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Award-winning Solstice-class ship will offer 7-night itineraries to The Bahamas, Belize, Grand Cayman, Mexico, San Juan and St. Maarten and private island Perfect Day at CocoCay 

(Photo: Celebrity Cruises)

Port Canaveral, FL – August 15, 2023 - Celebrity Cruises has chosen Port Canaveral to homeport their award-winning Celebrity Equinox to expand the brand’s sailings to the Caribbean starting December 3, 2024, through April 19, 2025. Celebrity Cruises is the seventh major cruise line to choose Port Canaveral as its homeport, underscoring the Port’s status as the world’s busiest cruise Port. 

"We are thrilled to welcome Celebrity Cruises as our new partner and honored to be part of their Caribbean expansion plans,” said Capt. John Murray, Port Canaveral CEO. “The demand for Celebrity Cruise sailings from our Port has been growing. Now, with Celebrity Equinox homeported here, there are great opportunities for even more cruise travelers to experience the cruise line’s high-quality experience, while experiencing the comfort and ease of travel provided by our Port.”

(Photo: Celebrity Cruises)

The Celebrity Equinox will offer 20 new itineraries sailing from Port Canaveral spanning 7-nights to sought-after destinations like The Bahamas, Belize, Grand Cayman, Mexico, San Juan, and St. Maarten. Just in time for the Spring Break season, two sailings on March 1st and March 15th, 2025, will include stops at their private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

“We are so excited to unveil this new program. It provides our guests with more options to experience the natural beauty of the Caribbean, which is elevated by our personalized experiences on board,” says Laura Hodges Bethge, President of Celebrity Cruises. “As part of this expansion, we are thrilled to add Port Canaveral to our list of home ports – it is a perfect market to reach a wide mix of both in- and out-of-state travelers looking for fun in the Caribbean sun.”

(Photo: Celebrity Cruises)

Celebrity Equinox is 1,041 feet long, 122,000 gross tons and features 13 decks, 1,426 staterooms and accommodates 2,850 passengers. An award-winning Solstice class ship Celebrity Equinox underwent a multi-million-dollar refresh in 2019, introducing elevated design concepts, and an all-new The Retreat experience including a redesigned private indoor lounge, sundeck, and fine-dining restaurant – all of which are exclusive to suite guests.  

Throughout the ship, vacationers enjoy ten exceptional dining and cocktail options, including craft beer and comfort food in the new Craft Social, experience pure bliss at the Spa, or feel the grass beneath their feet while enjoying an outdoor movie, reading a book, or sunbathing at the relaxing Lawn Club. 

(Photo: Celebrity Cruises)

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“Smoke on the Water & Fire in the Sky” 2023 Fireworks Celebration Kickoff Sunday, July 2 at Port Canaveral

Event parking and traffic plan emphasizes safety and organized exit

Image Source, Port Canaveral

Port Canaveral, FL – June 26, 2023 – Skies above Port Canaveral will light up with color and sound on Sunday July 2nd for the annual “Smoke on the Water & Fire in the Sky” fireworks celebration being hosted by the Cove Merchants Association at Port Canaveral and the Canaveral Port Authority. The festivities begin at 5:00 PM and the fireworks will launch after dark at 9:00 PM.

The event at Port Canaveral is the first of three area fireworks celebrations that are the hallmark of the Space Coast’s Independence Day events - July 3rd fireworks at Cocoa Beach, followed by July 4th fireworks at Cocoa Village.  

Public access for viewing the July 2nd fireworks at Port Canaveral will be available at the Cove District and the Port’s Exploration Tower Lawn. Free parking will be available at The Cove parking lot for patrons of The Cove restaurants until capacity is reached. Designated parking areas at Port Canaveral will be available for the fireworks event at $10 per vehicle, cash or credit cards accepted. See Parking Overview map below for designated lot locations.

There are no public viewing locations on the north side of Port Canaveral (“A” Cruise Terminals and North Cargo Operations) or on any portion of State Road 401.

Special Event Traffic Plan

A comprehensive special event parking and traffic flow plan was jointly developed by Brevard County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO), Canaveral Fire Rescue and Canaveral Port Authority Public Safety to promote safe arrival at the Port before the event and exiting the Port once the fireworks display concludes. The traffic flow plan will have road closures in the Cove Restaurant District and utilize one-way directional exiting of Port roads following the event.

To help expedite traffic departure and flow, the parking lot that a guest chooses for their vehicle will determine what road may be used for exiting the lot. Guests planning to attend the event should review the parking and traffic flow maps prior to arrival, make their plans accordingly, and follow electronic signs to their desired lot.

Electronic and fixed signage will be located on roadways and intersections in the Port to direct motorists arriving for the festivities. Deputies, parking attendants and staff will be located at key traffic intersections around the Port to assist motorists.

Visitors should select the parking lot that offers the most efficient exit to the roadway needed for their return trip. For example, a motorist who wants to return to Merritt Island should park in Lot A or B. Or a guest returning to beachside communities should park in Lot B, D or the Overflow Lot. Guests who park in The Cove dining and entertainment district may exit either way but should expect longer delays.

NOTE: The Cove parking lot is free for patrons of Cove businesses. 

Port Canaveral fireworks parking map

(Photo: Canaveral Port Authority)

EXITING PORT CANAVERAL AFTER FIREWORKS
 
IF YOU PLAN ON TRAVELING ON SR 528
Use Lots A or B
 
IF YOU PLAN ON DRIVING TO CAPE CANAVERAL, COCOA BEACH, BEACH COMMUNITIES OR POINTS SOUTH, SR A1A or SR 520
Use Lots B, D, OR OVERFLOW

Lots D and Overflow WILL BE DIRECTED TOWARD North Atlantic Blvd until traffic clears
 
ACCESSIBLE PARKING LOT

Will allow entrance to SR 528 or SR A1A

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Image Source, Port Canaveral

Image Source, Norwegian Cruise Line

Port Canaveral, FL – June 1, 2023 - Norwegian Cruise Lines has recently announced their decision to reposition the Norwegian Epic to Port Canaveral this winter, in response to the growing demand for Caribbean sailings. Starting from December 17, 2023, the ship will offer seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, providing guests with unforgettable experiences in these sought-after destinations.

(Photo: Norwegian Cruise Line)

"Thanks to our great partnership and strong collaboration with Norwegian, we’re delighted to welcome back Norwegian Epic. She's a terrific addition to our fleet of homeported ships offering a variety of Caribbean sailings to meet the surging demand," stated Capt. john Murray, Port CEO. "We're proud to be the preferred port for millions of cruisse guests, and proud of the confidence in our Port to deliver a high-quality experience."

In an announcement, a Norwegian Cruise Line spokesperson said, “we are committed to providing exceptional vacation experiences, both aboard our ships and by taking our guests to some of the most sought-out destinations around the world.”

The Norwegian Epic, belonging to the Epic-class of ships, boasts impressive specifications, including a gross tonnage of 155,873 GT, a length of 1,081 feet, and a height of 200 feet. With 19 decks, the ship can accommodate 4,100 passengers (based on double occupancy) and 1,724 crew members.

The Norwegian Epic offers a range of unique and captivating features, such as the Haven, the first ship-in-a-ship enclave. Guests can also enjoy amenities like a bowling alley, an Ice Bar, and The Epic Plunge, the only bowl slide at sea. These exciting features provide ample entertainment for guests during their extra day at sea.

Additional information on Norwegian Epic’s new voyages from Port Canaveral will be shared as soon as it becomes available.

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CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE ADDS SEASON OF ‘FUN ITALIAN STYLE’ IN PORT CANAVERAL
WITH NEW CARNIVAL VENEZIA SAILINGS OPEN FOR LATE 2024

Carnival Venezia to Reposition from New York to Florida for “Snowbird” Winter Series

PORT CANAVERAL, Fla., May 16, 2023 – As Carnival Cruise Line prepares to debut its new ‘Carnival Fun Italian Style’ experiences on its latest addition to the fleet, Carnival Venezia, the cruise line is opening future sailings for the ship that include a series of departures from Port Canaveral, Fla. as the ship heads south for winter of 2024-25 like millions of other Northeasterners, before returning to New York in the spring of 2025.

            “The sailings we’re opening today will allow us to share this new signature fun with more guests and bring another truly dynamic offering to one of our most popular homeports,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “Carnival Venezia’s seasonal operation in Port Canaveral will bring our deployment there to five vessels and give our valued Carnival guests another great option when sailing from Central Florida.”

Carnival Venezia will reposition from New York with a 12-Day Southern Caribbean Carnival Journeys Cruise that departs on Dec. 6, 2024 and visits St. Thomas; St. Croix; Aruba; Curacao and Grand Turk and arrives to Port Canaveral on Dec. 18, 2024. The ship will embark its first guests from Port Canaveral on the same day and depart for a four-day Bahamas cruise, visiting Nassau and Freeport, to kick off its winter series. It will then operate 15 seven-day cruises, rotating itineraries and visiting a variety of popular destinations, as well as sailing two special 14-day Carnival Journeys cruises. After its seasonal deployment in Florida, the ship will return to New York in the spring of 2025.

To see Carnival’s wide range of sailing options offered from Port Canaveral, click here.

The following itineraries are examples of the sailings now open for sale on Carnival Venezia from Port Canaveral:

• Week-Long Sailings from Port Canaveral Seven-Day Exotic Eastern Caribbean Cruise departs Dec. 22, 2024 and visits Grand Turk; San Juan, Puerto Rico and St. Thomas. Similar cruise itineraries are also available on five additional departure dates between February and April in 2025.

• Seven-Day Exotic Eastern Caribbean Cruise departs Jan. 5, 2025 and April 27, 2025 and visits Amber Cove; San Juan, Puerto Rico and St. Thomas.

• Seven-Day Exotic Western Caribbean Cruise departs Dec. 29, 2024 as well as Jan. 26, 2025 and March 23, 2025 and visits Mahogany Bay, Isla Roatan; Belize and Cozumel, Mexico.

• Seven-Day Western Caribbean Cruise departs Feb. 9, 2025 and March 9, 2025 and visits Nassau, Bahamas; Montego Bay, Jamaica; Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. 

• Seven-Day Western Caribbean Cruise departs April 6, 2025 and April 20, 2025 and visits Nassau, Bahamas; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. 

Special Carnival Journeys Cruises from Port Canaveral

• 14-Day Southern Caribbean Cruise departs Jan. 12, 2025 and visits St. Thomas; Antigua; Dominica; Grenada; Barbados; St. Maarten; St. Kitts and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

• 14-Day Southern Caribbean Cruise departs Feb. 23, 2025 and visits Grand Turk; Aruba; Curacao; Cartagena, Colombia; Colon, Panama; Limon, Costa Rica and Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.

The 5,000-guest Carnival Venezia will soon embark its first guests on a 15-day Carnival Journeys transatlantic sailing May 29, 2023 from Barcelona and arrive to her new home at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal in New York City. The ship’s first cruise from New York, a four-day cruise to Bermuda, is set for June 15, 2023. From its New York homeport through December 2024, the ship will operate 10 different cruise durations and 22 unique itineraries featuring visits to 25 ports across 14 countries.

Carnival Venezia is currently undergoing an enhancement project in Spain and will be the first ship to showcase ‘Carnival Fun Italian Style.’ It will debut a slate of fun concepts and experiences influenced by the ship’s Italian design, since it was originally built under Carnival’s sister brand, Costa Cruises, and boasts beautiful architectural features inspired by Venice, Italy that make the ship a unique addition to the Carnival fleet. Guests will find the same warm hospitality on Carnival Venezia that Carnival is known for fleetwide.

Guests will also find many Carnival mainstays they know and love on board, including Guy Fieri’s Guy’s Burger Joint, the steakhouse Fahrenheit 555, Bonsai Sushi & Teppanyaki and the Chef’s Table, along with Lido Marketplace, Seafood Shack and Pizzeria del Capitano, Piano Bar 88 and Heroes Tribute Lounge. In addition, the ship will bring several new dining and beverage offerings into the fleet, including the new specialty restaurant, “Il Viaggio,” which promises a culinary journey with a menu curated to offer guests the best regional dishes and drinks from several regions of Italy. Guests can also expect the high-energy entertainment they know and love fleetwide on board Carnival Venezia, with several Playlist Production shows set to take the stage and special programming developed for children and families.

To see all sailings currently open for sale on Carnival Venezia, click here.

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Princess Cruises to Homeport Caribbean Princess in Port Canaveral Starting November 2024

Caribbean Princess will offer 6-, 8-, and 14-day itineraries to Eastern and Western Caribbean, The Bahamas, and their private island at Princess Cays

Image Source, Princess Cruise

PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. (May 9, 2023) – For the first time ever, Princess Cruises will homeport in Central Florida. The iconic “Love Boat” brand will re-position its Caribbean Princess ship in late November 2024 to sail eastern and western Caribbean itineraries out of Port Canaveral for its winter season.

Starting November 27, 2024, the 3,140-passenger ship will sail four to 14-day cruises out of Port Canaveral. Itinerary highlights include:

• One departure of a 4-day Turks & Caicos Getaway over Thanksgiving holiday

• Five departures of our 8-day Eastern Caribbean with St. Thomas sailing to St. Thomas, St. Maarten, San Juan and Grand Turk

• Five departures of our 8-day Western Caribbean with Mexico sailing to Cozumel, Costa Maya, Belize City and Roatan (Mahogany Bay)

• Nine departures of our 6-day Eastern Caribbean with Turks & Caicos including Nassau, Grand Turk and either Amber Cove or San Juan

• Combine any of the 8-day and 6-day itineraries for a 14-day vacation

Princess takes pride in being considered the #1 Large Ship Cruise Line by USA Today due to world-class dining and Broadway-inspired entertainment, all delivered with amazing service and at an exceptional value. Caribbean Princess cruises from Port Canaveral go on sale May 24.

“The combination of a vibrant Central Florida community, exceptional flight options into Orlando International Airport and great pre-cruise and post-cruise experience options makes Port Canaveral an easy choice,” said John Padgett, president of Princess Cruises. “Princess is unique in its ability to deliver incredible cruise ship amenities typical of the largest ships in the world, while delivering personalized service found on the industry’s smallest ships.”

The exclusive Princess Medallion powers a personalized, customized and simplified experience for each and every guest. The connected guest experience maximizes guests’ vacation time by delivering a host of onboard conveniences including contactless payment for anything on board as well as in select shops and restaurants in ports; expedited embarkation; keyless stateroom entry; muster anywhere; friends and family locator; and ordering food, drinks, retail items or requesting service from their smart phone or stateroom TV and having their order delivered directly to them…even if they are moving.

Establishing Port Canaveral as a homeport is part of the expansion of Princess Cruises’ North America presence to offer exciting new voyage options that guests can conveniently access from major drive markets like Central Florida.

“Our collaboration with Princess Cruises marks an exciting milestone for us,” stated Capt. John Murray, Port CEO. “The fleet of ships homeported at Port Canaveral continues to grow with next year’s arrival of Caribbean Princess. We’re looking forward to providing a high-quality experience for our new cruise partners and their cruise guests.

Caribbean Princess features 1,571 staterooms and a total capacity of 3,140 guests and 1,200 crew. It has 19 decks, including 15 passenger decks, and encompasses 112,894 gross tons. It launched in 2004.

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26 sailings scheduled for first summer program in North America and the Caribbean

Port Canaveral, FL – May 11, 2023 – Marella Cruises’ Discovery sailed from Port Canaveral’s Cruise Terminal 5, kicking off a slate of 26 weekly sailings between now and November. The sailing of the Discovery is also Marella’s first from the United States.

"We are excited to extend a warm welcome Marella Cruises’ Discovery and honored that they’ve chosen to base their first homeport in the United States at Port Canaveral,” said Capt. John Murray, Port CEO. "Their decision to join us is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team and only adds to our reputation as the world's busiest port. We are proud to be associated with a high-quality brand as Marella and look forward to providing an exceptional customer experience for their guests."

Marella is a division of TUI United Kingdom and Ireland and TUI World group. To that end, five flights will arrive weekly at Melbourne Orlando International Airport from the U.K. with roughly 1,500 British passengers weekly who will sail on each cruise.

In keeping with maritime tradition, Canaveral Port Authority Commissioner RADM Wayne Justice (USCG-Ret.) presented Marella Discovery Capt. Chris Douglass with a plaque welcoming the ship to Port Canaveral for the first time. The ship was escorted as she departed Port Canaveral out to sea with a traditional water gun salute led by Canaveral Fire Rescue’s “Fireboat 2,” and two tugboats provided by Seabulk and E.N. Bisso.

“It gives me a great amount of pride to welcome the Marella Discovery as Port Canaveral’s newest homeported vessel,” said Admiral Justice. “This exciting milestone marks a significant moment for our Port, and we look forward to welcoming passengers from around the world as they embark on unforgettable adventures from Florida’s Space Coast.  We’re honored to have Marella Cruises as a valuable partner in our community."

Canaveral Port Authority Commissioner RADM Wayne Justice (USCG-Ret.) welcomes Marella Discovery Capt. Chris Douglass to Port Canaveral for inaugural visit

(Photo: Canaveral Port Authority) 

The Discovery will have varying itineraries on its “American Dream, Floridian Favourites and Sunshine State and Sands” programs that it offers with port-of-call visits set for the Ports of Charleston, S.C., New York City, Norfolk, Va., New Orleans, Key West, Miami, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, and Freeport and Nassau, Bahamas.

Passengers aboard Marella Discover enjoy top deck amenities before first sailing

(Photo: Canaveral Port Authority) 

Marella is now the sixth cruise line with at least one ship homeported at the Port, joining an impressive list of cruise lines that includes Carnival, Disney, MSC, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean.

Canaveral Fire Rescue Fireboat 2 and tugs escort Marella Discovery out of Port Canaveral on her inaugural voyage

(Photo: Canaveral Port Authority) 

The 866-foot-long Discovery has 915 cabins and has a gross tonnage of 69,130 tons. The ship also features a bevy of amenities as well, including an 800-seat Broadway Show Lounge, outdoor cinema, five-story atrium, mini-golf course, and rock-climbing wall to go along with seven restaurants and seven bars and an indoor and outdoor pool.

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Image Source, Port Canaveral

Image Source, MSC Cruises

Port Canaveral, FL – April 27, 2023 – Port Canaveral’s newest homeported ship, the MSC Cruises MSC Seaside has arrived to begin sailing three and four-night cruises to The Bahamas, and seven-night sailings to Cozumel and Costa Maya in Mexico, Belize. All sailings include stops at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.

"We are excited to welcome the MSC Seaside to Port Canaveral, yet another beautiful ship in the MSC Cruises line up to call Port Canaveral home,” said Capt. John Murray, Port Canaveral CEO. "We are proud of our relationship with MSC Cruises, and delighted to be the homeport for this new vessel class. Our Port is setting the standard for excellence in the industry. We’re committed to delivering a world-class experience for all cruise guests."

In a traditional maritime ceremony, Kevin Markey, Chairman of Canaveral Port Authority and Port officials presented MSC Seaside Capt. Michele Di Mauro with a plaque commemorating the cruise ship's first call to the Port.

"The arrival of the MSC Seaside is another great milestone for Port Canaveral and the Space Coast region, further solidifying our position as the top cruise port in the world," said Canaveral Port Authority Chairman Kevin Markey. "We are committed to continuing our efforts to responsibly grow our Port to promote the economic growth and prosperity of our local community and the state of Florida."

MSC Cruises began year-round service from Port Canaveral in 2021 with the inaugural arrival of the MSC Divina. Recognizing the convenience of easy access for cruise guests and modern terminals and amenities that make it an excellent homeport for the cruise line, MSC Cruises added the MSC Meraviglia to the Port Canaveral rotation for U.S. sailings. MSC Meraviglia, now homeported in New York, returns to Port Canaveral weekly for provisioning calls.

“We built MSC Seaside specifically for Caribbean cruising, with an incredible amount of outdoor space and a sweeping waterfront promenade that allows guests to truly connect with the sea during their time on board,” said Rubén A. Rodríguez, President, MSC Cruises USA. “It’s a privilege for MSC Cruises to play a role in Port Canaveral’s growth with the deployment of yet another large and modern ship in our U.S. fleet. MSC Seaside’s beautiful amenities go hand in hand with our international heritage and the natural beauty and sustainability of Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, our private destination in The Bahamas, to represent our unique vision for Caribbean cruising. We’re thrilled to share that experience with guests sailing from Port Canaveral.”

The MSC Seaside offers a wide variety of impressive amenities, including a seafront promenade, two glass-floor catwalks, and panoramic elevators. Passengers sailing the Seaside will also have the opportunity to upgrade to MSC's exclusive Yacht Club or Aurea Spa cabin categories.

The Seaside boasts nine restaurants, including the Pan Asian Market Kitchen by Roy Yamaguchi, and 19 bars and lounges, including the Venchi 1878 Chocolate Bar and Venchi 1878 Gelato & Creperie.

There is no shortage of entertainment options on the Seaside, with the Metropolitan Theater, Forest Aquaventure Park, two full-sized bowling alleys, and clubs for kids among a multitude of options. The ship's impressive sea views and outdoor spaces make the MSC Seaside a vacation experience for all ages.

The MSC Seaside, built in 2017, is a 1,060-foot Seaside-class cruise ship with a distinctive aft design and guest capacity for approximately 4,000 passengers double-occupancy.

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