If you’re flying into Florida for your cruise, choosing the right transportation to Port Canaveral is one of the most important decisions you’ll make before embarkation day.
Two common options cruisers consider are Cocoa Beach Express and Go Port. While both provide shuttle service between MCO, area hotels, and the cruise terminals, the experience can be very different.
When your vacation depends on arriving at Port Canaveral on time, reliability matters more than anything else. Here’s how these two services compare:
Cocoa Beach Express
Cocoa Beach Express is listed by the Canaveral Port Authority as the official ground transportation concessionaire, which gives it visibility and credibility at Port Canaveral. They offer shared shuttle service between MCO, Port Canaveral, and Cocoa Beach area hotels, along with curbside pickup and luggage assistance.
Pricing & Booking
Advertised Price: $28 per person
Actual Checkout Price: depends on itinerary
- Shared shuttle pricing starts as low as $28 per person one way
- Final pricing isn’t shown upfront and depends on itinerary details
- Checkout requires identity verification and multiple steps
- Cruisers must call to book same-day transportation, they cannot book online
Timing & Reliability
Cocoa Beach Express promotes hourly shared shuttles and on-time arrival, but customer feedback shows the experience can vary significantly depending on timing and driver availability.
Several travelers report:
- Pickups arriving 30 to more than 60 minutes late
- Missed airport pickups after flight delays
- Difficulty reaching customer service when issues arise
- Being forced to book Uber last minute to avoid missing flights or cruise boarding
One TripAdvisor reviewer noted:
“Our pickup at the airport never arrived after our flight was delayed. We had to take an Uber instead. No one answered the support line.”
— TripAdvisor, November 2025
Another traveler shared:
“The shuttle was over an hour late. After that, we decided not to risk it again and took the cruise line shuttle.”
— TripAdvisor, January 2025
While many trips go smoothly, these inconsistencies are especially concerning for cruisers arriving the same day as embarkation, when even a short delay can cause major stress or worse – a missed ship.
Driver Experience: High Highs, Low Lows
One consistent theme across Cocoa Beach Express reviews is that the experience is highly driver-dependent.
What travelers like:
- Friendly, conversational drivers
- Helpful luggage assistance
- Clean vans when things go right
- Affordable pricing
What travelers dislike:
- Missed or late pickups
- Poor communication during delays
- Dirty or uncomfortable vehicles
- Unprofessional interactions in some cases
- Long waits after disembarkation
This inconsistency makes Cocoa Beach Express more of a gamble, especially for travelers who want a predictable, no-stress experience.
Go Port: Built for Cruise Travelers
Go Port was designed from the ground up to serve Port Canaveral cruisers, with transportation timed around cruise embarkation and disembarkation, not general airport traffic.
With more than 6,000 positive reviews, Go Port is trusted by thousands of cruisers every year to deliver a smooth, on-time experience.
Flat, Transparent Pricing
Advertised Rate: $29.99 per person each way
Actual Checkout Price: $29.99 per person
- No hidden fees or taxes added at checkout
- No identity verification hoops
- Easy online booking, even for same-day transportation
What you see is exactly what you pay.
Cruise-Aligned Scheduling
Unlike services that operate more like taxis or on-demand vans, Go Port runs cruise-specific shuttle schedules designed to:
- Align with ship boarding times
- Accommodate flight delays
- Handle large volumes of cruisers efficiently
This structure dramatically reduces the risk of late arrivals and missed connections, especially on busy cruise days when thousands of travelers are trying to get to and from Port Canaveral.
Larger Buses, More Luggage Room, Less Stress
Go Port primarily uses full-size motorcoach buses, not just smaller vans. This means:
- More room for luggage
- Less crowding
- Better air conditioning
- Faster loading and unloading
- Fewer delays caused by space limitations
For families and groups, or travelers with cruise-length luggage, this makes a noticeable difference.
Multiple Airport Coverage
Go Port offers shuttle transportation directly to Port Canaveral from both Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) at affordable rates. Plus, it’s easy to book round-trip shuttle service so you can easily get back to the airport without post-vacation stress.
Flying into Melbourne Orlando International Airport (MLB) before your cruise? Plan to arrive a day early and book a convenient Fly Snooze Cruise package, which includes all of your transportation to and from Port Canaveral.
This flexibility gives cruisers more flight options and reduces the stress of coordinating transportation, especially for travelers flying in from smaller regional airports.
🌟 Pro tip: Go Port can also take you directly from your Orlando, Sanford, or Lake Nona area hotel to Port Canaveral for the same affordable price!
On-Site Support You Can Actually See
Instead of relying entirely on phone calls or texts, Go Port provides:
- On-site staff at Orlando International Airport and Port Canaveral
- Clear pickup instructions
- Staff available to assist if plans change
You’re not left wondering where your shuttle is or hoping someone answers the phone.
Go Port vs. Cocoa Beach Express: Side-by-Side Comparison
Flying in Early? Go Port Makes It Even Easier
Arriving the day before your cruise? All of Go Port’s Fly Snooze Cruise bundled packages include:
- Hotel accommodations
- Airport pickup
- Transportation to and from Port Canaveral
Plus, you can book everything in one reservation! Plan ahead to remove guesswork and minimize risk before cruise day.
Final Verdict: Go Port Is the Safer Choice for Cruise Travelers
Cocoa Beach Express works well for some travelers, especially short local trips. But reviews consistently show that timing, communication, and reliability can vary, which introduces risk on cruise day.
When your vacation depends on getting to Port Canaveral on time, Go Port delivers the consistency, structure, and peace of mind cruisers need.
Rely on Go Port for:
✅ Flat, transparent pricing
✅ Cruise-focused scheduling
✅ Spacious buses
✅ On-site support
✅ Thousands of positive reviews
✅ Proven reliability for Port Canaveral cruises
Book your Go Port shuttle today and start your cruise knowing you’ll arrive on time without stress!
