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LONG BEACH CRUISE TERMINAL

Carnival corporation plc -global cruise co. one of the largest vacation companies in the world..

Carnival Corporation & plc is a global cruise company and one of the largest vacation companies in the world. Our portfolio of leading cruise brands includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Seabourn Cruise Line in North America; P&O Cruises, Cunard Line and Ocean Village in the United Kingdom; AIDA in Germany; Costa Cruises in southern Europe; Iberocruceros in Spain; and P&O Cruises in Australia.

LONG BEACH CRUISE TERMINAL 231 Windsor Way Long Beach, California 90802

231 Windsor Way Long Beach, California 90802

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7 Things to Know About the Long Beach Cruise Terminal

Planning a cruise out of Los Angeles with Carnival Cruise Line and need to know some basic tips about the Long Beach cruise terminal?  We’ve got you covered.  Here is everything you need to know before your cruise out of Port of Long Beach.

26 miles from the heart of Los Angeles, the Port of Long Beach is the gateway to the Pacific and the 2nd busiest container shipping port in the US.

More than 300 cruises a year sail from the Long Beach cruise port, mostly reaching destinations in the Mexico Riviera like Ensenada , Puerto Vallarta , and Cabo .  Some transpacific cruises will also port in Hawaii.

Long Beach Cruise Terminal is the Los Angeles departure and arrival port for Carnival Cruise Line. Other cruise lines use the Port of Los Angeles World Cruise Center in San Pedro , which is literally on the other side of the Los Angeles Harbor.

The Long Beach Cruise Terminal was inaugurated in 2003 for Carnival Cruise Line and is used exclusively for the line. The first thing you will notice at the port is the large Geodesic Dome which was a museum before being converted.

But what should you expect upon arriving in Los Angeles? Is there a place to park, or hotels to stay in? What is there to do for fun in the nearby area?

Keep reading. In this articled we will tell you everything you need to know about the Port of Long Beach so you can plan your cruise more efficiently to save money and have fun.

How to Get to The Long Beach Cruise Terminal

The address for the Long Beach Cruise Terminal is 231 Windsor Way, Long Beach, CA 90802. If you are driving and using a mapping or navigation device, this is the address you will need to use.

Directions from the Los Angeles Airport & Long Beach Airport

If you’re driving from LAX, it should take you roughly 50 minutes to drive to the Long Beach Cruise Terminal. From the Long Beach Airport it should only be about 20 minutes.

To get there from LAX:

• Get on The San Diego Freeway South (405 S)
• Take that to the Long Beach Freeway South (710 S)
• Continue down 710 South and follow the signs for the Queen Mary
• Drive past the Queen Mary entrance, staying to the far right. This will put you into the lane for the Carnival Cruise terminal
• Follow signs for parking and luggage drop-off

From the Long Beach Airport:

• Take Lakewood Blvd South and get on the San Diego Freeway (405)
• Take 405 South to 710 South (Long Beach Freeway)
• Follow the signs for the Queen Mary
• Keep to the right past the entrance for the Queen Mary
• Follow the signs for parking and luggage drop-off

For directions from other places, visit https://sanpedro.com/long-beach-cruise-ships/ .

Transportation Options to the Long Beach Cruise Terminal

You can either drive to the port from where you live, or rent a car from the airport and drive it to the terminal.

Other travel options from either LAX or Long Beach airport are shuttles, private car service, Uber or Lyft, or getting a taxi.

There are four shuttle services and one bus service in the Long Beach area that serve all cruise terminals and airports.

Santa Barbara Airbus

This is both a shuttle and a bus service. They serve the Santa Barbara and LAX areas, as well as provide pickup and drop-off services for both the Long Beach Cruise Terminal and the San Pedro Cruise Terminal.

Reservations must be made over the phone ahead of time at either 805-964-7759 or 800-423-1618. You can only book cruise ship service for days when a cruise ship is actually arriving or departing.

SuperShuttle

SuperShuttle is a company that provides shuttle service for hotels and cruise ports all over the United States, including Long Beach, California.

Depending on when you’ll be travelling, you can easily get a private shuttle for up to 4 people for $45. Options may vary depending the time of year and day you’ll be needing service.

RapidShuttle 24/7

A service just like SuperShuttle, it’s best to book your shuttle online. Again, available cars and prices will vary depending on when you need a car.

Prime Time Shuttle

Prime Time Shuttle provides shuttle options (private or rideshare) all over the Southern California. They serve airports, cruise ports, convention centers, and various other locations.

Prime Time Shuttle is a service much like Uber or Lyft, but specifically for certain areas in Southern California.

Give them a call at 800-733-8267, or you can book or get a quote on their website.

Cruise Line Shuttles

Carnival Cruise Lines does provide a shuttle option to their passengers, but this is really only beneficial if you’re travelling alone.

Carnival charges $30 per person one day to ride in their shuttle from LAX and $23.50 from Long Beach Airport.

Again, if you’re travelling alone, this isn’t that bad, as you will only be paying about $47-$60 roundtrip. But say you’re travelling with a family of four. You’d be looking at paying roughly $188-$240 round trip, just for shuttle service.

If you’re looking for a great option for both convenience and price, using Uber or Lyft are going to be your best options.

You just book your ride on your smartphone, and the car arrives at the airport to pick you up and take you to the cruise terminal.

Cost estimates for Uber and Lyft are:

• LAX – Long Beach Cruise Terminal: $37.30
• Long Beach Airport – Long Beach Cruise Terminal: $14.04
• LAX – Long Beach Cruise Terminal: $35-$42
• Long Beach Airport – Long Beach Cruise Terminal: $15-$18

Taxis, much like Uber or Lyft, charge for the car rather than per person. Though they will cost a lot more than taking an Uber, they’re still a cheap and convenient option.

If you’re coming from Long Beach Airport, you’ll be charged a flat rate of $45 to the cruise terminal. From LAX, a taxicab may run you a little over $60.

Terminal Information

The Long Beach Cruise Terminal is only one terminal, and only Carnival Cruise ships use this terminal. The ships you will likely see going in and out of Long Beach are:

• Carnival Imagination
• Carnival Inspiration
• Carnival Legend
• Carnival Miracle
• Carnival Panorama
• Carnival Splendor

If you haven’t yet chosen your cruise and you need more information regarding costs and itineraries, go to the Carnival website.

Arrival Tips

At the terminal entrance there will be porters available to help you with your luggage and will direct you to the parking garage. Look for the folks wearing red caps – those are your porters.

If you arrive close enough to when your ship leaves, there will be ample seating available inside the terminal as you wait to board your ship.

However, arrive too early and you’ll have to sit outside and wait, which won’t be nearly as comfortable.

Cruisers can check-in and board between during a short window of time before their ship leaves. Departure times are different depending on which ship, so be sure to check your ticket to know when you should arrive for check-in and boarding.

The terminal does have plenty of restrooms inside, and there are other restroom options outside. There is also free public Wi-Fi available.

There is no luggage storage available at the terminal, but you can arrange with Carnival head of time to check your baggage onto the ship early. Any carry-ons you have will need to stay with you until you board.

If you or someone in your group is going to need wheelchair assistance to ship, you will need to make arrangements with Carnival ahead of time, as the terminal does not provide wheelchair service.

Does the Long Beach Cruise Terminal Provide Parking?

Yes, there is parking at the Long Beach Cruise Terminal in their five-story, 1,450-space parking garage.

You don’t need to make any advanced reservations, and full payment will be due upon exiting the garage.

It costs $17 per day to park at the port. any oversized vehicles will be charged per space ($17) that their vehicle takes up. Handicap parking is also available, provided you have a valid permit.

For more information about parking, you can give them a call at 562-901-323.

There is also parking at the Port of Los Angeles, which is $18 per day for regular vehicles and $32 for oversized. However, if there’s ample enough parking at the Long Beach Terminal, parking across the harbor is not going to be in your best interest.

There is no off-site parking readily available, unless you arrive a day or so before your trip and stay at a hotel that provides parking for cruise passengers.

Hotels Near the Long Beach Cruise Terminal

There are many hotels near the Long Beach Cruise Terminal that specifically cater to guests to provide them not only with lodging and various amenities associated, but parking and shuttle service as well.

Editor’s note: My favorite place to stay when sailing out of Port of Long Beach is the iconic Queen Mary.  It’s so close to the port that the only shuttle you will need is your two legs.  The floating hotel is full of history and intrigue, and is the perfect way to start a cruise vacation.

See our video tour of Queen Mary below:

Here are some other hotels nearby the Long Beach cruise port if you’d like a more traditional place to stay.

Sunrise Hotel

525 South Harbor Blvd, San Pedro, CA 90731 | 310-548-1080

The Sunrise Hotel is right by the harbor and within walking distance of the Port O’Call village, which has amazing food and dining opportunities.

Their Park and Cruise package provides parking during your cruise and shuttle to and from the port. To book this package you will need to give them a call at 310-548-1080.

Hotel Maya – a DoubleTree by Hilton

700 Queensway Drive, Long Beach, CA 90802 | 562-435-7676

Hotel Maya , a beautiful full-service luxury hotel in Long Beach, provides an excellent waterfront location to stay before or after your cruise.

If you stay here before, you’ll get free parking for your car during your cruise, as well as free complimentary transportation to and from the terminal.

Courtyard Marriott Long Beach

500 East 1 st St, Long Beach, CA | 562-435-8511

The Courtyard Marriott Long Beach is conveniently located close to the Long Beach Airport, subway station, and the Long Beach Cruise Terminal.

Book a room using their “Escape! Park & Sail Package” and you’ll get 7 nights free parking for your cruise. You must show your cruise itinerary and valid ID upon check-in.

They do not provide a shuttle to the terminal, so you’ll need to find alternate transportation.

Hyatt Regency Long Beach

200 South Pine Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90802 | 562-491-1234

This stunning beachfront hotel provides a view of the harbor, and will treat you like the luxury guest you are. There’s an outdoor pool that’s lit for nighttime use, state of the art rooms for your to relax and de-stress, and an in-house restaurant to give you the best dining experience you could ever want.

Give them a call to ask about booking a cruise package to get a deal on parking. They do provide shuttle service to the cruise terminal, but for a nominal fee.

Things to Do in Long Beach Before or After Your Cruise

Southern California is full of attractions and fun things to do before or after your cruise. If you have the time to arrive a day or two ahead of time, we highly recommend that you do so. It will both help incase any travel delays occur, and it’ll give you the chance to take advantage of what Long Beach and LA have to offer.

Yes, we know, this is in Anaheim and not in LA or Long Beach. However, if you can spare a few days, Disneyland is a great place to visit while you’re in Southern California.

Visit Mickey’s Toontown, Main Street Electrical Parad, Disneyland Forever, and so much more. If there are any Disney lovers in your group (or you ARE the Disney lover) you won’t want to miss this opportunity.

Crafted at the Port

A little closer to the harbor area is a unique shopping experience you won’t find anywhere else.

Crafted at the Port is a large-scale, year-round handmade artisan marketplace. It features hundreds of individual artists, crafters, food makers, and more, all displaying and selling their wares to locals and visitors alike.

Parking and admission are free, you only pay for the things you buy. For more information go to http://craftedportla.com .

Paramount Drive-In Theatre

Located on Rosecrans Ave in Paramount in CA is a drive-in theatre with two movie screens for all kinds of drive-in movie fun.

Enjoy watching a movie from the comfort of your own car while munching on popcorn and other snacks. The theaters are clean, safe, and friendly. General admission is $10, children ages 5-8 are $3.50, and children under 5 get to view for free.

Visit http://www.paramountdrivein.com/ for more information about showtimes.

Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament

If you’ve never been to a Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament show before and you love all things medieval and fantasy, you should definitely allow some time to go here.

Located in Buena Park, CA, Medieval Times provides a delicious multi-course dinner with a live jousting tournament. Root for your favorite knight to win the princess and dine on the best food you’ve ever had.

Visit https://www.medievaltimes.com/plan-your-trip/buena-park-ca/index.html for more information about prices and times.

Long Beach Performing Arts Center

Within a mile of the cruise terminal is the Long Beach Performing Arts Center, where you can experience Broadway Quality shows at a fraction of the cost in New York.

This International City Theatre is an award winning non-profit theatre, with shows that parallel Broadway and other on stage productions in quality and professionalism.

Visit https://ictlongbeach.org/ for more information about the shows that will be going on during your visit.

Fort MacArthur Museum

History and military enthusiasts alike will enjoy visiting this museum just a few miles away from the port in San Pedro.

This museum is dedicated to preserving and educating folks about the history of Fort MacArthur, which served to guard the LA harbor during World War I, World War II, and various other wars that took place between 1914 and 1974.

Various rooms and galleries display a large number of artifacts, exhibits, and displays from during tat time. Learn about the history of harbor defenses for LA, Civil Defense, and more.

Visit http://www.ftmac.org/ for information about prices and hours.

Visit the Queen Mary

Just down the road (your probably passed it) from the cruise terminal is the Queen Mary.

Originally from Scotland, built in 1930 by Cunard Cruise Lines, the Queen Mary serves as a hotel, a place to book meetings or weddings, a history museum, and so much more.

They also have scheduled tours and exhibits, nighttime activities (after all, it is said to be haunted), and educational tours. You can even stop in and dine in their restaurants or visit one of their four onboard shops (two portside and two in the main hall) for some retail therapy.

If you decide to book your hotel stay on the Queen Mary , you’ll be within walking distance from the cruise terminal, and you’ll have access to just about everything that this fun attraction has to offer including guided tours and exhibits, their spa, the shops, and more.

Visit https://www.queenmary.com for more information.

Conclusion on Things to Know About the Long Beach Cruise Terminal

The Long Beach Cruise Terminal is small so there’s not much going on there besides Carnival cruise ships coming in and out of port.

However, it can still be helpful to know what to expect in regard to parking, hotels, and the surrounding area.

In this article we have provided for you everything you need to know about cruising from the Long Beach Cruise Terminal. Have a fun and safe trip!

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Los Angeles (Long Beach-San Pedro, California)

Cruise port schedule, live map, terminals, news.

Region West Coast USA and Canada

Local Time 2024-07-19 00:49

Port Los Angeles cruise ship schedule shows timetable calendars of all arrival and departure dates by month. The port's schedule lists all ships (in links) with cruises going to or leaving from Los Angeles, Long Beach-San Pedro, California. To see the full itineraries (ports of call dates and arrival / departure times) and their lowest rates – just follow the corresponding ship-link.

Los Angeles cruise port serves in California's largest city (population around 4 million, density ~8100 per mi2 / ~3100 km2). LA is the USA's second-largest city - after NYC New York (population over 8,6 million, density ~27000 per mi2 / 10400 km2).

The City of Los Angeles is in the Southern Californian basin (Pacific Ocean) and is most famous for being the world's entertainment industry center. As cruise port, LA handles ~1000 ship calls annually. Popular itineraries visit the Hawaiian islands, the Mexican Riviera, some even Alaska. LA's cruise port schedule includes roundtrips to Mexico ( Cabo , Puerto Vallarta , Mazatlan , Ensenada ), Hawaiian and California Coastal ports, as well as one-ways to Vancouver Canada (on repositioning itineraries to Alaska) and ports in Florida (on Panama Canal transition itineraries).

Homeporting in LA was introduced by P&O Princess Cruises in 1965. Each visiting LA cruise liner generates USD 1+ million in economic activities. Due to the COVID crisis, LA's cruising operations were paused between March 15, 2020, and September 25, 2021.

Note: CruiseMapper's Los Angeles cruise ship schedule includes/combines also the schedules of Port Los Angeles (locode USLAX), Port Long Beach (USLGB) as well as San Pedro. The distance between LA and Long Beach is 24 mi/40 km (via highway I-710). The distance between LA and San Pedro is the same (via highway I-110-N). Travel/drive time is approx 30 min.

Port Los Angeles

Port Los Angeles is a large seaport complex covering a land area of 30,35 km2 (11,72 mi2) with around 69 km (43 mi) long waterfront. LA port adjoins the separate Port Long Beach. Port's main imports are furniture, auto parts, footwear-apparel, electronics. Main exports are wastepaper, scrap metal, cotton, animal feed. The largest cargo shipping volumes come from East Asia (China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam).

LA port district is an independent department of the city's government. It is controlled by Board of Harbor Commissioners consisting of 5 members and 1 executive director. They are all appointed by the city mayor and approved by the city council. All vessels are assisted by professional harbor pilots. Port's safety is guaranteed by dedicated Port Police, LA Fire Department (fire-EMS services), USCG (waterway security), Homeland Security (federal land) and LA County Lifeguards (open waters outside the harbor).

Port Los Angeles is located in San Pedro Bay, in LA's neighborhoods San Pedro and Wilmington. The seaport is approx 32 km (20 mi) south of downtown LA. It employs 896,000+ people (throughout LA) and 3,6+ million worldwide. The worth of seaport's annually shipped cargoes is ~USD 1,2 billion. Cargo volumes represent ~43% of the USA's total imported cargoes, ranking LA as USA's largest container port and the world's 16th largest (9th when combined with Long Beach).

Channel depth (53 ft / 16 m) allows access to the world's largest container ships , tankers and bulk cargo carriers. The port has a total of 23 cargo terminals (270 deepwater berths), 9 container terminals (with 77 gantry cranes) and on-site railway system (total length 182 km / 113 mi). In 2012 was completed a dredging project for deepening the main shipping channel to the current 16 m (53 ft). With its arrival in November 2013, the boxship CMA CGM Corte Real made a new North American record for call port cargo handling (10,000+ TEU moves).

In August 2017, the Port reported record-breaking container shipping volumes of 847,857 TEU-containers (6,1% increase over August 2016). August 2017 became the second-busiest month in the Port's history, following January 2017 when the container cargo volumes climbed by 9% over January 2016, with handled 8,8 million TEUs. The previous record (2013) was 7,9 million TEUs.

For FY2017, the seaport reported a record year for cargo shipping - 9,343 million TEUs (5,5% increase over 2016). Among the implemented in 2017 technology upgrades was "Port Optimizer" (online portal developed by GE Transportation). It collects and stores key cargo data to facilitate better harbor tracking. Infrastructural upgrades were completed at the terminals TraPac and Yusen.

World Cruise Center (San Pedro) is located beneath Vincent Thomas Bridge (length 6060 ft / 1847 m). The suspension bridge crosses LA Harbor and links San Pedro with the man-made Terminal Island. San Pedro cruise port has 3 berths and serves 1+ million passengers annually, ranking it West Coast USA's largest cruise terminal. Popular waterfront attractions located nearby are USS Iowa Museum, Los Angeles Maritime Museum, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium. They are all linked to the cruise port via pedestrian promenade. Shuttle bus service (provided by Waterfront Red Car Line) is a 2,5 km /(1,5 mi) long vintage trolley line along the waterfront connecting cruise terminals with downtown, Ports O'Call Village (shopping/dining complex) and San Pedro Marina.

LA Waterfront is a tourist-serving destination funded and maintained by LA port. In 2009 were approved development programs for San Pedro and Wilmington waterfronts (officially "LA Waterfront"). The area consists of 1,6 km2 (0,63 mi2) San Pedro and Wilmington properties, miles-long promenade and walking paths, large open space areas, LA Waterfront project's construction works started in 2017 and were completed in 2020. This port development project (budgeted USD 90 million) was fully paid by Port Los Angeles.

On March 9, 2023, started construction works on the Port's "Front Street Beautification Project" (budget US$10,3 million) scheduled for completion in 2024. This is among several port development projects aiming to enhance connectivity and public access between the waterfronts of LA and both San Pedro and Wilmington, by building a new pedestrian linkage (22-ft/7-m-wide multi-use pathway) used for walking, jogging, and cycling, as well as new lighting and landscaping. The new pathway starts at the northeast corner of Front Str and Pacific Ave (north of Vincent Thomas Bridge). The project also included a new 5-ft/1,5-m wide strip along Front Street.

The Cunard ship RMS Queen Mary 2 is currently port's largest cruise liner. The ever-largest liner homeported in LA is RCI-Royal Caribbean 's Mariner of the Seas . In 2009-2011, the 3835-passenger ship operated regularly scheduled 7-day roundtrips to Mexican Riviera ports. However, due to increased violence in Mexico, in 2011 the liner was relocated to the Caribbean (homeported in Galveston TX ). In 2021, RCI plans to homeport in LA Voyager of the Seas (June through December) for 3-4-night roundtrips to Mexico. Voyager OTS and Mariner OTS are sisterships.

In 2004, Port LA installed its first Alternative Maritime Power (AMP) berth, providing shore-to-ship power up to 40 MW. It allows city-grid power supply for 2 vessels simultaneously. The facility also supplies with power 3 container terminals. The technology (by Nidec Corporation, Japan) enables docked vessels to receive electricity from the city's power grid. From the berth, vessels can plug-in directly to the grid for full onboard operations without using diesel engines or gas turbines (being shut down right after docking). The Japanese company has installed such shorepower systems in the ports San Francisco CA , Juneau AK , Goteborg , Travemunde , Livorno , Genoa . In 2018 was completed the system's upgrade for providing more electricity for larger-sized cruise vessels. Shoreside power was installed at berths 91 and 93, where 2 docked liners can be connected simultaneously. Utility bills (to LA's Department of Water and Power) are paid by the seaport, which then invoices the shipowner/terminal operator for reimbursement. The estimated monthly electricity cost is minimum USD 11250 (annual US$125,000). The Port has 30+ electrified berths where boxships and refrigerated cargo carriers can use shoreside power.

In November 2017, Pier 400 (APM Terminals in Port Los Angeles) reported a single-vessel cargo record during the call of the containership Maersk Evora (a total of 24,846 TEUs loaded and offloaded over a period of 128 hours. The vessel docked at Pier 400 on October 19, calling LA as part of the Europe-Far East service AE6/TP6. On December 26, 2015, while the boxship CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin was berthed here, the terminal handled a total of 11,200 TEUs over a 56-hour period.

In 2018, in Los Angeles was homeported its ever-largest liner so far - NCL 's Alaskan ship Norwegian Bliss (2018-built, 326 m long, 168,000 tons, 4900 passengers + 1700 crew). The maiden port call was on May 25, ending here a 15-day Panama Canal repositioning from Miami Florida . Following the Alaskan season's end (October), NCL Bliss had scheduled all four 7-day roundtrips from Los Angeles to Mexican Riviera ports (Vallarta, Mazatlan, Cabo), with departures October 13, 20, 27.

For 2018 (3rd consecutive record year), Port Los Angeles reported a record-breaking container shipping volume - 9,458749 million TEUs, or 1,2% increase over 2017. The year's monthly record was for October (952,554 TEUs/27,2% increase over Oct 2017). This was the most cargo in a single month in the Port's 111-year history. TEU imports increased 26,7% (to 485,824 units). TEU exports increased 20,5% (to 173,824 units). Empty TEUs increased 25% (to 292,906 units). Port's previous record (924,225 TEUs) was in November 2017. December 2018 was port's busiest December ever - 903,258 TEUs (15,9% increase over Dec 2017), including imports (468,906 TEUs) and exports (147,965 TEUs).

• January 2019 became Port's busiest-ever (852,449 TEUs/5,4% increase over January 2018). Imports grew 1,7% (to 429,923 TEUs). Exports dropped 3,4% (to 144,993 TEUs). Empty TEUs increased 17,7% (to 277,534).
• In June 2021 were processed 876,430 TEUs (+27% over June 2020), including imports (467,763 TEUs/+27%), exports (96,067 TEUs/-12%/Port's lowest export volume since 2005), empty TEUs (312,600/+47%/due to Asia's demand).
• FY2020-21 ended with the record 10,879383 million TEUs (+12% compared to FY2018-19).

In October 2019, Port Los Angeles announced plans for an Outer Harbor Cruise Terminal project (berths 46 and 50). The development project includes the construction of a new passenger terminal on LA Waterfront's south end. The 13-acres/5,3-hectares site is currently used as a special event venue and a temporary dock for cruise liners. Optional for the developer would be to operate year-round the existing LA cruise terminal (berths 91-93) and seasonally the facilities at berths 54-55.

In 2019, the cruise port handled 111 ship calls and around 518,000 tourists, in 2019 - 124 calls (~650,000 tourists), and for 2020 were booked 126 berthings with estimated ~705,000 passengers. Port's record year for cruise shipping was 2008 when it handled 265 ship calls and 1,195897 million passengers.

In November 2021 CMA-CGM signed an agreement for the acquisition of 90% stake in FMS Terminal (Fenix Marine Services/operated under concession thru 2043) for USD 2,3 billion (EUR 2B). FMS is the Port's 3rd-largest terminal by annual TEU capacity (~2,5 million). The facility has land area 292 acres (118 hectares), 4 berths (50 ft / 15 m draft), 16 gantry cranes (8 for ULCVs/Ultra Large Container Ships), direct railway connection (8 tracks), 700+ reefer plugs (for refrigerated TEUs).

Port Long Beach CA

Port Long Beach is currently ranked USA's second-largest containership port - after the adjoining Port Los Angeles. Both ports are the country's main gateway for the shipping trade with Asia. As of 2020, Port Long Beach is connected to 217 seaports worldwide via 175 shipping lines. It handles ~USD 180 billion in shipping trade annually and supports hundreds of thousands of maritime jobs (316,000+ in California State). Port's combined annual shipping trade value (imports and exports) is nearly USD 100 billion, with ~USD 5,6 billion in California state and tax revenues. Annually, USD 800+ million is spent on Long Beach City-based distribution services. In LA, Long Beach port operations generate 230,000+ jobs, with USD 10+ billion going annually to Los Angeles City distribution services.

The port covers a total area of approx 5 mi2 / 13 km2 (land) and has approx 25 mi / 40 km long waterfront (in Long Beach City). The port is located approx 3 mi / 3 km southwest of the city's downtown and approx 25 mi / 40 km south of downtown LA.

• In 2012 was launched the "Green Ship Program" to attract the cleanest ships (Tier III classed). The program (initially planned through June 2022, later extended through June 30, 2024) offers rewards to shipowners/operators (based on engine and fuel types) ranging/per port call from US$600 to US$9000.
• In 2005 was launched the "Vessel Speed Reduction" (aka "Green Flag Program") that rewards vessels for slowing their speeds to 12 knots (14 mph/22 kph) within 20-40 NM/nautical miles of Point Fermin. By this program are offered dockage fee discounts (15%-25%, respectively, for 20-40 NM). In 2021, ~94% of all ships complied within 20 NM and ~88% within 40 NM.
• Both programs (Green Ship and Green Flag) are voluntary.

In 2017, Port Long Beach reported a record year for its cargo shipping volumes, handling 7,54+ million TEUs (11% increase over 2016's 6,775171M TEUs). In November alone, through the port were moved 612,659 TEUs (+14,7% over Nov 2016). Long Beach is among the world's largest cargo ports and USA's gateway for Transpacific (USA-Asia) shipping trade.

In May 2017, the port's containerized cargo traffic was 687,427 TEUs (+6% over May 2017). In 2018-Q1 (January-March), Port Long Beach reported its record Q1 results, with its terminals handling nearly 1,9 million TEUs (+19,4% over 2017-Q1).

In the period April 2017 - February 2018 was completely renovated, redesigned and expanded Carnival's Long Beach Cruise Terminal (read more in the Port's terminal section). On February 10, 2018, Carnival Cruise Line (tenant) reopened "Pier H" terminal after the berth was electrified.

In December 2018, APM Terminals ( The Hague -based international container terminal operator) set a new record for company's North American operations handling 27,846 TEUs on a single vessel. The operation (at Pier 400) included complete discharge of import cargo and complete load of export TEUs plus empty containers to balance the boxship Eleonora Maersk (capacity 15,500 TEUs). The previous record (24,846 TEUs) was on Evora Maersk in October 2017. Port Long Beach's Pier 400 APM terminal (sized 2 km2) is one of the few fitted with large gantry cranes that can serve such boxships with 10 high (TEUs) above deck stowage. These cranes can reach 22 container rows across the beam of these mega-ships.

On April 30, 2019, Long Beach Container Terminal (LBCT LLC) was sold for USD 1,78 billion to a consortium led by Macquarie Infrastructure Management Inc (USA). Terminal's previous owner was OOIL (Orient Overseas International Ltd) - subsidiary of China's COSCO SHIPPING Holdings Co Ltd. As part of the deal, OOCL (Orient Overseas Container Line Ltd / subsidiary of OOIL) entered into a 20-year (until 2039) Container Stevedoring and Terminal Services Agreement with LBCT.

• LBCT (at Middle Harbor) was completed in August 2021 and fully equipped by January 2022.
• Construction works on the USD 1,493 billion terminal project started in May 2011.
• In 2016 was completed Phase 1, allowing cargo operations to start on an initial area of 151 acres/61,1 hectares.
• In October 2017 was competed Phase 2, expanding LBCT to 191 acres/77,3 hectares.
• The final part (Phase 3) was completed in July 2021, expanding LBCT to 300 acres/121,4 hectares.
• LBCT has a large container yard/storage, an administration building, an on-dock rail yard, a concrete wharf (length 4200 ft/1280 m, berthing capacity 3x ULCVs/largest boxships simultaneously), a line of 14x electric STS (ship-to-shore/rail-mounted gantry cranes).
• Now, Terminal's annual capacity is 3,3 million TEUs, ranking it the USA's 6th-largest seaport. LBCT generates 14000+ permanent Californian jobs.
• After docking at LBCT, all boxships are plugged into shorepower connections, using electricity from the city grid.

July 2020 was Port Long Beach's ever-busiest month (in its 109-year history) with moved total 753,081 TEUs and 21,1% increased trade (over July 2019). Imports increased 20,3% (376,807 TEUs), exports 24,1% (138,602 TEUs), empty containers 20,8% (237,672 TEUs). The cargo port's previous monthly record (752,188 TEUs) was set in June 2018.

Los Angeles cruise terminal

The ships dock at two Los Angeles cruise ports – Port of Los Angeles (San Pedro) and Port of Long Beach. More popular Los Angeles cruise port is the Word Cruise Center at San Pedro.

(NEW) Outer Harbor Cruise Terminal (Los Angeles)

In early-October 2019 were announced plans for the construction of a new cruise terminal in LA (adjacent to Cabrillo Way Marina and a boat repair yard). Currently, the building is used as an event space and only occasionally for cruise berthing.

The new cruise port bidder (developer) will upgrade and enlarge the terminal’s existing facilities and berths and will manage the dock/wharf and all day-to-day operations.

In January 2020 were officially announced the plans for two new terminals (in the Outer Harbor) - Berth 45 and Berth 50. They both will have capacity to handle ships with LOA length 335 m (1100 ft), and max capacity 5000 passengers/each. Both facilities are planned as multifunctional - to double as event spaces (during no-ship days and off-season) housing musical concerts, exhibitions, conferences, etc. By this project, both berths (concrete wharves) will be upgraded with shoreside power (cold ironing) capabilities and dedicated parking areas.

In February 2023, LA Port released a draft RFP/Request for Proposals for Outer Harbor Cruise Terminal's development and for the existing World Cruise Center's redevelopment (Inner Harbor Cruise Terminal).

World Cruise Center Terminals (San Pedro)

The two terminals of World Cruise Center are 18 mi (29 km) away from LAX (Los Angeles International Airport), direction South. The first Los Angeles cruise port terminal has two berths 91 and 92. the second one has only one - 93. Two or three larger cruise ships can dock here.

San Pedro Terminal's address is: "Port of Los Angeles, Berths 91-93, World Cruise Center, San Pedro, CA 90731".

Parking is USD 15 per day (Port Authority prices are subject to change). The facilities in the San Pedro terminal include check-in, cafes, bars, shops, parking area, taxi ranks.

Long Beach Cruise Terminal (Carnival)

The second Los Angeles cruise ship terminal is located approx 23 mi (37 km) away from LAX, and 5 mi (8 km) away from World Cruise Center Terminals. It was inaugurated in 2003 for Carnival Corporation ships exclusively. The white dome building (former Spruce Goose aeroplane dome) now houses the cruise terminal (Pier H).

Facilities here include bars, cafes, restaurants, shops, check-in, parking space, taxi ranks. Long Beach Terminal's address: is "Port of Long Beach, 231 Windsor Way, Long Beach, CA 90802". Parking is USD 17 per day (Port Authority prices are subject to change).

In October 2016, Carnival Cruise Line signed an agreement with Port Long Beach and with the landlord (Urban Commons) to expand the "Long Beach Cruise Terminal" facility in order to accommodate larger vessels and enhance terminal operations.

Carnival operates Long Beach terminal since 2003, but using only part of the Geodesic Dome (former museum). The new agreement gave the company 100% use of the Dome (customs and passenger check-in) for its cruise operations.

Construction works started on April 12, 2017. Renovations increased the facility from approx 66,000 to 142,000 ft2 (6130 to 13190 m2). Following the improvements, Long Beach Cruise Terminal now allows docking of larger-sized vessels and also provides additional space for 2-way passenger shipping operations. This enables embarking passengers to access the facility prior to completion of the previous cruise disembarkation process.

Development plans also included expansion of portside cold-ironing capacity to accommodate larger vessels. Shore power allows berthed cruise ships to shut down their main diesel engines and plug into the city's electrical grid, using hydroelectricity for all the onboard services. The technology greatly reduces exhaust emissions in port.

Carnival also made enhancements to the area surrounding the Dome and the adjacent "RMS Queen Mary" (former Cunard liner) city attraction. Terminal's parking capacity was also expanded to accommodate future growth. The multi-million dollar renovated and expanded Carnival cruise terminal was reopened on February 10, 2018. with the arrival of Carnival Splendor . The berth was also electrified (equipped with shoreside electrical power).

In 2017, Carnival had 3 vessels homeported year-round in LA (Long Beach) - Inspiration and Imagination (both for short Baja Mexico cruises) and Miracle (for Mexican Riviera, Hawaii and Alaskan roundtrips).

Los Angeles tours, shore excursions, hotels

City tours and shore excursions.

Near San Pedro

• Los Angeles Maritime Museum: explore the history of the harbor in Los Angeles. It is located half mile away from the Los Angeles cruise port, direction South, in the Municipal Ferry Terminal at Harbor and 6th.
• Ports O’ Call: a mile away from the Los Angeles cruise port, direction South. Great place where you will find shops, restaurants, galleries and bars in New England seaside town atmosphere.
• Red Car Trolley Ride: a vintage line connecting the Marina and the World Cruise Center. It stops by the LA Maritime Museum and Ports O’ Call.
• Abalone Cove: amazing, lively beach located 4 miles away from Los Angeles cruise port, direction West. Enjoy stunning Catalina island views or rock pool at the Sacred Cove Bay.

Near Long Beach

• Queen Mary: the famous ocean liner just by the terminal. It was in service from 1936 to 1976 for Cunard Line. Currently she is part hotel part museum.
• Aquarium of The Pacific, Shoreline Aquatic Park: you will need just 5 minutes by car to get there. Enjoy the sea with its habitants in the Aquarium of The Pacific and walk through the Shoreline Aquatic Park to discover amazing green spaces.
• The Naples Canals: explore the Naples Canal and the Rivo Alto Canal.
• Rancho Los Cerritos Ranch: explore the tradition of Mexican, Spanish and American California origins in a combination.

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Long Beach Cruise Ship Terminal Directions and Parking

Long Beach Cruise Terminal at the Queen Mary 231 Windsor Way                        Long Beach, California 90802     

G oogle Maps : View Map Website :   visitlongbeach.com

Off-Site Parking Information: Carnival Panorama Please note:  Due to limited capacity at the cruise terminal garage , parking will not be available for guests sailing on the Carnival Panorama.

Off-site parking information will be communicated to the guest in the 'Know Before You Go' email and a Guest Communication email the week prior to the cruise departure. 

We are encouraging guests to consider making alternate transportation arrangements that include ride sharing/taxi services or being dropped off/picked up by a family member or friend. If driving is the best option, we have secured parking nearby ,  (approximately 10 minutes from the cruise terminal).

For Parking Procedures, click  here . To view a copy of the Guest Communication for the upcoming cruise, click here . 

Parking Information: Carnival Firenze | Carnival Radiance Rates are subject to change. 

$23.00 USD per day

• 5-Story, 1450 space parking garage.
• Full payment due upon exiting the parking garage.
• Handicap Parking available with proof of valid permit.
• Accepted forms of payment: U.S Dollars, major credit cards and debit cards.
• No advance reservations required.
• The garage height limit is 7 feet.
• Oversized vehicles (those utilizing more than one parking space) cannot park in the cruise terminal garage and guests must make alternate/offsite parking arrangements. 

Off-Site Parking Information: Carnival Panorama Due to limited capacity at the cruise terminal garage, parking will not be available for guests sailing on the Carnival Panorama. Parking information will be communicated to the guest in the 'Know Before You Go' email and a Guest Communication email the week prior to the cruise departure.  

• We are encouraging guests to consider making alternate transportation arrangements that include ride sharing/taxi services or being dropped off/picked up by a family member or friend.
• Please proceed directly to the cruise terminal to drop off your luggage and travelling companions.
•  At the cruise terminal, you will be provided with directions and a card to identify you as a Carnival guest for parking area entry, which will be in a designated section of the parking facility.
• Parking will cost US$20, per day, (including embarkation and debarkation day), and only card payments will be accepted upon entry (cash payment is not an option).
• Complimentary shuttle service will be available to take you to the terminal on embarkation day and back to the parking facility when you return to Long Beach at the end of your cruise. Accommodations will be in place for our guests with mobility limitation.
• The last shuttle will run 30 minutes prior to the final boarding time printed on your boarding pass.
• Signage will be on site to direct guests to the designated parking area.
• Oversized vehicles (those utilizing more than one parking space) cannot park in the cruise terminal garage or at the offsite location. Guests must make alternate/offsite parking arrangements.

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Dropping Off at the Port of Los Angeles & Long Beach (With Pictures)

First things first, if you are dropping a passenger off at one of the LA-area cruise terminals, pat yourself on the back. Not only are you doing someone a big favor by dealing with the city’s traffic and congestion, but you are also saving them some serious cash.

The parking garages charge around $20 a day for parking. Even a short four-day trip racks up nearly $80 in parking fees.

Of course, if you’re unfamiliar with the port area then navigating can be a little intimidating on cruise day. With thousands of people getting on and off the ship, as well as a busy port area, trying to find your way if a bit easier if you have a better idea of exactly where you are going.

To help you out, we’ve provided some instructions and photos below to give you a better idea of where and how to drop passengers off at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

Dropping Off at the World Cruise Center (Port of Los Angeles)

If you’re letting people off at the Port of LA, the process is relatively simple. First, you’ll want to approach the port from Harbor Boulevard, turning east onto Swinford Street. If you are using GPS, the port address is:

100 Swinford St, San Pedro, CA 90731

Once entering the port area, you’ll see ample signage directing you to the cruise terminals:

Once entering the port, you’ll head south, looping around near the USS Iowa battleship. Once you pass the battleship, you’ll head back toward the cruise terminals and see signs for drop off at Berths 91-93.

As you continue around the port, look for your ship on your right-hand side. Continue following signs posted for passenger drop off. After letting out your passengers, continue around to exit the cruise terminal.

Dropping Off at the Port of Long Beach

If you’re dropping at the Long Beach terminal for a Carnival cruise, it might feel a little easier since you don’t have to worry about multiple ships in port at once.

For those using GPS, the address is:

231 Windsor Way, Long Beach, CA 90802

The hardest part is simply getting to the port area. You can come to the port area from several different directions, but you want to end up on Queens Highway. Keep in mind that not every sign will mention the cruise terminal. In this case, you want to follow signs for the Queen Mary, which is docked right next to the Carnival port.

As you come to the port, you’ll see a fork in the road. Keep to your right, going to the side that says “Cruise Terminal”

From here, continue down the road in the right lane. You will see the parking garage on your left. The road will turn left as you pass the garage. After this, you’ll turn left again to go between the domed cruise terminal and the parking garage. Follow the signs for dropping off.

After you let your passengers out, you will continue looping around, exiting back in the direction you came in.

More on Cruising From Los Angeles and Long Beach

Getting to the Port of Los Angeles & Long Beach  — Directions, maps, and information on taxis and shuttles. Everything you need to know to get to the port and start your vacation.

Los Angeles & Long Beach Cruise Parking — Parking at the port? We’ve got you covered with all your parking options, including costs and discounts.

Los Angeles & Long Beach Cruise Hotels — Getting in late? Leaving early? Simply need a place to rest your head? We’ve rounded up the options for places to stay near the port.

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According to Lyft’s website, the price will be around $80 each way.

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Parking in Long Beach

By Renee246 , February 2, 2006 in Princess Cruises

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We live locally and we were wondering about the parking....where is it, and how much is it?

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skarletohara

The parking is $12 a day (or each 24-hour period)

I posted this link fron http://www.sanpedro.com

We live in Northern Calif. and parked there last year and will be parking

there again next month! It is a secured lot.

I HAVE COPIED AND PASTED THIS LINK FOR DIRECTIONS

.San Pedro is the home of The Port of Los Angeles World Cruise Center. Major Cruise Lines offer vacation cruises to Baja California, the Mexican Riviera, Alaska and other destinations around the world. Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruise Lines, Crystal Cruises, the Cunard Line, the Disney Cruise Line, the Holland American Line, the Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Princess Cruises, Radisson Seven Seas Cruises, the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and Catalina Express, along with other cruise lines offer frequent sailings that make San Pedro the busiest passenger port of call on the United States West Coast. Carnival Cruise Lines departs from Long Beach, California. San Pedro remains the easy and economical place to stay before and after your cruise.

Long Beach, California is the home of Carnival Corporation's new Long Beach Cruise Terminal. Carnival Cruise Ships depart and arrive at this facility. For information on the Long Beach Cruise Terminal, parking, maps and driving instructions, please visit our Cruise Ships - Long Beach, CA page.

All Carnival Cruise Line Ships and some ships of the cruise lines owned by Carnival Corporation arrive and depart from Long Beach. All other Cruise ships depart from the The Port of Los Angeles World Cruise Center in San Pedro

Visit the SanPedro.com Cruise Ships In Port Calendar - San Pedro for a month by month listing of ships in port at the Port of Los Angeles World Cruise Center, San Pedro, CA.

The World Cruise Center is located at Berths 91, 92 and 93A/B. See below for an interactive map and driving directions.

Lots 1 and 2:

Hours of operation: 8:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. Monday and Friday only.

For 3 and 4 Day Cruises only

Parking is $1.00/hr for first 10 hours or $12.00/24hr.

No Free Parking

$12.00 Daily Maximum

Lots 6, 7, and 8

Hours of operation: Open seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

Free parking for the 1st hour.

$12.00 for the first 24 hours and each additional day or a portion thereof.

A courtesy shuttle bus is provided to and from the cruise terminal on scheduled ship days. The shuttle buses are not wheelchair accessible.

All parking rates are based on per space only. If you occupy more than one space, you will be charged all occupied spaces.

Post Pay Parking Only

Parking fees may be paid by Cash, Travelers Checks, and Major Credit Cards only.

Further information can be obtained by telephoning Parking Concepts at 310-547-4357 or 310-732-5773.

Directions:

The Port of Los Angeles World Cruise Center in San Pedro, California is approximately 19 miles south of the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), 23 miles south of Downtown Los Angeles and 6 miles west of Downtown Long Beach. There is easy freeway access to the World Cruise Center from all points.

From Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) - West Los Angeles

San Diego Freeway(405) south to the Harbor Freeway(110), then south on the Harbor Freeway to the CA 47 - Terminal Island exit. Merge right to the Harbor Blvd. Exit. Proceed straight through the Harbor Blvd. intersection and turn right into the World Cruise Center parking lot.

From Long Beach

West on Ocean Blvd. to CA 47. Continue west on CA 47 across the Gerald Desmond Bridge and the Vicent Thomas Bridge to the Harbor Blvd. to San Pedro Exit. Proceed straight through the Harbor Blvd. intersection and turn right into the World Cruise Center parking lot.

From Malibu, Pacific Palisades - Santa Monica

California 1 south to Santa Monica Freeway(10), Santa Monica Freeway(10) east to the San Diego Freeway(405), south on the San Diego Freeway(405) to the Harbor Freeway(110), then south on the Harbor Freeway to the CA 47 - Terminal Island exit. Merge right to the Harbor Blvd. Exit. Proceed straight through the Harbor Blvd. intersection and turn right into the World Cruise Center parking lot.

From The San Fernando Valley and the North

San Diego Freeway(405) south to the Harbor Freeway.(110), then south on the Harbor Freeway to the CA 47 - Terminal Island exit. Merge right to the Harbor Blvd Exit. Proceed straight through the Harbor Blvd. intersection and turn right into the World Cruise Center parking lot.

From Hollywood

Hollywood Freeway(101) south to the Harbor Freeway(110), then south on the Harbor Freeway to the CA 47 - Terminal Island exit. Merge right to the Harbor Blvd Exit. Proceed straight through the Harbor Blvd. intersection and turn right into the World Cruise Center parking lot.

From Pasadena and Downtown Los Angeles

South on the Pasadena - Harbor Freeway(110) to the CA 47 - Terminal Island exit. Merge right to the Harbor Blvd Exit. Proceed straight through the Harbor Blvd. intersection and turn right into the World Cruise Center parking lot.

From The Inland Empire and the East

San Bernardino Freeway(10) or Pomona Freeway(60) west to the Harbor Freeway(110), then south on the Harbor Freeway to the CA 47 - Terminal Island exit. Merge right to the Harbor Blvd. Exit. Proceed straight through the Harbor Blvd. intersection and turn right into the World Cruise Center parking lot.

From Anaheim - Buena Park and Northern Orange County - Riverside Areas

Artesia - Riverside Freeway(91) west to the Harbor Freeway(110), then south on the Harbor Freeway to the CA 47 - Terminal Island exit. Merge right to the Harbor Blvd Exit. Proceed straight through the Harbor Blvd. intersection and turn right into the World Cruise Center parking lot.

From Irvine - Southern Orange County Areas and the South

San Diego Freeway 405) north to the Harbor Freeway(110), then south on the Harbor Freeway to the CA 47 - Terminal Island exit. Merge right to the Harbor Blvd Exit. Proceed straight through the Harbor Blvd. intersection and turn right into the World Cruise Center parking lot.

Interactive Map and Driving Directions:

Click for Interactive Map and Driving Directions

The World Cruise Center has Amtrak California Bus service from the San Pedro Thruway Bus Stop at the Catalina Terminal located at Berth 95. There is a free shuttle bus from World Cruise Center. This station is unstaffed and there is no ticket, baggage or package express services. The Amtrak California Bus schedule can be found here. This bus service can be used to connect with nationwide Amtrak service at the Los Angeles Union Station. Further information can be obtained by calling (800) USA-RAIL.

New Amtrak Service to California Cruise Line Ports

Amtrak now provides daily Thruway service to Cruise Line Port Areas in San Francisco, Long Beach, San Pedro and San Diego. Direct Thruways operate from Bakersfield and Los Angeles Union Station to the Queen Mary Carnival Terminal in Long Beach and to Catalina Terminal in San Pedro (where shuttles take you to the nearby San Pedro Cruise Ship Terminal). Our San Diego station is just three blocks from the downtown San Diego Cruise Ship Terminal. From Emeryville, our Thruways take you right to Pier 39,just 1-1/2 blocks from the San Francisco Cruise Ship Terminal at Pier 35.

In some cases groups can arrange for motorcoach service direct to the Cruise Ship Piers in San Francisco, Long Beach and San Pedro.Check with the group department at 1-800-USA-1GRP for details.

World Cruise Center

Berth 91/92 and 93A/93B

San Pedro, CA 90731

Select Month All January February March April May June July August September October November December 2006 2007 2008

Select Destination All Africa Alaska Australia/New Zealand Bahamas Bermuda Canada/New England Caribbean - All - Eastern - Southern - Western Europe - All - Mediterranean - Northern - Western Far East Hawaii Mexico New Zealand Panama Canal South America Southeast Asia Tahiti Transatlantic Transpacific Western U.S. World Cruise

Select Cruiseline All Carnival Celebrity Costa Crystal Cunard Disney Holland America Norwegian Orient Princess Radisson Seven Seas Royal Caribbean Seabourn Silversea Windstar

Advanced Search

Select Destination Africa Alaska Asia Australia Bahamas Bermuda Canada/N.E. Caribbean Caribbean, East Caribbean, South Caribbean, West Europe Hawaii Mediterranean Mexico Panama Canal Scandinavia South America South Pacific Western US

Select Port Baltimore, MD Barcelona, Spain Boston, MA Charleston, SC Copenhagen, Den. Ft. Lauderdale, FL Galveston, TX Honolulu, HI London, England Los Angeles, CA Miami, FL New Orleans, LA New York, NY Papeete, Tahiti Port Canaveral, FL San Diego, CA San Juan, PR San Francisco, CA Seattle, WA Seward, AK Tampa, FL Vancouver, Can.

Cruise Ships In Port Calendar - Port of Los Angeles World Cruise Center and Carnival Cruise Lines

Port of Los Angeles World Cruise Center

Cruise Line Phone Numbers

Celebrity Cruises - 800-437-3111

Costa Cruise Lines - 800-462-6782

Crystal Cruises - 800-820-6663

Cunard Line - 800-528-6273

Disney Cruise Line - 800-951-3532

Holland America Line - 800-426-0327

Norwegian Cruise Line - 800-327-7030

Oceania Cruises - 800-254-5067

Princess Cruises - 800-774-6237 or 800-421-0522

Radisson Seven Seas Cruises - 800-285-1835

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line - 800-327-6700

Seabourn Cruise Line - 800-929-9595

Silversea Cruises - 877-215-9986

Cruise Line Links

Catalina Express

Celebrity Cruises

Costa Cruise Lines

Crystal Cruises

Cunard Line

Disney Cruise Line

Holland American Line

Norwegian Cruise Line

Oceania Cruises

Radisson Seven Seas Cruises

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line

Seabourn Cruise Line

Silversea Cruises

Cruise Ship Related Links

Condé Nast Traveler Online The online version of the renown travel magazine. Excellent source of travel information information and fun to look at.

Cruisepage.com Features information about more than 11,000 cruise itineraries and detailed reviews of over 300 ships. Good site!

The Sealetter Cruise Magazine A monthly digital magazine for vacation cruisers. Articles, advice, tips, and essential knowledge for novice and veteran cruise travelers.

Porthole The leading cruise consumer magazine. Great Site!

Seaview Cruise and Ferry Information Service An interesting web site located in Great Britian. Loads of information. Excellent resource!

A Wedding for You Arrange your wedding aboard a cruise ship!

Yahoo Travel Cruises - Excellent Links

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Are you on Princess? If so, you sail out of San Pedro, not Long Beach. Long Beach is a port for Carnival.

Since you asked about Long Beach, there is a parking structure South of the old Queen Mary and the dome where the "Spruce Goose" once lived.

If you need San Pedro for a Princess ship, It's just South of the West end of the Vincent Thomas bidge.

Thanks so much! That's a big help!

Visit the new SanPedro.com Cruise Ships In Port - Long Beach Calendar for a month by month listing of ships in port at the Carnival Cruise Lines's Long Beach Cruise Terminal.

The Carnival Cruise Lines's Long Beach Cruise Terminal is located at:

231 Windsor Way

Long Beach, California 90802.

Phone: 562-901-3232

See below for an interactive map and driving directions.

$12.00 per day (rates subject to change by the Port Authority).

Five-story, 1,450-space parking garage.

Full payment due upon exiting the parking garage.

Accepted forms of payment: U.S. dollars, major credit cards.

No advance reservations required.

Oversized vehicles will be charged per parking space.

From Los Angeles International Airport - West Los Angeles

Take the San Diego Freeway (405) South to the Long Beach Freeway (710)

Take the Long Beach Freeway (710) South

Continue on the Long Beach Freeway (710) South and follow the signs for the Queen Mary

At the entrance to the Queen Mary, stay to the far right of the parking ticket taker for the Queen Mary; this lane is the entrance the Carnival Cruise terminal

Follow the directional signs for Passenger Parking and Luggage Drop-Off Area

From The Long Beach Airport

Take Lakewood Blvd. South to the San Diego Freeway (405)

Take the San Diego Freeway (405) North to the Long Beach Freeway (710)

Follow the directional signs for Passenger Parking and Luggage Drop-Off Area .

Take California 1 South to Santa Monica Freeway (10)

Take the Santa Monica Freeway (10) East to the San Diego Freeway (405)

Take the San Diego Freeway (405) South to the Long Beach Freeway(710)

Take the Hollywood Freeway (101) South to the Harbor Freeway (110)

Take the Harbor Freeway (110) South to the San Diego Freeway (405)

Take the Pasadena - Harbor Freeway (110) South to the San Diego Freeway (405)

Take the San Bernardino Freeway (10) or Pomona Freeway (60) West to the Long Beach Freeway (710)

Take the Artesia - Riverside Freeway(91) West to the Long Beach Freeway (710)

Long Beach has daily Amtrak California Bus Service from the Long Beach (LBC) Thruway Bus Stop at the Denny's Restaurant, 601 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90802. and the Queen Mary at 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach, CA 90802. These stations are unstaffed and there are no ticket, baggage or package express services. The Amtrak California Bus schedule can be found here. This bus service can be used to connect with nationwide Amtrak service at the Los Angeles Union Station. Further information can be obtained by calling (800) USA-RAIL.

Long Beach Cruise Terminal

Long Beach, California 90802

Map of the Long Beach Cruise Terminal

Directions to the Long Beach Cruise Terminal

Cruise Ships In Port Calendar - Long Beach - Carnival Cruise Lines and some Cruise Lines owned by Carnival Corporation

Carnival Cruise Line - 310-548-1223 or 888-227-6482

Costa Cruises - 800-462-6782

Cunard Line - 800-728-6273

Holland American Line - 877-724-5425

P & O Cruises - 800-340-7674

Princess Cruises - 800-774-6237

Seabourn Cruise Line - 800-929-9391

Windstar Cruises - 800-258-7245

Carnival Cruise Line

Costa Cruises

P & O Cruises

Windstar Cruises

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

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What’s the best Caribbean cruise line for me?

Jul 15, 2024 • 9 min read

Whether you're a family of four or a solo adventure junkie, the Caribbean has a cruise for you. Walter Bibikow / Getty Images.

It feels like just about everyone is headed on a cruise ship, and for good reason. There’s a real appeal to embarking on a getaway where your travel plans are already sorted; you only have to unpack once and arrive each morning in an exciting port of call.

Plus, new ships are rolling out incredible bells and whistles that push the limits of fun at sea (think indoor skydiving, roller coasters, and go-karts). At the same time, the cruise industry has shifted towards sustainable efforts that have emerged as fundamental to modern cruising. 

Recent statistics from CLIA (the official Cruise Line International Association) show an increase of nearly two million passengers in 2023 (totaling 31.7 million) compared to pre-pandemic numbers in 2019.

And there’s no more popular cruising region than the Caribbean , where upwards of 37 cruise lines with 154 ships rove the idyllic paradise of islands. With so many options, sorting out which ship and itinerary fits you best can be confusing. 

Here’s a handy guide to help determine which cruises are best for you, along with tips and advice to ensure you’re setting yourself up for a smooth sail. 

What Caribbean cruise is best for me?

Sailing for adventure.

Whether you're into ziplining through the rainforest, scuba diving one of the world’s largest coral reefs or swimming at the base of a waterfall, cruises throughout the Caribbean offer excellent opportunities for adventure.

Cruise ports known for high-octane activities include St-Martin (known for its superb scuba diving), Belize (cave-tubing and ziplining throughout rainforest treetops) and St Lucia (the Sapphire Falls Hike). 

Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises and Holland America have cruises that frequent these ports.

Best ships for families

Look for larger ships with kid-friendly pools, expansive kids' clubs and family-friendly entertainment. Royal Caribbean’s fleet features action-packed decks great for families with water slides, laser tag and mini golf. 

Disney Cruise Line’s fleet sails extensively throughout the Caribbean to ports that span from Cozumel , Mexico, to Willemstad , Curaçao. The line’s most common Caribbean offerings are shorter 3- and 4-night itineraries that are perfect for families looking for a short trip.

Cruise lines with private islands operate predominantly in the Bahamas , including Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line. These stops are great family destinations as they feature enclosed, private environments with kids' activities and the ease of charging everything to your sea pass card.  

Singles at sea

Cruises can be an excellent place for singles to mix and mingle. A standard cruise stateroom rate is usually calculated at a minimum two-adult rate. Singles wishing to book a standard stateroom are typically charged a single supplement fee ranging from 50% - 100% of their base fare. 

As the demand for single cruise accommodations grows, new ship builds include solo staterooms, both interior and with balconies. Look to Celebrity Cruises, Virgin Voyages, and Norwegian Cruise Lines for some of the best accommodations for solo travelers. 

Most relaxing getaways

The most relaxing cruises sailing through the Caribbean tend to be the smaller ships focusing on a more “resort at sea” vibe. The higher-end ships with all-inclusive rates offer the luxury of seamless vacations. Windstar, Seabourn and Viking are the best lines for a relaxing cruise.

On these ships you’ll find daily activities that swap dance parties and poolside games for fitness-oriented activities like yoga and strength training classes, lectures on upcoming ports and ample lounge chairs to soak up the sun by the pool.

From your first step onboard, all your food and drinks (except for certain vintage wines and spirits), activities and sometimes your port excursions are included in your rate. 

Itineraries like the Viking Ocean Cruises’ West Indies Explorer sail a 10-day itinerary roundtrip from San Juan, Puerto Rico, with stops that include Tortola, British Virgin Islands; St. Kitts, Saint Kitts & Nevis and Roseau, Dominica. Rates for Viking Ocean Cruises include one shore excursion per port.

Best parties at sea

As the classic notion of cruising sunsets – goodbye white glove service, shuffleboard, Baked Alaska – a new era of fun is afloat.

Large ships are built to maximize fun, whether you're hopping pool parties, dancing the night away at late-night discos or cheering your team at rousing sports bars. Special interest cruises are also an excellent option for the most immersive fun at sea, whether that’s a full ship charter rock concert like the Rock Legends Cruise , a trip dedicated to Golden Girls fans , or an LGBTQ+ charter like VACAYA . 

Favorite lines that feature an upbeat party vibe include Margaritaville at Sea (particularly on their new Islander), Virgin Voyages and Norwegian Cruise Line.

A quick getaway

You’ll find cruise lines are leaning into shorter itineraries that offer weekend getaways to nearby ports in the Caribbean. Most of these sailings are roundtrip from Florida’s top cruise ports: Miami , Fort Lauderdale and Orlando (Port Canaveral). These are often 3- and 4-night sailings featuring a stop in The Bahamas or Bermuda . 

The vibe onboard is often more upbeat and celebratory, as guests do their best to maximize their limited time at sea. 

A few favorite lines for this style of travel include Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean (who is launching Utopia of the Seas this summer as its first-ever large-scale ship that will exclusively sail short getaways) and Disney Cruise Line.

An extended journey through the Caribbean

Smaller cruise lines offer longer, extensive itineraries throughout the Caribbean; smaller ships can port far off the beaten path at more remote destinations. Itineraries like Seabourn’s “25-Day Captivating Antillean Treasures” sail to some of the lesser trafficked parts of the Caribbean including Marigot, St. Martin; Carambola Beach, Saint Kitts and Nevis; and Sopers Hole (Frenchmans Cay), BVI. Lines like Silversea, Windstar Cruises and Azamara are favorites that route to these idyllic destinations. 

When should I go on my cruise?

There are sailings throughout the Caribbean year-round, with high season running from November through April. This period is known for its optimal sailing conditions and weather. 

You’ll find cheaper sailings during the hurricane season, typically July through September, though you risk the chance of your trip being canceled or rerouted to avoid inclement weather. 

Holiday sailings (particularly during Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve) are also excellent times to sail as cruise lines curate impressive decor and holiday-themed activities.

How do I know if my cruise line is operating sustainably? 

Conservation efforts have become a vital tenet of the future of cruising, with the industry gearing towards carbon-zero sailings by 2050 . Efforts underway include ship engines that run cleaner on alternative fuels, advanced wastewater systems that can better clean sewage water and exhaust gas cleaning systems to improve air quality at sea and in port. 

Friends of the Earth’s Cruise Ship Report Card is a great resource to assess a ship’s sustainability efforts. 

A few lines at the forefront of sustainable sailing include Ponant, Disney Cruise Line and Hurtigruten. Ponant recently became the first maritime cruise line to receive Green Globe certification, which recognizes the line’s commitment to reducing its environmental footprint.  The line has shifted away from heavy fuel oil and installed catalytic systems to reduce atmospheric emissions.

Disney Cruise Line aims to operate with carbon emissions at net zero by 2030, in part by shifting to alternative fuels like liquefied natural gas (LNG) and hydrotreated vegetable oil. 

Hurtigruten is currently developing a zero-emission propulsion ship, which is aiming to be unveiled by 2030. 

There are still a large number of travelers who oppose the notion of cruise ships for not only their impact on the environment, but on local economies as well. Groups like Friends of the Earth , CLIA and Oceana are excellent organizations devoted to regulating the cruise industry.  

Need to know before you go

Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind when you’re booking a Caribbean cruise. 

Book in advance...

Cruise lines offer better rates further from your sailing date, often making sailings available to book more than a year out. The earlier you book, the better the selection of staterooms to choose from. 

Or take advantage of last minute deals

Cruise Plum is our go-to with a comprehensive overview of discounted inventories if you're angling for a last-minute getaway. 

Opt for third-party travel insurance for hurricane season protection

Travel insurance is the best way to ensure smooth sailings on your Caribbean cruise. Typical cruise insurance rates hover around 5 to 10% of your total trip cost. 

Don’t just opt into the cruise line’s designated insurance option; shop around on a platform like Squaremouth for the most value. 

Look for a plan specific to cruise travel, with coverage that includes compensation for delays, cancellations (particularly helpful during hurricane season), emergency medical, and the premium option of canceling for any reason (CFAR). 

Be hurricane-aware

Hurricane season in the Caribbean is typically July through September. The outlook for the 2024 season from NOAA’s (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) predicts an 85% chance of an above-normal season with the potential range of 8-13 hurricanes with winds of at least 74 mph. 

Cruise lines work expeditiously to avoid sailing into the path of any major tropical storm or hurricane, often rerouting or shortening itineraries as threats arise. Cruises rarely encounter major storms as they’re able to chart the course of the weather and route accordingly. 

In the event you encounter a major storm while at sea, head to the middle of the ship where you’ll feel the rolling of the ship less, take over-the-counter aids like Dramamine or Bonine and keep your eyes on the horizon for stability balance.

You don’t necessarily need a passport 

Passports are not required for closed-loop sailings that begin and end at a US port. All you need is a boarding pass, a government photo ID (if you’re 16 years or older) and a certified birth certificate or certificate of US naturalization. 

However, keep in mind that you might not be able to disembark the ship at certain ports (those ports include Barbados , Martinique and St-Barthélemy ).

Third-party excursions can be a better value play

If you want to stretch your dollar further, consider booking with local tour operators before arriving at each port. It’s important to note that third-party excursions are the best when they’re morning-only activities. 

The ship won’t wait for you if you’re late returning from a third-party excursion. For full-day excursions, consider the line’s offerings, as the ship will wait for you, and there’s nothing worse than missing the boat.

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What to Expect: My Princess Alaska Cruise Review from Seattle

W e’ve just set sail and I’m typing this while onboard my very first Princess Cruise. I’ve been on many other Alaska cruises so I’m writing this guide for you about my Princess Alaska cruise to help you know what you can expect.

What’s Included in this post:

• Tips for Sailing from Seattle
• Onboarding & My Room
• Premier Package & Specialty Dining Reviews (including Caymus Winemakers & 360)
• My Shore Excursion Recaps from Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan

Our Itinerary – Discovery Princess (June 2024)

• Glacier Bay
• Victoria, BC

Sailing from Seattle

We’re local to Seattle, and so just drove down to Pier 91 to board the Discovery Princess . Our boarding time was 10:30 am to 2:00 pm. All passengers needed to be onboard by 2:00 pm for a 3:00 pm departure. If you’re a non-local, here are a few things to note about sailing Princess from Seattle.

• Pier 91 is about 3 miles north of the downtown Seattle corridor. So, if you’re planning to visit the city beforehand, you’ll need to use rideshare, taxi, or shuttle to get to the cruise port from the main tourist area downtown. It’ll take you about 10-15 minutes to travel by car from downtown to Pier 91.
• If you want to stay a day beforehand to tour the city, my favorite downtown hotels near popular attractions are the Thompson Hotel, Inn at the Market, and Four Seasons Seattle. The Westin Seattle and Motif Seattle might be slightly more price friendly and are close to the monorail, but further from Pike Place Market and the waterfront. The monorail can take you from downtown to the Seattle Center district where the Space Needle and other popular attractions are located.

Onboarding with Princess

When we arrived at Pier 91, we were able to be dropped off right by the cruise ships. There were two ships in port, a Holland America Line ship and our Discovery Princess cruise ship. There were bag tags available for those who hadn’t printed them in advance and a long line for bag drop and check-in.

There was a separate, shorter, line for those with no bag drop who were carrying on their bags (which we did). Although the bag drop check-in line was extremely long, it seemed to be moving quickly. It can be chilly and windy waiting outdoors for the bag drop line to move indoors, so be sure to have a jacket handy.

From the time of drop off until we were onboard was probably only 40 minutes when we boarded around noon. Everything moved extremely smoothly. We had checked in via the app in advance and so simply scanned our check-in app QR code and showed our passport at the first step.

Next, we had to go to the blue lane to get our Princess Medallions since we missed the shipping date. I HIGHLY recommend you download the app and check-in as soon as you’re able (at least more than 14 days before) and have your medallion shipped to you to save time.

Plus, you have the opportunity to personalize your medallion with special occasions and celebrations and preorder medallion accessories if you want. If you check-in early enough you can skip the blue lane and go to the green lane which had no line and was simply an ID and photo check point before heading on the ship.

Since we had missed the medallion shipping date, we went to the blue lane, which honestly moved extremely quickly and so it wasn’t a huge issue. We had our passports checked again and received our medallions which had our names and sailing date listed on them, which was very nice. The whole process was smooth and moved quickly. Getting 4000 passengers onboard a ship at a single point of entry could be a logistical nightmare but we were very impressed with how smoothly it all went.

We got onboard and headed to our room which was actually ready! They say that rooms aren’t guaranteed ready until 1 pm, but ours was. So we dropped our bags and headed to the buffet to get a little bite to eat. If you don’t want to eat at the buffet, make sure you board early and can make it to the restaurant before 1 pm.

Day 1 is a busy day! We had to confirm and make dining reservations and soon we were setting sail with a windy music sail away party happening on decks 16 & 17 at the pool. I also highly recommend if you want to enjoy the private Sanctuary retreat space (added cost) make sure to go book that on day 1.

Our Balcony Stateroom L129

Since I was hosted on this cruise, I didn’t choose our cabin, it was simply assigned to us. We were booked in a Category BF – Balcony Stateroom (Guarantee) and were assigned a room on deck 16, the Lido deck, towards the front of the ship. Since I’ve never sailed Princess, I wasn’t sure what to expect from our room; a balcony stateroom number L129.

Initial impressions: I was shocked we didn’t have a sitting/couch area in our balcony stateroom. Our room is simply a queen bed with a desk, one chair, and a mini-fridge cabinet. We did have a very spacious open closet space that is right next to the bathroom. The bathroom doesn’t have an enclosed shower, which is a first for me on a cruise ship.

Space wise, it’s fine for two people, however I miss having a couch and sitting area. The closet had ample hangers which I appreciated and there is a small shelf cabinet in the closet that worked well for my packing cubes. I unpacked, hung some items, left others in my packing cubes, then simply slid my suitcase under the bed.

The bathroom seemed small compared to what I recall from other cruises. I have a slender build and felt I had to keep the bathroom door open when drying off and getting ready simply to have room to move and breathe.

I was worried about being on the busy Lido deck 16, the same deck as the pool and buffet. However, the forward rooms on these decks are nicely separated and due to the fact that there is no forward stairs or elevators in front of the rooms, it hasn’t been an issue with excessive noise and foot traffic.

Personally, I’d avoid the L301 and L302 rooms in this section near the elevators as there is a lot of activity in this area. Also it’s worth noting that deck 17 overhung our deck, so many of my photos looking out from our balcony do show a white floor above us. You can see this in the image with my conclusion paragraph at the end of this post.

Being on the right (starboard) side of the ship was fine most of the time, however, in Glacier Bay we did hear the park ranger mentioning the left (port) side to see some of the sights. The ship does turn and pass all the spots again, you just don’t have the ranger audio commentary.

Thankfully when you reach the end of Glacier Bay and view Margerie Glacier, the ship spins a few times so that both sides of the ship can see the famous glacier.

The Discovery Princess Ship

I was a bit surprised to discover that this ship can carry about 4300 guests, for our sailing I was told it was at 4003 guests, which seems like a lot! The ship was built in 2022, and still feels nice and new.

The layout of the ship is a little odd and not as free flowing as I’m used to on other ships. You’ll occasionally find elevators hidden behind walls and getting to a restaurant on the back of deck 5 means you have to go up to deck 6 to cross to it as you can’t cut through another restaurant on deck 5. It just wasn’t as free flowing and easy to orient myself as I’ve experienced before.

Discovery Princess does have a great three floor midship atrium where you’ll find shopping, bars, and dining. Plus, this open area is where many of the entertainment competitions and mini-shows take place. There is some seating on all levels around this space and many people would stand at the overlooking edges on decks 6 and 7 to watch the performances happening on deck 5.

One of my favorite spaces I discovered is the Retreat and Sanctuary on decks 17 and 18. The retreat is an adults-only pool, two hot tubs, and lounge space. This leads to the Sanctuary space which is a paid for private lounge deck with glass viewing over the front of the ship.

You have to reserve access to the sanctuary in advance for $20 for half a day and $40 for the full day, or rent a cabana with a tv and mini-fridge for a varying price. When we asked if we could book a day they were already sold out. So, if you think you’ll want some lounge time in a quiet area with a view, book a spot in the Sanctuary right when you board.

Princess is soon debuting a Sanctuary Collection package that will be included with some upgraded stateroom fares. It will launch on the Sun and Star Princess ships in Fall 2025.

Our Premier Package

We did have the Princess Premier Package (an added $80 per day per guest) as part of our booking which includes a few extra amenities:

• WiFi 4 devices per guest – text, share, stream and video chat with the best Wi-Fi at sea
• Premium Drinks, Bottled Water, Specialty Coffee, and Juice Bar – Top-shelf spirits and craft cocktails up to $20 each, in addition to what’s included with Princess Plus
• Pre-paid crew appreciation (tips) – this is included in Plus packages as well
• Professional photos included – unlimited downloads and three printed images
• 2 Specialty meals included (per sailing) – dine at one of three specialty restaurants on the Discovery; Crown Grill (steak & seafood), Catch by Rudi (seafood), Sabatini’s (italian).
• Unlimited dining at casual restaurants: Gigi’s Pizzaria, Ocean Terrace Sushi Bar, Salty Dog Gastro Pub, Gelato
• Unlimited premium desserts at Gelateria, Swirls or Coffee and Cones
• OceanNow® (delivery anywhere onboard) fee waived – order drinks and food on the app and it will find you anywhere on board
• Unlimited Room Service
• Unlimited Fitness Classes: Classes by Xpotential: Pure Barre, Yoga Six and Stretch Lab
• Reserved Theater Seating (we really LOVED this perk!)
• Princess Prizes – during casino hours, win prizes like wine tasting, onboard credit and more (we didn’t really understand or experience this perk)
• Blue Medallion Clip On

Having the Premier package truly gives you more of an all-inclusive feel. You’re allowed to eat and order whatever you want at the extra dining spots. You have access to the top label alcoholic drinks, for example I could order a $19 glass of Pinot Noir where the Plus package was limited to a $15 glass.

My husband and I are both heavy internet users and thought the Princess WiFi was truly the best we’ve ever experienced. We could facetime with our kids and even streamed a couple of hockey games while onboard! I was easily able to download shows from my streaming accounts as well.

And we loved the reserved theater seating since some people would show up an hour before showtime to start getting good seats!

There are three main restaurants onboard, Juneau, Ketchikan, and Skagway that are open for dinner; and for our cruise, Ketchikan was open for breakfast and lunch as well. In addition to those there is a World Market buffet, Salty Dog Pub, and Gigi’s Pizzaria. 

Discovery Princess has added fee restaurants as well if you want a smaller, upscale dining experience. There is the Crown Grill steakhouse, Catch by Rudi seafood, and Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria. We also had the chance to experience two limited dining experiences, The Caymus Winemaker’s Dinner and 360 Dining Experience 7-course tasting.

I’ll be honest that we found the food in the main restaurants pretty standard for a large cruise ship. Everything was good, but not extraordinary. We enjoyed the meals but felt they were a little under-seasoned and the fish was repeatedly overcooked.

However, the specialty dining restaurants were a better experience. Which makes sense as the main dining rooms need to feed around 4000 guests and the specialty restaurants are only feeding a small seating of maybe 20 tables during the night. I’ll say that the 360 dinner was one of the absolute best experiences I’ve ever had onboard a ship, and I highly recommend you splurge on it if you enjoy experiential dining experiences.

The Caymus Winemaker’s Dinner

I was told in advance to request the winemaker’s dinner experience and so I did on day 1. It isn’t a set scheduled event, so we had to wait to be told when our dining experience would happen. There was no publicity about this meal while onboard. It seems to be arranged by request or offered to guests who speak with the sommelier and show an interest in wine. I was told that it typically happens twice per cruise.

You’ll meet in the atrium and be escorted to a private table inside one of the main restaurants. For our seating we had 10 guests, which were 5 couples. We had a host and sommelier for the night and we ate and drank through 6 courses. The couples chatted during the meal and the sommelier shared information about the Caymus family of wines and their history.

The food was tasty and very unique; it was a great break from the standard main dining experience and the wine pours were generous and truly paired well with each dish. I’ll mention that the ship also did an AMAZING job accommodating Paul’s pescatarian diet and my sensitivity to mushrooms, including creating different plates for each of us at this meal when the dish included meat or mushrooms.

If you’re a person who enjoys private dining experiences and wine, this would be an excellent splurge for the cruise – just make sure to talk to the dining team on day 1 to arrange.

360: An Extraordinary Experience

If you only want to splurge on one upgraded dining experience while sailing with Princess, 360 is the one I would recommend. Beyond the food being wonderful, the whole evening was unique and truly experiential.

You’ll meet in the atrium where you’ll be served a cocktail and have a photo taken against the 360 Princess Cruises backdrop, then you’re led into the back kitchen area of Catch by Rudi to a hidden room with a circular table that seats 20 guests.

The evening starts with a host greeting you and starting the story by grabbing a journal from the wall. Then Brooke Shields takes you on a travel journey around Europe tasting and drinking through a 7-course meal.

The lighting and table effects, the private servers for each couple, the energetic host, and the amazing makers storytelling videos immerse you in the food and drink you’ll consume. We loved it and so did the couples sitting around us!

Entertainment & Shows

There are a lot of activities happening on the ship to engage guests. Each day you’ll check the app or the daily sheet left the night before to find out times of activities. Paul and I were both surprised at how it seemed there were quite a few announcements made over the speakers through the day about events and activities.

There were maybe three a day? Compared to Norwegian where it seems there’s only one a day, it’s something to keep in mind if that’s something you want or don’t. The announcements do not get broadcast in your rooms.

Some of the events were things like egg dropping contests, paper plane flying challenge, music trivia, group workouts, art auctions, bingo, as well as skin and shopping events each day at the spa and shops.

The main theater had a show each night that featured two stage shows during the week and the other nights were acts like comedians, singers, and magicians.

The bars all had live music each evening, with the same performers each night but with different set lists. We felt the first stage show we attended was pretty good, not Broadway level but definitely enjoyable. The reserved seating for Premier guests was a useful perk.

TIP: if you know you want to watch a lot of the main theater shows, make sure you plan your dining accordingly. Paul and I often had dining times around 7 pm, which meant we had to go to the 9:30pm late show (first show is at 7:30 pm) and sometimes we were too tired to go after a busy day out. :)

Paul and I felt like there were a lot of things you could do, although some of the activities seemed to be somewhat aimed at selling you something. But overall, if you’re the type who doesn’t want to hang out in your room and love to pop into things, Princess seems to really try to have some kind of fun activity happening throughout the day.

Lotus Spa & Enclave

After having a few spa services on cruises, I’ve decided it might just not be my thing. I feel that you’re either pushed in and out quickly, which was my facial experience on Princess, or a big chunk of your treatment time is spent trying to upsell you on other services or products, which was my recent facial experience with Holland.

I did get a day pass for the spa Enclave area which is a special water therapy area not included in spa services. I believe the rate is around $49 a day. I’ve tried one of these areas before on the Norwegian Bliss ship, so was looking forward to checking this out.

Enclave has a large center jacuzzi pool with special jet areas around the pool. There are heated tile lounge benches throughout the edges of the space. And there are three heat therapy rooms as well as some water therapy cold/hot showers.

I visited in the late morning one day and didn’t feel the space was overcrowded, but did feel like my two hours was plenty of time. I tried each of the rooms and relaxed on a heated bench to read a few times. The space isn’t overly large so could easily get crowded.

Shore Excursions and Ports of Call

I’ve been on quite a few Alaska cruises, as I’ve mentioned, and shore excursions are extremely popular with guests. I recommend booking early! Some popular excursions sell out months in advance. And most shore excursions happen rain or shine, so be prepared to pack accordingly.

One thing to note, if you’re not interested in any of the excursions or activities, the ships become extremely empty during port calls. You’ll find the pools, hot tubs, and restaurants clear and quiet, so keep that in mind if you’re just looking to relax. Of course, you’ll have to count on good weather to get people off the ship and to make you want to spend time in the pool or hot tub. :)

My Juneau Excursion:

Alaska’s Whales & Mendenhall Glacier Trail: Small-Group Experience

The most popular activities in Juneau are seeing Mendenhall Glacier and whale-watching. I’ve done bus transfers to Mendenhall, rented a Jeep to self-tour around the sites, and on this trip I finally did a whale-watching trip.

Our small group tour was two groups of 20 people and we were separated onto small shuttle buses that took us on a drive of about 15 minutes to the port where we boarded a small boat at a marina. There was time to quickly use the bathrooms which were at the marina and do get busy.

The boat had an interior closed cabin with bench seating that just fit all 20 of us. There was a small front and back deck where we could go out when we weren’t moving. Plus the window walls of the interior of the boat could be pulled up and locked into place to allow the whole interior cabin to have open viewing.

We headed out onto the water and after traveling for about 15 minutes we came upon our first pod of humpback whales. There were quite a few of them feeding, and we even had the opportunity to see bubble net feeding, which is pretty rare!

In addition to the many seagulls flying over the feeding whales, we also spotted a bald eagle. I really wished I had my DSLR camera with a strong zoom lens as my iPhone photos just couldn’t capture the amazing details and size of these creatures.

If this is a bucket list trip experience for you, I HIGHLY recommend you bring a good zoom camera. There are point and shoot cameras for reasonable prices that would work well. I’d recommend something with a high optical zoom like the Panasonic FZ80 series or a Canon Powershot like the SX740 .

After spending a bit of time with that group of whales, we left again to look for more and passed a group of five Steller Sea Lions hanging out on an ocean buoy. We soon found another group of humpback whales that were feeding and shooting their breathing mists high. We spent another few minutes with this pod and then had to head back to the marina.

Once in the marina, we boarded our shuttle again to go to a bus parking area for Mendenhall where we split into two groups of ten. Our guide led us through a short hike through the woods, sharing some of the local fauna, and we ended up at a beach across from Mendenhall Glacier.

This was the first time I ever viewed the glacier from the vantage as I’ve always visited it from the main visitors entrance and done the hike to the waterfall near the glacier. So, just know that this visit to the glacier is simply a visual stop and not the standard visitor’s center experience.

We headed back to the bus and we passed over a creek that does get salmon running in it, although not this time but we did see them in August 2022. This time we spotted a porcupine high in the trees!

Our bus driver offered to drop us in the main area of Juneau for shopping, but the original drop off point is just slightly down from downtown at the dock. It’s only about a 10 minute walk along the dock. When we cruised on the Norwegian Bliss we docked farther away at the A1 dock which is a mile away from downtown. Our Holland America ships have always ported at the main docks in port.

Our Skagway Excursion

Sip & Summit: White Pass Scenic Rail & Skagway Brewing Company

The most notable excursion in Skagway is the White Pass Scenic Railway. This is a historic train route and even some of the cars and engine are historically important. The purpose was for trade and moving products to the Canadian border. The train only operates during the peak summer season, so be sure you check the dates if you’re traveling in the shoulder season.

For our excursion it included more than just the train, and we started our day meeting in a parking lot after tendering to shore from the ship. Recent landslides have made tendering and shuttling mandatory for some larger ships.

A large tour bus soon came to the parking lot and we loaded onto it with guests who seemed to be from another pier – a Holland ship. The bus took us to an overlook viewpoint where we were able to see the town as well as the cruise ships in port. Then we traveled back to town and were dropped off at Skagway Brewing Company in town.

Our group had a private seating area on the patio of the pub and we were all served a flight of beers and a pretzel with beer cheese. The manager came to each of our tables to chat for a few minutes, and there was plenty of time for us to enjoy our beer tasting as well as the chance to shop in their gift shop. One of the big features for this brewery is their Spruce Tip Ale which was their first beer made with Sitka Spruce tree tips which contain vitamin C to help prevent scurvy.

After the brewery we loaded back on the bus and were driven a short distance to a parking lot near the train where we were assigned a train car for our group. We had researched in advance and knew the right side of the car was best; however, the train does turn around at the top and everyone stays in their same seats, so the left side of the car will see the sites coming back down the mountain.

There are about 10 rows of seats, fitting two people in each bench seat on each side. So a train car probably holds about 40 people. There is a bathroom in each car, and there are very small viewing platforms on each side of the train car, which you’re allowed to access if the conductor feel it’s safe. The trip will take about two and a half to three hours.

If you happen to get a clear weather day, this excursion is amazing. The views are unbelievable and you truly appreciate the challenge of mining and trade in this region. I will say that it can be a little unsettling if you’re afraid of heights as you’re often on train tracks right next to gorges; so keep that in mind if you don’t like heights. You’ll be given a route map on the train and it will help you keep track of the main sights along the way.

Glacier Bay National Park

While not a cruise excursion, I did want to mention our stop in Glacier Bay as it’s one of the main draws for many cruisers. Some cruise ships and itineraries do not go to Glacier Bay since there is a permit limit each year. So if you really to visit this National Park, be sure to pick a cruise itinerary that has Glacier Bay included.

Glacier Bay is typically a one-day special experience. You’ll sail into the bay early in the morning and a couple of National Park Rangers will board the ship at the mouth of the bay. Throughout the day you’ll cruise up the bay to the end and the featured site of Margerie Glacier. The rangers will give audio commentary about sights along the way, and there are typically education events onboard including Junior Ranger badge programs.

Whether the weather will give you a clear blue sky day or a cloudy, rainy mess, is anyone’s guess. Keep in mind that the whole bay is gorgeous and it’s worth spending some time enjoying the views on one of the decks while cruising the bay. This would be a perfect day to reserve time in the Sanctuary.

Our Ketchikan Fishing Excursion

Alaska Fishing & Wilderness Dining – Discovery Exclusive

I actually did this exact excursion with my daughter Mia on our Holland Alaska Cruise, and we loved it so much I knew I had to book it for Paul, too. You’ll meet up on shore with a guide from Baranof Fishing and be led to their pier spot to have your fishing licenses checked or purchased.

With Holland we didn’t have any info to buy a license in advance; however, Princess did a great job having a sheet in our room upon boarding telling us what to do. So when we got to the pier we were able to just print off our licenses, meaning we got onboard a boat quicker.

Our guide took us out to one of his favorite spots to start fishing for rockfish. When I went with Mia in August, we were on a six-person open skift boat, but this time there were five of us on a small boat with a small cabin and back deck for fishing. They’ll loan you boots for the trip, and depending on weather they may give you waders. I can’t recall if they have coats for loan, but I wouldn’t count on it.

We had to chase the rockfish quite a bit this time, whereas when I fished with Mia, we all immediately got two fish each when we dropped our hooks down. So it was kind of fun having two different experiences. We also caught a few different types of rockfish, with Paul catching a tiger rockfish which had to be returned and I caught a fair sized yelloweye rockfish which we kept for lunch!

After we all caught a couple of rockfish, we headed to a different spot to go for salmon. With rockfish, we all were dropping lines into the water, whereas for salmon you’ll troll fish and have to watch rods for bites, then someone has to grab the rod and hope to reel in a fish. Salmon can be tricky and we have had a few pop off the hook when we’d try to reel them in. But in the end we came away with a lovely Pink Salmon to keep while we had to let a King Salmon go since it was too small.

With our fish onboard, we headed to a private island for some lunch. You’ll be brought ashore; keep in mind that you have to hop off the boat into very shallow water to go ashore, so you’ll need to be a little nimble. But they have a step stool and will help you get on and off the boat.

Onshore there is a campfire going and you can help yourself to fireside coffee in pitchers or use hot water to have some hot chocolate. Your guide will clean your fish and hand them off to the chef who will prepare the fish with amazing seasonings and a cioppino tomato soup. Our salmon was prepared with teriyaki sauce on a cedar plank board and it was all tasty. There was also blueberry cobbler for dessert. We finished eating and headed back to our boat to go back to the cruise ship.

Keep in mind, you’ll be fishing and sitting by a campfire; so consider packing a special outfit and/or jacket for this excursion. Or plan on having some laundry done on the ship; perhaps even pack some travel febreeze , hand wipes and sanitizer.

What to Pack for an Alaska Cruise

Be sure to read my Alaska Cruise Packing List post which includes a free printable packing list! A few important notes:

• Pack layers for clothes, weather can vary and wind and rain are a reality just as much as sunny 70 degree days. A good flannel, fleece, puffer, and raincoat could be ideal for varying weather.
• Pack shoes that will accomodate your various excursions and dress, i.e. walking, hiking, or formal night.
• Pack a pair of good binoculars – we had a cheap pair and they were worthless.
• Pack some playing cards or travel board games if that’s your lounge style.
• Don’t forget a day pack for shore excursions.

Taking a cruise to Alaska is definitely something I’d recommend. Things to keep in mind is that bigger ships might not be able to port right at the pier and you’ll have to tender or shuttle ashore. Itineraries matter and you should carefully look at the ports of call as well as the amount of time in each port of call which choosing your line.

This was my first Princess Cruise and I loved the medallion “key” technology as well as the great WiFi at sea. The specialty dining experiences were better than the main dining and the 360 dining experience is something I’d recommend to all my friends. Princess cruise staff onboard were all kind and helpful, from the servers in the buffet to the room stewards.

The ship size was bigger than I expected and did come with some extra lines for getting off and on at cruise ports. While I didn’t love the layout, overall it was a gorgeous ship and I did enjoy all the different venues and lounge seating areas. There weren’t a lot of “active” areas onboard like a ropes course or waterslide, but that might have been what helped keep the family quotient lower and as a traveling couple, that was enjoyable.

I asked two different couples that mentioned they had sailed 10+ times with Princess why the loved it so much, and both gave me the same response: because they know what to expect. So, if consistency is something that appeals to you, it certainly seems like Princess might be a great line for you to cruise.

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Cruises from Florida

Best Cruise Line Itineraries

Recommend Magazine, 14-time Winner

Picture this: you and a group of your choice lounging on a white sand beach in the sunshine. Maybe you’re reading that page-turner novel you’ve been eyeing for months or sipping a fruity drink. Doesn’t that sound relaxing? The good news is this dream can become a reality when you take a cruise from Florida. 

Florida is considered a top cruise port for a reason. It’s a lovely place where you can hop on a cruise ship to some of the most desirable tropical locales you could imagine. Let’s dive into what cruises from Florida look like and some of the luxurious destinations you could set sail to this year.

Cruise from Florida on a Tropical Vacation You’ll Love

Florida is known for being a cruise hotspot, with around 19 million people passing through the sunshine state’s port’s last year. There are two main reasons for that. First of all, Florida is a prime spot for ships to sail to a wide range of places. The other reason is because Florida itself is a vacation-worthy destination.

Tropical Vacations from Florida to Explore:

6-day western caribbean with mexico: see the stunning costa maya, mexico; roatan, honduras; and cozumel, mexico. , 6-day eastern caribbean with turks & caicos: experience amber cove, dominican republic; san juan, puerto rico; and grand turk, turks & caicos. , 7-day western caribbean with bahamas: explore princess cays, bahamas; ocho rios, jamaica; grand cayman, cayman islands; and cozumel, mexico. , cruises near me in florida.

When you board a Princess® ship from Florida, you’re destined for the vacation of a lifetime. Princess ships leave from two main Florida ports, and both are spectacular. Here are some of the highlights of the two main Florida port cities:

Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale is located on the southeastern tip of Florida, only a short distance from the Bahamas. It has stunning beaches, a rich culture, and a thrilling nightlife. On top of that, it’s only a short distance from all three of the Florida national parks . This port city boasts world-class theaters, museums, sightseeing and shopping. So extend your vacation with a stay in Fort Lauderdale and enjoy the convenience of getting on one of the fantastic Princess Cruise ships.

Port Canaveral (Orlando)

Orlando is the space and theme park capital of the world. Explore all of the amusement parks or check out the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex to take advantage of these fantastic attractions. Then head over to Port Canaveral for your spectacular cruise. This port is a hot spot for tropical cruise destinations.

Top Florida Attractions

Florida has some of the best beaches in the United States. Kick off (or end) your vacation by relaxing by the sea. Dive into crystal blue waters — you might see a rare Florida manatee.

Golf courses

Florida is known for some excellent golf courses. People travel to this state to get to play a round of golf on these courses. When you choose a Florida cruise, you have a prime opportunity to play a little golf on world-renown courses.

National parks

Florida is home to three national parks of extraordinary beauty. Take an airboat ride through the Everglades to see alligators or experience the Florida keys at Biscayne National Park. Or head out to the remote islands that make up Dry Tortugas National Park. These three locales are packed with adventure, and they’re close by when you’re taking a cruise from a Florida port.

Theme Parks

The Florida classic is exploring the local theme parks. Why not take the ultimate vacation by having a theme park adventure and then relaxing on the tropical beaches on a relaxing cruise?

A city tour

Explore the vibrant heart of Florida! Take a city tour to uncover fascinating sights, rich history and exciting activities. Discover the unique charm and energy of each port, making your visit unforgettable.

Enjoy convenient pickup and dropoff solutions to your cruise between Brightline Fort Lauderdale Station and Port Everglades with complimentary round trip shuttle service provided by Princess Cruises. Brightline makes for a convenient cruise experience aboard Princess Cruises. Get your bags delivered from Brightline Orlando Station in partnership with Orlando Health or Brightline West Palm Beach Station directly to Port Everglades.

Unmatched Florida Cruise Destinations

Set sail from Florida and discover an array of captivating destinations. Here are some of the incredible places you can explore on a Florida cruise:

From ancient ruins to dazzling beaches, Mexico has it all. In this beautiful country, you can relax on the beach or snorkel in crystal clear tropical waters. You could also spend time exploring Mayan ruins and seeing amazing historical sites. On top of that, enjoy fantastic tacos and other Mexican cuisine.

The Bahamas

So many people picture the Bahamas when they think of a perfect vacation. Make that your reality by taking a cruise that goes here. Experience some of the most stunning ocean views and relax in paradise.

Central America

Central America has many fascinating countries with spectacular opportunities for adventure and scenic views. Experience Honduras or Belize with jungle adventures. Or go zip lining through the trees in Costa Rica.

The Caribbean

The Caribbean is packed with stunning islands. If you want to visit a bunch of them, a cruise is one of the best ways to do so. The ship will take you from each island, and you can experience all the beautiful beaches and adventure each stop has to offer.

New England

If you’re not in a tropical mood, you could always travel north! New England has stunning coastlines full of rocky shores and dazzling cliffs. Hop off the ship and hike in Acadia National Park or get your fill of crab cakes. A fall-time New England cruise could also take you to some of the best autumn foliage in the world.

Keep heading north for a Canadian adventure. Experience the tranquility of Prince Edward Island and immerse yourself in the culture of Quebec City.

South America

Have a Brazilian adventure and climb the Corcovado Mountain and visit one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, the Christ the Redeemer statue. Or explore the pyramids of Mesoamerica and dive into immense history and culture.

The Panama Canal

One of the cruising wonders of the world is the Panama Canal. Experience what it’s like to travel through the world-famous locks, including the Agua Clara and Cocoli Locks. You can get a front-row seat to the engineering marvel that connected the world and experience new cultures.

Spain and Portugal

Relive the Golden Age of ocean travel and take a cruise ship from Florida to the Iberian Peninsula. Immerse yourself in the cityscapes of Madeira, Portugal; Seville, Spain; Malaga, Spain; and Barcelona, Spain. Enjoy the coastal sites and eat delicious food as you explore these stunning countries. You can even go to Gibraltar and Morocco!

Western Europe

Set sail from Florida to Western Europe and immerse yourself in its rich culture and stunning scenery. Explore the Netherlands, England, France, Ireland and Belgium where you can enjoy escargot in Paris, savor a real Belgian waffle or see the Thames from the London Eye.

The Mediterranean

A region of the world known for its coastal scenery is the Mediterranean. So hop on a ship in Florida and head to Italy and Greece. Eat pasta on the Amalfi Coast or island-hop in Greece and see the unbelievable cities of Santorini and Corfu.

If you’re ready for a cool experience (literally the coolest), head to Antarctica and explore the southernmost point on the globe. See the stunning and rural landscapes of the mysterious seventh continent.

Can’t decide which of these fantastic locations to visit? Consider a World Cruise that departs from Florida. These multi-month cruises or shorter segments can take you anywhere from South Africa to Australia and New Zealand to Hawaii.

Preparing to Cruise in Florida

Ready to board your dream cruise in Florida? Here are some tips to help you make the most of your vacation:

Prepare with sunscreen:  There’s a reason Florida is called the Sunshine State. It’s warm and sunny. That’s why sun-bathing is a year-round activity here. Prepare to be sun-soaked in Florida but you don’t want to end up with a sunburn on your vacation, so lather up every few hours.

Consider transportation options:  Depending on what you want to do and where you’re coming from, you’ll want to decide about your transportation options. If you plan to drive your own car, you can explore Florida before your cruise and conveniently book a parking spot at our Princess lot at the cruise port. If you’re flying to Florida, many find that renting a car is a great way to explore the area.

Dress for success:  Pack comfortable casual clothing like shorts and t-shirts  for the warm Florida weather. Also, include a jacket and warm clothes for cooler destinations and some dressier outfits for onboard dining and events. Don't forget swimwear, a hat and sunscreen for days spent by the pool or on the beach.

Be prepared for hurricane season:  Florida is a stunning state, but it does come with some weather challenges occasionally. Hurricane season runs through the summer and fall. To be prepared, monitor weather reports surrounding the period of your departures, and be aware of any delays or cancellations. These months often offer the cheapest cruising prices, so don’t be afraid to book a cruise then! They can be some of the best months to cruise. 

Bring your passport:  Not every destination you’re going to explore will require a passport, but the US government recommends that you bring yours just in case.

Ships That Cruise from Fort Lauderdale

Sun Princess® and Star Princess® are our next-generation cruise ships featuring an epic sphere atrium, first ever geodesic dome, innovative entertainment venues and premium Suites.

Our Princess fleet includes some of the best cruises out of Fort Lauderdale. Find the comforts of home along with the luxuries you deserve on board any of our ships. Discover what makes our fleet so unique.

Majestic Princess®

Caribbean Princess®

Sky Princess®

Enchanted Princess®

Sun Princess®

Star Princess®

Emerald Princess®

Island Princess®

Sapphire Princess®

Regal Princess®

Coral Princess®

Ruby Princess®

The Princess Cruise Difference

Princess provides you and your traveling companions with a unique experience unlike any other vacation. You can cruise for some of the best value on the sea. Enjoy a plethora of destinations and only unpack once. Princess has service that goes beyond knowing your name -- our crew treats you like family.

Discover why Princess is rated as the best cruise line for food lovers by Food & Wine Magazine . Enjoy globetrotting dining on some of the best cuisine at sea.

Book your dream vacation from Florida with Princess Cruises, and get ready for a vacation your whole gang will love.

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