Port of Los Angeles Cruise Port Parking

The second largest city in the United States, and the unofficial capital of the West Coast, over 40 million travelers flock to Los Angeles each year. Most visitors to LA pass through LAX airport, with others entering the city through LA County's monumental highway system of by Amtrak or bus into the historic Los Angeles Union Station. However, in many ways no visit to LA can compete with the experience of taking a cruise ship into, or out of, the Port of Los Angeles.

Like the city itself, the area's ports for cruise ships are sprawling and relatively complex. For example, Carnival Cruises generally dock in Long Beach's Cruise Terminal, while almost all other ships make their way into San Pedro's World Cruise Center. From both terminals, the heart of the city is accessible by taxi, with a distance of 20 miles to LAX, 20 miles to Hollywood, 25 miles to downtown and 12 miles to Santa Monica. The terminals are also reachable by public transportation, thanks to Amtrak's Thruway services. Thruway buses take passengers from Los Angeles Union Station to either the Long Beach terminal or to Catalina Terminal. Passengers departing from World Cruise Center can take a shuttle from the Catalina Terminal to the cruise terminal. The World Cruise Center also offers parking for $2 an hour or $16 a day.

However, there is plenty to do within easy reach of either terminal. The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach is especially worthwhile. Even for travelers in the midst of, or about to embark on, a Pacific voyage can get up close and personal with the ocean's colorful coral and fascinating creatures. San Pedro is also home of a variety of activities, including a diversity of restaurants and the Los Angeles Maritime Museum.