Port Canaveral Hits Major Construction Milestone on Massive New Parking Garage
Key Aspects:
Port Canaveral has begun vertical construction on a new parking garage at Cruise Terminal 6.
The new garage will add more than 3,500 parking spaces to the busy homeport.
Estimated completion of the new garage is expected to be in fall 2026.
Every cruise guest who has driven to one of the world’s busiest cruise ports is familiar with how crazy it can be to find a parking space. Guests driving to Port Canaveral, however, will soon find some relief to the chaos.
A new 3,532-space, 13-story parking garage is currently under construction at Terminal 6, the northeastern cruise terminal used by multiple lines, including Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian Cruise Line. Guests from Terminal 5, home of Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line, will also use the parking garage.
Vertical construction on the new structure has begun with the lowering of a 600-square-foot, 36.7-ton pre-cast concrete wall section. Now that the first section is in place, the rest of the parking garage will continue to rise above the port.
“Port Canaveral is not only the world’s busiest cruise port, but also one of the nation’s most convenient and easily accessible. Our focus on customers is essential to delivering a high-quality guest experience,” said Captain John W. Murray, Port Canaveral CEO.
“This new parking garage is an investment in our commitment to making Port Canaveral the best it can be for our valued cruise partners and their guests.”
Construction of the new garage is part of the Port Canaveral Advantage improvement program. In addition to the garage, the nearly $1 billion plan includes further enhancements to the port, including an expansion of both Cruise Terminal 5 and Cruise Terminal 10.
Cruise Hive had already reported on other recent enhancements to Port Canaveral. For example, in December 2025 a new, ADA-compliant debarkation ramp opened in Cruise Terminal 6.
Parking at Port Canaveral
Once the new garage is complete, the port will offer nearly 17,500 parking spaces. This includes spaces in eight different garages as well as surface lots at different cruise terminals.
An exact date for the garage’s completion has not been announced. It is expected to open to cruise passengers this fall, ahead of the busy holiday cruise season.
The cost for parking in the new garage has not been announced. Port Canaveral raised its parking rates in October 2025, the first rate increase since 2017. Parking now costs $20 per day plus tax, and guests must pay for both embarkation and debarkation days. The same rate will likely apply to the new garage.
Approximately 80 percent of guests sailing from Port Canaveral drive to the cruise port, while the remaining 20% arrive via shuttles, ride shares, or drop-offs.
The new garage will span more than 1.2 million square feet and will feature eight extra-large elevators that can accommodate multiple passengers and their luggage. Two-lane vehicle ramps will ensure smooth traffic flow through the structure.
Furthermore, the new garage will also be connected to the west garage at Cruise Terminal 6 by both vehicle bridges and a pedestrian bridge. This will provide guests easy access to Cruise Terminal 5 as well.
At the moment, Port Canaveral – which has won the honor of “Best US Cruise Homeport” for six consecutive years in the Cruise Hive Awards – is home to 18 cruise ships from seven different lines. Some of the world’s newest and biggest ships set sail from the Space Coast, including Star of the Seas, Disney Wish, Norwegian Prima, and Mardi Gras.
More than 1,000 sailings per year depart from Port Canaveral, ranging from weekend getaways to week-long vacations to longer, more immersive itineraries.
Port Canaveral Hits Major Construction Milestone on Massive New Parking Garage