If you’re set to sail from Cape Canaveral, Florida, you know that parking at the Port Canaveral pier is getting out of control, and cruisers who sail from the port are looking for new ways to avoid these $15 per night fees. Friends and family can’t take you to the port every time, after all. Here are a few simple ways to reduce what you pay for parking during your vacation, or, at the very least, get the most for the money you do pay.Try Off-Site Parking Lots
Off-site parking is a great alternative to parking at the pier, and the price for off-site extended parking is generally 50% less than what you would pay at the port. Further, if you make an online reservation at their websites, they’ll often offer you additional discounts. While you won’t be parking in a parking garage, the parking lots are nonetheless well lit, fenced, and guarded, and/or located within the premises of a hotel which is under surveillance. A word of caution, however–don’t believe everything you hear or see on the internet. The Park N’ Sail organization, which promises expansive paved parking lots and gated facilities along with friendly staff is actually a one-man organization, and guests will have to park in the grass next to a construction site, and take a ride to the port in an 80’s style Astro van. Not exactly where you want to leave your car for a week. When I saw the parking (or lack thereof) I can tell you I turned around real quickly and peeled out of there. However, there are certainly organizations that can be trusted and are highly recommended. Take Park N’ Cruise, for instance (http://parkcruise.com/). The facility is directly off 528 and within 5 minutes to the port. You won’t be parking in dirt here; the lot is paved, lit, guarded, and fenced–it’s safe, and well-used. And, it’s cheap (and almost always full). Best make a reservation online–not only will you snag specials for $4.99 parking per day, but you’ll also be guaranteed a parking spot. Another innovative idea was recently marketed by the Radisson Hotel in Cape Canaveral: low-cost parking offered to non-guests. So, if you’re local, there’s no stay required, and you’ll get parking for $6.99 per day (or, much more better, $4.50 per day with an online reservation). See their website at parkportcanaveral.com for directions. Like the facility at Park N’ Cruise, your car will be safe here. Both the Radisson and Park N’ Cruise provide complimentary (air-conditioned) shuttles to transport guests to and from the Port Canaveral pier upon embarkation and departure. You won’t have to wait either direction, you won’t have to roll your suitcases down from the top of the parking garage, and you won’t be paying $15 a day either.
Park, Sleep, and Cruise Packages
If you’re driving long-distance to meet your cruise ship at the pier, be advised that there are many local hotels in the Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach area that offer packages where guests can spend a night or two before (or after) their cruise, and the resort will offer free parking. In some cases, resorts will also offer free transportation to the pier; in other cases, you may have call a taxi or pay a nominal fee. According to the Port Canaveral Hotel Insider, the following hotels offer Park and Cruise packages:
International Palms Cocoa Beach ($99 with free transportation and $20 dining credit),
Hampton Inn Cocoa Beach ($109.95 with $10 pp round trip transport),
Clarion Merritt Island ($109.95 with free transportation),
Comfort Inn Cocoa Beach ($99.95 with free transportation),
Best Western Cocoa Beach ($104.95 with breakfast and free transportation),
Four Points Sheraton Cocoa Beach ($110 with free transportation).
For a full list of other hotels that offer similar packages, please visit portcanaveralhotelsinsider.com. I’ve also taken the liberty of putting approximate price estimates by each resort; these are based on August 2011 travel, double occupancy in a standard room (before tax) and are (of course) subject to change with the seasons. When booking, do be sure to ask specifically for the “Park and Cruise” packages to get the most accurate pricing. Generally these same hotels also offer packages for guests who are flying into the port, though you may have to call and ask for details. Be sure to book ahead of time for the best deals, and you’ll give your family a bit of R&R on the beach before the vacation even begins. With the RonJon surf shop nearby, clear water, and white beaches, and Kennedy Space Center close by, you can do a bit of discovery before you venture to the Caribbean–and you can have a one day’s head start on your sun-tan too!