With mega-ships like Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas and Carnival Cruise Line's Mardi Gras calling Port Canaveral home, it's no wonder that over six million cruise passengers visited here in 2023, making it one of the world's busiest cruise ports.
However, unlike Miami or Fort Lauderdale, the closest airport isn't just down the road. If you have to fly to Florida for your cruise out of Port Canaveral, it'll likely require more planning.
Four airports are within 75 miles of Port Canaveral: Melbourne Orlando Airport (MLB), Orlando International Airport (MCO), Orlando Sanford Airport (SFB), and Daytona Beach Airport (DAB). While Orlando International Airport (MCO) is the largest with the most flight options, it is not the closest.
Here's a guide to the four airports near the Port Canaveral cruise port.
Where is Port Canaveral located?
Port Canaveral is located on the eastern coast of Florida. It's about 45 miles from the Orlando International Airport, making a cruise from Port Canaveral an easy pre- or post-cruise addition to an Orlando theme park vacation.
Similarly, the cruise terminals are less than five miles from the Cocoa Beach Pier, so your tropical vacation doesn't have to end when you dock. If you can't find any ideal flight times the day your cruise concludes, consider extending your trip by a day and soaking up more sunshine on the beach.
Before arriving at Port Canaveral, ensure you're headed to the right terminal. A Terminals (5, 6, 8, and 10) are located off exit 54A, whereas B Terminals (1, 2, and 3) are off exit 54B.
What are the closest airports to Port Canaveral?
At just a little under 30 miles away, Melbourne Orlando Airport (MLB) is the closest airport to Port Canaveral. The second closest is the Orlando International Airport, which is roughly 45 miles away. Orlando Sanford Airport (SFB) and Daytona Beach Airport (DAB) are the furthest, at about 60 and 70 miles, respectively.
Regardless of whether you're flying out of Melbourne Orlando Airport or Orlando International Airport, you'll want to ensure that you budget at least one hour of travel time from the port to the airport. This does not include extra time to check in and go through security. Orlando Sanford and Daytona Beach can usually be reached in about an hour and fifteen minutes if there isn't a lot of traffic during rush hour.
You should also arrive the day before your cruise is scheduled to leave. Even if you have multiple flight options the morning of your cruise, you don't want to risk falling victim to a lengthy delay or canceled flight. Your ship won't wait for you, and you might arrive after your cruise has set sail!
Most cruise lines also suggest booking your return time no earlier than 12:00pm on the day you get back. Last when when I sailed on Carnival Vista, our ship's disembarkation process was delayed, and the first groups weren't allowed to get off until around 9:00am, meaning that there was no way I could've made the 10:40am flight. I didn't get to the airport until close to 10:30am!
Read more: The costly cruising mistake newbies make planning their first cruise
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Orlando International Airport (MCO) is one of the busiest airports in the country, serving over 24 million passengers annually. To put that into context, Atlanta is ranked as the busiest airport in the country, serving a little over 45 million passengers. It makes sense when you consider that MCO is the gateway airport for Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Sea World!
This means you usually encounter the longest wait times at Orlando International Airport. However, you'll have the most flight options. If you have a preferred airline or flight time, it's more likely to be accommodated here than at smaller regional airports. Moreover, MCO has a couple of lounge options for those with access including The Club MCO, American Airlines Admirals Club, Delta Sky Club, United Club, and Plaza Premium Lounge.
You can find domestic flights on the following airlines to and from MCO:
- Alaska Airlines
- Allegiant
- American Airlines
- Avelo Airlines
- Breeze
- Delta Airlines
- Frontier Airlines
- JetBlue
- Silver Airways
- Southwest
- Spirit
- Sun Country
- United
Plenty of international carriers service MCO, too. These include Aer Lingus, Aeroméxico, Air Canada, British Airways, Icelandair, Lufthansa, Virgin Atlantic, and more.
Some options for getting from MCO to Port Canaveral include renting a car, booking a shared shuttle, or using a rideshare service like Lyft or Uber.
According to Uber's website, the average route price from MCO to Port Canaveral for UberX is $68 and $90 for UberXL; however, this is subject to change and can be more depending on the time of day and demand. Shared shuttles can typically be booked for around $20 to $30 per person, per way if booked through a third party like Airport Canaveral or Go Port.
Of course, you can always book transfers directly through your cruise line; however, they tend to be more expensive. Carnival, for instance, advertises their transfers at around $37.99 per person.
Melbourne Orlando Airport (MLB)
Melbourne Orlando Airport (MLB) is the closest airport to Port Canaveral. Serving less than one million passengers annually, it's considerably smaller than MCO. In 2023, for example, the airport served approximately 747,000 passengers.
Only four domestic airlines service MLB: American Airlines, Allegiant, Delta Airlines, and Sun Country. The majority of flights come from Charlotte, North Carolina, on American Airlines and Atlanta, Georgia, on Delta Airlines.
TUI Airways also flies into Melbourne Orlando Airport from the UK.
Even though it's technically closer, the drive time tends to be similar to MCO. Plus, since fewer passengers depart from MLB, there aren't as many shared shuttle options. A ride can be secured through Melbourne Airport Express, though.
The best bet for more flexibility is to use a rideshare service from MLB to Port Canaveral and vice versa for around $55 to $70.
Orlando Sanford Airport (SFB)
Located further than MCO, Orlando Sanford Airport (SFB) is a regional airport that might offer better flight values since it's larger than Melbourne Orlando Airport. In 2023, they served over 2.8 million domestic and international passengers, up from about 2.7 million in 2022.
The primary airline that flies in and out of SFB is Allegiant, meaning that if you aren't a fan of budget airlines, you will likely want to look elsewhere. For those who do not have a preference, though, you might be able to score a great deal on your flight for your cruise out of Port Canaveral.
Sun Country also flies from the Minneapolis–Saint Paul airport, albeit more seasonally than Allegiant.
The normal drive time is about an hour, but it can be more depending on traffic. It's important to budget at least 1.5 hours, if not two, for transfer time, so you are not in a hurry and end up missing your flight.
Port Canaveral Quick Shuttle offers a transfer service from SFB to Port Canaveral for $40 per way, or $80 round-trip, per person, whereas Ubers tend to range anywhere from $65 to $90. Of course, these rates are subject to change. If you want the most accurate pricing, you should try and schedule an Uber or Lyft ahead of time through the app.
Daytona Beach Airport (DAB)
Finally, Daytona Beach Airport (DAB) is the further of the four airports on the list.
Similarly to Melbourne, the two major airlines that fly in and out of DAB are Delta Airlines and American Airlines, with the primary routes being from Atlanta, Georgia, and Charlotte, North Carolina. Additionally, American Airlines offers seasonal daily nonstop flights from Washington, DC; Philadelphia, PA; and Dallas, TX.
Avelo also flies from New Haven, CT, and Wilmington, DE, while Breeze flies from Westchester, New York; Hartford, CT; Raleigh, NC; and Providence, RI.
Daytona Beach Airport is the best option for those who want to enjoy some time on the coast before or after their cruise. Cocoa Beach, however, is closer to Port Canaveral, and you can enjoy the beach with the convenience of a shared shuttle from the Orlando area.
Since there aren't any shared shuttles from DAB, you'll have to rely on a rideshare service, rental car, or book a private ride. At a minimum, an UberX is usually around $100. It's not uncommon, however, for rides to be closer to $150 or $200 for an UberXL.
If I don't want to worry about flying, can I drive and park my car on-site?
Yes! Port Canaveral offers on-site parking for those who wish to have their car across the street when they return from their cruise vacation.
As of December 2024, parking costs $17 per day, including the day of arrival and day of departure, for all vehicles and RVs. Parking for a 5-night cruise will cost $102 before tax. Cash is not accepted.
There are other third-party lots with cheaper rates, such as Park Port Canaveral and Cruisetime Parking at Port Canaveral.
What cruise lines sail from Port Canaveral?
Most mainstream cruise lines offer sailings from Port Canaveral, including MSC Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, and Celebrity Cruises.
Whether you're seeking a quick 3-night escape to The Bahamas onboard Utopia of the Seas or want a longer getaway to the Caribbean, there's the perfect itinerary for everyone.
In 2025, the following mainstream ships will sail from Port Canaveral at least once:
- Carnival Cruise Line: Carnival Freedom, Carnival Glory, Carnival Venezia, Carnival Vista, Mardi Gras
- Celebrity Cruises: Celebrity Equinox, Celebrity Apex
- Princess Cruises: Caribbean Princess, Sky Princess
- Royal Caribbean: Adventure of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas, Star of the Seas, Utopia of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas
- Norwegian Cruise Line: Norwegian Aqua, Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Joy, Norwegian Prima
- Disney Cruise Line: Disney Fantasy, Disney Treasure, Disney Wish
- MSC Cruises: MSC Seashore, MSC Grandiosa
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.
