Port Canaveral is the world’s busiest cruise port but unfortunately, there aren’t any major airports within a half hour drive. MCO, Orlando International Airport, is 45 miles away and close to an hour drive. Because of this, taking a taxi can be expensive.
Thankfully, there are a number of shuttle and car service companies that you can take and it will be a lot cheaper than taxis. These range from shuttle busses to luxury town cars. There’s everything for budget conscious travelers to those who to want a luxury, white glove experience.
In this article, I will go over the number of options for transportation between MCO and Port Canaveral, including my personal experience when flying into Orlando and cruising from Port Canaveral.
I will also go over options for couples and groups so you can decide which one is best for you.
As a reminder: Prices listed in this article are subject to change and are for reference only. They were verified at the time of press but companies can and will change them at their discretion.
Related: Find the best parking options at Port Canaveral
Book a one way or round trip shuttle ticket with Go Port Canaveral, one of the cheapest shuttle options available. Their coach is clean and air conditioned, and luggage assistance is included.
After your plane lands and you pick up your luggage, you can find Go Port Canaveral’s counter in Terminal A near the car rentals. You can pickup your shuttle anywhere between 10 AM and 12:30 PM.
I’ve used this service a couple times and they remain one of my go-to airport to Port Canaveral shuttle services. They have always been on-time for me and very professional in my experience.
If you go to their website, be sure to check out their private transportation packages, which can take you to various places or theme parks in the Cape Canaveral area.
If you have a strict travel budget and don’t have a lot to spend on transportation, Cortrans Shuttle Service is a great option to consider.
You’ll be sharing your ride with other passengers in a climate controlled minibus that allows 80 inches of headroom and cloth seats.
If you happen to be staying at a hotel the night before your trip, you can also book a shuttle to your hotel the day you arrive, and another shuttle from the hotel to the cruise port. Find a list of hotels on their website that they provide service to and from before booking your hotel stay.
This shuttle company can take you to the Port Canaveral or any of the surrounding hotels, including those in the Cocoa Beach area.
If you book and pre-pay online, you’ll receive a discount on the cost of your shuttle.
If you are traveling in a large group with a lot of luggage to transport, this family owned business is a great option to consider. Though a little pricier than some of our other budget-friendly options, their rates include round trip shuttle service complete with luggage assistance.
Prices vary depending on how many passengers are in your group, so be sure you know how many people you’ll be traveling with before you book your spot. The more people in your group, the cheaper it is.
Another budget-friendly option to consider is Orlando Express Shuttle. Book and pre-pay online and you’ll be able to lock in their lowest rate.
They also have a few luxury options with varying prices depending on where you’re going and how large your group is. Check out their website for more information on their private luxury vehicles.
Atlantic Transportation Group has cars, vans, limousines, minibuses, and motor coaches depending on how many people they are transporting at once.
U-Cruise Orlando Shuttle has been in operation for over 20 years and provide safe and reliable transportation between either Orlando airport, the Port Canaveral, and surrounding hotels.
They also provide private luxury options for larger groups who wish to save money. Information regarding private transportation can be found on their website.
Cocoa Beach Shuttle is one of a few companies that offers 24-hour shuttle service. Late-night trips will cost more than standard rates, so you will need to call them to book your late-night reservation.
If you book your shuttle online, choose the round trip option and put in promo code roundtripdiscount to get a 20% discount on your cost.
Cocoa Beach Shuttle also offers options for large groups or private vehicles at really affordable prices (for instance, a 10 passenger van will cost $145). For more information visit their website below.
If you plan to stay in one of the Cocoa Beach Area Hotels, shuttle service from the hotel to the cruise port is only $6 per person.
If you and your family are going on a Disney cruise, Disney Cruise Line offers a transport bus from the airport directly to the Disney terminal at Port Canaveral. There’s a special pickup location at the airport called Disney’s Magical Express. I have personally used this option when taking a Disney cruise.
Service begins around 9 AM, but the first shuttle leaves the airport at approximately 9:30 AM. Make sure that your flight gets in before 1:30 PM, as the shuttle won’t be available after that time.
On the way to the port, the bus will play a informational video getting you pumped up for your cruise.
Reservations must be booked online at least 3 days before your cruise via your Disney Cruise check-in.
If you’re staying at a Walt Disney World Resort, you’ll be picked up by DCL Transfer there instead. Your hotel room at the resort will have a letter with instructions regarding luggage and pickup. Just follow those instructions on cruise day so you don’t miss your shuttle.
As many shuttle services in the Orlando area, Cruise Control Transportation is family owned and operated, and friendly and dependable service to their passengers. While on your hour-long drive from the airport to Port Canaveral, you can enjoy free Wi-Fi and cell phone chargers. All vehicles are 2016 or newer.
Passengers with little children need not worry as Cruise Control will provide a free car seat for the little one (while other companies charge extra or make you bring your own). They will also keep track of your flight so they know exactly when to pick you up and will even send you a text message when they’re on the way to get you.
With a 100% money back guarantee, taking a chance on Cruise Control should be an easy choice.
Orlando Shuttle Service offers professional transportation services to anywhere you need to go when flying into Orlando.
Their website offers a very easy quote feature so you can know how much your transportation with them will cost before you even book your trip. They’ll give you options like shared shuttle, and private cars in the economy, business, and first class & limousines categories.
You can also book a round trip ticket with them, so you never need to worry about having transportation when you need it.
In business since 1999, The Black Car Service strives to offer limo services to incoming Orlando travelers that is both affordable, safe, and pleasurable. Their website even includes a flight tracking feature so you can always know the status of your flight’s arrival and departure.
Additionally, if there are any delays regarding your flight, simply contact Black Car Service and they will adjust your pickup time accordingly.
When booking your transportation, you get to choose the type of vehicle depending on budget and how many people are travelling with you. They also offer a free 20 minute grocery store stop, provided you book a round trip.
However, we didn’t see a way to book a round trip service online, so we recommend calling them if that’s what you need.
Orlando Tours & Transportation has been in business for over 15 years. They provide the highest level of ground travel service with comfort, punctuality, and professionalism.
They offer VIP service for you and your family that will take you from MCO to Port Canaveral and pick you up after your cruise and take you back to Orlando for your flight home.
They have a fleet of sedans, vans, SUVs, and a mini-bus. Their prices include meet & greet, booster seats, and a chauffer will meet you at baggage claim.
This is another great way to get transportation to and from the cruise port when you fly into Orlando. They offer your choice of travel: shared ride shuttle, non-stop shuttle (literally means no stops between the airport and your destination), and black car services (provided through ExecuCar).
You can choose one-way travel, but they recommend that you opt for round trip as it’ll save you money. Also keep in mind that a shared ride, though cheaper, is only going to be available if other people have booked transportation for the same route for around the same timeframe.
One of the things we like most about SuperShuttle is the mobile app, which makes it super easy to manage your account and any trips you have booked.
You can also get airline rewards every time you book shuttle service through them. You just choose your preferred program: American Airlines AAdvantage, Delta SkyMiles, Frontier EarlyReturns, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards, or United MileagePlus. It’s as easy as connecting your SuperShuttle account with your airline rewards number.
Port Canaveral Transportation provides the best in luxury transportation with a wide variety of vehicles to choose from, all depending on budget and the size of your group.
They have base rates each vehicle type, and they provide an idea of cost based on where you’re traveling to. Still, the best way to get an accurate rate is to input your details on the website and choose a vehicle or give them a call.
They also have an app that you can download for the fastest bookings. It is available on Google Play and the App Store.
Ace Luxury Transportation is another company that lets you book your choice of vehicle, depending on the size of your group.
Their cheapest car for traveling from the Orlando International Airport (or Orlando hotels) to the Port Canaveral seats 1-4 people, and you can go up as high as a coach bus that seats 50-54. Luggage assistance is included in all prices as well.
A 20% driver gratuity fee is added to your cost when you book your car, but you won’t have to worry about any other hidden charges or fees.
Even though this is more expensive than taking a shuttle, it’s my personal preferred method of going to the cruise port. I’ve done it several times and will probably do it again on my next cruise.
There are two benefits to using Uber or Lyft. The first is that you get a private car all to yourself. The second is that you can request a ride whenever you’re ready and not have to worry about the scheduling times of shuttles.
In the past, I have paid anywhere from $60-$80 for a basic car, but a lot can depend on time of day, surge pricing, etc.
If you want or need a larger vehicle, it will likely cost over $100 each way.
In short, no they don’t. However, there is an option you can take that requires multiple transfers from busses, to a train, and then a shuttle bus to the port. Because of this, I personally don’t see anyone choosing this option because of the time it takes and the pain of carrying luggage with multiple types of transfers.
Also, Brightline does not have a station near Port Canaveral at this time.
Deciding which mode of transportation you’re going to take for your cruise out of Port Canaveral all depends on you. What’s best for one person is not best for everyone.
Personally, I just take a Lyft or Uber because I like the convenience of it. I have taken shuttles in the past but waiting in line to check-in, then waiting again for the bus just wasn’t for me.
Whichever you decide, we hope you have a great cruise.
This post was last updated in early 2024.
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