When you’re getting ready for a cruise out of Port Canaveral, transportation is a big decision so you can avoid a stressful start to your cruise. Get it right, and embarkation day feels smooth and easy!
Go Port and Mears Transportation are two names that come up frequently when cruisers look at transportation options. While both can get you from the Orlando area to Port Canaveral, they’re built for different types of travelers.
Getting to Port Canaveral on Cruise Day
Mears Transportation
Mears Transportation is one of the largest ground transportation companies in Florida. With Mears, you’re essentially booking point-to-point transportation service. Options typically include taxis, private sedans, SUVs, or luxury vehicles depending on your preference.
This setup can work well if:
- You want a private ride
- You’re comfortable coordinating your own timing
- Your plans are flexible
Because pricing is based on distance, vehicle type, and timing, costs can vary significantly. The company offers the option to get a quote through their website, but cruisers have to do the legwork to set up the details, making it harder to figure out what will fit your timing and budget. Some cruisers appreciate the flexibility, while others find it adds uncertainty on a day when timing matters.
Reviews often mention that wait times and pickup timing can vary, especially during busy travel periods. For non-cruise travel, that may not be a big deal. For a cruise with a fixed boarding window, it’s something to consider.
“Be prepared for them to keep telling you ‘15-20 more minutes’ as you are nearly an hour with no way of getting an ETA. Phone customer service is equally useless.” – Google Review, May 2025
Go Port Shuttle Service
Go Port’s shuttle service to Port Canaveral is designed specifically around cruise departures with schedules that are aligned with ship boarding times. The pricing is affordable and shown upfront, plus you can easily book all legs of your transportation through the website in one seamless reservation.
Go Port offers shared shuttle transportation to Port Canaveral from:
- Orlando International Airport (MCO)
- Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB)
- Orlando and Lake Nona area hotels
- Sanford area hotels
Instead of small passenger vans, Go Port uses large, comfortable motorcoach-style shuttle buses. That matters more than most travelers realize, especially on cruise day. There’s dedicated space for luggage, making the ride far more comfortable especially for families and groups.
“I love that I received a text the morning way before I got off the ship with very detailed instructions on how to find the shuttle. they load your luggage for you. when we arrived at airport the bus driver gave instructions on how to navigate the airport from the drop off location. The experience was so easy” – Trip Advisor Review, November 2025
Comparing Black Car and Luxury Transportation
Mears Luxury Car Service
Mears offers traditional chauffeured black car service to Port Canaveral, including luxury sedans, SUVs, and executive vans. These services are ideal for travelers who want a premium, private ride and are comfortable booking each leg of their trip separately.
Airport transfers, hotel transfers, and port transfers are all arranged individually. For travelers used to managing detailed itineraries, this could be a good fit.
Go Port Black Car Service
Go Port’s black car service to Port Canaveral works differently. It’s offered as part of select Fly Snooze Cruise packages which combine all of your pre-cruise hotel and transportation needs for up to six passengers in one easy booking.
For cruisers who want to stay in Lake Nona, Cocoa Beach or Cape Canaveral
Each of these Fly Snooze Cruise packages includes:
- Private black car service from Orlando International Airport to your hotel
- Pre-cruise hotel accommodations
- Shared shuttle to your cruise terminal at Port Canaveral
- Shuttle service back to MCO after your cruise
For cruisers who want the full premium experience
Go Port offers all-inclusive black car service for each leg of your journey when you choose a Fly Snooze Cruise package at The Florida Hotel & Conference Center or the Lake Nona Wave Hotel. You’ll enjoy private, nonstop transportation handled by professional chauffeurs from:
- Orlando International Airport to your hotel
- Hotel to your cruise terminal at Port Canaveral
- Port Canaveral back to MCO after the cruise
The best part? Everything is combined into one reservation. You’ll have everything booked in just a handful of clicks which removes a lot of the small decisions that can add stress before and after a cruise.
Go Port vs. Mears: Cruise Transportation Comparison
Which Option is Right for Port Canaveral Cruisers?
Mears Transportation may be a good fit if:
- You have time to research options and pricing
- You prefer booking each ride separately
- Flexibility matters more than coordination
- You’re OK taking the risk that poor timing may mean missing embarkation
Go Port is often the better choice if:
- You want transportation aligned with cruise schedules
- You prefer upfront pricing and predictable timing
- You want your hotel and transportation handled together
- You want the peace of mind that you’ll get to your cruise on time
For cruise travelers, the difference usually comes down to this: general transportation versus transportation designed specifically for cruise day.
If you want to arrive in Florida knowing everything is already coordinated, Go Port keeps the focus on starting your vacation stress-free!
