Whether you’re driving and need to find parking or a hotel with parking, or flying in and need to get from the airports to the port area, we’ve covered all the options for you to make the best decision.
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Los Angeles is in Southern California and is located at the western end of Interstate 10 (I-10) and the ports are south of Interstate 5 (I-5) and the famous Pacific Coast Highway. If you have time and are coming from the north, then the PCH is a very scenic way to get to Los Angeles.
Driving times from nearby major cities are:
- Las Vegas, NV: 4.75 hours (290 miles)
- San Diego, CA: 2 hours (120 miles)
- Phoenix, AZ: 5.75 hours (390 miles)
- San Francisco, CA: 6.5 hours (415 miles)
Los Angeles International Airport (Code: LAX)
LAX is the second busiest airport in the USA and a hub for all three legacy carriers, American Airlines, United and Delta as well as a key gateway city for passengers arriving from across the Pacific.
Long Beach Airport (Code: LGB)
Located northeast of both ports, but closest to Long Beach, Long Beach Airport offers connections across the western USA and even to Eastern port cities like Boston, New York and Fort Lauderdale.
It is possible to get from LAX to both cruise ports using public transport, but expect it to take at least 75-90 minutes.
For World Cruise Center there are many routes all requiring changes, the simplest, but not the quickest is to take the 232 bus to Pacific Coast
If speed is more important, then the quickest option is to take the Greenline Shuttle from Terminal 5 to Aviation/LAX Station, then take the Metro Green Line to Harbor Freeway Station and finally the Metro Silver Line to Harbor Beacon Park Ride which is less than ten-minutes walk to the cruise terminal.
For Long Beach, the most direct route is to take the LAX FlyAway to Downtown Long Beach and then walk a few minutes to Long Beach Blvd and 4th SE for the Passport North to Downtown Blue Line Bus which will drop you off right by the Queen Mary which is next to the cruise terminal.
With both airports located a distance from the port, a taxi will be an expensive option and we advise smaller groups of cruise passengers to use one of the cheaper options available. But if you are a larger group, prices can be competitive with other options. If you want the luxury of a private transfer, the companies below can all accommodate you.
Whatever the size of your group Holiday Taxis can offer private transfers at a competitive rate.
Offering everything from town cars for 3 people to coaches for 56, Road Runner Shuttle should be able to meet your transport needs.
Xpress Shuttles can provide private transfers for between 1 and 5 cruise passengers.
There are several companies offering proper shuttle services from LA airports to the cruise terminals. The table below shows prices for each airport, per person, return.
As these prices are per person return, whereas private car prices are per car, a couple can save money this way;
| Name | Telephone | LAX Cost (USD) | LGB Cost (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karmel Shuttle | 888-995-7433 | San Pedro 27.48 - 85.60 Long Beach 30.64 - 85.60 | San Pedro 17.98 - 66.60 Long Beach 17.98 - 60.90 | Prices are for between 1 and 9 passengers |
| Super Shuttle | 800-258-3826 | San Pedro 18.22 - 61.00 Long Beach 17.44 - 34.00 | San Pedro 17.22 - 110.00 Long Beach 15.22 - 100.00 | SuperShuttle also have an app. Prices are for between 1 and 9 passengers |
| Sav-on Shuttle | 800-642-0167 | San Pedro 35.56 - 110.00 Long Beach 34.22 - 98.00 | San Pedro 32.22 - 90.00 Long Beach n/a | Prices are for between 1 and 9 passengers |
| Pay Less Shuttle | 562-726-2210 | San Pedro 10.00 - 65.00 Long Beach 10.00 - 65.00 | San Pedro 10.00 - 65.00 Long Beach 30.00 | Prices are for between 1 and 9 passengers |
Renting a car for just a few hours is our favourite way to get to the cruise terminal from the airport. Once we discovered the option and tried it, we found it to be the perfect solution. As long as you don’t mind driving, possibly on the “wrong” side of the road for you, it gives you a private transfer that leaves on your schedule and can be surprisingly competitive with other transportation options.
For World Cruise Center, only two companies have offices nearby, Hertz and Enterprise. They don’t have shuttles to the port, so you’ll need a taxi or Uber, but that should cost less than $10 each way.
For Long Beach Cruise terminal, three companies have offices nearby, Hertz, Avis and Enterprise. They don’t have shuttles to the port, so you’ll need a taxi or Uber, but that should only cost around $10 each way and Hertz will refund your taxi up to $10 on presentation of a receipt.
Paying the cruise company to get from the airport to the ship is rarely good value, especially if more than 1 or 2 people need a transfer. You will invariably be better off using one of the alternatives above. For example Carnival prices as of Sep 2018 – LAX $29.99 – LGB $23.99 – One way to Long Beach Cruise Terminal.
With the cruise ports not too distant from the airports above, it’s worth looking at a hotel which is close to one and provides a shuttle service to the other. Check out our Los Angeles hotels section for more info.
Looking for more information to plan your visit to Los Angeles?
You may find these articles helpful.
Los Angeles Cruise Port Guide
Where to Stay in Los Angeles with ‘Park & Cruise’ Deals
Los Angeles Cruise Parking Options
Things to See and Do in Los Angeles
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