Los Angeles Cruise Ports: San Pedro vs Long Beach
Los Angeles is really two cruise gateways, not one. Most big ships leave from San Pedro’s World Cruise Center, while Carnival sails from the Long Beach dome.
Here is how I would sort out which terminal is mine, and what I would do in each neighborhood before or after the sailing.
My quick take
Check your ticket first: the cruise line name usually tells you the port. San Pedro and Long Beach sit only a few miles apart but are separate terminals with separate parking.
If you are pairing this with other stops, my West Coast cruise ports guide and my first-timer cruise ports guide are good companions.
Which port am I sailing from?
The two terminals are easy to mix up, so match your cruise line to the right one before you book parking or a ride.
World Cruise Center, San Pedro (Port of Los Angeles)
This is the main Los Angeles cruise terminal. According to the Port of Los Angeles, Princess, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, and Virgin Voyages homeport here, with visiting calls from lines like Cunard, Celebrity, MSC, Regent, Silversea, and Viking.
The address is 100 Swinford Street, San Pedro, with direct access from the I-110. Confirm your exact berth with your cruise line, since the center uses more than one berth.
Long Beach Cruise Terminal (the dome by the Queen Mary)
Visit Long Beach confirms this terminal is owned and operated by Carnival Corporation, right beside the Queen Mary. So if you are sailing Carnival out of the Los Angeles area, this is almost certainly your port.
The building is the striking geodesic dome that once housed Howard Hughes’ Spruce Goose. The address is 231 Windsor Way, Long Beach.
The quick facts
- San Pedro terminal: World Cruise Center, 100 Swinford Street; Princess, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Virgin Voyages and visiting lines.
- Long Beach terminal: Long Beach Cruise Terminal, 231 Windsor Way; Carnival Cruise Line only.
- From LAX: San Pedro is about 18 miles south of LAX; Long Beach Airport is about 10 miles from the World Cruise Center.
- Parking: San Pedro runs about $23 per day; Long Beach lists $23 per day with a 7-foot garage height limit.
- Currency: US dollars.
Getting to each terminal
LAX is the main gateway for both ports. From the airport, a taxi or rideshare is the simplest door-to-door option to either terminal.
For San Pedro, Metro J Line 950 reaches downtown San Pedro, while LADOT Commuter Express 142 links San Pedro and Long Beach. Neither is a luggage-friendly door-to-door airport transfer, so I would use a taxi, rideshare, or booked shuttle on embarkation day.
Rental-car pickup is offered only during limited agency hours, and the Port of Los Angeles lists both agencies as closed on Sunday. Confirm the branch, pickup window, and one-way fee before relying on that option.
For Long Beach, the terminal sits next to the Queen Mary off the 710 freeway. Long Beach Airport (LGB) is another nearby option if your route allows it.
Parking, luggage, and embarkation-day timing
At San Pedro, official parking is beside the World Cruise Center at Berths 91 to 93. The Port of Los Angeles currently posts a $23 daily maximum for standard vehicles and $40 for oversized vehicles, with overflow lots and courtesy shuttles used when directed.
Long Beach has a covered garage at the terminal with a 7-foot clearance and a posted $23 daily maximum. Oversized vehicles cannot use that garage, so arrange an approved alternative before sailing rather than looking for space on arrival.
Neither cruise terminal should be treated as a public luggage-storage site. On embarkation day, hand checked bags to the cruise line only when its porters are accepting them, keep valuables and medicine in your carry-on, and follow the arrival window on your boarding pass.
The stops I would spend time on in San Pedro
San Pedro is walkable and low-key, and several highlights sit close to the World Cruise Center.
- Battleship USS Iowa Museum: the WWII battleship at 250 S. Harbor Blvd, with hours that should be checked for your date, about a five-minute walk from the cruise terminal.
- West Harbor: the new waterfront dining and entertainment district rising on the historic Ports O’Call site, opening in phases with restaurants and harbor cruises.
- Cabrillo Marine Aquarium: a free-to-visit aquarium at Cabrillo Beach focused on Southern California marine life, with a suggested donation.
- Korean Bell of Friendship: the massive bronze bell and pavilion in Angels Gate Park, with wide ocean views.
- Point Fermin Lighthouse: a historic Victorian-era lighthouse set in a clifftop park at the tip of San Pedro.
The stops I would spend time on in Long Beach
Long Beach packs a lot into a compact, easy-to-walk waterfront right around the dome.
- Queen Mary: the retired ocean liner at 1126 Queens Highway, now a hotel with guided history tours, paranormal tours, and waterfront dining.
- Aquarium of the Pacific: a large aquarium at 100 Aquarium Way with shark, sea otter, and penguin habitats; an advance timed ticket is smart on busy days.
- Naples Island and the Gondola Getaway: quiet canals you can tour by authentic Venetian gondola, a genuinely different Long Beach experience.
- Pine Avenue: downtown Long Beach’s main dining and nightlife strip, a short hop from the harbor.
- Shoreline Village and Rainbow Harbor: a waterfront boardwalk of shops and eateries with marina views.
How I’d plan the day
Three hours near San Pedro: walk to the Battleship Iowa, then stroll the West Harbor waterfront before heading back to the ship.
Five hours near Long Beach: tour the Queen Mary, then cross to the Aquarium of the Pacific and lunch at Shoreline Village.
A full pre-cruise day: add the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium or a Naples gondola ride, and build in a generous buffer to reach your terminal before boarding closes.
A realistic word on accessibility
Both terminals are modern, ground-level embarkation facilities rather than tender ports, which makes boarding straightforward for most travelers. Gangway steepness still shifts a little with the tide.
If you have specific mobility needs, confirm wheelchair assistance and accessible parking with your cruise line before travel day.
When to go, and the weather
Southern California is mild much of the year, but marine fog, winter rain, heat, and wildfire smoke can still affect a port day. Summer and holidays are busiest and priciest.
Spring and fall tend to bring pleasant days and thinner crowds at the waterfront attractions.
Quick answers
Are San Pedro and Long Beach the same cruise port?
No. They are two separate terminals a few miles apart, each with its own address and parking.
Which lines use Long Beach?
Long Beach is Carnival’s terminal in the Los Angeles area. Most other major lines use the World Cruise Center in San Pedro.
How far is the port from LAX?
San Pedro is about 18 miles from LAX, while Long Beach is farther southeast. Drive time can expand sharply in traffic, so price the trip by terminal address and arrive in the region a day early when a delay would risk the sailing.
Planning a wider itinerary? My Seattle cruise port guide and Vancouver cruise port guide cover the other big West Coast gateways.
Sources
- Port of Los Angeles, Cruise Terminal (World Cruise Center)
- Visit Long Beach, Cruise Terminal Information
- LA Waterfront, Cruise
- LA Metro (transit)
How this guide was researched: Unless a first-hand visit is explicitly identified above, this guide is based on independent research using official port, tourism, transit, government, and attraction sources where available. Logistics and time-sensitive details were reviewed in August 2026. See our Editorial Policy.
