For clients cruising from Port Canaveral, the vacation doesn’t have to begin when they step aboard the ship.
With Wave Season approaching, you can build more value and more vacation time into cruise bookings by adding a pre- or post-cruise stay on Florida’s Space Coast.
Just minutes from Port Canaveral, the destination gives travelers access to 72 miles of coastline, Cocoa Beach, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, outdoor adventures and a growing local dining scene.
For families especially, adding a night or two can turn what might otherwise be a rushed arrival into a destination experience of its own. Clients can spend a day at the beach, explore Florida‘s space history, get out on the water or enjoy a relaxed dinner before heading to the port the following day.
The same strategy works after a cruise, giving travelers a chance to unwind before heading home.
Where Clients Can Stay
Several Space Coast hotels make it easy to pair an overnight stay with a Port Canaveral sailing, with stay-and-cruise packages, parking and port transportation available at select properties.
Radisson Resort at the Port is about five minutes from Port Canaveral and offers several stay-and-cruise options, including packages with round-trip port transportation and up to eight nights of parking. For clients arriving early, the property also offers a waterfall pool, Flamingo’s Restaurant and Tiki Bar.
Cocoa Beach Suites puts travelers two blocks from the Atlantic and within walking distance of restaurants, shopping and Cocoa Beach Surf Company. The all-suite property offers Stay & Cruise and Park & Cruise packages with transportation to the cruise terminal.
With direct beach access and Port Canaveral less than five miles away, Hampton Inn & Suites offers a Park, Stay & Go package that includes up to seven nights of cruise parking and shuttle service to and from the port. Guests can also walk to nearby restaurants and Ron Jon Surf Shop.
About a mile from Port Canaveral, Homewood Suites offers its own Park, Stay & Go package with up to seven nights of parking and port shuttle service. The hotel is also about 20 minutes from Kennedy Space Center and features full kitchens, complimentary breakfast and a poolside Tiki Bar.
For clients flying into Orlando, Hyatt Place Cape Canaveral offers Fly & Stay and Stay & Cruise packages, including airport transportation and shuttle service to the cruise terminal.
Build a Space Coast Day Into the Cruise
Adding a night doesn’t have to mean simply booking a hotel and waiting for embarkation. Advisors can build a full day of experiences around the stay. Here are some itineraries worth checking out:
Space, Surf & Sail: Start at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, where your clients can explore the Space Coast’s storied space history, including Space Shuttle Atlantis and the Apollo/Saturn V Center.
In the afternoon, head to Cocoa Beach for some downtime by the Atlantic. Families can hit the beach, visit the Florida Surf Museum or browse the iconic Ron Jon Surf Shop.
Then head toward Port Canaveral for dinner at The Cove, a waterfront entertainment district where travelers can dine while taking in views of the cruise ships.
Wildlife and Water Adventures: For clients who want to experience another side of the Space Coast, start the morning at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, where travelers can explore coastal wetlands and look for the area’s abundant birdlife and other wildlife.
From there, continue toward Cocoa Beach for lunch and an afternoon on the water. A guided kayak or eco-tour gives travelers the opportunity to see dolphins, manatees and other wildlife while exploring the area’s waterways.
During bioluminescence season, suggest an evening bioluminescent kayak tour. Outside of bioluminescence season, clients can simply wrap up the day with a waterfront dinner and a relaxed evening in Cocoa Beach.
A Smarter Way to Sell the Cruise
For advisors, the Space Coast offers an easy way to turn a cruise booking into a more complete Florida itinerary. Rather than treating Port Canaveral as simply a place to board the ship, adding even one or two nights gives clients more time to experience the destination and gives families an opportunity to build another memorable chapter into their cruise vacation.
For more information, visit visitspacecoast.com.
