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San Pedro · Southern California
Board in San Pedro, a short walk from a World War II battleship.
Cruise ships dock at the World Cruise Center in San Pedro, on the Los Angeles harbor. The Battleship Iowa, the Los Angeles Maritime Museum and San Pedro Fish Market are all on the waterfront, and ferries to Catalina Island leave from the same corner.
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See Harbor History
San Pedro, about 0.6 miles
Exhibits on the history of the Port of Los Angeles, in a historic building at Berth 84. Open Wednesday to Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.; adults pay $5 and children enter free.
Plan Your Museum Visit (opens a new tab)Unwind Island Day
Avalon, about 1 hr 15 min by ferry
Catalina Express boats leave from Berth 95, at Swinford Street and Harbor Boulevard, the same corner as the cruise terminal. The crossing to Avalon takes about 1 hour 15 minutes.
See Catalina Express From San Pedro (opens a new tab)Taste Seafood
San Pedro, about 0.7 miles
A seafood market and restaurant on Harbor Boulevard since 1956, known for its shrimp tray. Open daily from 11 a.m. (9 a.m. at weekends) to 8 or 9 p.m.
Visit San Pedro Fish Market (opens a new tab)Explore Aquarium
San Pedro, about 2.5 miles
Entry is free, with a suggested donation of $10 for adults and $5 for children and seniors. Open Tuesday to Friday, noon to 5 p.m., and weekends, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Plan Your Aquarium Visit (opens a new tab)Skip the excursion desk
Every ship uses the one terminal, so the choice is San Pedro on foot or downtown Los Angeles, 25 miles north.
By the port's figures, LAX is 18 miles from the terminal and Long Beach Airport (LGB) is 10 miles.
The cruise lot has 2,560 secured overnight spaces and a courtesy shuttle to the terminal. The first hour is free, then $2 an hour, up to $23 a day ($40 for oversized vehicles). The terminal cannot store bags; the Battleship Iowa rents day lockers by its gangway nearest the terminal.
If you do one thing here
The battleship is moored a 3 to 5 minute walk from the terminal: with your back to Harbor Boulevard, it is on your right. Its nine 16-inch guns could fire 2,700-pound shells more than 20 miles, and the self-guided Life of a Sailor tour, included with entry, takes you through seven decks.
It opens Thursday to Monday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last entry at 4 p.m.; allow 2 to 3 hours. Adults pay $29.95 and children 3 to 11 pay $21.95. Show your cruise itinerary at the ticket desk for a discount on walk-up tickets.
The crime figures cover the whole City of Los Angeles, not San Pedro alone.
Crime figures: FBI Crime Data Explorer, 2023, Los Angeles Police Department and California reporting agencies, per resident; our sums. Weather: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at LAX, about 16 miles from the port.
Make it part of your voyage
Princess, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean and Virgin Voyages all homeport at the World Cruise Center.
At the World Cruise Center (Los Angeles Cruise Terminal), 100 Swinford Street, San Pedro, at Berths 92 and 93. Ports America runs it.
In San Pedro, a harbor community of the City of Los Angeles, at Harbor Boulevard and Swinford Street, with freeway access from I-110.
Yes. Ports America publishes the World Cruise Center schedule by month, with the berth for each ship, and a download button.
25 miles to Union Station, by the port's figure. The Metro J Line (Silver) runs between San Pedro and downtown for $1.75 a ride.
18 miles, by the port's figure. Long Beach Airport (LGB) is 10 miles away.
There is no flat fare to San Pedro, so the meter applies: $3.10 to start, $2.97 a mile and a $4 LAX surcharge.
No. FlyAway runs from LAX to Union Station and Van Nuys only, for $12.75. From Union Station the Metro J Line goes to San Pedro.
The first hour is free, then $2 an hour, up to $23 a day for standard vehicles and $40 for oversized ones. A courtesy shuttle runs from the lot to the terminal.
No. The port says bags cannot be stored at the terminal. The Battleship Iowa, a 3 to 5 minute walk away, rents day lockers.
The Battleship Iowa is a 3 to 5 minute walk. The Los Angeles Maritime Museum and San Pedro Fish Market are under a mile away, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is about 2.5 miles, and Catalina Express ferries to Catalina Island leave from Berth 95.
In 2023 the city's violent crime rate was 820 per 100,000 residents, 56% above California's 527. These are whole-city figures, not San Pedro's.
Highs average 66°F in January and 77°F in August, and most rain falls from December to March.
