Cruises from Port Canaveral to the Eastern Caribbean

Which lines sail from Port Canaveral to the Eastern Caribbean?

• Carnival Cruise Line
  Laid-back, loud in the best way and unpretentious; flip-flops, burgers by the pool and a comedy show after dinner.
• Celebrity Cruises
  Stylish, relaxed and adult-leaning; good food, good cocktails and a calmer pool deck than the big family brands.
• Disney Cruise Line
  Polished, family-first and full of Disney magic; character moments by day, Broadway-quality shows by night.
• MSC Cruises
  Modern, stylish and international, with a Mediterranean flair and an upscale enclave for those who want it.
• Norwegian Cruise Line
  Flexible and lively, with a Las Vegas-meets-resort feel; dinner whenever you want, in whatever you packed.
• Princess Cruises
  Relaxed, welcoming and dependable; a comfortable middle ground between mass-market buzz and premium polish.
• Royal Caribbean International
  Energetic, family-friendly and packed with headline attractions; think floating theme park with a good Broadway show at night.

Ships recently or currently deployed on this route include Disney Treasure, Harmony of the Seas, Mardi Gras, MSC Seashore and Star of the Seas. Deployments change season to season, so we confirm the ship for your dates when we quote.

When to go

1. January: Best time, average high 84 degrees F Jan 84°74°
2. February: Best time, average high 84 degrees F Feb 84°74°
3. March: Best time, average high 85 degrees F Mar 85°74°
4. April: Best time, average high 86 degrees F Apr 86°76°
5. May: Shoulder season, average high 87 degrees F May 87°78°
6. June: Cruises run, average high 89 degrees F Jun 89°79°
7. July: Cruises run, average high 90 degrees F Jul 90°79°
8. August: Cruises run, average high 90 degrees F Aug 90°80°
9. September: Cruises run, average high 89 degrees F Sep 89°80°
10. October: Cruises run, average high 88 degrees F Oct 88°78°
11. November: Shoulder season, average high 87 degrees F Nov 87°77°
12. December: Best time, average high 85 degrees F Dec 85°75°

• Best time
• Shoulder season
• Cruises run
• Few or none

Temperatures in Fahrenheit, long-term averages. Climate source.

Sailings run year-round. December to April is the dry season and peak demand. The islands sit in the main Atlantic hurricane track, so June through November, and especially mid-August to mid-October, carries the highest chance of itinerary changes.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, and the Virgin Islands and Leeward Islands lie in the path of many storms that form off Africa in late summer. Most activity falls between mid-August and mid-October. Expect possible port swaps in those months. Winter trade winds can make sea days a little bumpy on the open-ocean leg from Florida.

Where you'll stop

Itineraries vary by line and length. These are the ports the Eastern Caribbean cruises most often visit:

• Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands: Magens Bay, duty-free shopping, the Skyride viewpoint and ferries to St. John's national park beaches.
• Philipsburg, St. Maarten, Sint Maarten: Beach right off the boardwalk, plus quick trips to the French side, Orient Bay and Maho Beach.
• San Juan, Puerto Rico (US): Old San Juan's forts and colorful streets are a short walk from the pier, and evening departures leave time for dinner ashore.
• Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands: Boat trips to The Baths on Virgin Gorda and to some of the best sailing waters in the Caribbean.
• Basseterre, St. Kitts, St. Kitts and Nevis: Brimstone Hill Fortress (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), a scenic railway and a short boat ride to Nevis.
• St. John's, Antigua, Antigua and Barbuda: Many beaches close to port and the restored Nelson's Dockyard at English Harbour.

Before you sail from Port Canaveral

From Orlando, take State Road 528 (the Beachline, a toll road) east straight to the port, about 45 miles from MCO. Cruise-line transfers, private shuttle companies and rideshare all run this route. Melbourne's smaller airport is closer if your flights work. Use your terminal number, not just 'Port Canaveral', in your map app, since terminals sit on both sides of the harbor.

The Canaveral Port Authority operates a garage and surface lots at every cruise terminal, including spaces for oversized vehicles. As of October 2026 the port lists $20 per day plus tax for cars and RVs, counting both the arrival and departure days, paid on entry. Parking is cashless (American Express, Visa, Mastercard and Discover), and garages and lots do not open to embarking passengers before 10 a.m.

• Garages do not open for embarking guests before 10 a.m., so arriving very early just means waiting in line.
• Have a credit card ready; port parking is cashless.
• Check the launch schedule for Cape Canaveral before your trip; a rocket launch during sailaway is a memorable bonus.
• Terminal assignments can change; Disney, for example, sails from both Terminal 8 and Terminal 10, so confirm in your documents.

Documents: Cruises that begin and end at the same US port are "closed-loop" sailings. U.S. Customs and Border Protection says US citizens on a closed-loop cruise can re-enter the United States with a birth certificate plus a government-issued photo ID, and children under 16 need only proof of citizenship such as a birth certificate (most lines want an original or certified copy, not a photocopy). CBP also warns that the countries your ship visits may still ask for a passport, and cruise lines can set stricter rules than the government does. We recommend a passport book anyway: if you miss the ship or have to fly home early from a foreign port, you cannot board an international flight without one, and a passport card works only for land and sea crossings. Non-US citizens, including green card holders, have different rules. Check current requirements with your cruise line and the State Department before you sail. St. Thomas, St. John and Puerto Rico are US territories, but your other stops are foreign countries with their own entry rules.

More detail: our full Port Canaveral cruise port guide and our Eastern Caribbean cruise guide.

Related routes

Also from Port Canaveral: Bahamas, Caribbean, Western Caribbean.

Eastern Caribbean from other ports: Baltimore, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, San Juan.