Norwegian Cruise - Kennedy Space Center/Bahamas

Port Canaveral is not in Orlando, an inland city, rather on the Atlantic coast. $400 seems outrageous. Can’t you hire a car service ahead of time?
Or rent a car?

We took the Kennedy Space Center tour several years ago and it was quite good. We arranged it through the cruise line, but the operator was independent. I forget the price but we thought it was worth it -- but there were only two of us. We got on a bus at the cruise terminal and were returned there after several hours (lunch was on our own in the KSC visitor cafeteria). The guide was knowledgeable and very gung-ho about manned space flight (which isn't done at KSC any more, they just launch unmanned rockets). The drive through the marshes around KSC was also quite interesting, including manatees. Have you tried to find an independent your using Google or Trip Advisor or something? You'll pay less than through NCL.

I don't know about taxi or Uber availability, or whether they could take you right to the visitor center or would have to drop you at the main gate. And we thought the guide's narrative added considerable value.

I have a sense of deja vu about this

Here some info on transport options from Port to KSC

https://www.rome2rio.com/map/Port-Canaveral/Kennedy-Space-Center-Visitor-Complex

Here is info on tickets etc at KSC

https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/

Thank you for your input, Dick- my question is - does the guide stay with you through the entire time, or is it just the bus ride there. Also, is it the same guide that takes you from one building to another or is that through KSC and with the rest of the crowd. I'm interested to know if we do it on our own vs through the cruise line, what are the benefits of it, I do agree that the guide will tell us more info but again, do they stay with us, do we have a designated bus to take us around?

The cost of $$ is fine as long as there are benefits to it, such as avoiding lines and have freedom to see and do what we want.

all inputs are greatly appreciated....

Joe the links are great, but i'm asking specific questions that needs to specific answers. I have already visited those sites.... thanks for the input....

We never take a cruise ship's excursions. There are many sources of tours along the Space Coast:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Products-g34574-Port_Canaveral_Brevard_County_Florida.html

As I recall, the guide was with us the whole time and we didn't wait in any lines (at least not for long). We did have a lunch break on our own in a building that had exhibits and a cafeteria. We were in our own bus and she talked at us on the way there, between sites, and back to the ship. She added value and convenience.

This was a tour NCL had arranged for people doing "back to back" cruises who had to get off the ship for a few hours at Port Canaveral. There might have been another like it for people going on to Orlando for flights later in the day.

A lot of people get around the Atlantis expense by booking a room that they don't use at the Comfort Inn, which includes armbands. See this thread on DisBoards (I'm an avid Disney Cruiser). https://www.disboards.com/threads/atlantis-using-the-comfort-suites-trick-it-works.3662215/

Also regarding the Kennedy Space Center, it's an expensive ticket for sure. You might consider renting a car at port Canaveral and driving it yourself - for a one-day rental, shouldn't be more than $50 and it will give you a lot more freedom to do as you please. The KSC isn't that far from the port and is easy to find. On every cruise I've done out of PC, there have been numerous rental car shuttles waiting as the ship arrives - not sure how that works with PC as a day stop, but I'd be willing to bet all the rental car shuttles still come - you can call them and ask, all the major ones are right there by the port (Hertz, Thrifty, Dollar, etc.). Even if you had to Uber to the car rental place it probably wouldn't cost more than $5.