Karl WP Beyer On the east coast of the US state of Florida, more precisely in Brevard County, lies the small town of Cape Canaveral, which is known worldwide because of its proximity to the Kennedy Space Center. And one more thing: American cruise enthusiasts in particular know the place. Well over four million passengers use the facilities of the world's second largest cruise port every year.
Cape Canaveral - Jetty Park Beach
Cape Canaveral
The city lies on a long and narrow peninsula. Cape Canaveral borders the extensive harbor area to the north and Cocoa Beach to the south. Natural boundaries are formed by the lagoon system of the Banana River and Merritt Island in the west and the Atlantic coast in the east.
Cape Canaveral's Attractions
The region has a variety of attractions: long beaches, theme parks, aquariums, zoological gardens, sports facilities and water parks. Popular destinations in the area include the Cocoa Beach section on the Atlantic and the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse. On rainy days, the Port Canaveral Exploration Tower provides fun and useful information. Visitors can find out all sorts of interesting facts on seven floors and 515 square meters of indoor and outdoor space.
The building, which resembles a sail, is currently closed for renovation work.
Port Canaveral Exploration Tower
One of Florida's many tourist attractions is the city of Orlando, around 85 kilometers away. In addition to the huge Orlando Disney World, the large city with more than 300.000 inhabitants has various theme parks that also offer visitors a lot of fun.
The region's main attraction, however, is the world-famous Kennedy Space Center, which is financed entirely by visitors' money. The connected “space station” has been the starting point for all manned space flights in the USA since 1961. From the neighboring Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, unmanned rockets with satellites fly into space. Under Visit to the Kennedy Space Center we report on our organized excursion to the huge exhibition area, 25 kilometers from the berths of the cruise ships.
Kennedy Space Center - Rocket Garden
Port Canaveral – cruise ship destination
The second largest cruise port in the world in terms of passenger numbers only began operations with a terminal in 1982. Previously, the port was used exclusively for civil and military purposes. It has remained the same multiple use to this day. International cruise companies choose Port Canaveral as the departure and destination port for cruises to the Caribbean. The port also serves as a stopover for sea voyages that target the American and Canadian east coasts during the autumn months, and especially during the “Indian Summer”.
Carnival Liberty - Port Canaveral
Disney Wish - Port Canaveral
Port Canaveral is the home port of the Disney Cruise Line. In recent years, significant investments have been made in the current seven terminals. Unlike many cruise destinations, Port Canaveral has no connection to a culturally interesting hinterland. Passengers with a stopover in Port Canaveral are well advised to book an organized excursion to Orlando or the Kennedy Space Center. Alternatively, you can explore the region on your own with a rental car.
October 2023