Port Canaveral surpassed Port Miami last year with a record-breaking 8.6 million passenger movements and more than 1,000 port calls, making it the world’s busiest cruise port.
Although summer is quiet compared to the busy fall and winter cruise seasons, Port Canaveral still has 14 homeport ships operating itineraries ranging from two to 14 nights.
Carnival and Royal Caribbean have four ships sailing from Port Canaveral this summer, Disney has three each, and MSC, Princess and Norwegian have one each.
Celebrity, which debuted at Port Canaveral in 2024, will bring back Apex for the winter sailing season.
In other cruise news, Carnival Cruise Line recently held a ribbon cutting on Relax Away Half Moon Cay is a private destination in the Bahamas shared with Holland America and features a pristine beach. The northern section of the destination currently includes a pier that can accommodate two Carnival ships, a tram system, two dining options, six bars, cabanas, a gift shop, and more.
This September, Norwegian Cruise Line will open the six-acre Great Tides Waterpark at Great Stirrup Cay, the cruise line’s private destination in the Bahamas. The new attraction features 19 waterslides, a 9,000-square-foot splash pad, a cliff-jumping feature and a “dynamic river.”
Although there are no new ship announcements at Port Canaveral this summer, Royal Caribbean will bring its third Icon Class ship, Legend of the Seas, to Fort Lauderdale this fall following a summer in the Mediterranean. Star of the Seas still sails from Port Canaveral, taking guests aboard a ship worthy of the title of the world’s largest cruise ship.
The newly renovated Harmony of the Seas comes to Port Canaveral and sails itineraries ranging from very short two-day cruises to week-long sailings.
A guide to summer cruising from Florida’s Space Coast.
carnival
Carnival Glory accepts guests on three- to five-day itineraries to the Bahamas via ports such as Nassau, Relaxaway, Half Moon Cay, Celebration Cay, and Princess Cays. The average cost for a double room is $241 to $625 per person.
Carnival Freedom flies three- to five-day itineraries to the Bahamas via ports such as Nassau, Relaxaway, Half Moon Cay, Celebration Cay, and Princess Cays. The average cost for a double room is $302 to $639 per person.
Carnival Mardi Gras offers week-long cruises to a variety of Caribbean destinations, including Cozumel, Isla Tropical, Grand Turk, Nassau, Amber Cove, and Celebration Cay. The average cost for a double room is $572 to $1,096 per person.
Carnival Vista sails on six- and eight-day cruises to the eastern and southern Caribbean, including ports such as Relaxaway, Half Moon Cay, Amber Cove, Grand Turk, St. Thomas, Celebration Caye, Aruba, Curacao, and Bonaire. The average cost for a double room is $429 to $1,306 per person.
royal caribbean
Utopia of the Seas offers 3- and 4-night itineraries with a stop in Nassau and a perfect day at CocoCay. The average cost per person ranges from $542 to $550.
Adventure of the Seas sails on six- and eight-night cruises that include Jamaica, Curaçao, Grand Cayman, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Aruba, the Dominican Republic, St. Thomas, and the Perfect Day ports of CocoCay. The average cost per person ranges from $589 to $1,222.
Star of the Seas welcomes guests on week-long cruises to Honduras, Cozumel, Perfect Day at CocoCay, St. Maarten, San Juan, and other Caribbean destinations. The average cost per person ranges from $1,099 to $1,149.
Harmony of the Seas offers 2- to 7-night itineraries to St. Thomas, perfect days in CocoCay, Nassau, and Cozumel. A new 2-night “Perfect Day Getaway Cruise” is now available. The average cost per person ranges from $364 to $728.
disney
Disney Fantasy offers four-night and five-night cruise itineraries. Options include a 10-night Caribbean cruise to St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Antigua, Puerto Rico, Disney’s Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, and Disney’s Castaway Cay. Typical destinations in the Bahamas include Nassau, Disney’s Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, and Disney’s Castaway Cay. Prices start from $2,094 to $7,066 for 2 people.
Disney Treasure invites guests on a seven-night Caribbean cruise with stops in Mexico, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Disney’s Castaway Cay, or the British Virgin Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Disney’s Castaway Cay. Starting price is $3,177 to $3,611 for 2 people.
Disney Wish sails on 3- and 4-night Bahamas cruise itineraries with stops in Nassau, Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, and Disney Castaway Cay. Prices start from $1,934 to $3,105 for 2 people.
MSC
MSC Seashore sails on itineraries ranging from 3 to 11 nights. The short cruise includes stops at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Sanctuary and Nassau in the Bahamas. Long distance trips to Costa Rica and Cozumel, Mexico are also possible. Starting prices range from $239 to $682 per person.
Richard Tribow / Orlando Sentinel
Norway’s Prima will set sail from Port Canaveral this summer. (Richard Tribow/Orlando Sentinel)
norwegian
Norwegian Prima welcomes guests on seven-day cruises to the Dominican Republic, U.S. Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and the Bahamas (including Great Stirrup Cay). Cruise prices start at $779 per person.
princess
Caribbean Princess sails seven-night and 14-night itineraries to the eastern and western Caribbean via ports such as Nassau, Princess Cays, Dominican Republic, Amber Cove, Grand Turk, and San Juan. Cruise prices start from $569 to $1,348 per person for two people.
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