Carnival Cruise Parking: The Hidden Cost That Catches People Out

You’ve budgeted for the cruise. The drinks. The excursions. Maybe even the WiFi.

But then comes the sting you didn’t really factor in. Parking.

It sounds small. It isn’t. Leave your car at the port for a week and suddenly you’re looking at a bill that feels more like an extra excursion you never booked.

And if you were hoping Carnival might throw it in for free… not quite.

Before you lock in your plans, there’s one detail about Carnival cruise parking that could save you more than you think.

Carnival Doesn’t Have Free Parking

There is no free parking option at the cruise terminals when sailing with Carnival. Every terminal has on-site parking, but there’s a daily charge for leaving your car there – starting from $16.50 per day for the ports most regularly used by the cruise line.

Unfortunately, you won’t be able to park for free when cruising with Carnival, but the terminal car parks are the most convenient option. You drive into the secure garage, and then you can just walk to the terminal. You’ll often find luggage valet services close to the parking terminals, too, so you don’t even need to wheel your suitcases around for long.

That convenience comes with a price, though. Here’s a breakdown of the main Carnival departure terminals and the costs involved:

Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal Parking

Parking at Port Canaveral costs $20 per day, plus tax – so it’s actually just over $21 per day. This includes arrival and departure days, so for a 7-night cruise, you’ll pay for 8 days of parking at a total cost of $169.60.

Reservations are not required, so you can just turn up and leave your car. You’ll pay when you leave. Cash isn’t accepted. You’re asked to drive to the cruise terminal to drop off your bags before you park your car.

Cheaper parking is also available if you choose one of the off-site car parks, many of which have free shuttles to the cruise terminal.

Miami Cruise Terminal Parking

Parking at Miami cruise terminal costs $35 per day, which works out at $280 for an average 7-night cruise (again, you need to pay for both your arrival and departure days, even if the total time ends up being less than one day).

You don’t need to reserve parking in advance, and Carnival guests should park in Garage D as it’s opposite the terminal.

An interesting note – Miami’s parking costs more for Royal Caribbean than it does for Carnival and other cruise lines. So you’re saving more on parking as well as on the cruise fare, on average, anyway.

New Orleans Cruise Terminal Parking

Parking at the Erato Street Cruise Terminal in New Orleans isn’t charged per day. Instead, it’s priced by the length of your cruise.

For a 7-night sailing, parking costs $180 total without a reservation, or $187 if you pre-book online due to the $1 per day convenience fee.

An 8-night cruise costs $200, or $208 with a reservation.

So while it works out at roughly $25 per day on a 7-night cruise, technically you’re paying a flat rate based on your cruise length, not a daily fee.

There’s a dedicated offloading area on the first floor of the parking garage where you can drop off your checked bags before you go and park. You need to have your boarding information to hand to be able to enter the parking garage.

Alternatively, you can park from $14 per day at nearby car parks that have free shuttles.

Galveston Cruise Terminal Parking

There are several parking options available at Galveston cruise terminal for Carnival guests. Rates vary depending on demand and on whether you choose the garage or an open lot. Prices vary between $20 and $27 per day. A shuttle is provided for anyone using the Economy Lot. You do need to reserve your spaces in advance for this port.

Seattle Cruise Terminal Parking

Parking at Seattle Cruise Terminal starts at $27 per day and goes up to $33 per day, depending on location, making it one of the most expensive ports to park at. For a 7-night cruise, you’ll pay $216-$264 in total.

There is a free shuttle to make it easy to get to the terminal once you’ve parked your car. You don’t need to make a reservation unless you’re arriving in an RV, which has higher costs of $40 per day.

3 Ways to Get Free or Cheap Parking

There are some ways you can get free car parking for your Carnival cruise, and failing that, you can definitely pay less than the cruise terminals charge. Here are the best options for keeping parking costs to a minimum:

1. Hotels with Parking

If you’re driving a longer distance to get to the port, it’s often best to book a hotel stay for the night before you sail. That way, you won’t miss the cruise if there are any delays on your journey.

Many hotels in the busiest cruise ports will offer park-and-cruise packages, including free or discounted parking for the length of your cruise if you only stay for one night. You’ll often get a free shuttle service to the port, too, although even if you don’t, paying for a taxi is still likely to be cheaper than having to park at the port.

Search for ‘city hotels with cruise parking’ online, and you should find some good options. Make sure you’re clear when you book that you want that package, though.

2. Off-Site Car Parking

There are always car parking options near the terminal that you can book if you want something cheaper. They won’t be free, but you should be able to find deals that are often half the price of parking at the terminal itself.

However, some of these might be open lots, so be careful. It’s always best to book a parking garage, ideally one where you’ll be on a higher level. Some Carnival guests in South Carolina once returned to flooded cars after storms – and these were the official car parks at the terminal! So whenever you use any parking, try to get a garage space.

3. Free Parking for Disabled Guests

Many of the cruise terminal car parks will offer free parking to guests with disabilities, but typically, you’ll either need to be a disabled veteran of the state in which you’re parking, or you’ll need to be using a vehicle that’s adapted for your needs, such as one with a ramp. 

Guests with hidden disabilities or with limited physical disabilities that don’t require adapted vehicles will still have to pay full price for their parking. And typically, you’ll need to book a disabled space too, even at the car parks where reservations aren’t needed.

Pros and Cons of Terminal Parking

Parking at the terminal for your Carnival cruise has pros and cons. While it’s not free, it might be worth paying the extra.

Pros of Terminal Parking

• It’s more convenient – once you’re parked you can walk to the terminal, or board a quick shuttle
• Most cruise terminals have sheltered parking
• You can drop your luggage off before you park at most terminals
• Once you disembark, you don’t have to travel far to get to your car

Cons of Terminal Parking

• It’s more expensive
• You can’t always guarantee a space, if reservations aren’t accepted
• It’s busy, especially on disembarkation day, and it can be slow to get out of the parking lot/garage

Final Word

Parking at the cruise terminal for your Carnival sailing is never free, and true “free” options are rare unless you qualify for a disabled exemption. Hotels and off-site lots can reduce the cost, but you’ll usually trade a little convenience to save money.

There isn’t one perfect choice. It comes down to what matters more to you: paying extra to park steps from the ship, or saving cash and allowing a little extra time.

Just don’t forget to factor it in when you’re budgeting. Parking might not feel like part of the holiday… but the bill definitely is.

Related Posts:

• Carnival Cruise Luggage Size & Weight Restrictions
• Can You Opt Out of Gratuities On A Carnival Cruise?
• Are Carnival Cruises All Inclusive?
• Carnival Cruises ‘Faster to the Fun’ – Worth It or Not?