Port of Los Angeles World Cruise Center — Information Guide

The World Cruise Center is the cruise terminal at the Port of Los Angeles, located in the waterfront community of San Pedro, roughly 25 miles south of downtown Los Angeles.

• Official name: World Cruise Center, Port of Los Angeles
• Address: Berths 91–93, 100 Swinford Street, San Pedro, CA 90731
• Main telephone: (310) 519-3300
• Location: San Pedro, Los Angeles, California
• Primary cruise lines: Carnival, Norwegian, and Princess
• Port operator: Port of Los Angeles (America's busiest container port)
• Nearest major airport: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
• Typical itineraries: Mexican Riviera, Pacific Coast, Hawaii, Panama Canal, and transpacific repositioning cruises

View the World Cruise Center on Google Maps

One of the most important things to understand about cruising from Los Angeles is that there are two separate cruise ports in the area: the Port of Los Angeles (World Cruise Center) in San Pedro and the Long Beach Cruise Terminal across the harbor. Carnival, in particular, sails ships from both ports. If you put a generic "Los Angeles cruise terminal" into your GPS, you could easily end up at the wrong one.

What is the terminal like?

The World Cruise Center is a purpose-built cruise passenger facility serving Berths 91, 92, and 93 at the Port of Los Angeles. It is one of the largest cruise terminals on the West Coast and can process two ships at the same time.

The terminal sits inside America's busiest container port, so you'll share the harbor with enormous cargo ships, cranes, and working docks. Don't let that put you off — the passenger areas are separate, well marked, and designed to move cruisers from curb to ship efficiently.

The big advantage of the World Cruise Center is its location on the LA Waterfront in San Pedro. Depending on your itinerary, your sail-away can include views of:

• The working harbor and Vincent Thomas Bridge
• The Angels Gate Lighthouse at the breakwater
• The Pacific coastline on Mexican Riviera departures
• Catalina Island on Pacific Coast itineraries

Cruise lines that use the World Cruise Center

The Port of Los Angeles is primarily a West Coast homeport for these lines:

• Carnival Cruise Line — Mexican Riviera sailings
• Norwegian Cruise Line — Mexican Riviera and Pacific Coast sailings
• Princess Cruises — Mexican Riviera, Hawaii, and Panama Canal sailings

Premium and luxury lines such as Viking and Oceania also call at the World Cruise Center seasonally, particularly during spring and fall repositioning seasons.

Always check your cruise documents to confirm your exact departure terminal, especially if you're sailing Carnival, because Carnival operates from both the World Cruise Center in San Pedro and the Long Beach Cruise Terminal.

Parking at the World Cruise Center

Parking at the Port of Los Angeles is straightforward, but it helps to understand how it works before you arrive.

On-site terminal parking

The World Cruise Center has surface parking lots directly adjacent to the terminal building. The walk from the parking area to the ship is generally short, which makes the port convenient for families, elderly passengers, and anyone traveling with a lot of luggage.

Parking style

This is open-air surface parking rather than an enclosed garage.

Advantages:

• You don't have to take a taxi or shuttle from an off-site lot.
• Your vehicle is close to the terminal for the duration of the cruise.
• Short walk between your car and the ship.
• Very convenient if you're traveling with children, elderly passengers or lots of luggage.

Disadvantages:

• Your vehicle is exposed to the weather for the duration of the cruise.
• Lots can fill up on busy sailing days when two ships are in port.
• You're driving into the Los Angeles metro area, where traffic is unpredictable.

Payment

On-site parking is generally credit-card only. Confirm accepted payment methods before you travel, and don't count on paying cash at the lot.

Off-site parking alternatives

Because the on-site rate is reasonable, most cruisers simply park at the terminal. If you want to save money on a longer cruise, there are private parking lots in the San Pedro area with cruise parking rates and shuttle service to the terminal.

Some travelers park near LAX or in Long Beach and take a rideshare to the terminal. This can make sense if you're combining a cruise with a longer Los Angeles vacation, but it adds a transfer step that isn't necessary if you use the on-site lot.

My parking recommendation

For most first-time cruisers sailing from San Pedro, I'd simply use the on-site terminal parking. The rate is reasonable, the walk is short, and you avoid the hassle of arranging a separate transfer.

If you're taking a longer cruise (Hawaii or Panama Canal) and trying to save money, investigate an off-site lot with a guaranteed cruise-parking rate and confirmed shuttle service to the terminal.

Hotels near the World Cruise Center

There are several hotels within a short drive of the terminal, including options in San Pedro itself and in the surrounding Los Angeles area.

Very close options

DoubleTree by Hilton San Pedro — Port of Los Angeles
San Pedro, CA

This is a popular pre-cruise hotel choice because it's one of the closest full-service hotels to the World Cruise Center, just a few minutes' drive from the terminal.

Hotel Guides

Holiday Inn Harbor View — an IHG Hotel

Another San Pedro hotel close to the waterfront and cruise terminal, with a free area shuttle that has historically served the port area. Confirm current shuttle availability when booking.

Long Beach hotels

There are many hotels across the harbor in Long Beach, roughly 15–20 minutes from the terminal by car. These pair well with sightseeing at the Aquarium of the Pacific and the Queen Mary area.

Los Angeles / LAX hotels

If sightseeing is part of your trip, you can stay near LAX or anywhere in the Los Angeles area and take a taxi or rideshare to San Pedro. The drive is typically 30–60 minutes depending on traffic and the time of day.

Why I recommend staying the night before

If you're flying or driving a substantial distance to Los Angeles, I strongly recommend arriving the day before your cruise rather than trying to reach the ship the morning it departs.

Los Angeles traffic is legendary, and you don't want a delayed flight, freeway accident, or weather problem to jeopardize your cruise.

Staying near the terminal gives you:

• Much less stress on embarkation morning
• More time to explore the LA Waterfront, San Pedro, or Long Beach
• A short taxi/rideshare ride to the terminal
• A backup if transportation gets delayed
• More flexibility with your cruise's assigned check-in time

Transportation to the terminal

Taxi / Uber / Lyft

For most travelers, this is probably the easiest option.

Tell the driver: "World Cruise Center, 100 Swinford Street, San Pedro."

Don't simply say "the cruise port," because there are two cruise ports in the harbor area and you could be taken to the wrong one.

Public transportation

The World Cruise Center is not directly served by a rail station. LA Metro buses serve San Pedro, and there is a free LA Waterfront shuttle circulator in the San Pedro area on some schedules, but with substantial luggage I'd generally recommend a taxi/rideshare from your hotel. If you're coming from downtown LA, the Metro A (Silver) Line bus to San Pedro plus a short rideshare is possible, but it's not the most luggage-friendly option.

From the airports

You have two main airport choices:

• Los Angeles International (LAX) — the closest major airport, about 20–25 miles from San Pedro, typically 30–60 minutes depending on traffic.
• Long Beach Airport (LGB) — a smaller, often less crowded alternative about the same distance away, with limited but useful flight options.

Your choice should depend heavily on airfare and flight times rather than simply choosing the geographically closest airport. LAX has the most flight options and usually the best fares.

Terminal amenities

The World Cruise Center is functional rather than luxurious.

You can expect:

• Restrooms
• Passenger check-in areas
• Security screening
• Customs/immigration facilities for arriving passengers
• Some seating
• Limited food/snack options
• Wi-Fi

Don't expect a major airport-style shopping or dining experience. The terminal is designed to move passengers onto the ship efficiently. The real dining and sightseeing options are in San Pedro's downtown waterfront district, a short walk or ride from the terminal.

One important detail: there is no luggage-storage facility at the terminal. If you arrive early or want to spend several hours sightseeing after your cruise, you'll need to make separate luggage-storage arrangements.

Things to do nearby

The World Cruise Center's location is excellent for combining a cruise with sightseeing.

Within the surrounding area you have:

• Battleship USS Iowa Museum (LA Waterfront)
• Cabrillo Marine Aquarium and Cabrillo Beach
• San Pedro Fish Market and the downtown waterfront
• Long Beach — Aquarium of the Pacific and the Queen Mary
• Catalina Island (by ferry from Long Beach or San Pedro)
• Los Angeles — Hollywood, Santa Monica Pier, and Griffith Observatory
• Palos Verdes Peninsula and its coastal trails

The Battleship USS Iowa is particularly close — it's moored right on the LA Waterfront near the cruise terminal and makes an easy pre- or post-cruise visit if you have a few hours to spare.

Important tips for cruise passengers

1. Confirm your terminal before leaving your hotel. Don't assume every Los Angeles-area cruise departs from the same place. The World Cruise Center in San Pedro and the Long Beach Cruise Terminal are separate facilities.
2. Don't confuse San Pedro with Long Beach. This is probably the single biggest mistake to avoid. Carnival sails from both ports, so check your cruise documents carefully.
3. Arrive the day before if you're flying. I wouldn't recommend flying into LAX on the morning your cruise departs unless you have a very substantial buffer.
4. Don't underestimate Los Angeles traffic. The terminal is easy to locate, but getting through the LA metro area can take considerably longer than the distance on the map suggests.
5. Reserve parking if possible. On busy sailing days when two ships are in port, the on-site lots can fill up. Don't assume you'll automatically find a space.
6. Don't leave your luggage unattended. Because the terminal does not provide luggage storage, arrange a hotel or independent luggage-storage service if you have time to kill before or after your cruise.
7. Keep your cruise documents accessible. Have your cruise-line app, boarding documents, passports/identification and luggage tags readily available when you arrive.
8. Use LAX when possible. It has the most flight options and is usually the most convenient choice for San Pedro departures.

Overall assessment

• Location: Very good. On the LA Waterfront with easy access to Los Angeles and Long Beach sightseeing.
• Convenience: Good. A large, well-organized terminal with short walks from the on-site lots.
• Parking: Convenient at approximately $25–$27/night.
• Terminal facilities: Functional rather than luxurious.
• Sightseeing potential: Outstanding. You can easily turn a cruise departure into a Southern California vacation.

Best feature: Easy access to Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Catalina Island before or after your cruise.

Biggest drawback: Los Angeles traffic can be unpredictable on embarkation day.

Best strategy for most cruisers: Stay in San Pedro or Long Beach the night before, use a taxi/rideshare to the terminal, and park on-site if you're driving.

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