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Embark Day
Illustration of the Long Beach Cruise Terminal with a cruise ship dressed in signal flags

Long Beach cruise port guide

Which terminal is yours?

Carnival's West Coast home, in a dome beside the Queen Mary. Three- to eight-night trips to Mexico, Catalina and Hawaii, a garage that fills on busy sailings, and LAX 22 miles away. Here is how to park, where to stay and how to get there.

Terminals, prices, and schedules checked . How we check

Departure day, in order

  1. Step 1

    Get to the port

    Flying in? Long Beach Airport (LGB) is about 10 miles away, 15 to 25 minutes by car.

    Airport transfer options
  2. Step 2

    Park or stay the night before

    6 parking options. With a shuttle or a walk to the terminal, 7 days costs $161 to $161. 4 hotels on our list run a port shuttle.

    Compare parking
  3. Step 3

    Drop your bags at the terminal

    Porters take checked luggage at the curb. Keep medication, documents, and a change of clothes with you.

    Find your terminal

Arriving a day early?

Flying in the day before gives you a buffer for delays and a free afternoon in Long Beach. Tours, boat trips and attractions there can be booked on Viator.

Things to do in Long Beach

The Long Beach Cruise Terminal is Carnival's busiest West Coast homeport: a white dome next to the Queen Mary with one berth and a garage of about 1,450 spaces. Only Carnival sails from here, all year.

Carnival Panorama sails 6- and 8-night Mexican Riviera cruises, and Carnival Radiance 3- to 5-night trips to Ensenada, Catalina Island and Cabo, plus Hawaii until April 2027. Carnival Legend adds 14-night Hawaii cruises from October 2027.

Cruise lines sailing from Long Beach

Cruise lineShipsTerminal
Carnival Cruise LineCarnival Panorama, Carnival Radiance, Carnival Firenze, Carnival Legend, Carnival SpiritLong Beach Cruise Terminal
Every ship, sailing day and itinerary

Arrival tips

  • Only Carnival sails from Long Beach, one ship a day. If your ship isn't Carnival, you're probably leaving from the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro instead.
  • The terminal garage is $23 a day, first come, first served. Check Carnival's emails before you go: on busy sailings, parking moves to a city-run overflow lot.
  • Drop your bags with the porters before you park.
  • Arrive at your Carnival arrival appointment, not earlier.
  • Long Beach airport is about 10 miles away; LAX is about 22.

Common questions

Which cruise lines sail from Long Beach?

Only Carnival. Other lines sail from the Port of Los Angeles cruise terminal in San Pedro, across the harbor.

How much is parking at the Long Beach Cruise Terminal?

$23 per day in the garage next to the terminal, so $161 for 7 days. It's first come, first served, and on busy sailings Carnival sends drivers to a $20-a-day overflow lot with a shuttle.

What's the closest airport to the Long Beach Cruise Terminal?

Long Beach Airport (LGB), about 10 miles away. LAX is about 22 miles, and Orange County's John Wayne Airport about 30.

Sources