The Port of Los Angeles cruise terminal, long known as the World Cruise Center, sits at Berths 91 to 93 in San Pedro, under the Vincent Thomas Bridge at the south end of the city. Princess, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean and Virgin Voyages homeport ships here, and Princess in particular has a long history in Los Angeles. Ports America operates the terminal.
Short getaways to Ensenada and Catalina Island are a staple, alongside seven-night Mexican Riviera cruises to ports such as Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta. Longer trips include round-trip Hawaii voyages (with several sea days each way) and seasonal Panama Canal transits and Pacific Coast repositioning cruises.
San Pedro is a working harbor neighborhood rather than a tourist hub, so most cruisers either stay near the airport, in Long Beach or in the South Bay beach towns. The Long Beach terminal (used by Carnival) is a separate port about 7 miles east by road, so make sure you and your driver have the right one.
Where cruises from Los Angeles (San Pedro) go
- Mexican Riviera West Coast sunshine: Cabo, Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan on easy round trips from Southern California.
- Hawaii Four islands in a week from Honolulu, or a long Pacific crossing from the West Coast.
- Panama Canal A full day rising through the locks between two oceans, with Caribbean and Central American ports along the way.
Cruise lines sailing from Los Angeles (San Pedro)
- Princess Cruises Classic, comfortable cruising with tech-smart service and an Alaska specialty.
- Royal Caribbean International Giant resort ships where the ship itself is the destination.
- Norwegian Cruise Line Freestyle cruising: no fixed dinner times, no formal dress rules, lots of restaurants.
- Virgin Voyages Adults-only, design-forward cruising with every restaurant included.
Line schedules change by season. We confirm which ships sail from Los Angeles (San Pedro) on your dates when we quote.
Cruise terminals
| Terminal | Used by |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles Cruise Terminal (Berths 91-93) 100 Swinford Street, San Pedro, CA 90731, at Harbor Boulevard. Operated by Ports America. | Princess, Royal Caribbean, NCL, Virgin |
Getting there
From LAX, take I-405 south to I-110 south toward San Pedro and follow signs to the cruise terminal; it is about 18 miles, usually 30 to 45 minutes and much longer in rush hour. Taxis, rideshare and cruise-line transfers serve the terminal. On transit, Metro's J Line (Silver) 950 bus links San Pedro with downtown Los Angeles, and nearby Enterprise and Hertz offices offer free pickup and drop-off for rental car returns.
- LAX Los Angeles International Airport: about 18 miles
- LGB Long Beach Airport: about 13 miles
Parking
Parking Concepts, Inc. (PCI) runs the 2,560-space secured cruise lot, entered from Swinford Street off Harbor Boulevard, with courtesy shuttles to the terminal. As of October 2026 the Port of Los Angeles lists a maximum of $23 per day for standard vehicles and $40 per day for oversized vehicles.
Where to stay the night before
San Pedro has a few hotels close to the terminal. Long Beach, the South Bay beach cities (Redondo, Hermosa and Manhattan Beach) and LAX-area hotels are common pre-cruise choices.
Season: Year-round, with the most departures from fall through spring when West Coast ships return from Alaska.
Embarkation-day tips
- Double-check whether you sail from San Pedro (Los Angeles) or Long Beach; they are different terminals.
- Avoid scheduling a pickup or flight during weekday rush hour; LA freeway traffic can double the drive.
- Long Beach Airport (LGB) is a closer, smaller alternative to LAX if your airline flies there.
- On Hawaii round trips, expect four or more sea days each way.
Cruising from Los Angeles (San Pedro): questions
Which cruise lines sail from the Port of Los Angeles?
Princess, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean and Virgin Voyages homeport ships at the Los Angeles Cruise Terminal in San Pedro.
How far is the Los Angeles cruise terminal from LAX?
About 18 miles. Plan on 30 to 45 minutes outside rush hour, and considerably more at peak times.
How much is parking at the Los Angeles cruise terminal?
As of October 2026 the port lists a maximum of $23 per day for standard vehicles and $40 per day for oversized vehicles in the PCI-run lot off Swinford Street.
Is the Los Angeles cruise port the same as Long Beach?
No. Los Angeles cruises leave from San Pedro, while Carnival's Long Beach Cruise Terminal is next to the Queen Mary in Long Beach, roughly 7 miles away by road.
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.
