Do I Need A Passport To Cruise
If youre a United States citizen, you dont need a passport to cruise a closed-loop itinerary. A closed-loop cruise starts in a US port and ends in a US port. However, you will need to show some form of picture ID, such as a state drivers license.
Knowing this, US citizens can sail on return cruises to the Mexican Riviera, Hawaii, and Alaska, without needing a passport.
However, cruise lines recommend guests sail with passports. If something should happen during your cruise and you need to disembark in another country, you will need a passport to get home.
Cheap Cruises From Long Beach California
If you’re looking for cheap cruises from Long Beach CA, beautiful, exotic locations are awaiting your arrival, and your trip won’t need to break the bank. Whether you’re looking to adventure to Hawaii or Mexico or even locations like Singapore on a Trans Pacific cruise, we have the cheap cruises from Long Beach CA for you.
Cruises to Mexico are available year-round with anywhere from a 3 night to 7 night itinerary or longer. Hawaiian and Trans Pacific cruises have seasonal availability, and can go up to 25 nights or more. Experiencing the Mexican Riviera, Honolulu, or Guam is only a booking away. Cheap cruises from Long Beach CA are right at your fingertips – simply cruise smart and cruise cheap with CruiseCheap.com.
Baja Mexico Carnival Cruises
From Long Beach, Carnival offers three and five-day Baja Mexico cruises, which are ideal for long weekends or mini getaways for locals. These mini cruises often come with bargain prices. So, if you sail a back-to-back short cruise, you can usually get a longer trip for less than a 7-day cruise.
Three-day return cruises sail to Ensenada and back and are offered on the Carnival Radiance for the 2022 to 2024 seasons. Ensenadas coastline is more rugged than its sister cities to the south.
Most who stop in Mexicos Napa Valley shop for wine at low prices. Nearby wineries offer tour tours to taste before you buy. Prepare for your port day by getting your tour tickets in advance.
There are two options for five-day cruises. If you prefer different ports, select the itinerary that goes to Ensenada and Cabo San Lucas. Alternatively, spend two days in Cabo San Lucas. The Carnival Miracle sails these itineraries. Heres our full review of the Carnival Miracle.
Contrasting Ensenada, Cabo San Lucas offers pristine beaches and shore excursions focused on water activities. At the end of the Sea of Cortes, the Arch or El Arco, Lovers Beach, and Divorce Beach are must-visits. For fishing enthusiasts, the Marlin Capital is a haven for Marlin and other fish species.
Alternatively, travelers can choose a four-day cruise from San Francisco on the Carnival Miracle. It includes one day in Ensenada, Mexico.
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Carnival Cruise Schedule Long Beach Ca
Carnival Cruises Lines offers cruises to Mexico out of the Port of Long Beach. Long Beach is the primary cruise terminal for Carnival Cruise as opposed to Los Angeless San Pedro Terminal.
Carnival has operated out of the Long Beach terminal since 2003, and the Geodesic Dome is now used 100% for Carnival and houses customs and passenger check-in for its cruise operations. If youre headed to a Carnival Cruise out of Long Beach, start your trip with Xpress Shuttles. We offer a selection of shuttles, mini buses, or full size motor coaches to Long Beach Cruise terminal and more.
Carnival Cruises has 3 and 4-day cruises to Baja Mexico. Four-day cruises include a stop at on Catalina Island. Carnival also offers cruises to the Mexican Riviera from Long Beach with stops at Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, and Ensenada.
Cruise From Long Beach California
The Long Beach cruise port is home for Carnival Cruise Line. Carnival Cruises offers a variety of Baja Mexico and Hawaiian cruises year-round from Long Beach.
Located next door to the Queen Mary, the Long Beach Cruise Terminal is a Los Angeles area departure point for Carnival Cruise Lines. The two closest airports to the pier are Los Angeles International Airport and Long Beach Airport .
The Long Beach Cruise Terminal is 12 miles from the Long Beach Airport. It takes about 20 minutes by taxi and costs approximately $30 or a shared shuttle service is available for about $18.
If you are flying in from Los Angeles International Airport the Long Beach Cruise Terminal is 23 miles away but the ride is about 50 minutes. A taxi can cost approx. $85 but a shared shuttle can be reserved for approx. $18.
Parking at the pier is available in the five-story, 1,450-space parking garage. The cost is $15 per day and payment can be made with cash or major credit card. No advance reservation is necessary.
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Boarding The Ship For Our Cruise To Ensenada
The Imagination cruise to Ensenada sets sail at 5:30 PM and everyone must be aboard 60-minutes before sailing. Staterooms are ready at 1:30 PM, so, make your first day onboard more fun by arriving at the earliest boarding times!
Guests who are scheduled to arrive before 1:30 PM can check their bags curbside so they can be free to enjoy lunch, which will be served on Lido Deck 10 until 4:00 PM.
Tip! Bring a Carry-On Bag:When you first board your cruise ship, it can be a few hours before your luggage is delivered to your stateroom. Pack a few essentials like swimwear, sunscreen and a change of clothes in case you want to go to the pool or water slides.
Explore The Outer Beach Towns
Santa Monica, Venice, Malibu and Long Beach are four of Los Angeles’ most popular beach destinations. Of the four, Malibu is the most remote and least urban head here for surfing and stand-up paddleboarding. Depending on traffic, you can get to Long Beach in 40 minutes, while the others take around an hour.
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Our Mexico 3 Day Cruise On Carnival Imagination Itinerary
Carnival Imagination is a Fantasy-class cruise ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line. We departed on this Mexico 3 day cruise from Long Beach and visited Ensenada, Mexico. Our cruise itinerary:
- Day 1 depart Long Beach
- Day 2 fun day at sea
- Day 3 Ensenada
- Day 4 arrive Long Beach
This is a fun itinerary for a weekend getaway, but after experiencing a 3-day cruise, we all agreed that wed love to try a longer cruise. Between the teen club for my son and all the fun things to do onboard, there just wasnt enough time to experience it all plus enjoy some downtime.
Hawaii Cruises Travel Tips
- One of the biggest issues Hawaii has is those who visit taking the lava rocks. It is advisable that you do not do this.
- Reserve tickets for the well-known tourist destinations in advance, such as Pearl Harbor.
- Make sure to bring enough sunscreen with you! It can be very hot and sunny.
- A lot of the land is sacred, and you should make sure you treat it as such.
- Stop and listen to the local music and try the local food.
- Speak with the people there and learn more about the history of the land and their ancestors.
- Slow down and take in the sights, sounds, and smells around you while there. You will appreciate the area and your time more.
- Try Poi, it is one of the most delicious things you will ever have and a staple in the Hawaiian community.
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Hotels Near The Long Beach Cruise Port
Post-pandemic, its wise to fly into California a day before embarkation. With multiple flight cancelations and delays, you dont want to risk missing your cruise by trying to save money on a hotel room. There are many options for staying near the terminal, and some offer complimentary shuttles to the port.
Hotel Maya Long Beach is literally less than a mile from the Long Beach port. The Hotel Maya offers a cruise terminal shuttle and has continental and American breakfast options.
Residence Inn Long Beach Downtown Less than a mile from the cruise terminal and includes a complimentary hot breakfast.
Best Western Plus Hotel at the Convention Center This Best Western hotel provides a complimentary shuttle, and a hot buffet breakfast is included.
Hilton Hotel Long Beach offers a complimentary cruise shuttle.
From Long Beach, you have an option of four destinations. Baja cruises offer short getaways, while the Mexican Riviera offers 7-to-8-day itineraries. A 15-day return cruise to Hawaii provides a paradise island escape. Also, on the longer side, 14-day return cruises to Alaska allow you to see the 49th state without needing airfare.
Carnival Cruises From California
Carnival Cruise Line departures from Long Beach, San Diego and San Francisco in California. The selection includes Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, Christmas and 3-day cruises. See the details below.
Carnival is known for their “fun ships”, which are very casual and promise a good time for the whole family. There are special programs for kids of all ages. Adults enjoy live entertainment, multiple night clubs, casino, spa, and the Twister waterslide.
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Long Beach Cruise Terminal
When you cruise out of Long Beach with Carnival, youll depart via the Long Beach Cruise Terminal, which is the busiest port in North America with ships docking five days a week.
The 146,000-square-foot state-of-the-art Long Beach Cruise Terminal has been totally renovated and is beautiful. The palm tree-lined terminal, is huge and allows for quick and easy embarkation.
To enter the terminal, youll need to provide a boarding pass and a passport because its an international cruise.
Fun Fact: The terminal encompasses the worlds largest, free-span geodesic dome, which was originally built for Howard Hughes Spruce Goose plane. Im probably dating myself here, but the Spruce Goose was located here in Long Beach until the mid-1990s when it was then moved to Oregon.
Ensenada: A Day In Port
Day two of the cruise is spent docked in Ensenada. The ship arrives at approximately 8:15 am and doesnt depart until 5:30 pm. You can spend your day onboard the ship, on an organized excursion or explore the town of Ensenada on your own.
There are more than 20 shore excursions you can book when you buy your cruise or while you are on the cruise ship. Excursion options range from nearby wine country tours of Valle de Guadalupe , to surfing, kayaking, food tours and lots more.
During our day in port, we chose to explore the town on our own. Weve visited Ensenada and the wine country many times, so we enjoyed visiting a local museum, lunch at Muelle 3 and strolling through town.
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Eight Day Carnival Cruises
La Paz is located in the Sea of Cortez, where travelers enjoy beautiful sandy beaches and water-based tours. Consider a bucket list excursion to snorkel with whale sharks between December and April. While the sharks are enormous, they are gentle creatures who arent a threat to humans.
The marine-rich waters provide for excellent scuba diving too. During a dive, you can see whale and hammerhead sharks, dolphins, and giant manta rays.
For those who prefer to keep their feet planted on the ground, the city will delight you with its lively atmosphere and old-world charm. Be sure to see the art sculptures on the Malecon, and visit the Cathedral of Our Lady of La Paz.
When Is The Best Time To Cruise To Mexico
Carnival Cruises offers cruises from Long Beach to Mexico year-round. Expect temperatures of 74 F to 96 F depending on your cruising month.
Being further north, Cabo San Lucas has cooler temperatures of 74 F to 77 F from December to February. However, the summer months (June to September can reach as high as 96 F or 36 C.
If the higher temperatures are intolerable, consider cruising December through to early March when its a bit cooler.
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What To Do In Long Beach Pre
If you have a day or two pre- or post-cruise, then you’ll find plenty to do and see in Long Beach. The , Long Beach Museum of Art and Museum of Latin American Art are must-sees for visitors. Shoppers will find all their favorite brand names at a discount at the , right in downtown Long Beach. For more unique boutiques in pedestrian-friendly settings, check out Retro Row on 4th Street, the East Village Arts District, or visit the Belmont Shore neighborhood.
Planning Your Day Onboard
Each day on the cruise you will receive a Fun Times itinerary that includes everything there is to do onboard. It shares sections for top entertainment, food, drinks, spa, music, movies, casino, shopping, kids & teens as well as a schedule for everything happening with the times and locations.
Its your cruise ship bible and we carried it with us and constantly referred to it throughout the day and evening.
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Evening Shows & Entertainment
The evening schedule regularly offers 20+ options of shows, art auctions, comedy, karaoke, trivia, meet & greets and so much more. On a three day cruise, its really impossible to do it all, so youll want to choose wisely!
We really enjoyed the comedy on board and made a point to go to one of the three nightly shows in the Xanadu Lounge. They offer PG and adult versions of the comedy shows. Our son really enjoyed the comedy as well and joined us most evenings for the PG show.
We were really impressed by the comedy shows, musicians and the entertainers for the Showtime extravaganza shows in the Dynasty Lounge.
Onboard, youll also find the Mirage Piano Bar, Illusions Nightclub , Shangri La Lounge, Dream Bar, Atrium Lobby Bar, Alchemy bar where they specialized in martinis and cocktails and a casino.
Cruises From Long Beach
There are cruises out of Long Beach year round. It is where Carnival Cruises depart in the LA area.
The City of Long Beach is part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area, and is one of the world’s largest shipping ports. Downtown Long Beach is about 20 miles south of downtown LA. Directions to the Long Beach cruise terminal.
The RMS Queen Mary ocean liner is permanently moored in Long Beach. The retired ship is now a tourist attraction with a museum, restaurants, and a hotel. It is located very close to the cruise terminal.
The weather in Long Beach is typically sunny and warm. The city only averages 12 inches of rain a year. Most rainfall occurs in the winter.
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Pre And Post Cruise Options From Los Angeles
Long Beach is located in Southern California on the Pacific coast. It is situated about 20 miles south of downtown Los Angeles. Due to its proximity to the Pacific Ocean, temperatures in Long Beach are moderate throughout the year. A few days spent in the area before or after a cruise that departs from Long Beach is a perfect way to extend a vacation. Relax on one of the beautiful beaches or visit its many fascinating sights.
Queen Mary: This retired ocean liner, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, sailed from 1936 to 1967 for the Cunard Line. She is permanently berthed in Long Beach and is both a hotel and museum. The Behind the Scenes guided tour is both entertaining and informative.
Aquarium of the Pacific: Three areas of the Pacific are recreated the Baja and Southern California region, the Bering Sea and the northern Pacific. There are more than 12,500 sea creatures, and many educational exhibits. Definitely one of the top aquariums in the country.
Long Beach Zeppelin Flights: The next best thing to being in the Goodyear blimp! Float at an altitude of 1,200 feet at 25 mph. The expansive widow panels surround the cabin to allow 360 degree views of the city below.
Knotts Berry Farm: This is Americas first theme park! Great family fun with 165 rides, shows, restaurants and attractions. Five themed areas including Camp Snoopy, home to the PEANUTS gang. You can also purchase fresh and delicious jams and jellies.
Cruise To Mexico On The Carnival Imagination
As vacations or weekend getaways go, a cruise is a much simpler trip compared to any other type of travel. One of my favorite things about a cruise is once you board, you have arrived at your home away from home. Simply unpack and you are done!
Unlike aroad trip or avacation to Europe where you are moving from location to location on a cruise, there is no need to constantly unpack and pack again, change hotels, or drive from place to place.
So if youre interested in a fun cruise for a weekend getaway, and are interested in what Carnival Imagination has to offer, this post is for you!
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How To Get To Long Beach
If youre flying into Los Angeles International Airport , its a 25-mile journey to the cruise port. The exact address is 231 Windsor Way, Long Beach. Travel times vary on time of day and traffic. Cruise passengers can prearrange a shuttle through Carnival Cruises for USD 34.99 per person.
Alternatively, a taxi takes around 30 to 40 minutes and costs about USD 55 to 60. Since shuttles charge a per person rate, its advisable to use alternative transportation if youre a family of four or more.
California has both Lyft and Uber, often costing less than a taxi. An Uber X, suitable for two passengers with luggage, costs about UD 40 one way. A family of four would need the larger Uber XL, which costs around USD 60.
When using a taxi or ride-share program, make sure you tell your driver youre cruising with Carnival. Since Los Angeles has two cruise ports, you could end up at the wrong one.
If youre flying into Long Beach Airport , its a set USD 45 fee for a taxi, and the distance is half as far. A prearranged Carnival Cruise Line shuttle costs USD 31.99 per person. The estimated cost of an Uber X is USD 20, and USD 30 for the larger capacity vehicle.
Furthermore, if you purchase a shuttle through the cruise line, there is no discount for booking a return ride for disembarkation day.
If you live close enough to the terminal to drive, long-term parking costs USD 23 a day in its multi-story parking lot. There are 1450 spaces, and reservations arent required.
