Port Canaveral (Orlando) tours and MSC Shore Excursions

Port Canaveral tours, Orlando| MSC Cruises

Port Canaveral Florida is surrounded by miles of pristine beaches that form a homebase for America’s space program. Our Port Canaveral tours ensure you witness the magic that gives this central Florida region its nickname: the Space Coast.

MSC shore excursions let you imagine an astronaut’s life with visits to the Kennedy Space Center, home to the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame and a Rocket Garden complete with crafts from NASA’s Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs, as well as a life-sized model of the Apollo 11 moon landing.

Excursions in Port Canaveral and Orlando

With boundless things to see in Port Canaveral, it’s tough to know where to begin. On Port Canaveral tours, you can learn space travel from astronauts, explore a natural gem by boat, or indulge in dining and shopping at Orlando attractions.

Port Canaveral excursions plant you in the middle of a rare coastal ecosystem with pontoon cruises of the Indian River Lagoon. Orlando tours take you inland to ‘The City Beautiful’, home to theme parks like Walt Disney World and Universal Studios.

Port Canaveral tours, Kennedy Space Center | MSC Cruises
Port Canaveral tours, Kennedy Space Center | MSC Cruises
Port Canaveral tours, Kennedy Space Center | MSC Cruises

Learn from a real astronaut at Kennedy Space Center

Ever wondered what travelling through outer space is like? Ask a real astronaut on an excursion to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. If the exhibits, displays and live shows about NASA’s journeys beyond Earth’s atmosphere don’t impress you, the Rocket Garden – where you can stroll among real rockets from NASA’s Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo space programs – surely will.

 

At the Apollo Saturn V Center, housed within Kennedy Space Center, you can stand underneath the 111-metre long Saturn V rocket, the largest to ever soar through space.

Port Canaveral tours, Disney hot air ballon| MSC Cruises
Port Canaveral tours, Theme Park | MSC Cruises
Port Canaveral tours, Water Park | MSC Cruises

Orlando theme parks: rides and games for the whole family

Immersive rides, unique dining experiences, shopping and live entertainment – it’s no wonder that Orlando theme parks attract dreamers of all ages. Dress up like a princess or your favourite Disney character at Walt Disney World Resort, home to EPCOT, a special corner where you can try cuisines from vendors representing 11 nations.

And then there’s Universal Orlando Resort, a massive entertainment complex where you can get up-close and personal with your favourite television and movie characters at three theme parks, including a water park.

Port Canaveral tours, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge | MSC Cruises
Port Canaveral tours, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge | MSC Cruises
Port Canaveral tours, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge | MSC Cruises

Drop in on a wildlife sanctuary by boat on Merritt Island

Excursions to Merritt Island bring you to a sanctuary for species of coastal animals you’re unlikely to see anywhere else, including endangered or threatened species such as the dinosaur-like wood stork and the gentle West Indian manatee.

 

These animals and more call the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge home, and you can learn what life is like for them on a pontoon cruise excursion guided by eco-tourist experts. Bring binoculars to catch glimpses of bald eagles, brown pelicans or bright pink roseate spoonbills soaring through the air.

Book your cruise to Port Canaveral (Orlando)

Central Florida’s Space Coast is a place of wonder. Book a Port Canaveral cruise to visit Kennedy Space Center, take a boat tour around the Indian River Lagoon or indulge in retail therapy and worlds of entertainment at one of several Orlando theme parks.ì

Port Canaveral cruises also unlock dream-like Caribbean settings – islands such as Antigua and Barbuda, Martinique, and St. Maarten are easy to fall in love with, but difficult to leave.

Port Canaveral tours, Port Canaveral beach | MSC Cruises
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Why choose MSC Shore Excursions to Port Canaveral and Orlando

Where else but on Port Canaveral tours can you witness awe-inspiring sights like rockets launching over a beach or an endangered manatee mother and pup enjoying a sea grass lunch? The adventures you’ll have on MSC shore excursions – both on land and at sea – add unforgettable memories to a cruise.

Port Canaveral tours and excursions FAQ

In which language Port Canaveral excursions are conducted?

MSC shore excursions in and around the Port Canaveral area can be conducted in five languages: Italian, Spanish, French, English and German, depending on the availability of relevant guides. The confirmed language will be announced during the cruise.

Are Port Canaveral tours always available to be booked?

Some of the Port Canaveral excursions might not be available, as many of our Port Canaveral tours are extremely popular. Therefore, we advise passengers to book excursions before departure.

Can Port Canaveral excursion programme be changed?

The MSC shore excursions programme gives a guided summary of available Port Canaveral tours. The exact itinerary and cost will be confirmed during the cruise. Both the programme and schedules may change depending on conditions within the tour area.

 

The shore excursions programme is subject to change in order to comply with local regulations, laws and other factors.

Is there a boat tour of Orlando?

MSC Cruises doesn’t offer a boat tour of Orlando, but it does offer an excursion around the lagoons surrounding Port Canaveral. The ‘Pontoon Lagoon Cruise’ tour involves a cruise along the Banana River south of Port Canaveral, exploring the Thousand Islands Conservation Area at Cocoa Beach, an area known for its range of wildlife.

 

The cruise then moves to the saltwater marshes and mangrove tunnels of the Indian River Lagoon – look out for manatees, eagles and bottlenose dolphins.

What is included in the Kennedy Space Center tour?

Cape Canaveral is synonymous around the world with Kennedy Space Center, the place where NASA’s rockets are spectacularly launched into space, as you'll learn on MSC Cruises’ ‘Kennedy Space Center’ excursion.

 

Explore the history of the launch area and walk amongst engineering marvels in the Rocket Garden, before visiting the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame and the famous countdown clock. Thrill-seekers can also get an idea of what it feels like to blast off into space via the Shuttle Launch Experience, a thrilling eight-and-a-half-minute simulation.

What is involved in the Space Coast Highlights tour?

The ‘Space Coast Highlights’ excursion offered by MSC Cruises involves a coach tour of this beautiful region’s varied sights. During the course of the tour, you’ll visit Space View Park (a pretty area by the water, with monuments and plaques paying tribute to astronauts and other space workers) and Playalinda Beach on the Canaveral National Seashore, with fantastic coastal views.

 

Continue on to the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge for more fantastic views and potential wildlife-spotting, before driving past NASA’s history-making Kennedy Space Center.