Getting from LAX, LGB, SNA to hotel, LA Cruise Terminal, and back toairport.

31st May 2008, 10:42 PM

Hi all

We are looking at taking a Princess Cruise out of Los Angeles nest
year and are wondering what are options are for getting from the LAX,
LGB, and SNA to a hotel, then to the cruise terminal, and then back to
the airport. Of course we could rent a car, but I am not sure about
driving on the freeways in SoCal. Also could take the shuttle offered
by Princess, but many times they seem to overprice these. Are there
other options? Now really sure where we will be staying, as there are
too many options to sort through. I yet to decide if are flying the
day before or 2 days before. If we flying in the day before we will
most likely try and stay near an airport or cruise terminal. If we fly
in 2 days before we may want to stay near someplace near DisneyLand or
another tourist site. Please reply if you have any suggestions.

Thanks
Michael

1st June 2008, 11:02 AM

In article <g-edndIiVqi2Mt_VnZ2dnUVZ_oLinZ2d@>,
scabbardgirl <scabbardgirl@cox.net> wrote:

> > We are looking at taking a Princess Cruise out of Los Angeles nest
> > year and are wondering what are options are for getting from the LAX,
> > LGB, and SNA to a hotel, then to the cruise terminal, and then back to
> > the airport.

Agree with reply posted by scabbardgirl.

If you fly into or out of Long Beach and stay in Long Beach hotel, local
taxis are all you'll need; and there are sufficient waterfront /
harborfront attractions in Long Beach to make an overnight stay not
unpleasant.

If you fly into or out of LAX, there are numerous major chain hotels
just outside the airport entrance, with free shuttles to the airline
terminal; and while I've not actually done it, I'd be pretty certain you
can get SuperShuttle or other direct "door to door" shuttle service or
direct bus service for the circa one-hour transfer to the Long Beach
cruise termnal, if not directly from one of these hotels, then just by
taking the hotel shuttle back to the LAX terminal and picking one up
from there.

1st June 2008, 12:12 PM

On May 31, 7:42 pm, "mgr...@tribcsp.com" <mgr...@trib.com> wrote:
> Hi all
>
> We are looking at taking a Princess Cruise out of Los Angeles nest
> year and are wondering what are options are for getting from the LAX,
> LGB, and SNA to a hotel, then to the cruise terminal, and then back to
> the airport. Of course we could rent a car, but I am not sure about
> driving on the freeways in SoCal. Also could take the shuttle offered
> by Princess, but many times they seem to overprice these. Are there
> other options? Now really sure where we will be staying, as there are
> too many options to sort through. I yet to decide if are flying the
> day before or 2 days before. If we flying in the day before we will
> most likely try and stay near an airport or cruise terminal. If we fly
> in 2 days before we may want to stay near someplace near DisneyLand or
> another tourist site. Please reply if you have any suggestions.
>
> Thanks
> Michael

Long Beach is a very small airport with few flights and airlines. If
you can book a good flight into Long Beach sure. But LAX is probably
your best option. There are many shuttle options from any of these
airports. Just follow the shuttles sign as you exit the terminal.

1st June 2008, 07:06 PM

On May 31, 7:42 pm, "mgr...@tribcsp.com" <mgr...@trib.com> wrote:
> Hi all
>
> We are looking at taking a Princess Cruise out of Los Angeles nest
> year and are wondering what are options are for getting from the LAX,
> LGB, and SNA to a hotel, then to the cruise terminal, and then back to
> the airport. Of course we could rent a car, but I am not sure about
> driving on the freeways in SoCal. Also could take the shuttle offered
> by Princess, but many times they seem to overprice these. Are there
> other options? Now really sure where we will be staying, as there are
> too many options to sort through. I yet to decide if are flying the
> day before or 2 days before. If we flying in the day before we will
> most likely try and stay near an airport or cruise terminal. If we fly
> in 2 days before we may want to stay near someplace near DisneyLand or
> another tourist site. Please reply if you have any suggestions.

Don't let the LA freeways intimidate you.The freeways move along at a
regular pace and are clearly marked. Southern Californians are pretty
friendly, too. There are lots of sights to add on to your trip in LA,
such as Disneyland, Catalina Island, Universal, etc.

I vote renting a car and taking advantage of your stop in LA area.

Karen

1st June 2008, 07:10 PM

On Jun 1, 11:27 am, "John Sisker" <jsis...@> wrote:
> Some of the responses you have received in this reference already provided
> some good advice, one even mentioning the Queen Mary attraction and hotel,
> yet wisely pointing out the historical interest, but also not a top rate
> hotel. Therefore, there is no point in me adding to this dialogue, even
> though I live around 15 to 20 miles away from Long Beach/San Pedro and the
> cruise ship ports.

Queen Mary is really fun, though. The walls are thin, though. I could
hear the guy next door talking in a normal voice, everything he said.
The rooms are decorated in the vintage style, including the plumbing.
The haunted ship tour was fun for my daughter who got really scared.
The pool was creepy!

Karen

1st June 2008, 09:40 PM

On Jun 1, 12:27 pm, "John Sisker" <jsis...@> wrote:
> Michael,
>
> While Long Beach Airport (LGB) is indeed smaller that Los Angeles
> International (LAX), Santa Ana Airport (SNA) is smaller yet. However, SNA is
> closer to attractions such as Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm, but much
> further away from the Port of Los Angeles (San Pedro) for your Princess
> Cruise.
>
> Some of the responses you have received in this reference already provided
> some good advice, one even mentioning the Queen Mary attraction and hotel,
> yet wisely pointing out the historical interest, but also not a top rate
> hotel. Therefore, there is no point in me adding to this dialogue, even
> though I live around 15 to 20 miles away from Long Beach/San Pedro and the
> cruise ship ports.
>
> However, one other thing to consider, is to look on their Website or the
> Princess Cruise brochure itself to see what hotel packages they recommend
> for a cruise out of San Pedro.

The Princess brochure lists the hotel in Los Angeles at the Marriott
Los Angels. Anyone have any thought good or bad about this hotel.

Thanks
Michael

1st June 2008, 10:07 PM

On Jun 1, 6:40 pm, "mgr...@tribcsp.com" <mgr...@trib.com> wrote:
> On Jun 1, 12:27 pm, "John Sisker" <jsis...@> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > Michael,
>
> > While Long Beach Airport (LGB) is indeed smaller that Los Angeles
> > International (LAX), Santa Ana Airport (SNA) is smaller yet. However, SNA is
> > closer to attractions such as Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm, but much
> > further away from the Port of Los Angeles (San Pedro) for your Princess
> > Cruise.
>
> > Some of the responses you have received in this reference already provided
> > some good advice, one even mentioning the Queen Mary attraction and hotel,
> > yet wisely pointing out the historical interest, but also not a top rate
> > hotel. Therefore, there is no point in me adding to this dialogue, even
> > though I live around 15 to 20 miles away from Long Beach/San Pedro and the
> > cruise ship ports.
>
> > However, one other thing to consider, is to look on their Website or the
> > Princess Cruise brochure itself to see what hotel packages they recommend
> > for a cruise out of San Pedro.
>
> The Princess brochure lists the hotel in Los Angeles at the Marriott
> Los Angels. Anyone have any thought good or bad about this hotel.
>
> Thanks
> Michael-

which Marriott? If it's the one at the LAX airport, it's a
conventional and travelers' hotel. Nothing bad about it, just your
regular big chain hotels. There is not much within walking distance
to the hotel.

1st June 2008, 10:09 PM

On Jun 1, 11:27 am, "John Sisker" <jsis...@> wrote:
> Michael,
>
> While Long Beach Airport (LGB) is indeed smaller that Los Angeles
> International (LAX), Santa Ana Airport (SNA) is smaller yet.

SNA is John Wayne airport, definitely not smaller than Long Beach.

> However, SNA is
> closer to attractions such as Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm, but much
> further away from the Port of Los Angeles (San Pedro) for your Princess
> Cruise.
>

1st June 2008, 10:32 PM

On Jun 1, 8:07 pm, PeterL <po.n...@> wrote:
> On Jun 1, 6:40 pm, "mgr...@tribcsp.com" <mgr...@trib.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > On Jun 1, 12:27 pm, "John Sisker" <jsis...@> wrote:
>
> > > Michael,
>
> > > While Long Beach Airport (LGB) is indeed smaller that Los Angeles
> > > International (LAX), Santa Ana Airport (SNA) is smaller yet. However, SNA is
> > > closer to attractions such as Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm, but much
> > > further away from the Port of Los Angeles (San Pedro) for your Princess
> > > Cruise.
>
> > > Some of the responses you have received in this reference already provided
> > > some good advice, one even mentioning the Queen Mary attraction and hotel,
> > > yet wisely pointing out the historical interest, but also not a top rate
> > > hotel. Therefore, there is no point in me adding to this dialogue, even
> > > though I live around 15 to 20 miles away from Long Beach/San Pedro and the
> > > cruise ship ports.
>
> > > However, one other thing to consider, is to look on their Website or the
> > > Princess Cruise brochure itself to see what hotel packages they recommend
> > > for a cruise out of San Pedro.
>
> > The Princess brochure lists the hotel in Los Angeles at the Marriott
> > Los Angels. Anyone have any thought good or bad about this hotel.
>
> > Thanks
> > Michael-
>
> which Marriott? If it's the one at the LAX airport, it's a
> conventional and travelers' hotel. Nothing bad about it, just your
> regular big chain hotels. There is not much within walking distance
> to the hotel.

Great question! It does not say. I was king of hoping that someone
here would the answer to that question.

Michael

1st June 2008, 10:41 PM

On Jun 1, 8:16 am, scabbardgirl <scabbardg...@cox.net> wrote:
> mgr...@tribcsp.com wrote:
> > Hi all
>
> > We are looking at taking a Princess Cruise out of Los Angeles nest
> > year and are wondering what are options are for getting from the LAX,
> > LGB, and SNA to a hotel, then to the cruise terminal, and then back to
> > the airport. Of course we could rent a car, but I am not sure about
> > driving on the freeways in SoCal. Also could take the shuttle offered
> > by Princess, but many times they seem to overprice these. Are there
> > other options? Now really sure where we will be staying, as there are
> > too many options to sort through. I yet to decide if are flying the
> > day before or 2 days before. If we flying in the day before we will
> > most likely try and stay near an airport or cruise terminal. If we fly
> > in 2 days before we may want to stay near someplace near DisneyLand or
> > another tourist site. Please reply if you have any suggestions.
>
> > Thanks
> > Michael
>
> For my Princess cruise the other week, I flew into LGB. I stayed at the
> Westin Long Beach downtown. There are several other chain hotels in the
> immediate area. I definitely remember the Renaissance Hotel next door.
> From the Westin, it was a quick couple of minutes straight down Ocean
> Ave across Vincent Thomas Bridge to the cruise terminal. The downtown
> Long Beach area has lots of restaurants to choose from, and some cute
> shopping areas. It's been nicely renovated to a place to stay. You
> could do without a rental car. The Crowne Plaza is definitely the
> closest to the terminal, but I'm not sure that there is enough within
> walking distance to do with for dinner and such. Perhaps some of the
> RTCers who have stayed there can answer that. I'd hate to have the
> hotel as the only option to eat at, but that's me.
> If you want to fly in a couple of days early and go to Disneyland, SNA
> is a good choice. But, be aware that American Airlines has a big
> presence there and they are charging for EVERY checked bag. If you care
> about that, be sure that you choose another airline.

Our choices are UA, DL, or NW (maybe just UA and DL by then) from CPR.
NW is not much of a choice, as we would have to back track to MSP to
may a connection. We would be better off with UA through DEN (did
notice an option through ORD and then DEN and one through DEN and then
SNA for LAX) or DL through SLC. LBG seems out of the question, as only
DL serves it and thus the price lots more.

Michael