We are going on the Mariner on 09/02/07. Would it be better to stay the night before in Orlando or should we go down to Port Canaveral?
We will fly into MCO. Bassed on some previous posts I read it looks like its cheaper to rent a car and drive down to the port. Any alternate suggestions? Should I do the same thing for the flight back?

We stay at the port. Then you aren't running around on embarkation morning trying to get from Orlando to the pier. Granted it isn't a long drive but it is nicer to be 2 miles from the ship rather than 50 miles away.

We also stay at the port. Our next trip we will be at the Radisson. From everything I've read and seen, looks like a great hotel and they have a shuttle to the ships. I think it is the closet hotel to the port.

We are sailing from Port Canaveral on the GLory in 09/07. Using GREAT advice from Dave, we made reservations at the Raddison at the Port. It includes the room, a hot breakfast buffet for 2, free parking during our cruise and shuttle to the ship and back. It is 2 miles from the Port. From the website, the rooms and the hotel look beautiful.

that sounds like a good idea too- do u rent the car and for the day and return it and then re-rent a car the day u leave or rent it for the week- sorry to sound dumb- the parking thing threw me off