San Pedro, California ยท Departure port guide
Los Angeles Cruise Port Guide: San Pedro and Long Beach
Short answer
What do you need to know before sailing from San Pedro?
Los Angeles cruises leave from two separate ports: the World Cruise Center at San Pedro and Carnival's terminal at Long Beach, about eight miles apart. Both are 40 to 50 minutes from LAX in normal traffic and considerably longer at peak. Parking costs $20 to $25 per day.
Key takeaways
- Two separate ports eight miles apart: San Pedro and Long Beach.
- Carnival sails from Long Beach; Princess, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean and others use San Pedro.
- LAX is 40 to 50 minutes in normal traffic and up to 90 at peak.
- Parking runs $20 to $25 per day at both ports.
- Long Beach's terminal sits under the geodesic dome that once housed the Spruce Goose.
Overview
Los Angeles is two cruise ports wearing one name, and confusing them is the most expensive mistake you can make here. The World Cruise Center at San Pedro handles Princess, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Disney and most others. Carnival sails from its own terminal in Long Beach, eight miles east under the geodesic dome originally built for Howard Hughes's Spruce Goose.
Both are roughly 45 minutes from LAX without traffic, and Los Angeles traffic is not a thing you can plan around casually. A Friday afternoon transfer from LAX to San Pedro can take 90 minutes.
The upside is that this is the departure point for the Mexican Riviera, Hawaii round-trips and westbound Panama Canal transits, and both terminals are straightforward once you are there.
The World Cruise Center at San Pedro uses berths 91 to 93 and is the larger operation, handling seven-night Mexican Riviera sailings, 15-night Hawaii round-trips and Panama Canal repositioning voyages.
Long Beach is Carnival's dedicated terminal, handling short Baja sailings to Ensenada and Catalina alongside longer Mexican Riviera itineraries. The terminal building is the former Spruce Goose dome, which is a more interesting building than any other cruise terminal in the United States.
Los Angeles is a difficult pre-cruise city because it is enormous and the port is 25 miles from most of what visitors want to see. San Pedro and Long Beach have their own local attractions that are worth a day, and trying to combine Hollywood with a cruise departure is more stressful than it is worth.
- San Pedro World Cruise Center: most lines, berths 91 to 93.
- Long Beach: Carnival only, under the former Spruce Goose dome.
- The two ports are eight miles and 20 minutes apart.
- The port is 25 miles from central Los Angeles attractions.
Terminals
- World Cruise Center, San Pedro, Berths 91 to 93
- Long Beach Cruise Terminal, Carnival, under the Spruce Goose dome
Getting there
LAX is about 45 minutes from either port in normal traffic and up to 90 minutes at peak. Rideshare runs $55 to $95 depending on surge; cruise line transfers are $40 to $60 per person.
Long Beach Airport is a much smaller alternative, 15 minutes from the Long Beach terminal and 25 from San Pedro, with a rideshare at $25 to $45. Worth checking if your route is served.
Driving is straightforward via the 110 to San Pedro or the 710 to Long Beach, but allow generous margins on Friday and Saturday afternoons.
- LAX to either port: 45 minutes normally, up to 90 at peak, $55 to $95 rideshare.
- Long Beach Airport: 15 to 25 minutes, $25 to $45, worth checking for routes.
- The 110 freeway serves San Pedro; the 710 serves Long Beach.
- Metro rail reaches neither terminal directly; a final rideshare is needed.
Parking, priced honestly
Both Los Angeles ports have official lots adjacent to the terminals at similar prices, and offsite options are limited compared with Florida.
| Option | Cost per day | Seven-night total | Walk to terminal | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Pedro official lot | $20 to $25 | $140 to $175 | Two to five minutes | Adjacent to the World Cruise Center |
| Long Beach official lot | $20 to $25 | $140 to $175 | Three minutes | Adjacent to the Carnival terminal |
| Offsite lot with shuttle | $12 to $18 | $84 to $126 | Shuttle, 10 minutes | Fewer operators than Florida ports |
| Hotel park and cruise | Included in room rate | Room plus $70 to $130 | Hotel shuttle | Available in San Pedro and Long Beach |
| Drop-off only | Free | Free | Curbside | No charge to stop |
Where to stay the night before
San Pedro has a small cluster of hotels at $170 to $290 within five to ten minutes of the World Cruise Center, several with park-and-cruise packages.
Long Beach downtown is the better base overall at $200 to $340, walkable to restaurants, the aquarium and the Queen Mary, and ten minutes from either port.
LAX-area hotels at $160 to $260 are the cheapest but add a 45 to 90 minute transfer on cruise morning, which is a genuine risk in Los Angeles traffic.
- San Pedro: $170 to $290, closest to the World Cruise Center.
- Long Beach downtown: $200 to $340, the best base with the most to do.
- LAX area: $160 to $260, cheapest but a risky cruise-morning transfer.
- Avoid Hollywood and Santa Monica bases; both are 60 to 90 minutes from the port.
- Book refundable rates; LAX delays are common year round.
Worth your pre-cruise day
The Queen Mary in Long Beach is permanently moored and open as a hotel and museum. It is the last surviving Cunard ocean liner of its era and is a genuinely interesting half day for anyone about to board a modern cruise ship.
The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach is excellent and takes about two hours.
In San Pedro, the Battleship Iowa is moored beside the cruise terminal and the Point Fermin lighthouse and Korean Friendship Bell give the best coastal views in the area.
- Queen Mary, Long Beach: the last Cunard liner of its era, a half day.
- Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach: about two hours.
- Battleship Iowa, San Pedro: moored beside the cruise terminal.
- Point Fermin lighthouse and Korean Friendship Bell for coastal views.
- Catalina Island ferry from Long Beach, about 70 minutes each way.
Embarkation day, step by step
Los Angeles embarkation is straightforward once you are at the right port. Traffic is the only genuine variable.
Confirm San Pedro or Long Beach
Carnival sails from Long Beach; almost everyone else uses the World Cruise Center at San Pedro. They are eight miles apart and a wrong drop-off costs about $25 and 25 minutes.
Complete online check-in when it opens
Boarding windows are first come, first served. Complete check-in on the opening day for an earlier slot.
Allow 90 minutes from LAX on cruise day
The drive is 45 minutes without traffic and Los Angeles traffic is unpredictable. Ninety minutes is the realistic planning figure for a Friday or Saturday.
Hand bags to a porter at the curb
Attach luggage tags before arriving. Tip $2 to $5 per bag.
Clear security and check-in
Expect 10 to 25 minutes inside your window at either terminal.
Board and eat before the rush
Cabins usually open around 1.30pm. Eat before 12.30pm when the buffet fills.
Complete the muster check
App-based muster with an in-person station check. Complete it as soon as you board.
Terms worth knowing
- World Cruise Center
- The Port of Los Angeles cruise terminal at San Pedro, using berths 91 to 93 and serving most cruise lines except Carnival.
- Long Beach Cruise Terminal
- Carnival's dedicated Los Angeles-area terminal, housed in the geodesic dome originally built to display Howard Hughes's Spruce Goose.
- Baja sailing
- A short three or four-night cruise from Los Angeles or Long Beach to Ensenada and sometimes Catalina Island, at the lowest fares in North American cruising.
- Repositioning voyage
- A one-way sailing moving a ship between deployment regions, common from Los Angeles in April and September through the Panama Canal or to Alaska.
| Factor | San Pedro World Cruise Center | Long Beach |
|---|---|---|
| Lines | Princess, Norwegian, RCI, Disney, HAL | Carnival only |
| Typical itineraries | Mexican Riviera, Hawaii, Panama Canal | Baja short cruises, Mexican Riviera |
| LAX transfer | 45 to 90 minutes | 45 to 90 minutes |
| Parking per day | $20 to $25 | $20 to $25 |
| Nearby attractions | Battleship Iowa, Point Fermin | Queen Mary, Aquarium of the Pacific |
| Walkable dining | Limited | Good, downtown Long Beach |
Planning a Los Angeles departure
Los Angeles has two ports and famously bad traffic. Both need building into the plan.
Confirm your port first
Choose it when: You are booking anything. Carnival uses Long Beach and everyone else uses San Pedro, eight miles apart.
Stay in Long Beach downtown
Choose it when: You want a walkable pre-cruise evening. It is ten minutes from either port and has the best restaurants and attractions.
Allow 90 minutes from LAX
Choose it when: You are transferring on cruise day. The 45-minute drive is a best case that Los Angeles traffic frequently ignores.
Check Long Beach Airport
Choose it when: Your route is served. It is 15 to 25 minutes from the terminals against 45 to 90 from LAX.
Visit the Queen Mary
Choose it when: You have a spare half day. It is the last surviving Cunard liner of its era and an interesting counterpoint to a modern cruise ship.
San Pedro port questions
Which port do Los Angeles cruises leave from?
Two separate ports about eight miles apart. Carnival sails from its dedicated Long Beach terminal under the former Spruce Goose dome. Princess, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Disney and Holland America use the World Cruise Center at San Pedro, berths 91 to 93. A wrong drop-off costs about $25 and 25 minutes.
How far is LAX from the cruise port?
About 45 minutes to either San Pedro or Long Beach in normal traffic, and up to 90 minutes at peak times. Rideshare costs $55 to $95 depending on surge, and cruise line transfers run $40 to $60 per person. Long Beach Airport is a much smaller alternative at 15 to 25 minutes and $25 to $45 by rideshare.
How much is parking at the Los Angeles cruise port?
Official lots at both San Pedro and Long Beach cost $20 to $25 per day, so $140 to $175 for a seven-night cruise. Offsite lots run $12 to $18 with a shuttle, though there are fewer operators than at Florida ports. Both official lots charge per calendar day, so a seven-night cruise is billed for eight days.
Where should you stay before a Los Angeles cruise?
Long Beach downtown at $200 to $340 is the best base: walkable restaurants, the Queen Mary and the Aquarium of the Pacific, ten minutes from either port. San Pedro at $170 to $290 is closest to the World Cruise Center. Avoid Hollywood and Santa Monica, which are 60 to 90 minutes away in traffic.
What cruises leave from Los Angeles?
Seven-night Mexican Riviera sailings to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta are the mainstay. Los Angeles also handles 15-night Hawaii round-trips, westbound Panama Canal transits and, from Long Beach, three and four-night Baja sailings to Ensenada that are the cheapest cruises in North America.
Is the Queen Mary worth visiting before a cruise?
Yes, particularly if you are about to board a modern ship. Permanently moored in Long Beach, she is the last surviving Cunard ocean liner of her era and operates as a hotel and museum. The engine room and first-class public rooms take about half a day and are a genuine contrast to contemporary cruise design.
About the author
Ports and Destinations Writer
Lena Hartley covers the parts of a cruise that happen off the ship: departure port logistics, shore excursions, weather windows and whether a port call is worth leaving the ship for at all.
48 sailings logged across 8 cruise lines.
This page was fact-checked by Priya Raman, family and accessibility reviewer, on . Prices and policies are re-checked against cruise line sources at least every 90 days. Read our editorial policy.