Port Canaveral became the world’s busiest cruise port last year, beating PortMiami with a record-breaking 8.6 million passenger movements and more than 1,000 calls.
While the summer slows down compared with the busy fall and winter cruising season, Port Canaveral still hosts 14 homeported ships with itineraries from two to 14 nights.
Carnival and Royal Caribbean both have four ships sailing from Port Canaveral this summer, followed by Disney with three ships each while MSC, Princess and Norwegian sail one each.
Celebrity, which debuted at Port Canaveral in 2024, will bring the Apex back for the winter sailing season.
In other cruise news, Carnival Cruise Line recently cut the ribbon on RelaxAway at Half Moon Cay, a private destination in the Bahamas shared with Holland America, featuring pristine beaches. The north section of the destination now includes a pier that can accommodate two Carnival ships, a tram system, two food venues, six bars, cabanas, gift shops and more.
This September, Norwegian will open its 6-acre Great Tides Waterpark at the cruise line’s private destination, Great Stirrup Cay, in the Bahamas. The new attraction features 19 waterslides, a 9,000-square-foot splashpad, a cliff-jumping feature and a “dynamic river.”
Carnival Sunrise guests enjoy a day in the sun at RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, a private destination shared by Carnival and Holland America in The Bahamas, on June 1. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)
While this summer won’t feature any new ship releases at Port Canaveral, Royal Caribbean will introduce its third Icon-class ship, Legend of the Seas, to Fort Lauderdale this fall following the vessel’s summer in the Mediterranean. Star of the Seas still sails out of Port Canaveral, housing guests on what is tied for the title of world’s largest cruise ship.
The newly refurbished Harmony of the Seas is coming to Port Canaveral and sailing itineraries ranging from very short two-day cruises to weeklong voyages.
Here’s a guide for summertime cruising from Florida’s Space Coast.
The Carnival Vista is docked at Carnival Cruise Line’s Celebration Key on Grand Bahama Island. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)
Carnival
Carnival Glory hosts guests for itineraries of three to five days to the Bahamas with ports including Nassau, RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, Celebration Key and Princess Cays. The average cost ranges from $241-$625 per person for a two-person room.
Carnival Freedom sails itineraries of three to five days to the Bahamas with ports including Nassau, RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, Celebration Key and Princess Cays. The average cost ranges from $302-$639 per person for a two-person room.
Carnival Mardi Gras hosts weeklong cruises to an array of Caribbean destinations, including Cozumel, Isla Tropicale, Grand Turk, Nassau, Amber Cove and Celebration Key. The average cost ranges from $572-$1,096 per person for a two-person room.
Carnival Vista sails with six- or eight-day cruises to the eastern and southern Caribbean, including ports such as RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, Amber Cove, Grand Turk, St. Thomas, Celebration Key, Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire. The average cost ranges from $429-$1,306 per person for a two-person room.
Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas arrives at Port Canaveral on Aug. 9, 2025. The company’s second Icon-class ship is the world’s largest cruise ship. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)
Royal Caribbean
Utopia of the Seas offers three- and four-night itineraries with stops in Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay. The average cost per person ranges from $542-$550.
Adventure of the Seas sails with six- and eight-night cruises that include ports in Jamaica, Curacao, Grand Cayman, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Aruba, the Dominican Republic, St. Thomas and Perfect Day at CocoCay. The average cost per person ranges from $589-$1,222.
Star of the Seas hosts guests for weeklong cruises to Honduras, Cozumel, Perfect Day at CocoCay, St. Maarten, San Juan and other destinations in the Caribbean. The average cost per person ranges from $1,099-$1,149.
Harmony of the Seas hosts guests for itineraries of two to seven nights to St. Thomas, Perfect Day at CocoCay, Nassau and Cozumel. The two-night “Perfect Day Getaway Cruise” is a new offering. The average cost per person ranges from $364-$728.
Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship, Disney Treasure, arrives at Port Canaveral in 2024. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Disney
Disney Fantasy offers itineraries for four- and five-night cruises with one option for a 10-night Caribbean cruise to St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Antigua, Puerto Rico, Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point and Disney Castaway Cay. Typical Bahamian destinations include Nassau, Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point and Disney Castaway Cay. Starting prices range from $2,094-$7,066 for two guests.
Disney Treasure invites guests for seven-night Caribbean cruises that stop in Mexico, Grand Cayman, Jamaica and Disney Castaway Cay or the British Virgin Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands and Disney Castaway Cay. Starting prices range from $3,177-$3,611 for two guests.
Disney Wish sails with three- and four-night Bahamian cruise itineraries stopping in Nassau, Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point and Disney Castaway Cay. Starting prices range from $1,934-$3,105 for two guests.
MSC
MSC Seashore sails with itineraries from three nights to 11 nights. Shorter cruises stop in the Bahamas at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve and Nassau. Longer trips sail to Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico. The starting price per person ranges from $239-$682.
Richard Tribou / Orlando Sentinel
The Norwegian Prima sails out of Port Canaveral this summer. (Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel)
Norwegian
Norwegian Prima hosts guests for seven-day cruises to the Dominican Republic, U.S. Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Bahamas — including Great Stirrup Cay. Cruises start at $779 per person.
Princess
Caribbean Princess sails seven- and 14-night itineraries to the eastern and western Caribbean with ports including Nassau, Princess Cays, Dominican Republic, Amber Cove, Grand Turk and San Juan. Cruises start at $569-$1,348 per person for two guests.
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