Cruise port guideUSLAX

Los Angeles (San Pedro)

Los Angeles cruises leave from the World Cruise Center in San Pedro and from Long Beach beside the Queen Mary, for the Mexican Riviera, Baja, Hawaii and the Pacific Coast.

9 things to do3 airport connections5 ships

Your day ashore, at a glance

Find something worth your time Plan the airport transfer Read the safety guidance

Peak season: Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr

Make the most of your stop

Things to do in Los Angeles (San Pedro)

9 recommendations

Choose an easy wander, a local highlight or a bigger day out. Compare practical details before you head ashore.

Explore ashore
Recommended ashore
The Queen Mary
The Cunard liner, now a hotel and museum, beside the Long Beach terminal.
Distance from port
Not assessed
Cost
High
Tourist-trap risk
Mixed
Physical effort
Moderate
Accessibility
Not assessed
Explore activity
Explore ashore
Recommended ashore
Aquarium of the Pacific
On the Long Beach waterfront, walkable from the terminal.
Distance from port
Not assessed
Cost
Not assessed
Tourist-trap risk
Not assessed
Physical effort
Not assessed
Accessibility
Not assessed
Explore activity
Explore ashore
Recommended ashore
Battleship USS Iowa
A museum ship next to the San Pedro terminals.
Distance from port
Not assessed
Cost
Not assessed
Tourist-trap risk
Low
Physical effort
High
Accessibility
Partly accessible
Explore activity
Photo: Andrija12345678; CC BY-SA 4.0; cropped · License
Recommended ashore
Santa Monica and Venice Beach
The pier, the boardwalk and the canals, for a pre-cruise day.
Distance from port
Not assessed
Cost
Not assessed
Tourist-trap risk
Not assessed
Physical effort
Not assessed
Accessibility
Not assessed
Explore activity
Explore ashore
Recommended ashore
Griffith Observatory
The best view of the Hollywood sign and the city.
Distance from port
Not assessed
Cost
Free
Tourist-trap risk
Low
Physical effort
Low
Accessibility
Partly accessible
Explore activity
Photo: Getty
Recommended ashore
Getty Center
Art, architecture and gardens above Los Angeles. Best for a pre- or post-cruise day with time for traffic and an advance entry reservation.
Distance from port
Not assessed
Cost
Free
Tourist-trap risk
Low
Physical effort
Moderate
Accessibility
Accessible
Explore activity
Photo: Rancho Los Alamitos
Recommended ashore
Rancho Los Alamitos
Explore a historic ranch, barns and gardens in Long Beach. Afternoon opening hours make this easiest with a flexible pre- or post-cruise schedule.
Distance from port
Not assessed
Cost
Free
Tourist-trap risk
Low
Physical effort
Low
Accessibility
Partly accessible
Explore activity
Explore ashore
Recommended ashore
Los Angeles Maritime Museum
Discover San Pedro and harbor history in the former ferry terminal at Berth 84, with exhibits on local maritime life.
Distance from port
Not assessed
Cost
Low
Tourist-trap risk
Low
Physical effort
Low
Accessibility
Accessible
Explore activity
Explore ashore
Recommended ashore
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
Learn about Southern California marine life at Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro. The nearby coastal park offers an optional walk.
Distance from port
Not assessed
Cost
Free
Tourist-trap risk
Low
Physical effort
Low
Accessibility
Partly accessible
Explore activity

Book your trip · Klook

Find activities for your stay in Los Angeles (San Pedro)

Klook may include other destinations when local tours are unavailable. Check the destination, meeting point, duration and return time against your ship’s schedule; these are independent tours.

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Tours & sightseeing

Attractions & shows

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Getting to your ship

Airport to cruise port

San Pedro's World Cruise Center and the Long Beach terminal are each about 20 miles (32 km) from LAX, 30 minutes to over an hour depending on traffic. Long Beach Airport is 15 minutes from the Long Beach terminal. Cruise lines run shuttles from LAX; taxis and rideshares pick up at LAX-it.

LAX

Los Angeles International

To Los Angeles (San Pedro) · one way

Airport lounges

Verified transfer prices from LAX have not been published yet. Check the transport operator before booking.

LGB

Long Beach International Airport

To Los Angeles (San Pedro) · one way

Verified transfer prices from LGB have not been published yet. Check the transport operator before booking.

SNA

John Wayne Airport, Orange County

To Los Angeles (San Pedro) · one way

Airport lounges

Verified transfer prices from SNA have not been published yet. Check the transport operator before booking.

Rental cars: Very common in Los Angeles, with all the big firms at LAX; both terminals have parking.

Book your trip · Kiwitaxi

Arrange your transfer to Los Angeles (San Pedro)

Choose your arrival airport and exact cruise terminal, then check a quote for your party. Confirm pickup details, luggage and accessibility with the provider.

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Book your trip · EconomyBookings

Find a rental car for your visit to Los Angeles (San Pedro)

Choose your pickup location and dates below. Airport and city offices may require a separate transfer from the cruise terminal. Check opening hours, insurance, deposit and return time before booking.

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Know before you go

Safety ashore

Women travelers

Routine precautions

Editorial baseline for a daytime port visit, based on country-level government advice rather than a women-specific local incident rate. Canada advises normal security precautions in the United States; theft occurs in tourist areas and violent crime varies by neighbourhood, particularly after dark. Check the route locally, keep valuables secure and arrange transport for unfamiliar areas at night. This rating does not establish that every terminal or neighbourhood is safe.

Reviewed 2026-10-25

Government of Canada: United States safety and security

LGBTQ+ travelers

Extra caution advised

Government advice highlights changing federal gender-marker processes and state or local rules affecting LGBTQ+ travelers. Check the relevant state and your travel documents; this is not a port-specific incident score. Assessment uses country-level government advice; port-specific conditions may differ.

Reviewed 2026-10-25

Government of Canada travel advice

Editorial guidance reflects the cited advice and review date. Laws, attitudes and conditions can differ within a destination. No rating guarantees personal safety.

Pick your moment

When to go

Jan: High season
Feb: High season
Mar: High season
Apr: High season
May: Shoulder season
Jun: Shoulder season
Jul: Shoulder season
Aug: Low season
Sep: Low season
Oct: Shoulder season
Nov: Shoulder season
Dec: High season

● High season○ Shoulder season◌ Low season

Mexican Riviera sailings run all year, and more ships are based here in winter when Alaska's season ends. Late summer has the fewest departures.

Who else is in port?

Port crowding index

100 is average. 150 means 50% more ship passenger capacity than this port’s observed hourly average over the past 30 days; 50 means half the average.

Checking ships in port…

Estimate for tracked catalog ships, based on published passenger capacity, not actual passengers ashore. Port areas are approximate circles around published port coordinates. Only positions reported within an hour at 1 knot or less are counted; ships at anchor may be included. Missing AIS reports and untracked ships can understate crowding. Quiet observed hours count toward the average; collection outages do not.

Set sail