8 Must-Know Things About the Long Beach Cruise Terminal

Table Of Content

• I Spent 7 Days on My First Adults-Only Virgin Voyages Cruise
• Places to Visit Near the Cruise Terminal
• Train Service to the Long Beach Cruise Terminal
• What time does Carnival Cruise depart from Long Beach?
• Wheelchair and Accessibility at the Long Beach Cruise Terminal
• Long Beach Cruise Terminal Tips
• Public Transit from Long Beach Airport to the Long Beach Cruise Terminal

It’s always a good idea to plan to arrive into the city the day before. That way if there are any delays, you aren’t scrambling to make it to the port — or have any worry about missing the ship. Today, you can have your choice of cruise lines in the area, from Carnival to Princess to Norwegian to Royal Caribbean. Meanwhile, itineraries have expanded beyond simply the well-known Mexican Riviera trips to include coastal California cruises, trips through the Panama Canal, and even cruises to Canada. If you don’t have time to stay in one of the rooms, the ship is also afloating museum with activities and exhibits for the whole family. Theseinclude history exhibits, fine dining, and even ghost tours of the supposedlyhaunted ship.

I Spent 7 Days on My First Adults-Only Virgin Voyages Cruise

And you can be picked up anywhere else in the area to get to the ship on your own schedule. Both LAX and Long Beach Airports have shuttles services as well. There are four different shuttle services that can transport you from the airport to the cruise terminal, and back again. Arrive when your ticket tells you to, and you’ll be able to go right intothe terminal, check in, and sit in the cool, air-conditioned building untilit’s time to board the ship.

Places to Visit Near the Cruise Terminal

For all the details on parking, see our Long Beach cruise parking page here. For more details on parking, see our Los Angles cruise parking page here. Both ports are located just a few miles of each other, with one in San Pedro and the other in Long Beach.

Train Service to the Long Beach Cruise Terminal

Southern California ports operating, only minor cruise changes - Seatrade Cruise News

Southern California ports operating, only minor cruise changes.

Posted: Mon, 21 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

In addition to the Queen Mary, there are many other hotels nearby fortravelers to stay before or after your cruise. If you don’t have time for even that, it’s still fun to get a few pictureswith such a beautiful old ship in the background. There are also several restaurants and bars on board, and you don’t need tobook a room to eat there.

Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. The terminal building is closed until the staff is ready to begin boarding and check-in. If you arrive before that time, you will have to wait outside.

Wheelchair and Accessibility at the Long Beach Cruise Terminal

Unfortunately, you can’t call in to reserve a parking space ahead of time.Parking in the terminal is first come, first serve. It might be a good idea toarrive early to make sure you have a spot if you’re worried about that. When it comes to accessibility, the Long Beach cruise terminal doesn’t provide wheelchairs if needed. If mobility is an issue, there is seating available while waiting to board, or it’s advised to contact Carnival in advance to arrange a wheelchair at the port. Guests may hand off checked bags to porters within the passenger drop-off zone or alongside the parking garage.

Passengers on cruises departing from Long Beach Cruise Terminal predominantly fly into LAX, though Long Beach Airport (LGB) and John Wayne Airport (SNA) are also viable options. Cruise lines offer shuttle service from LAX and LGB, while passengers arriving at SNA will need to take a taxi or rent a car. Of course, if you are driving, then you will need a spot to park.

Taxis are located on the arrivals level of the airport while rideshare passengers may walk or take a shuttle to the rideshare lot. As well, the terminal is right across from the city of Long Beach itself. As with the World Cruise Center in San Pedro, your best bet for getting to the port if you need transportation is with an Uber or Lyft. These services are widely available, including offering rides from the major airports. The good news is that there is ample parking right at the port.

More than half a million passengers each year sail from the Port of Los Angeles, not even including the Long Beach Cruise Terminal a few miles away that serves Carnival Cruise Lines. A uniquely designed, European-style hotel, the Varden is one of the highest-rated hotels in Long Beach. The sign stills reads “Dolly Varden Hotel,” but this building has been extensively renovated and redesigned. It now blends both historic and contemporary features into an elegant design. That’s because this is a busy terminal, and even though it has beenexpanded to hold more people in, you won’t be allowed inside if you arrive tooearly. Sir Winston’s is a fine dining option with ocean views and an award-winningmenu.

In that case, one of the porters will take your luggage on board for you. Hotel Maya, owned by Hilton, offers stunning rooms with ocean views, andhas beach access. Hotel Maya also offers kayak and jet ski rentals so you canreally enjoy the water. The Hotel Maya is the closest hotel other than theQueen Mary to the Cruise Terminal, so it’s convenient, too. These days, the Queen Mary is one of the most unique hotels in the country.If you arrive in Long Beach a day or two before your cruise leaves, you canbook a room here. The expanded cruise terminal in Long Beach is a great start, and itsignificantly enhances the experience of leaving on a cruise through that port.

Roughly 20 million people live in the greater Los Angeles area that includes Long Beach. That means many people are able to simply drive to the cruise ship. It shouldn’t be a surprise, then, that the most convenient way to get to the cruise ship is to take an Uber/Lyft. These services provide access from all major airports in the area.

Part of the expansion plans include work being done in Ensenada, Mexico,one of the stops on the three- and four-day cruises to Mexico. These expansionswill include shopping centers and restaurants. All of this is part of a broaderplan to increase the Long Beach cruise business in general.

If you’re planning a cruise along the West Coast, odds are you’ll beleaving from the Long Beach Cruise Terminal in Long Beach, CA. It isn’t theonly cruise terminal on the West Coast, but it’s one of the biggest andbusiest. Taxi and rideshare services are readily available from LGB airport. There are plenty of hotels and accommodations convenient to the Long Beach Cruise Terminal. Any hotel in the greater Long Beach area will only a few short minutes away from the Cruise Terminal.

Once inside the terminal, there is ample seating for passengers awaiting the rest of their party. Whether you’re visiting Long Beach, California for business, fun or both, you’ll always find something unconventional to do. You can see a list of nearby hotels to the World Cruise Center here. Of course, if you live in the area — as millions do — then you may be interested in simply driving and parking at the port. A number of lines, including Princess, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity depart from the port. Which port you cruise from will depend on which cruise line you sail, as they each have their designated spots To help you find your way, we’ve covered each port in detail below.

If you have a day or two pre- or post-cruise, then you'll find plenty to do and see in Long Beach. The Aquarium of The Pacific, Long Beach Museum of Art and Museum of Latin American Art are must-sees for visitors. Shoppers will find all their favorite brand names at a discount at the Pike Outlets, right in downtown Long Beach.