Port of Long Beach cruise port guide

Port of Long Beach — Long Beach, United States.

The Long Beach Cruise Terminal, next to the Queen Mary (not to be confused with the World Cruise Center at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro), is one of the busiest cruise terminals on the West Coast — a large, professionally run facility on the San Pedro Bay in the LA metro area. Long Beach itself offers the Queen Mary (a permanently moored 1930s ocean liner-turned-hotel) and the Aquarium of the Pacific as walkable waterfront destinations. Downtown LA, Hollywood, Santa Monica and Venice Beach are 25–45 minutes by car (traffic permitting) and make the extended LA area the real draw for pre-cruise exploration. Long Beach's own Retro Row (4th Street) and the Belmont Shore neighborhood have an independent, local-feeling character distinct from the theme-park attractions.

Getting ashore

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is about 25–35 minutes from the Long Beach Cruise Terminal in light traffic, often 45–60 minutes with typical Southern California congestion — an Uber or Lyft runs $45–70. Long Beach Airport (LGB) is just 15 minutes from the terminal by rideshare ($20–30) and significantly less congested — worth choosing over LAX if your airline serves it. John Wayne (SNA) in Orange County is 30–45 minutes by car. The FlyAway LAX bus connects to downtown LA's Union Station, then the Metro A Line (Blue Line) runs to Long Beach for under $2 — total transit time from LAX is about 80–90 minutes. Parking at the Long Beach Cruise Terminal is approximately $20–25 per day. The terminal address is 231 Windsor Way, Long Beach, CA 90802.

Getting around

The Queen Mary is right beside the Long Beach Cruise Terminal; the Aquarium of the Pacific, Rainbow Harbor and Shoreline Village are across the harbour in downtown — a short rideshare, or a long walk over the Queensway Bridge. From late May to Labor Day, Long Beach Transit's AquaBus water taxi ($1) links the Queen Mary with the Aquarium and Shoreline Village. Long Beach Transit's free Passport bus links downtown attractions (check ridelbt.com for current days and hours). The Metro A Line (light rail) connects Long Beach downtown to downtown Los Angeles (Union Station) in 60 minutes for $1.75 — an efficient way to access LA without a car. Rideshares are plentiful. A rental car or rideshare is necessary for Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Hollywood, Griffith Park and most of greater LA.

Don't miss

• RMS Queen Mary (1.5–3 hrs) — The legendary 1936 Cunard ocean liner permanently moored at the Long Beach waterfront — once the largest ship in the world, now a hotel, event venue and museum. Self-guided tours of the engine room, staterooms, promenade decks and the extraordinary Art Deco public spaces tell the history of the golden age of transatlantic travel. Right next to the Long Beach Cruise Terminal.
• Aquarium of the Pacific (2.5–4 hrs) — One of the largest aquariums in the US, on the Rainbow Harbor waterfront — over 12,000 animals in exhibits covering the Pacific Ocean from Southern California to the tropical Pacific and Bering Sea. The shark lagoon, sea lion encounter and jellyfish pavilion are highlights. Across the harbour from the cruise terminal — a short rideshare, or the AquaBus water taxi from the Queen Mary in summer.
• Santa Monica & Venice Beach (3–5 hrs) — Santa Monica Pier (a National Historic Landmark, 1909), the Third Street Promenade, Muscle Beach and the Venice Boardwalk — Los Angeles's defining beach experience. About 35–45 minutes from Long Beach by rideshare ($30–50) or around 2 hours by Metro rail (A Line to downtown LA, then the E Line). The most rewarding LA beach-culture half-day from the port.
• Griffith Observatory & Park (2–3 hrs) — The James Dean-famous Art Deco observatory above Hollywood with panoramic views of the LA basin, the Hollywood Sign and the Pacific — free to visit the grounds and telescopes. Griffith Park itself is one of the largest urban parks in the US (over 4,000 acres). 40–50 minutes from Long Beach by rideshare, 75 minutes by Metro.
• Long Beach Retro Row (4th Street) (1.5–2.5 hrs) — A 10-block stretch of vintage boutiques, independent record shops, antique stores and restaurants in the East Village neighborhood of Long Beach — the most characterful local alternative to the waterfront tourist corridor. Art theater, vinyl shops and excellent independent coffee. 15 minutes from the terminal by rideshare or Long Beach Transit.

Planning your day

Long Beach is a functional base with enough to do for a day before your cruise — or a launchpad for greater Los Angeles. For those focused on Long Beach: the Aquarium of the Pacific (opens 9am) followed by a Queen Mary tour, lunch in Belmont Shore (2nd Street) and an evening on Retro Row before an early night covers the best of the city. For those wanting LA: Santa Monica and Venice Beach (rent a bike near the beach for the South Bay Bicycle Trail, a 22-mile flat coastal path) are the most rewarding uses of a clear California day. Griffith Observatory for sunset views of the city is outstanding on a clear evening. Hotel options: The Maya (formerly Hotel Maya, on the waterfront), Courtyard Long Beach Downtown, or the Queen Mary Hotel for something unique. On disembarkation: if flying from LAX in the late afternoon, the Manhattan Beach area (25 minutes north of LGB by car) has excellent beach restaurants for a disembarkation-day lunch before the airport.

Food & drink

Long Beach and greater Los Angeles have one of the most diverse and accomplished food scenes in the US — the LA area's taco trucks, Korean BBQ, Vietnamese pho, Japanese ramen and New American fine dining are world-class. Long Beach itself has an underrated restaurant scene anchored by Cambodian and Latino cuisines, excellent sushi and a growing farm-to-table independent scene on 2nd Street and in Belmont Shore.

Where to eat

• Little Coyote — A casual New York-style pizzeria on 4th Street — thin-crust pies by the slice or whole, plus Grandma-style squares, calzones and subs. Open from noon daily, it makes an easy pre-cruise lunch or dinner on Retro Row.
• The Reef Restaurant — A long-running Long Beach waterfront restaurant directly overlooking the bay, between the Queen Mary and The Maya. It reopened to the public in June 2026 after six years as an events-only venue, with a seafood-led menu (oysters, crab legs, fish and chips). Open Thursday to Sunday only (11:30am–9pm); a few minutes by rideshare from the cruise terminal.
• Gladstone's — A legendary LA-area beach seafood institution on the Pacific Coast Highway with a massive outdoor deck overlooking the Pacific — seafood, cocktails and sunset views. It reopened its outdoor deck in July 2025 after the Palisades fire, so check current hours and menu before making the trip. 45 minutes from Long Beach but worth the trip as a pre-cruise dinner if you have the time.
• Phnom Penh Noodle Shack — A Long Beach Cambodian noodle institution on Cherry Avenue, just north of Anaheim Street — the kuy teav (rice noodle soup, served wet or dry with the broth on the side) is the house speciality, and the rice porridge is a good first order. Breakfast and lunch only (7am–3pm, closed Monday). Cheap, excellent and a genuine local experience.

Must try

• LA-style taco truck tacos — Los Angeles's taco truck scene is legitimately one of the great street food traditions in North America — carne asada, al pastor (achiote-marinated pork from a vertical spit), carnitas and fish tacos at dozens of trucks accessible by app (Yelp or Google Maps, search 'taco truck near Long Beach'). $2–4 per taco. Mariscos Jalisco, a truck in Boyle Heights just east of downtown LA, is a national reference for the fried shrimp taco.
• Korean BBQ — The LA metro's Koreatown (40 minutes from Long Beach) has the finest Korean BBQ outside Korea — premium galbi (short ribs), bulgogi and samgyeopsal (pork belly) grilled at your table over hardwood charcoal, accompanied by a full array of banchan (small dishes). A meal unto itself, inexpensive and communal. Baekjeong (now on West 8th Street) and Park's BBQ are national references.
• Cambodian food (Long Beach Cambodian Town) — Long Beach has the largest Cambodian diaspora community outside Cambodia — Anaheim Street's Cambodian Town has restaurants serving amok (fish in coconut curry steamed in banana leaf), lok lak (wok-tossed beef with lime dipping sauce) and prahok (fermented fish paste dishes). A genuinely unusual and excellent cuisine rarely found outside Southeast Asia or Long Beach.
• In-N-Out Burger — A Southern California institution since 1948 — a fresh-beef double cheeseburger with a 'secret menu' (Animal Style: grilled onions, extra spread, pickles). Not a special occasion meal — an honest assessment of what the lines are actually about. The closest branch to the port is on Spring Street in Signal Hill, about 15 minutes by car. Under $10.

Know before you go

• 🗣️ Language — English and Spanish are both widely used throughout Long Beach and greater Los Angeles. Long Beach has one of the largest Cambodian-American communities in the US (Cambodian Town on Anaheim Street), as well as large Latino, Filipino and Vietnamese populations. All tourist services are in English.
• 📋 Documents — For Mexican Riviera, Baja California and repositioning sailings from Long Beach: a valid US passport is required for all international ports. US citizens on closed-loop Baja sailings may technically use a birth certificate plus government ID, but a passport is required for any other international stop. International visitors need a valid passport and applicable US entry documentation including ESTA.
• 🛍️ Shopping & hours — The Aquarium area and Shoreline Village have tourist retail (10am–9pm). Downtown Long Beach's 2nd Street has boutiques and local shops. The Beverly Center (Beverly Hills, 40 minutes by car) and Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade (10am–9pm) are the best shopping destinations accessible from Long Beach. Best local purchases: vintage finds on Retro Row, Pacific Coast-roasted coffee (Portola Coffee, based in Orange County) and anything from the Long Beach independent food scene.
• 🌤️ Weather — Long Beach and the LA area have a Mediterranean climate — warm, dry summers (75–85°F, very low humidity) and mild, occasionally wet winters (55–65°F). June Gloom affects the coast through late June — morning marine layer can persist all day. Fall (September–November) is the warmest and sunniest period. Santa Ana winds can bring very hot, dry conditions in fall. The port waterfront is windy; bring a layer for morning embarkation regardless of season.
• 📶 Connectivity — Excellent US mobile coverage throughout Long Beach and greater Los Angeles. Hotel and café Wi-Fi is universal. LAX and LGB have free Wi-Fi. The cruise terminal has connectivity. Metro A Line stations have limited Wi-Fi.
• ♿ Accessibility — The Long Beach Cruise Terminal is fully ADA-accessible. The Aquarium of the Pacific is fully accessible with elevators throughout. Queen Mary tours have accessible routes through most of the ship. Metro A Line is fully accessible. Santa Monica Pier and the beach boardwalk are accessible. Griffith Observatory has accessible parking and viewing areas. The Venice Boardwalk is accessible. Retro Row has mostly accessible storefronts.
• ⏱️ Getting back — For embarkation: LA traffic is the primary variable — allow extra time on sailing days (usually Saturdays), when LAX rideshare queues can be long and the 710 Freeway can back up. LGB is significantly less congested. Arrive at the terminal by 11am–1pm. For disembarkation: LAX flights before noon are risky — plan for 11:30am minimum, noon is safer. LGB (15 minutes from the terminal) allows earlier flights. Metro A Line to Union Station takes 60 minutes and can be impractical with luggage; rideshare is recommended post-disembarkation.

Sources: visitlongbeach.com (official tourism); portoflosangeles.org (World Cruise Center); discoverlosangeles.com