI Group reported 2,8 million bookings (all brands/subsidiaries), or 56% of 2019's, with 20% higher average prices and overall loss EUR 698,6 million (EUR 146,7 M loss in 2019). Cruise shipping revenue was EUR 0,6 million (EUR 238,4 M in 2019). TUI Group secured 3x financing packages (with its major shareholders, banks and Germany's Economic Stabilization Fund). The 3rd package (EUR 1,8 billion) was completed in late January.

For FY2021 (fiscal year), TUI Group reported EUR 27 million (~USD 30,6M) in cruise revenues (~EUR 445,6M less than FY2020), EBIT loss EUR 277,5M (~USD 314M), avrg ship occupancy rates ~40%. By brand, the number of passenger days was 1,227M (TUI), 0,114M (Hapag-Lloyd), 0,153M (Marella). Average daily rates by brand were EUR 132 (TUI), EUR 514 (Hapag-Lloyd), GBP 124 / EUR 145 (Marella).

In September 2023 TUI signed with VIKAND Solutions (Dania Beach Florida-based medical group specializing in maritime healthcare) to deliver fleetwide biomedical equipment and provide support (lifecycle asset management, preventative maintenance, repairs, support).

In January 2024, TUI signed a partnership with Marquard & Bahls (1947-founded, Hamburg-based company specializing in energy and chemicals) to supply with methanol Mein Schiff 7 (fleet's first methanol-powered vessel vessel). The deal was signed by Wybcke Meier (TUI's CEO) and Volker Ebeling (Mabanaft's Senior VP of New Energy, Supply & Infrastructure).

(new brand) TUI River Cruises UK

In April 2019, the shipowner TUI AG terminated the charters of its 3 riverboats and established the UK-focused brand "TUI River Cruises" (tui.co.uk/river-cruises). The new brand was scheduled to start operations in summer 2020 but due to the global health crisis, its inauguration was postponed for August 2021 (delayed ~1,5 years).

The sisterships are named TUI Isla , TUI Maya , TUI Skyla .

In 2024-2025, TUI expands the river fleet with two more boats - TUI Al Horeya (2024/Egypt's Nile River) and TUI Alma (2025/Portugal's Douro River).

TUI River Cruises is a separate company part (fully-owned subsidiary) of TUI AG (British-German travel and tourism corporation). TUI Group also owns the companies Marella Cruises UK and Hapag-Lloyd-Cruises .

River travel aficionados can choose from various itineraries and optional shipboard and land packages. Standard (basic) TUI river cruise pricing is inclusive of alcohol (beers and wines by the glass) and soft drinks with all meals, as well as of gratuities (onboard tips), service charges and bicycles (offered complimentary to all passengers in call ports of the current cruisetour itinerary). Premium drinks packages are optional (offered at extra cost). All TUI riverboats have balcony suites. Shore excursions range from sightseeing tours (guided by local experts) to bike tours.

The new river cruise company offers GBP 120 (~EUR 140 / USD 155) per person in OBC (onboard credit) towards all land tour bookings. TUI river ships are named TUI Maya , TUI Skyla and TUI Isla , each with capacity 155 passengers plus 40 crew, LOA length 135 m (445 ft), 4 decks (3 with cabins). Standard cabins are sized 12 m2 (130 ft2) and with fixed double beds.

TUI riverboats' venues include:

• (Deck 2) cabins, Lobby (Reception Desk, Tour Desk, Library), wellness facilities (Spa, Gym, Hair Parlor)
• (Deck 3) cabins, Observatory Lounge, Bar Lounge, Bow Terrace, 2 restaurants (Bistro Buffet, Verdastro Dining Room). Verdastro Restaurant serves buffet-type breakfast and a la carte lunch and dinner (with waiter service). Bistro Restaurant is for buffet-style dining only (breakfast, lunch, dinner). Observatory is the show lounge with live entertainment in the evenings (musical performances, stand-up comedy acts, crew show, themed dance parties).
• (Deck 4) Sundeck with games area (shuffleboard), shaded seating (Sundeck Lounge), sunbathing area with padded loungers, sunbeds, daybeds.

In December 2019, TUI signed an exclusive partnership with Live Business UK (one of Europe's largest entertainment program developers and suppliers) for the TUI River Cruises company. By this deal, Live Business UK prepared the onboard entertainment programming for the boats and is also responsible for recruiting cruise directors, hosts, ship musicians, guest performers, local tour guides and other experts.

Company history

During the company's 10 years of service (2008-2018), the six Mein Schiffs handled around 2,2 million passengers, visited over 200 seaports and covered around 2,9 million km (1,8 million ml). TUI's sister-brand is Marella Cruises (UK source market).

For FY2018 (fiscal year), TUI Group's earnings (from the 3 cruise brands - TUI, Marella, and Hapag-Lloyd) increased by 10,7% - to EUR 901,9 million. Company's turnover was EUR 324 million (26,8% increase over 2017). Group's average daily rates increased to EUR 178 euro (TUI, up from EUR 173), EUR 141 (Marella, up from EUR 131) and EUR 615 (Hapag-Lloyd, up from EUR 594).

In 2015-2016, TUI Group had a turnover of EUR 17,8 billion (company's record) and operating result of EUR 1B. Corporation's portfolio consisted of 14 vessels (TUI, Thomson-Marella, and Hapag-Lloyd brands), several large tour operators, around 1600 travel agencies (including online portals), over 300 hotels (around 214,000 beds) and 6 airlines (over 150 aircraft).

The list of TUI-owned airlines includes Corsair International (France), TUI Airways (UK), TUI fly Belgium, TUI fly Deutschland, TUI fly Netherlands, and TUI fly Nordic (departures from Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway).

In FY2016 (the fiscal year 2016), TUI Cruises had 60% growth (over FY2015) in earnings, with EBITA of EUR 130 million (EUR 81 million in FY2015). The reported growth came from the corporation's two main markets - Germany and UK.

TUI Cruises started operations by acquiring Celebrity Galaxy from Celebrity Cruises - another RCCL subsidiary. The ship left Celebrity's fleet on March 16, 2009. After buying Celebrity Galaxy, the vessel was refitted at Lloyd Werft shipyard ( Bremerhaven, Germany ) arriving on March 27 for 38-day, EUR 50 million conversions. Galaxy was re-christened on May 15th in Hamburg and renamed "Mein Schiff" (meaning "My Ship" in Deutsch)

. TUI planned to build two 100,000 GT, 2500-passenger ships in 2011 and 2012.

• On May 27, 2010, was revealed that Celebrity Mercury joined TUI fleet as "Mein Schiff 2"(renamed in 2018 to Mein Schiff Herz/now Marella Voyager ). Before the refit, "MS Mein Schiff" was renamed to Mein Schiff 1 (now Marella Explorer ). Schiff 2 entered service in February 2011 after an extensive drydock reconstruction .
• On September 27, 2011, TUI and STX Finland announced a shipbuilding contract for a 97,000 GT vessel ( Schiff 3 ) with delivery in 2014. The vessel has LOA length 295 m/968 ft, 1250 staterooms (mostly balconied) and capacity 2500 passengers and 1000 crew. The contract included an optional second ship, that was ordered on November 5, 2012 ( Schiff 4 ). Schiff 3 entered service on April 22, 2014.
• In March 2015, RCI ( Royal Caribbean International ) announced selling Splendour of the Seas to TUI Cruises in 2016-Q2. TUI leased the vessel to Thomson UK (now Marella) replacing MS Island Escape (now Ocean Gala ).
• In May 2015 TUI Group announced that as part of fleet modernization strategy, Schiff 1 and 2 will be transferred to Thomson/Marella over the next few years to upgrade TUI's UK fleet.
• In 2018, TUI signed a partnership deal with "Merkur Casino Mare" (part of Gauselmann Group) for the onboard gambling on Schiff 1 (since 2018), Schiff 2 (since 2019) and Schiff 3 (since 2021). The ship Casino features 6x electronic roulettes plus 14x other Merkur gaming machines, and a separate gambling lounge with 4x M-Box Buzzer (multi-gaming machines) and a blackjack table for live gaming. For 2020, Gauselmann AG reported revenue EUR 2,56 billion (~USD 3B / ~GBP 2,2B). Since 2012, Gauselmann owns the British company Praesepe Ltd (now Merkur Casino UK) which owns the Cashino brand (street gambling arcade chain).
• In mid-October 2021, TUI announced that Schiff Herz will be transferred in 2023 to Marella Cruises UK . Following a drydock, the boat will be renamed "Marella Voyager", starting operations for Marella on June 3, 2023.

The Hannover travel group TUI AG (listed at London Stock Exchange) keeps an upbeat outlook of cruise shipping activities. The company owns 100% of Hapag-Lloyd Kreuzfahrten and 50% of TUI Kreuzfahrten.

In August 2015, TUI announced EBITA growth (Q3) by EUR 11 million, which reflected the full-year profit of Schiff 3 (operated since June 2014) and the launch of Schiff 4 (June 2015). In addition, Hapag-Lloyd's remarkable turnaround and EUR 4 million benefits from refinancing ms Europa 2 meant that TUI had EUR 21 million increase in underlying EBITA (earnings before interest, taxes, and amortization).

In May 2015, TUI AG Supervisory Board and RCCL-Royal Caribbean confirmed the purchase options for Schiff 7 and Schiff 8 (later renamed "Schiff 1" and "Schiff 2", delivered respectively in 2018 and 2019), as the German market reported further growth. The new liners are slightly larger (2860 lower berths each), built by Meyer Turku Finland . The deal was fully financed within TUI Cruises (joint venture) - without further contribution from TUI AG and RCCL.

Schiff 5 was launched on January 15, 2016, following the 14-month construction period. Around 1500 employees are involved in the building of each TUI vessel.

In mid-July 2018, TUI ordered two new ships (161,000 GT-ton, 4000-passenger) - this time from the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri. Their scheduled deliveries are in 2025-Q1 ( Schiff Relax ) and 2026-Q2 ( Schiff 9 ). TUI's "Italian" liners are LNG-powered and from the company's new InTUItion-Class (fka TUI XL-Schiff).

In October 2018, TUI announced the "Wasteless" initiative aimed to eliminate disposable plastic products fleetwide (and also in land-based operations - provision suppliers and office staff) by the year 2020. Plastics will be replaced by alternative products made from renewable resources. The eco-initiative started with the newbuilds, on which in all cabin bathrooms, shower gel and shampoo dispensers are refillable, terry slippers are bathrobe's pockets (not packed in plastic), laundry bags are from bio-based plastic, coffee-to-go cups for crew are from bio-based plastic, drink stirrers are wooden. In November 2019, TUI reported ~30 million single-use plastic items replaced with renewable/sustainable materials-made alternatives.

In 2018, the German travel market reached ~2,2 million cruisers, of whom ~26% were served by TUI.

TUI Schiff Restaurants and Bars

TUI Schiff sonnenbereiche und poolbereiche (sundeck and Lido-deck pool areas)

(Coronavirus crisis) passenger shipping pause 2020-2021

Due to the COVID pandemic, TUI River Cruises suspended passenger shipping operations by canceling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures March 15, 2020, through August 15, 2021. TUI Cruises Germany ("Mein Schiff" fleet) suspended operations on March 23 and restarted on August 21 with Schiff 1 (7-day Norwegian Fjords roundtrip from Kiel) and Schiff 2 (7-day Norway from Hamburg). Schiff 6 started on September 13 (through November 7) with 7-day roundtrips from Heraklion (Crete) to Piraeus-Athens and Kerkyra (Corfu Island).

TUI River Cruises were planned to resume on November 26, 2020 ( Christmas and New Year itineraries ) but were eventually canceled through August 2021 (the brand was inaugurated on August 15, with TUI Maya from Frankfurt).

All affected bookings were automatically canceled and fully refunded in FCC (future cruise credit) notes for the full cost of the cruise. The FCCs can be used for paying a new voyage (with rebooking) or fully refunded (100%) in cash after 12 months.

Next are listed all TUI liners and their first departure dates/homeports/regions in 2021 - Schiff 3 (May 10/Norway from Bremerhaven), Schiff 4 (Apr 23/UK-Baltic from Hamburg), Schiff 5 (May 13/Mediterranean from Heraklion Crete), Schiff 6 (May 9/Mediterranean from Palma de Mallorca), Schiff Herz (Sept 3/Mediterranean from Palma de Mallorca). Schiff 1 and Schiff 2 started Canary Islands cruises in January, with 7-day and 14-day roundtrips from Gran Canaria.

The latest cancellations affected Schiff 5's Asian program (Hong Kong) and Schiff 6's Arabian Gulf program (from Dubai).

Itinerary of TUI Cruises

The next table provides a concise review of the TUI fleet's deployments (as homeports and destinations/regions). For detailed itineraries (call ports, port dates-times, and cruise prices) just follow the ship links.

TUI River Cruises

"TUI River Cruises" is a 2019-founded (operational since 2021) brand and a subsidiary of TUI AG. The new company specializes in passenger river shipping in Europe and is generally UK-focused (as source market).

TUI's riverboat fleet consists of three fully refurbished ships - TUI Maya , TUI Skyla , TUI Isla . The boats usually operate roundtrips from the homeports Passau and Frankfurt (Germany), Amsterdam Holland and Budapest Hungary .

In January 2022, TUI announced the restart dates of the riverboats after winter 2021 season was suspended due to Europe's increasing COVID Omicron cases. TUI's Rhine program was first halted before Christmas 2021 when Germany's government imposed travel restrictions on UK tourists.

TUI's river operations were planned to resume with TUI Skyla on March 28th. The "Magic of the Danube" itinerary (7-night roundtrip from Budapest ) visited ports in Slovakia, Austria, and Germany. Prices started at GBP 1120 per person with double occupancy.

TUI's first 14-night voyage started on April 8 ( TUI Isla ). The "European Icons" itinerary started in Amsterdam and visited ports in Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary, ending in Budapest. Prices started at GBP 2010 pp.

TUI's Rhine voyages started on April 8 with the "Rhine Germs" itinerary visiting Koblenz and Speyer (Germany Rhineland-Palatinate) along with Basel Switzerland . The 7-day roundtrip is from Frankfurt am Main (Germany Hesse) , fares started at GBP 1170 pp.

Themed voyages started on April 1st ( TUI Maya ) with the "Vines and Valleys" Moselle River itinerary.

In December 2023, TUI River Cruises announced a fleet expansion with two new vessels - TUI Al Horeya (Nile River boat/inauguration in 2024) and TUI Alma (Douro River boat/inauguration in 2025).

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Carnival cancels 2 planned cruises from Port Canaveral after ship catches fire

Passengers on a Carnival cruise ship that caught fire over the weekend disembarked at Port Canaveral on Monday.

▶ WATCH CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS

Videos sent to Ch. 9 show dark smoke and flames coming from the Carnival Freedom’s exhaust funnel on Saturday.

Carnival says lightning may be to blame.

In response to this fire, the next two cruises on the ship have been canceled.

Read: 2 crew members killed on Holland America cruise ship during incident onboard

The ship was scheduled to depart from Port Canaveral on Monday, and then again on Friday.

The fire was reported while the ship was near the Bahamas.

Passengers reported seeing lightning strike the boat, but the investigation is still underway.

Read: New cruise line coming to Port Canaveral this year

Carnival Cruise Lines released the following statement:

Carnival Freedom experienced a fire in the port side of the exhaust funnel on Saturday. Our onboard team acted quickly to contain and put out the fire. While we continue to investigate multiple eyewitness reports of a lightning strike, our technical team completed a thorough assessment during the ship’s visit to Freeport today. Regrettably, the damage is more than we first thought and will require an immediate repair to stabilize the funnel, resulting in the cancellation of the March 25 and March 29 cruises from Port Canaveral.

The funnel has been stabilized for the ship’s return to Port Canaveral overnight to disembark guests, and then it will go to the Freeport shipyard on Monday afternoon to begin the required repairs.

We sincerely regret the impact to our embarking guests, as we know they have been looking forward to their spring break vacation. We are providing all guests on both cancelled cruises a full refund and a 100% future cruise credit so they can come back and enjoy a future cruise with us. We also greatly appreciate the terrific guests who are currently sailing with us, for their outstanding cooperation and support.

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