I thought I saw on a board for Port Canaveral that they have a rental company at the pier or close by. Check out boards for either Port Canaveral or for the Dream. I can't get connected to these boards properly or I'd check for you. Those are the only boards I've been looking at.

There are SEVERAL rental car places near the port...In our situation we are arriving a day before.  Once we fly into Orlando we are renting a car and driving to Port Canaveral and staying at the Four Points  (Sheraton) for one night (near port), then we are waking up (breakfast) returning our car to the rental place (1min from the port) and the rental shuttle will be taking us to the port.  We are doing the same thing going back...Shuttle will pick us at @ port, then take us to get our car and we drive back to Orlando, drop car off and take shuttle to terminal.  It's the easiest way for us.  If we do a transfer it'll be about the same $.  We figure that we rent a car for our own timing issues (we are adamant about being on time).  Its' better than waiting for loads of people to board a shuttle which can take up to and sometime over an hour. 

So yes, there are several rental car places within 1 - 3 minutes from the port.  If you rent a car you can take it near the port to the rental place / more than likely there will be a fee.

We are doing something similar... We are flying in to Orlando and then renting a car to drive to Port Canaveral. We are using Thrifty (airport to the port) and Budget (port to airport). They both offer free shuttles that will pick you up and take you where you need to go. When I called each rental company, they said they are about 5 minutes from Port Canaveral.

If you use Thrifty, use corporate number 004M001010 and you will receive discounted rates and free unlimited mileage (Orlando Magicard).

 There are only a few Port Canaveral car rental companies with drop off service at the port: Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz and Thrifty.  All of them have free shuttle to the port. Just make sure the car you got in the package is for one of those companies and you should be fine.

I noticed you were on the "Sensation" this summer. How was she? Did you do anything fun in Nassau?

I will be renting a car when I go on my cruise in May, and I am using Budget - I called them to confirm that there is drop off for the port and they also informed me that they have a free shuttle bus to the port. I have not actually done this yet, obviously since I am only going in May and was advised that not many places near the port have this servcie so this is why I went with Budget, I also got a very good price by booking online.

I am traveling on sensation thanksgiving weekend... I am thinking about getting a rental from the port returning it and using the free shuttle... I wasn't aware of the shuttle.. I will also go with a rental returning fro the cruise as well.. Verse using there shuttle for 35.00 per person per way!