Long Beach is Carnival's port in Southern California. The terminal occupies the large dome beside the RMS Queen Mary, which Carnival began using as a passenger terminal in 2001 and later took over entirely. Carnival bases several ships here, including Carnival Panorama, Carnival Radiance and Carnival Firenze.
Itineraries are mostly short and sunny: three- and four-night trips to Ensenada (some with Catalina Island) and seven-night Mexican Riviera cruises to ports such as Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta. These are popular long-weekend escapes for Southern California and Arizona drive-in travelers.
The setting is a highlight. You can tour the Queen Mary before boarding, and downtown Long Beach, with its waterfront hotels and restaurants, is just across the harbor. The terminal is a separate facility from the Port of Los Angeles cruise terminal in San Pedro, about 7 miles west by road.
Where cruises from Long Beach go
- Mexican Riviera West Coast sunshine: Cabo, Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan on easy round trips from Southern California.
Cruise lines sailing from Long Beach
- Carnival Cruise Line Casual, affordable Fun Ships sailing from more US ports than almost anyone.
Line schedules change by season. We confirm which ships sail from Long Beach on your dates when we quote.
Cruise terminals
| Terminal | Used by |
|---|---|
| Long Beach Cruise Terminal 231 Windsor Way, Long Beach, CA 90802, in the dome next to the Queen Mary. | Carnival |
Getting there
Take I-710 south toward the Queen Mary and follow signs to the cruise terminal on Windsor Way. Long Beach Airport is the closest and easiest airport, about 20 minutes away; LAX and John Wayne are both roughly 35 to 60 minutes depending on traffic. Taxis, rideshare and Carnival transfers serve the terminal.
- LGB Long Beach Airport: about 8 miles
- LAX Los Angeles International Airport: about 24 miles
- SNA John Wayne Airport (Orange County): about 25 miles
Parking
Parking is next to the terminal and the Queen Mary on the Queen Mary peninsula. Check Carnival's pre-cruise information for the current parking operator, rate and payment rules before you go.
Where to stay the night before
Downtown Long Beach hotels along the waterfront and Shoreline Village are a short ride across the harbor. LAX-area and Orange County hotels also work if you are flying in late.
Season: Year-round.
Embarkation-day tips
- Fly into Long Beach Airport (LGB) if your airline serves it; it is much closer than LAX.
- Make sure your driver goes to Long Beach, not the Los Angeles terminal in San Pedro.
- Arrive early enough to walk around the Queen Mary before check-in.
- Short Ensenada trips sell out on holiday weekends; book early.
Cruising from Long Beach: questions
Which cruise line sails from Long Beach?
Carnival. The Long Beach Cruise Terminal is Carnival's terminal, and the line bases several ships there, including Carnival Panorama, Carnival Radiance and Carnival Firenze.
Where do cruises from Long Beach go?
Mainly short Baja California trips to Ensenada (sometimes with Catalina Island) and seven-night Mexican Riviera cruises.
What is the closest airport to the Long Beach cruise terminal?
Long Beach Airport (LGB), about 8 miles away. LAX and John Wayne Airport are each roughly 25 miles away.
Sources and fact-checking (last checked October 14, 2026)
We write our own guides and check hard facts like fleet sizes, ship specs and published fees against these sources. Cruise lines change things often, so we re-confirm details in every quote. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
