Celebrity Cruises has just made waves by adding Florida’s Port Canaveral as its newest homeport. For the first time ever, the cruise line set sail from this central Florida location this week, launching a series of exciting Caribbean voyages aboard the Celebrity Equinox. This move marks a significant milestone for both the cruise line and Florida’s Space Coast, offering travelers a new departure point for their tropical getaways.
Port Canaveral is an ideal addition to Celebrity’s range of departure ports, providing passengers with convenient access to seven-night cruises that will explore some of the Caribbean’s most beloved destinations. These include the Bahamas, St. Maarten, Puerto Rico, Belize, and more. The Celebrity Equinox set sail on its maiden voyage from this new homeport on a Tuesday, with journeys running through April 2025. One of the highlights of these itineraries is a stop at Royal Caribbean’s exclusive private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, which Celebrity Cruises began visiting earlier this year.
As part of the Royal Caribbean Group, which also operates Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises benefits from the shared resources and synergy between the two brands, ensuring top-notch vacation experiences for guests. Laura Hodges Bethge, President of Celebrity Cruises, expressed the company’s commitment to enhancing the guest experience. She remarked, “At Celebrity, we are continually striving to elevate our guests’ vacation experience from start to finish, and we are delighted to offer even more ways to relax, unwind, and explore the Caribbean.” The addition of Port Canaveral, according to Bethge, provides guests with more flexibility in choosing their ideal vacation adventure.
For those setting sail on the Celebrity Equinox, the ship offers an array of luxurious amenities, including more than 20 dining and beverage options. Passengers can enjoy diverse onboard activities such as pickleball, glassblowing classes, and a wide range of entertainment options. With a capacity for 2,852 guests, the ship combines sophistication with plenty of spaces to relax and unwind.
Port Canaveral itself is located on Florida’s Space Coast, offering visitors easy access to local attractions such as NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and Cocoa Beach. This central location is also home to several other major cruise lines, including Disney Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian Cruise Line, making it a busy and vibrant hub for cruise enthusiasts. Celebrity’s arrival adds a new level of excitement for travelers heading to the Caribbean.
Looking ahead, Celebrity Cruises plans to further enhance its offerings from Port Canaveral. Beginning in winter 2025, the cruise line will introduce the Celebrity Apex to the port. This 2,910-guest ship, which is part of Celebrity’s Edge class, will also embark on seven-night sailings, giving passengers even more options for their ideal vacation at sea.
With this new addition, Celebrity Cruises continues to grow its fleet of more than a dozen ships. From the Celebrity Millennium to the newly launched Celebrity Ascent, which joined the cruise line in 2023, Celebrity is expanding its reach, offering travelers more destinations, ships, and vacation options than ever before. The addition of Port Canaveral as a homeport only strengthens Celebrity’s presence in the competitive world of luxury cruising. Whether you’re a first-time cruiser or a seasoned traveler, Port Canaveral’s addition offers a fresh departure point for unforgettable Caribbean experiences.
