Introduction to the Kennedy Space Center – Shore Trip
The Kennedy Space Center (KSC) is highly recommended for cruisers and/or visitors to the Port Canaveral area! With opening hours between 9 am and 5 pm (sometimes 6 pm) and located only 30 minutes away, it is a good option for a shore trip but even better as a post-cruise experience.
DISCLAIMER – This article is for visiting cruisers with limited time at the Kennedy Space Center. I mean no disrespect when I suggest skipping some exhibits. It is done purely to allow for more time to see the most important and unique (in our opinion) displays.
Map of the Kennedy Space Center
The map below shows the important sights to see. To see the Legend, click on the small window icon at the top left of the map header:
Half-day Visits offered by Cruise Lines
If your ship arrives before 9 am and departs after 5 pm then you can see most if not all the attractions! Please read the “Itinerary Section” below.
But is it feasible for half-day visits?
The first passengers typically depart a ship about 30 minutes to 45 minutes after docking. Those booked on cruise line shore trips may get priority disembark privileges.
This means if you dock at 1 pm and can hopefully depart the terminal before 2 pm, you will reach KSC before 2:30 pm – giving you 2.5 to 3.5 hours to explore. If you arrive at the Port at noon, enjoy the extra time at KSC!
These afternoon shore trips are challenging for KSC visitors because it is expensive and you only have 2.5 hours to 4.5 hours. It is doable but you must plan well!
On Your Own or Ship Excursion?
There are 3 types of visits:
- Post Cruise – About 6 – 7 hours. These are post-cruise tours to the KSC starting at 9 am and then to the airport in the late afternoon. Perfect for KSC.
- AM Tours – Your ship arrives early and you will be at KSC at opening time (9 am) before departing around 3 pm.
- PM Tours – Your ship arrives around noon and you can visit KSC until closing time (5 or 6 pm)
Normally I suggest you avoid overpaying for ship excursions but you can save time if you do the following:
- How serious is your family about Space? A “Guided Tour” costs a hefty sum for a larger family because it packs a lot in a few hours and includes close-up experiences. If you just want to see the basics like the Space Shuttle and moon landing vehicles, book an “Express Tour” instead and save $$$.
- Your excursion is probably managed by Sunward Tours on behalf of your cruise line.
- Call your cruise line or Sunward and ask if your tour will take you directly from the ship to see the launch pads and Apollo/Saturn V Center. These are “VIP” or “Guided Tours”.
- If YES – you will save A LOT OF TIME by bypassing the general entrance lines. If you are serious about Space then book this tour. These tours often include add-on enhancements in addition to the general admission – close to $100 in value. You may also get priority disembarkation and after-hours IMAX.
- If NO, then the tour is unguided (perhaps called “Express”) – meaning you will be taken by bus to the entrance, tour on your own, and meet up with a return bus at a given time later in the day. “Unguided” is a bit of a misnomer because your admission ticket includes a 1-hour narrated bus tour around the KSC Complex! Your driver works for the KSC and will tell you a lot about the launch areas, the space shuttle, and the wildlife while driving.
OPINION – I am not a fan of “Express” tours because you will save money and time by booking your tickets online and using Uber for transport.
TIP – Should you decide to arrange the KSC visit on your own, forget about renting a car for AM and PM visits because you will just waste time shuttling to the rental office. Use Uber or a taxi. And do your best to be one of the first off the ship!
FOOD TIP – Please know food is expensive. You are allowed to bring a small soft-sided cooler with food but to save money it is best to eat a good meal BEFORE leaving your ship!
The Must-See Attractions
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is organized into Mission Zones (across different buildings) where attractions and tours are grouped by chronological era.
- Heroes & Legends – Early Space, Rocket Garden, Astronaut Hall of Fame, Mirror Memorial
- Behind the Gates and Race to the Moon – Launch Pad Bus Tour and Saturn/Apollo V
- Space Shuttle – Atlantis, International Space Station, Hubble Telescope
- NASA Now + Next – Spaceport KSC, Journey to Mars, Planet Play, Deep Space, IMAX Film
For cruise passengers with limited time, I suggest the Space Shuttle Mission Zone as the main attraction. It is breathtaking!
Behind the Gates (with Race to the Moon) is my second choice and highly recommended if time permits but probably not if you have smaller children.
Nasa Now + Next Mission Zone is interesting but very futuristic. To me, the exhibits are very good but with many mockups so it does not feel as real as in the other Zones. Planet Play is very popular and highly recommended if your kids are 2-12 years old. This Zone will be my 2nd choice if time does not allow for a Behind the Gates Bus Tour.
How Long Does It Take?
Unfortunately, the KSC closes early (5 pm or 6 pm), meaning you have to plan carefully while cruising.
Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour (Saturn/Apollo V Center included)
- Included with your admission ticket.
- The last tour of the day departs the center 2.5 hours before closing (2:30 pm for 5 pm and 3:30 pm for 6 pm).
- You will spend 45 minutes driving out to the Saturn/Apollo V Center and 15 minutes driving back
- The latest arrival at the Saturn Center is 3:15 pm or 4:15 pm – giving you 1h15 minutes to explore before returning on the 4:30 pm or 5:30 pm bus back to the visitor center.
Space Shuttle Atlantis
- Included with your admission ticket.
- A minimum of 1 hour but 2 hours are recommended because your kids may not want to leave the complex – it is very kid-friendly with exciting things to do!
Nasa Now + Next Mission Zone
- Included with your admission ticket.
- Requires at least 1 hour 45 minutes
- 30 minutes – Journey to Mars launched by ULA
- 30 minutes per IMAX – Spaceport KSC
- 30 minutes – Planet Play
- 45 minutes – The Deep Space Launch Complex
- 60 minutes – IMAX film – check the daily schedule
Planning for these two Attractions
Do consider that you will arrive with busloads of other passengers (sometimes 10 or more buses from 1 or 2 other ships) thereby increasing the wait times in line for both attractions.
So, can you experience 1 or more of the main attractions if your ship arrives around noon? Yes, but only if you do the following:
- Get the Kennedy Space Center app! It has maps, etc.
- If self-guided, buy KSC tickets online before your cruise
- Get off your ship early and grab a taxi/Uber so you can get ahead of the tour buses. 30-minute drive
- When you arrive at the Visitor Center, pick a fast line through security then scan your ticket!
- Rush over to the Bus Tour Departure lines. Grab a seat in front and to your left as you enter the bus.
- Back at the Visitor Center, rush over to the Space Shuttle Atlantis line nearby.
- Uber back to the Port at 5 or 6 pm (30 minutes).
It is DOABLE to experience both attractions but you will see nothing else and you have to watch the clock very closely! This rushed tour is not for everyone and it will be frustrating if the lines are long.
You also have to consider the ages of your children and their interest in space travel. Younger children may find the bus tour boring (except for the occasional alligator/pig sightings) and it may be best to focus on the main Visitor Center instead of the bus tour.
In addition, many of the displays at the Kennedy Space Center are noisy because rockets are loud. Babies often cry for the duration of the video presentations and displays! Please consider the age of your child and how crying affects the experience for you and others nearby.
TIP – I suggest you skip the Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour if you only have an afternoon. Instead, focus on the Space Shuttle Atlantis and other attractions at a more relaxed pace.
TIP – Please know many of the displays have a preamble video presentation to add suspense and enhance the experience. If you are delayed and short on time you can skip the presentations by entering via the gift shops and other doors. But please do not do this for Space Shuttle Atlantis because the presentation part is breathtaking!
Directions and Map of the Complex
KSC is only 18 miles from Port Canaveral – an easy 25 to 30-minute drive and no traffic to worry about!
UberX = $45 one way. If Uber is not your thing, try 888-transport (taxi at the terminal but ask for a fixed rate, not metered).
See my map above!
Admission
Tickets are currently set at $75 per adult plus taxes. Various upgrade packages are available.
Those looking for ticket discounts will not have much luck. Seniors get a small discount. You can look for coupons in discount booklets found at local gas stations, tourist offices, and restaurants but generally, you will only save $2.50 to $5 per ticket and you have to read the small print carefully!
Parking is $10.
The Players at Kennedy Space Center
During your visit to the KSC you will hear about NASA, SpaceX, Boeing, Blue Origin, and United Launch Alliance. Their launch sites are shown on the map above.
To understand the differences between these organizations it is most important to know that the future of USA Space Travel is divided into two objectives:
Deep Space Exploration – This is NASA’s world; at the KSC you will learn about deploying more advanced telescopes to better understand the galaxies and landing a human on Mars. Other countries and commercial companies such as SpaceX may have the same aspirations to build settlements on planets such as Mars but for now, NASA is leading the way and the KSC is the place to watch the excitement unfold.
Sub-Orbital and Orbital Exploration – Where private corporations compete for contracts to deploy/maintain satellites, to deliver supplies and astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS), and to fly tourists into space. Some, like SpaceX, also plan to fly tourists to the moon and back. At the KSC you will learn about the history of the ISS and the moon flights – the historic missions by NASA that made future commercial flights possible.
Blue Origin
Blue Origin (Amazon) has three space vehicle systems in development.
- The New Shepard system takes 6 tourists into space and then lands the capsule using traditional parachutes. The vehicle launches in West Texas and therefore it is irrelevant to KSC visitors.
- New Glenn Orbital Vehicles – Being built at Exploration Park next to the KSC. This facility also tests the BE-4 engines (powering both New Glenn and United Launch Alliance Vulcan rockets). The New Glenn system will orbit the earth and be capable of deploying satellites and delivering cargo and astronauts to the ISS.
- Lunar Landers -Blue Moon MK1 will provide cargo transport, leveraging the New Glenn launch vehicle, to deliver up to three metric tons anywhere on the lunar surface.
At Cape Canaveral, Blue Origin uses Launch Complex 36.
United Launch Alliance
United Launch Alliance (ULA) is a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin to launch Government (military, NASA, and others) missions from Cape Canaveral. As can be expected, ULA is experiencing intense competition from commercial companies (SpaceX in particular) who are bidding usually at much lower costs but perhaps the Government thinks their top-secret payloads are more secure with ULA. Who knows!
ULA has four space vehicle systems in development.
- Atlas V – will carry the manned Boeing Starliner Capsule to the ISS. It also carries other NASA machinery into space such as the NASA Solar Orbiter and Amazon Project Kuiper Satellites.
- Delta IV
- Delta II – rarely launches from Cape Canaveral
- Vulcan Centaur – first launch was on Jan 8, 2024. Carried a moon lander from Peregrine that crashed back to earth unfortunately
At Cape Canaveral, United Launch Alliance uses Launch Complex 41 for Atlas V and Vulcan and Launch Complex 37B for Delta IV so you may see a ULA launch during a visit to the Space Coast!
Boeing
Boeing has several projects in development that are of interest to KSC visitors. Unfortunately, there are many media reports of delays with Starliner so time will tell:
- It is under contract to help NASA develop its Space Launch System (SLS) – a rocket for flights into deep space (Mars for example). The first launch was on Nov 15, 2022.
- CST-100 Starliner – A capsule for transporting up to 7 astronauts and/or payload to the ISS – one of two official transportation capsules selected by NASA (SpaceX Dragon V2 is the other). It is compatible for launch on top of several vehicles including Atlas V, Delta IV, Falcon 9, and Vulcan.
At Cape Canaveral, the Starliner will initially ride atop the ULA Atlas V vehicle from Launch Complex 41 – the first test flight was on December 20, 2019.
SpaceX
SpaceX has several projects in development that are of interest to KSC visitors:
- Falcon 9 Launch Vehicle – The current reusable system is flying the Dragon cargo capsule to the ISS. Stage 1 of the vehicle returns to Cape Canaveral Landing Zone 1 or barge after each launch!
- Falcon 9 Heavy Launch Vehicle – The next generation vehicle designed to carry Dragon and Crew Dragon capsules to the ISS or into deep space (Mars).
- Dragon and Crew Dragon – A capsule for transporting up to 7 astronauts (Crew Dragon) and/or payload (Dragon) to the ISS – one of two official transportation capsules selected by NASA (Boeing CST-100 Starliner is the other). It is compatible to launch on top of the Falcon vehicles.
- Starship – SpaceX’s heavy-duty rocket and spacecraft to deep space (Mars and beyond)! Currently launching in Texas.
At Cape Canaveral, Dragon is already delivering payload to the ISS from Launch Complex 39A or Launch Complex 40 atop Falcon 9 while the Stage 1 vehicle is returning to either Landing Zone 1 (near the lighthouse) or on a barge in the ocean.
NASA
We all know about the history of NASA and the KSC is where it all comes alive! You can learn about the early days of space flight, the moon landing missions, and the awe-inspiring space shuttle.
But NASA has many projects in current development that are of interest to KSC visitors:
- International Space Station – NASA astronauts continue to conduct scientific experiments aboard the ISS as they prepare for the Journey To Mars. You can learn more about the ISS in the Atlantis building.
- Space Telescopes – A full-scale replica of the Hubble Space Telescope and a scale model of the new James Webb Space Telescope are on display.
- Artemis – With Artemis missions, NASA is exploring the Moon for scientific discovery, and technology advancement, and to learn how to live and work on another world as they prepare for human missions to Mars. There is an IMAX film about Artemis.
- Mission to Mars – You can see Mars Rover Vehicles and learn about the Mission to Mars in the Journey to Mars building.
- Space Launch System (SLS) – The next generation rocket for carrying crews and payload into deep space is in development.
- Orion – A capsule for transporting up to 4 astronauts and/or payload to the Moon and Mars (and to the ISS if needed) using the SLS launch vehicle.
At Cape Canaveral, NASA’s SLS launch vehicle uses Launch Complex 39B.