Departure port
Los Angeles Cruise Port
Los Angeles offers a very limited number of Alaska sailings, typically as repositioning voyages at the start and end of the season rather than as a regular summer programme. Because the distance is greater still than from San Francisco, these itineraries run fourteen nights or more with a substantial proportion at sea. Ships use the World Cruise Center at San Pedro.
The short answer
Alaska cruises from Los Angeles are rare and largely seasonal, appearing as repositioning voyages in spring and autumn as ships move between winter and summer deployments. They typically run fourteen nights or longer from the World Cruise Center at San Pedro, with five or more sea days. They suit Southern California residents who want a long voyage without flying.
Key points
- Sailings are rare and mostly seasonal, often spring and autumn repositioning voyages.
- Ships use the World Cruise Center at San Pedro, about 25 miles from LAX.
- Itineraries typically run 14 nights or more with five or more sea days.
- Best for Southern California residents who want a long voyage with no flying.
- Expect Pacific coast calls such as Astoria, Victoria and San Francisco alongside Alaska ports.
Quick facts
- Terminals
- World Cruise Center, Berths 91 through 93, San Pedro
- Season
- Occasional sailings, concentrated in May and September as repositioning voyages
- From the airport
- 25 miles from LAX, about 40 to 70 minutes
- Lines sailing from here
- Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line
Alaska from Los Angeles: the honest picture
Los Angeles is not a regular Alaska departure port and it is important to say so plainly. What exists is a small number of long voyages, usually appearing at the start and end of the Alaska season when ships are moving between their Mexican Riviera or Panama Canal winter deployments and their Alaska summer deployments.
Those repositioning voyages are genuinely appealing to a particular traveller: they are long, they visit an unusual mix of ports, they include several sea days, and they are often priced attractively on a per night basis because the line needs to move the ship regardless. What they are not is an efficient way to see Alaska.
| Port | Typical length | Alaska days | Sea days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | 7 nights | 5 to 6 | 1 |
| Seattle | 7 nights | 4 to 5 | 1 to 2 |
| San Francisco | 10 to 14 nights | 4 to 6 | 4 to 6 |
| Los Angeles | 14+ nights | 4 to 6 | 5 to 8 |
The World Cruise Center at San Pedro
Los Angeles cruise ships berth at the World Cruise Center in San Pedro, on the western side of Los Angeles Harbor, about 25 miles south of downtown Los Angeles and roughly the same from LAX.
- Drive time from LAX is 40 to 70 minutes depending entirely on traffic, and Los Angeles traffic is not predictable.
- Parking at the terminal runs roughly $20 to $25 per day, which is cheaper than most West Coast cruise ports.
- Long Beach, a separate terminal used by some Carnival ships, is about six miles away. Confirm which one your sailing uses.
- Public transport to San Pedro is possible but slow. A taxi or rideshare is the practical option.
What these itineraries actually cover
A Los Angeles to Alaska voyage typically calls along the Pacific coast on the way, which is a genuine part of the appeal rather than filler.
- Pacific coast calls may include San Francisco, Astoria in Oregon, Victoria and Vancouver.
- Alaska ports are the usual set: Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Sitka or Icy Strait Point.
- Glacier viewing is normally Hubbard Glacier, Tracy Arm or Endicott Arm rather than Glacier Bay.
- One way variants exist, sailing Los Angeles to Vancouver or Seattle and requiring a flight home, which shortens the trip considerably.
Who should consider a Los Angeles Alaska cruise
Strengths
- You live in Southern California and would rather not fly at all.
- You genuinely enjoy sea days and treat the ship as part of the holiday.
- You have two weeks or more available and want an unhurried trip.
- You are attracted by the Pacific coast ports as well as Alaska.
- You want a low per night fare and have flexible dates.
Trade offs
- You want maximum Alaska time for your money.
- You have limited holiday and need a seven night trip.
- You want Glacier Bay, which these itineraries rarely include.
- You are prone to seasickness, because the open Pacific coast is rougher than the Inside Passage.
- You need specific dates, because sailings are few and concentrated in shoulder months.
For most travellers, flying to Seattle or Vancouver and taking a seven night sailing delivers more Alaska for less total time and often less total money. The Los Angeles option is a specialist choice, and it is a good one for the people it suits.
Frequently asked questions
Do cruises to Alaska leave from Los Angeles?
How long is an Alaska cruise from Los Angeles?
Where do Los Angeles cruise ships depart from?
Is an Alaska cruise from Los Angeles worth it?
Do Los Angeles Alaska cruises visit Glacier Bay?
Is the Pacific coast crossing rough?
Where these sailings go
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A complete Hubbard Glacier cruise guide: the six mile wide calving face, why it is advancing, which lines visit, what to expect from the day and photography advice.
A complete Ketchikan cruise port guide: totem poles, Creek Street, Misty Fjords flightseeing, salmon runs, excursion costs and how to plan a short port day.
A complete Sitka cruise port guide: Russian colonial history, Tlingit heritage, Sitka Sound wildlife, raptor centre, excursion costs and tendering advice.
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A method for building a realistic Alaska cruise budget: the fare is rarely half the total. Work through flights, hotels, excursions, onboard spending and the contingency.
Planning an Alaska cruise for older travellers: which lines suit, managing walking and mobility ashore, medical considerations, pacing the itinerary and cabin choice.