Florida has five cruise ports that see millions of passengers each year, all of which are within four hours of Orlando, where you can find eight major theme parks.
Four ports are situated along the Atlantic Coast: Jacksonville, Port Canaveral, Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale), and Miami.
If you have an upcoming cruise out of Florida, you might be wondering whether or not you should plan a pre- or post-cruise visit to one of the theme park resorts, including Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and SeaWorld. By doing so, you would combine two family experiences into one amazing vacation.
Here are some things to consider when debating on going to a theme park before or after your cruise from Florida.
How far are the cruise ports from Orlando?
The closest cruise port is Port Canaveral, the world's busiest cruise port; it is located about one hour from Walt Disney World and Universal Studios. The second closest is Tampa. If you are hoping to take a weekend cruise and pair that with a theme park trip, your best bet will be to cruise from Port Canaveral, as Tampa does not offer as many short cruise options.
Port Canaveral will also give you weeklong options on most of the major cruise lines. Right now, the world's largest cruise ship, Wonder of the Seas, is sailing roundtrip to the Caribbean and Bahamas year-round from here! If you want to visit a theme park and take a cruise, the convenience and variety of choices of Port Canaveral make it the best embarkation port. Starting in July 2024, Utopia of the Seas will begin making 3- and 4-night cruises to The Bahamas from Port Canaveral, too.
At 160 miles and two-and-a-half hours away, the third closest port is Jacksonville. Note that the only cruise line to sail regularly out of Jacksonville is Carnival, so your cruise options will be limited.
The two furthest ports are Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale) and Miami, with the latter being a little over three-and-a-half hours from Orlando theme parks. Thankfully, the high-speed Brightline train connects Fort Lauderdale and Miami to Orlando in only three hours. You will not have to worry about renting a car and will be able to relax on the train before either reaching the cruise port or heading to the theme park.
Since Orlando is centrally located, it makes for an easy stop for those who are driving. With the exception of Jacksonville, you will pass Orlando en route to the four other cruise ports.
Why should you go to a theme park before or after your cruise from Florida?
Extending your time in Florida could make sense if you are traveling a significant distance. Adding a pre- or post-cruise theme park stay means that you will not have to plan a separate trip. In the long run, this will save you money on more airfare or gas!
Plus, since some cruises are only 3 or 4 nights, you might want to find a way to make your trip a weeklong affair without making it about the beach, if that is how you plan on spending your days in port.
To make a 4-night vacation turn into a 6+ night one, visiting both of Universal Studios' theme parks will add at least two more nights, while visiting Walt Disney World's four theme parks will add a minimum of four nights, if not more.
Additionally, if you are traveling during a holiday (i.e., Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.), visiting a theme park will allow you to enjoy their festivities, such as the holiday parades, unique decorations, and more.
You might prefer to visit a theme park first and relax on the cruise. In a theme park, you will not spend the day by the pool with a cocktail! Instead, you will be walking (maybe even racing!) from ride to ride. A lot of people will plan on being at the parks as soon as they open and staying until they close, so the days are likely to be long and full of excitement.
My finacée and I actually did this in October 2023. We flew from Charlotte to Orlando and spent two days at Disney World before driving to Miami for a 4-night cruise onboard Freedom of the Seas! I'm so glad we didn't reverse our itinerary because we enjoyed having a sea day to relax after trying to make the most of our two days at Disney!
(Author at Disney's Magic Kingdom before heading to Miami to board Freedom of the Seas)
It was a great compromise, too, as my finacée wanted to visit Disney, whereas I wanted to take a cruise together. Because we took a shorter cruise, we were able to do both!
Another advantage to visiting the theme parks before your cruise is that you will not have to worry about any transportation delays. While you should arrive the night before your cruise regardless, if you are already in Florida, you can spend more time having fun instead of worrying about making your ship!
Read more: The 13 best cruise tips the pros use all the time
Disney Cruise Line
While there is no denying that you will experience Disney magic while onboard your Disney cruise, there is nothing quite like the theme park experience. Thankfully, you do not have to decide which you would like to do!
Disney will arrange for transfers to take you to and from Port Canaveral, Walt Disney World, and Orlando International Airport, meaning that all you have to do is show up and prepare for a great time. You can call (800) 951-3532 to speak with a vacation expert and learn more.
If you want to visit Universal Studios or SeaWorld instead, you will have to make those arrangements yourself. Disney will only assist if you are combining a Disney cruise with a visit to Walt Disney World.
Helpful tip: do not waste time in the parks doing character meet and greets. You will have plenty of opportunities on the ship that will not have as long of a line. Spend the time going on rides and doing other experiences that the cruise will not offer!
Booking with a travel agent
If you want to combine a cruise and theme park vacation but do not know where to begin, this is a great time to seek out help from a travel agent! Not only will they be able to book your cruise and hotel, but they can also assist with dining reservations, car rentals, transfers, theme park tickets, and more. Remember that you will also want to think about cruise add-ons, too.
Working with a travel agent will help streamline your vacation planning process, as they will help take care of all the planning, leaving you with more time to pack and buy the perfect matching Mickey ears and/or t-shirts.
In addition to their knowledge and expertise, you never know what perks they might be able to offer, including onboard credit, a complimentary bottle of wine or specialty restaurant dinner, or prepaid gratuities.
Read more: What to look for in a travel agent for a cruise
Transportation options
The most important part of planning your theme park stay is figuring out how you are going to get between the two destinations. Are you going to rent a car, find a shuttle, use a popular ride-share service, utilize your own vehicle, hire a private car, etc.?
You will have to consider how much you are willing to pay, as hiring a private driver will obviously cost you more than renting a car or finding a shuttle bus. Private transfers, for instance, can set you back around $300+ for the short ride from Port Canaveral to Orlando. Of course, they are more convenient and offer a more comfortable way to move between the two.
Shuttles can cost as little as $35 per person, meaning a family of four would spend $140. That is about half as much as a private car! The savings could be put towards theme park tickets, dining, cruise add-ons, etc.
Right now, the best way to get from South Florida to Orlando would probably be to rent a car for the day. You can usually find a rental car for less than $100, but you will have to drive yourself. Once the Brightline service begins, you might find this to be the more convenient option. As of April 2023, rates are not available for the train.
RedCoach does offer shuttle buses from Miami to Orlando and vice versa for about $35 per person. In comparison, a private car will cost at least $500. The bus runs from the Miami Airport to the Kissimmee area. You will be responsible for getting yourself to/from the bus stops, and the best way to do this is through a cab or ride-share service, like Uber or Lyft.
Note, though, that the ride takes a little over five hours, meaning that you probably will not be able to enjoy the park on the same day as you disembark from the cruise. Likewise, depending on the bus schedule, you will probably have to take the bus to Miami the night before the cruise.
What's the verdict?
Combining a cruise vacation and a trip to one of Florida's theme parks is a great way to extend your family's vacation, especially if you are traveling from a distance-- you will save money in the long run, as you will not have to worry about transportation costs to return to Florida.
Since it is only an hour away, the easiest cruise port to travel to/from Orlando is Port Canaveral. You will have plenty of cruises to choose from, ranging from 3 nights to 7+ nights. Plus, many of the major cruise lines (Carnival Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, and MSC Cruises) depart from there, meaning that it does not matter which line you are loyal to!
That being said, it is possible to plan a theme park stay before or after a cruise from one of the other ports in Florida; however, the logistics may be a little bit harder to organize, unless you have your own vehicle!
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
