we are leaving for a cruise out of port canaveral, and need to be at the ship by noon. will we have enough time to enjoy a visit to the kennedy space center in just 3 hours? read somewhere it takes a whole day to see.

Yes, it takes a day ... if you only wanted to wander around and look at the rockets outside and some of the displays and peruse the shops ... I'd say yes, you could do that much, because it's not the main part of the visit. If you plan to go on the bus tour and the new (10 rating from all 4 in our family) space exhibits building, no way is 3 hours enough. Hope you find this helpful ... also the shuttle launch schedule can also change some goings on at KSC too. Good luck.

skip it !!!!!!!! Our faamily of 13 took a cruise out of that area. We first stopped at the Space Center and ALL agreed it was boreing !!!!!! if you are taking children it is not worth the effort or $$. Get to your ship early and relax. Get a bite to eat. Locate your room and unpack.

Definitely go to Kennedy Space Center! I cannot believe the above negative message! we were a family of 4 adults and I myself am not technical nor interested in space things in first instance,, but I was even more enthousiastic than my men present. Do the whole tour, it is awesome. We had the luck that something had gone wrong the previous day, so they were shifting atlantis (this was in the beginning of january) back to the assembly building right during our tour in the daytime! You have never seen such a thing... And driving by the place where family and friends can sit to watch the launch really gives you the idea what has been going on the past years. Even if you couldn't care less, it is really interesting. Go, I say, have fun,
Barbara
(tell me about cruising some other time, never done that before)

We did the center not too long ago and really enjoyed it. They even have a mockup of the shuttle that you can go inside and see, it is not all that big.

You will not have the time to do the whole tour, but you will have time for the first part of the exhibit and the movie.

Go and see it, the history there is very interesting.

If you have the time, do it. It sounds as though, even with three hours, you might be a little pressed for time. But, I do think seeing the Space Center is worthwhile. It's a shame they retired the name "Enterprise."

See whatever you can see, though I guarantee you will be anxious to get back and visit the rest. KSC is absolutely fascinating (though I am a bit biased, being an avid fan of all things space). People who don't like it are generally those who don't understand what they are looking at.

What time do you disembark? Have you considered making the tour after the cruise?