Aerial view of waterfront homes and private docks on the Banana River

Sailing from Port Canaveral

Where to stay the night before your cruise

A whole house minutes from the terminals, instead of splitting your group across airport hotel rooms.

Most people sailing out of Port Canaveral fly into Orlando the day before and need somewhere to land for a night. A hotel room near the airport means an early drive, a second set of parking fees and a group scattered across floors. A house on Merritt Island puts you minutes from the terminals with everyone under one roof, a pool in the back and a kitchen for the morning.

“Home was appointed nicely. Fully stocked kitchen with supplies. Host was very communicative. Would stay again.”

Patrick · Owensboro, Kentucky · stayed before a cruise · via Airbnb

What makes it work

Built for the night before

Arrive whenever you land

Self check-in with a keypad after 3:00 PM. No key handover, no front desk, no arrival window to make after a delayed flight.

Parking for seven

Free driveway parking for up to 7 vehicles, so two or three families can drive in separately and still all stay together.

10 AM checkout

Checkout is before 10:00 AM, which lines up with boarding. The terminals are minutes away, not an hour up the coast.

A pool and a dock

A screened pool open all year and a 100 ft dock on the Banana River. Better than a lobby for the hours before you sail.

The house

Banana River House

A screened pool, a 100 ft dock and the whole Banana River out front. Sleeps 6.

  • Three bedrooms, two baths, sleeps 6
  • Screened private pool and a 100 ft dock
  • Pets welcome
  • Superhosts Ben & Lisa reply within the hour

Our other home, Bamboo House, takes stays of 30 nights and up, so it is not the one for a pre-cruise night.

Hammock beside the screened pool with the river beyond

Before you book

Cruise questions we get

How far is the house from the Port Canaveral cruise terminals?

Banana River House is on Merritt Island, minutes from Port Canaveral, so the drive to the terminals on sailing morning is short. Cocoa Beach and Kennedy Space Center are also minutes away.

Can we check in late the night before a cruise?

Yes. Check-in is after 3:00 PM and uses a keypad, so there is no key handover and no arrival window to hit. Late flights into Orlando are not a problem.

What time do we need to leave on sailing day?

Checkout is before 10:00 AM, which lines up with most Port Canaveral boarding windows. You can be at the terminal with time to spare.

Is there room to park several cars?

Banana River House has free driveway parking for up to 7 vehicles, which is usually the sticking point when two or three families travel to a sailing together.

Can we leave a car at the house during the cruise?

That is not something we offer as standard — ask us when you enquire about your dates and we will tell you what is possible for your sailing.