First cruise from Los Angeles or Long Beach: questions and answers

These are the questions people ask before a first cruise from Los Angeles or Long Beach, answered from the Port of Los Angeles and the lines' own pages. We lean on four lines because they run most sailings here, with 307 for Carnival, 133 for Princess, 160 for Royal Caribbean and 51 for Norwegian. The first question matters most, because this area has two separate ports.

Which cruise terminal do I go to in Los Angeles?

Go to the terminal named on your boarding documents. The Port of Los Angeles says Los Angeles and Long Beach are two different ports, and that the easiest check is the seaport code on your itinerary, US LAX for Los Angeles or US LGB for Long Beach.

Terminal	Where	Sailings with this terminal confirmed
World Cruise Center	100 Swinford Street, San Pedro, Berths 92 and 93	281
Outer Harbor	Berth 46, San Pedro	9
Long Beach Cruise Terminal	231 Windsor Way, Long Beach, beside the Queen Mary	309

The cruise line's name will not settle it for you. Carnival's sailings start at Long Beach, even where a booking site files them under Los Angeles. In San Pedro, eight ships had more than one berth in the official schedule on 1 November 2026, and Emerald Princess appeared at 92, 93 and 46.

Our schedule shows the terminal for each sailing through 31 December 2027, the last day of the official schedule. The terminal guide covers all three.

What time should I arrive at the cruise terminal in Los Angeles?

Arrive in the slot you pick at online check-in, not before it. Each line runs this its own way:

• Carnival. Finish online check-in by midnight Eastern time before your sailing date, which is 9 PM the evening before in Los Angeles, and pick an arrival appointment. Anyone not on board by the final boarding time on the boarding pass does not sail.
• Princess. Pick an Arrival Group in the Princess app. Selection typically opens 30 days before you sail, and Princess assigns one 24 hours before if you do not choose.
• Royal Caribbean. Arrive in the slot you chose in the Royal app, shown on your boarding pass. It encourages check-in at least 3 days ahead. Otherwise you finish at the pier, at least two hours before the published sailing time.
• Norwegian. Arrive at least one hour before the embarkation time on your documents if you finished online check-in, or two hours if you did not. You must be on board an hour before departure.

Can I board the ship early?

No. Royal Caribbean says guests who arrive early will not be able to begin boarding. Princess lets you drop off luggage early, then asks you to return at your designated time before entering the terminal. Carnival says guests due before 1:30 PM usually check their bags with a porter, so they are free for lunch on the Lido Deck before cabins open.

What happens to my luggage?

You hand checked bags to a porter at the terminal and they come to your cabin later. Princess says that is typically within a few hours after boarding, so keep your documents, medication and anything you need that afternoon in a carry-on.

• Carnival asks for one bag per person on 3 to 5 day cruises and two on 6 days or longer, with no suitcase over 50 pounds.
• Carnival takes checked bags until 2 hours before the published departure. After that you carry them on yourself.
• Princess says it typically enforces no formal size or weight limit, though your airline may. You can print luggage tags from Manage Booking from 75 days before sailing.
• Carnival says curbside porters are not its employees, and are customarily tipped $1 a bag.

What happens if you miss your cruise ship?

The ship leaves, and catching up is usually at your own cost. Princess says the ship will not wait, you may not be eligible for a refund, and you may need to arrange transportation to the next port of call, so contact it right away.

Royal Caribbean tells you to call its Emergency Travel Team. It says joining at the next port is possible in specific situations, with the proper documents, and that you pay unless its travel protection covers the reason. Carnival's ticket contract and Norwegian's boarding page also put the cost of rejoining on you.

The same goes in port. Norwegian wants you back on board an hour before the scheduled departure, by the ship's clock. If you miss the ship in Ensenada or Cabo San Lucas with only a birth certificate, you have a second problem, because CBP says U.S. citizens need a passport to enter the United States by air from Mexico.

How much do you tip on a cruise from Los Angeles?

Mostly you do not tip by hand, because each line adds a daily amount to your onboard account. These were the rates per guest, per day on the lines' pages on 1 November 2026:

Line	Standard cabin	Suite	Charged for
Carnival	$17	$19	Ages 2 and older
Princess	$18, or $19 for mini suites, cabanas and Club Class	$20	Each guest
Royal Caribbean	$18.50	$21	Each guest
Norwegian	$20, Club Balcony Suite and below	$25, The Haven and suites	Ages 3 and older

Norwegian adds a 4.275% tax on the prepaid charge on sailings to Hawaii. For two people on a 16-night Hawaii cruise at $18 a day, the total is $576 by our arithmetic, so include it in your budget. For two on 7 nights, it is $238 at Carnival's rate and $280 at Norwegian's.

Carnival, Princess and Royal Caribbean let you change the amount on board before the cruise ends.

What is included in a cruise fare from Los Angeles?

Your meals in the main restaurants and basic drinks are included. Alcohol, soda and shore excursions cost extra at both lines below, and so do parking and airport transfers.

• Carnival. Its contract covers full board, and leaves out spirits, wine, beer, soft drinks, mineral waters and shore excursions. Non-bottled water, lemonade, unsweetened iced tea, hot chocolate and non-specialty coffee and tea are included.
• Royal Caribbean. Complimentary dining, water, tea, lemonade, milk, select juices and Royal Theater shows are included. Specialty dining costs extra. On 1 November 2026 its Wi-Fi was $16.99 to $30.99 per device, per day, and room service outside continental breakfast carried a $7.95 charge plus fees.

Add parking or an airport transfer when you compare fares.

Is a Mexico cruise from Los Angeles closed-loop?

Yes, on every Mexico sailing on our schedule on 1 November 2026. All of them were round trips, and a cruise that starts and ends at the same U.S. port on the same ship is what CBP calls closed-loop. U.S. citizens on one can use a government photo ID with proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate. Princess lists Mexico round trips from Los Angeles, and Carnival's same-port rule covers round trips from Long Beach.

The lines still recommend a passport. The documents guide explains why, and the Mexico guide compares the routes.

Will I get seasick on a cruise from Los Angeles?

Some people will, and no line we read publishes sea conditions for these routes. You can check how long you will be away from land, though, and the Hawaii crossing is the long stretch. Emerald Princess's 28 November 2026 sailing leaves Los Angeles at 3:00 PM and has five days at sea before Hilo on day 7. See the Hawaii guide for all 30 sailings.

• Pack medication. Carnival suggests planning ahead, and says a doctor can prescribe scopolamine as a patch or pill. The CDC says medication works best before exposure, not after symptoms start, and suggests a trial dose before you leave because side effects differ.
• Stay near the middle of the ship. Royal Caribbean says the closer you are to the center, the less movement you will feel. The CDC gives the bow as a place to avoid.
• Look at the horizon. Both the CDC and Royal Caribbean advise it.

Princess says its medical centers charge for treatment, added to your onboard account, so bring what you need.

Do I need a passport for a cruise from Los Angeles?

Not on most round trips, if you are a U.S. citizen. One-way Alaska and Panama Canal voyages change the answer, and the documents guide covers them.

How do I get to the terminal from the airport?

A rideshare, a taxi or your line's transfer is the simplest way. LAX's SkyLink train was not open on 1 November 2026. The airport guide compares LAX, Long Beach Airport and John Wayne.

Does the Vincent Thomas Bridge closure affect my cruise?

Yes, if you drive between Long Beach and San Pedro, for example from a Long Beach hotel or Long Beach Airport to a San Pedro sailing. Caltrans closes the bridge at 12:01 am on Saturday 7 November 2026 for 16 months, and it aims to reopen in early March 2028. Detours run mainly along I-710, I-110, State Route 103 and Harry Bridges Boulevard, so check a live map and allow more time. The airport guide and the terminal guide have the mileage.

Where do I park at the cruise terminal?

It depends on the port. Carnival says terminal parking at Long Beach is limited and that off-site parking may be mandatory for your sailing, so read its emails before you drive. The parking guide has the details for both ports.

Can I leave my bags at the terminal after the cruise?

No. The Port of Los Angeles says baggage cannot be stored at the terminal, and that you must take all your bags with you after you get off the ship.

Where do I start if I have not picked a cruise yet?

Start with the full schedule, which lists 696 sailings on 13 lines. For a shorter first trip, see short cruises from Los Angeles.