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One of the biggest questions I get is: Where should we stay the night before a cruise?
You always want to fly in the day before a cruise, not the day of, because if your flight gets delayed (and they do), you could literally miss the vacation you’ve been planning for months. When I worked for Jet Blue, I took panicked calls all the time from people stuck at the airport while their cruise ship was sailing without them. It happened constantly. So please, hear me when I tell you to give yourself the buffer and fly in the day before.
The pre-cruise hotel is one of my favorite ways to use points.
If you’re new to using points for trips like this, my beginner’s guide walks through all the stuff that might be a bit confusing when you are just getting into this hobby. And here’s my list of favorite cards to get you started.
And if you’re planning a cruise specifically, this explains how to offset the cost with points.
Staying Near Orlando Before a Port Canaveral Cruise
Most Disney cruises that “leave from Orlando” actually depart from Port Canaveral, which is about 45–60 minutes from Orlando International Airport. That distance ends up shaping a lot of the decision on where you stay before your cruise.
If you’re adding Disney parks beforehand, staying near Walt Disney World makes sense. But if you’re flying in just for the cruise, transportation to the port becomes the biggest factor.
My Favorite Hyatt Option
One of the easiest and lowest-stress options is staying right at the airport.
Hyatt Regency inside Orlando International Airport
This is one of those hotels families book over and over because of how simple it makes everything. You walk off your flight and straight into the hotel. You don’t have to wait 30 minutes for the shuttle to come again or haul your luggage multiple times.
There is a dedicated Disney Cruise Line desk in the hotel helping guests check in, coordinate transfers, and answer questions. Even better, is they process all of your documentation right there, including passports, port arrival form, and linking up your magic bands. You skip the entire line and process in the port itself.
When it’s time to head to the port, you board transportation directly from the hotel. When you return, the process reverses: customs, transfer, back to the airport.
If your flight timing is awkward, they even offer day rooms, which can be a lifesaver when you need a place to nap, reset, or just not sit in an airport terminal for hours.
Here’s my list of cards that might help.
A Note on Disney Transfers vs. Lyft or Uber
For a family, Disney cruise transfers can cost more than using rideshare. But they often get you onto the ship earlier.
Embarkation works in tiers. Returning cruisers board first, and first-time cruisers typically board later. Disney transfers are scheduled to move guests through earlier processing windows, which can mean less waiting and getting on the ship sooner.
For first-time cruisers without status, that difference can feel huge.
Staying Near Port Canaveral Instead
Some families prefer waking up closer to the ship instead of at the airport, especially with early embarkation times.
These are the Port Canaveral properties families consistently use on points. They are super nice because they fit families of five or more. Being Marriott properties, they have a higher points “price” than Hyatt, but could be worth it to stay one night before a cruise so you don’t have to think about it too much.
Residence Inn Cape Canaveral Cocoa Beach
This is one of the easiest options for families:
- suites with kitchenettes
- breakfast included
- quick drive to the port
SpringHill Suites Cape Canaveral Cocoa Beach
Great for families of five:
- two queens + sofa bed
- newer property
- simple embarkation morning
These aren’t luxury resorts. They’re practical, comfortable, and built for the exact kind of overnight stay families need before a cruise.
Free night certificates are always helpful if you have a stay like this coming up. Here’s my list of cards that can help you get free night certificates.
Staying Near Fort Lauderdale Before a Cruise
Fort Lauderdale cruises feel completely different from an Orlando planning perspective.
The airport and cruise port are only a few miles apart. Transportation is faster, cheaper, and easier. Uber or Lyft is usually a quick drive, which makes planning far simpler for families.
This flexibility opens up more hotel options, especially when using points.
Hyatt Options Fort Lauderdale
Hyatt Place Fort Lauderdale Airport & Cruise Port
This is one of the easiest pre-cruise stays for families flying in the night before. It’s close to the airport, and about 3-4 miles from Port Everglades. It’s typically just a 10-15 min ride to the Port.
Rooms are larger than a typical hotel room with a separate sitting area and sofa bed. Free breakfast helps you start cruise morning fed and ready, and transportation options to the port are simple to arrange because this hotel regularly hosts cruise passengers. It’s a great option if you are flying in later the day before and want somewhere easy to stay.
Hyatt Place Fort Lauderdale Cruise Port and Convention Center
If your priority is being as close to the cruise port as possible, this location is a great pick. It’s just 1.5-2 miles from Port Everglades and surrounded by restaurants and stores where you can grab last-minute items before boarding day. Families like this hotel because rooms are spacious, it’s easy to get transportation to the port, and if you are a World of Hyatt member, you get free breakfast too!
Grabbing an Uber from this hotel is easy and inexpensive, but the hotel also has a paid shuttle option to the port. This is where my sister chose to stay for her latest cruise, and they walked to dinner at Outback Steakhouse and the grocery store for extra snacks before the cruise. It’s super convenient.
Both work well for families and offer easy access to the port.
Marriott Hotels That Fit Families Near Fort Lauderdale
Families of five often struggle to find rooms that work. These properties consistently come up as strong options:
SpringHill Suites Fort Lauderdale Airport & Cruise Port
This is a great pre-cruise choice for families who want space without paying resort prices. Every room is a suite with a separate sitting area and sofa bed, which makes it easier for kids to unwind while parents finish packing or organizing cruise documents. It’s located close to both the airport and Port Everglades, so transportation is simple and predictable. Free breakfast is a big win on embarkation morning, and the layout works especially well for families who don’t want everyone crammed into a standard hotel room the night before sailing.
Residence Inn Fort Lauderdale Airport & Cruise Port
If your family likes a little more room to spread out, this is one of the most comfortable options before a cruise. Rooms feel more like mini-apartments, with kitchenettes, extra space, and layouts that work well for larger families or longer travel days. It’s close to the airport and an easy ride to the cruise port, so logistics stay simple. Families also love having a fridge and microwave to handle snacks, picky eaters, or last-minute meal needs before boarding day — which makes the whole pre-cruise experience feel calmer and more manageable.
And they’re much easier to book on points than beachfront resorts.
Ultra-Close Hilton Options to the Port
Some families want to be as close to embarkation as possible.
This is one of the closest hotels to Port Everglades, which makes embarkation morning incredibly easy for families. You’re right by the water, and transportation to the cruise terminal is quick and simple. It even partners with Disney for those Disney Cruise Line transfers that can get you on the ship quicker. Families like this option because it removes the stress of timing, traffic, and long transfers on cruise day. However, most standard rooms sleep four, so you will need a suite or likely two rooms for a bigger family.
There’s also the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa that partners with DCL, but it’s the same story with how many each room can sleep.
This is a favorite pre-cruise hotel for families because everything is built around convenience. All rooms are suites, which means you can book it for families bigger than four, and the free cooked-to-order breakfast makes embarkation morning much easier. It’s located near Port Everglades with restaurants, stores, and last-minute essentials within walking distance, perfect for grabbing snacks, sunscreen, or anything you forgot before getting on the ship.
Here’s my list of cards that could help with these choices.
Why Using Points Matters So Much for Pre-Cruise Hotels
Hotels almost always raise prices for dates the night before a cruise departs. They know when ships are in and out of the port.
Demand is high, families need rooms, and properties near the airport and port know it.
It’s not unusual to see standard hotel rates double, especially for family-sized rooms.
Using points:
- avoids surge pricing
- locks in value early
- lets you prioritize convenience
This is one of the smartest times to redeem hotel points.
Here’s my list of favorite overall hotel cards.
How Families Actually Earn These Hotel Stays
Most families aren’t paying cash for these pre-cruise hotels.
They’re using welcome offers, everyday spending, and free night certificates to build up travel over time.
If you’re trying to figure out where to start, remember to visit my beginner’s guide. And my best offers page always has all the best elevated offers for the month.
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