Departure port · Long Beach Cruise Terminal · California
Cruises from Long Beach
The Long Beach Cruise Terminal, next to the historic Queen Mary, is Carnival’s home in Southern California, with year-round three- to five-night Baja cruises to Ensenada and Catalina Island and seven-night Mexican Riviera trips to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta. Occasional longer sailings reach Hawaii and the Pacific coast. It’s compact, easy to drive to and only about 15 minutes from Long Beach Airport.
- Mexican Riviera & Baja
- Pacific Coastal
- Hawaii
Photo: Christophe.Finot, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Cruise port
- Long Beach Cruise Terminal
- Location
- Long Beach, California
- Main destinations
- Mexican Riviera & Baja, Pacific Coastal, Hawaii
- Cruise lines
- 1 lines sail from here
Sailing from Long Beach
Long Beach’s cruise terminal is one of the most distinctive anywhere: check-in happens inside the giant white dome built to display Howard Hughes’ Spruce Goose flying boat, and the ships tie up beside the Queen Mary, the 1930s Cunard liner that has been moored here since 1967. Carnival operates the terminal and is the only cruise line that sails from it.
Carnival usually bases two or three ships here year-round, which means frequent departures, often several a week. Three- and four-night cruises call at Ensenada and sometimes Catalina Island, five-night trips add a sea day or a second port, and seven-night Mexican Riviera itineraries sail to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta. Every so often Carnival schedules longer round trips to Hawaii or one-way Pacific coastal sailings.
Long Beach suits Southern Californians looking for a quick, affordable getaway and fly-in travelers who prefer a smaller airport. It’s a Carnival-only port, so if you want Princess, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian or Virgin Voyages, check the World Cruise Center in San Pedro, about 15 minutes away.
Where cruises from Long Beach go
Mexican Riviera & Baja cruises
Year-round; best November to April. Whale watching December to March; Pacific hurricane season mid-May to November 30.
Pacific Coastal cruises
Mainly April to May and September to October; some California coast sailings in winter.
Hawaii cruises
Year-round; humpback whales December to April. Best weather-and-value months April to May and September to October.
Cruise lines sailing from Long Beach
Long Beach Cruise Terminal cruise terminals
There is one terminal, inside the Spruce Goose dome next to the Queen Mary on the southern side of the harbor, opposite downtown. Carnival can berth more than one ship at a time, and passengers for each are directed to separate areas. Porters take checked bags at the curb in front of the dome, then you go through security and check-in under the vast curved roof. On busy days the lines inside can be long, so arrive in your assigned window rather than early, and plan to be on board at least an hour before departure.
Getting to the port
Flying in
Long Beach Airport (LGB) is about 6 miles (10 km) north of the terminal, roughly 15 to 20 minutes by car, and is often the easiest option for domestic flights. Los Angeles International (LAX) is about 25 miles (40 km) away, 35 minutes to more than an hour depending on traffic. John Wayne/Orange County (SNA) is about 35 to 45 minutes. Carnival sells transfers from LAX and LGB, and rideshare and taxis are widely available.
Driving
Take the I-710 Long Beach Freeway south toward downtown and follow the signs for the Queen Mary and the cruise terminal, which sit across the harbor from downtown. From the 405, connect to the 710 south. Major event weekends, such as the Long Beach Grand Prix in April, can complicate the approach.
Parking
A paid parking lot beside the terminal and the Queen Mary is the simplest option, charged per day, with space for oversized vehicles. Some downtown Long Beach hotels and off-site lots offer cruise parking with a shuttle, which can be cheaper for longer sailings. Arrive earlier on holiday weekends, when the lot fills.
Where to stay before a cruise from Long Beach
Downtown Long Beach, across the harbor, has the most hotels, many within a 10-minute drive of the terminal and close to Shoreline Village, Pine Avenue restaurants and the Aquarium of the Pacific. Staying aboard the Queen Mary itself, when rooms are available, puts you steps from check-in in a genuine 1930s liner. Belmont Shore and Naples, a few miles east, are quieter beach neighborhoods. Airport hotels near LGB are convenient for early flights home.
Things to do in Long Beach before or after your cruise
- 1
The Queen Mary
history
Moored right beside the cruise terminal, the Queen Mary carried royalty, film stars and, during World War II, hundreds of thousands of troops. Guided and self-guided tours take in the Art Deco salons, the bridge, the engine room and the ship’s famous ‘haunted’ spaces. It’s the perfect warm-up for your own sailing.
- 2
Aquarium of the Pacific
family
Across the harbor on the downtown waterfront, this large aquarium focuses on the Pacific Ocean, from Southern California kelp forests to tropical reefs and the cold waters of the north. Sea otters, a shark lagoon and a lorikeet aviary where you can feed the birds are favorites. Allow two to three hours.
- 3
Shoreline Village and Rainbow Harbor
shopping
A waterfront strip of shops, seafood restaurants and an old-fashioned carousel overlooking the marina and the Queen Mary. Harbor cruises, whale-watching boats and sport-fishing trips leave from here. It’s an easy evening stroll from downtown hotels.
- 4
Naples canals and Belmont Shore
scenery
Naples is a small island neighborhood threaded with canals, best seen from a gondola or a rented kayak or paddleboard. Neighboring Belmont Shore’s Second Street is lined with casual restaurants, bars and boutiques, a few blocks from a wide, calm beach.
- 5
Catalina Island
nature
Catalina Express ferries from downtown Long Beach reach Avalon in about an hour. The island offers snorkeling at Lovers Cove, glass-bottom boats, zip-lining and the Catalina Island Casino ballroom. Many Carnival Baja cruises call here, so check your itinerary before planning a separate trip.
When cruises sail from Long Beach
Carnival sails from Long Beach every month of the year. Baja and Mexican Riviera cruises are popular in every season: winter and spring bring the driest, sunniest weather in Cabo and Puerto Vallarta, while summer is busy with families and can be hot and humid farther south. Longer Hawaii and Pacific coastal sailings appear occasionally, usually in spring or fall.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F (°C) | 6921 | 7021 | 7122 | 7625 | 7825 | 8630 | 9133 | 9334 | 9032 | 8630 | 7725 | 7021 |
| Low °F (°C) | 5111 | 5111 | 5312 | 5613 | 5815 | 6418 | 6921 | 7122 | 6921 | 6518 | 5714 | 5211 |
| Rain in (mm) | 3.692 | 3.077 | 2.974 | 0.614 | 0.410 | 0.01 | 0.13 | 0.37 | 0.25 | 0.37 | 0.924 | 3.178 |
| Daylight (hrs) | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 |
Embarkation day tips
- If you have an early boarding window, a night in downtown Long Beach or aboard the Queen Mary removes the freeway gamble completely.
- Book a short cruise for a long weekend. Three- and four-night Baja trips leave on regular days of the week, and you can be at sea within a couple of hours of leaving work if you live locally.
- The terminal dome gets crowded when two Carnival ships turn around on the same day, so expect more people and longer lines at check-in and disembarkation.
- Hold onto your passport or birth certificate and photo ID for re-entry. Ensenada is a foreign port, and Mexico or US authorities can ask for documents on any sailing.
- Watch the Queen Mary slide past from the top deck as you leave, then look for the Long Beach breakwater lighthouse and, on clear evenings, Catalina on the horizon.
Cruises from Long Beach: FAQs
What cruise line sails from Long Beach?
Carnival Cruise Line. Carnival operates the Long Beach Cruise Terminal and is the only line that sails from it, with year-round Baja and Mexican Riviera cruises and occasional Hawaii and Pacific coastal voyages.
How far is the Long Beach cruise terminal from the airport?
About 15 to 20 minutes from Long Beach Airport (LGB) and 35 minutes to over an hour from LAX, depending on traffic. Orange County’s John Wayne Airport is about 35 to 45 minutes away.
Is there parking at the Long Beach cruise port?
Yes. A paid lot sits right beside the terminal and the Queen Mary, charged per day. Some downtown hotels and off-site lots offer cruise parking with shuttles as an alternative.
Is the Long Beach cruise port the same as the Los Angeles cruise port?
No. Long Beach’s terminal, next to the Queen Mary, is used only by Carnival. The Los Angeles World Cruise Center is in San Pedro, about 15 minutes west, and serves Princess, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Virgin Voyages and others.
Can I visit the Queen Mary before my cruise?
Yes. The Queen Mary is moored beside the cruise terminal and offers tours, and you can sometimes stay overnight on board. It’s a popular way to spend the afternoon or evening before a Carnival sailing.
Where do cruises from Long Beach go?
Mostly Mexico. Three- to five-night cruises visit Ensenada and often Catalina Island, and seven-night Mexican Riviera cruises call at Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta. Longer Hawaii trips run occasionally.
Updated November 2026 by the BookMyDreamCruise editorial team. How we research and fact-check.
Sources: Wikipedia, Wikidata, NASA POWER climate data.