Getting from SNA to the port at San Pedro...

We will be arriving mid morning at SNA.....would you advise that we take a taxi to the port or one of the shuttles....and, knowing we will be there very early, is there somewhere to get a bite near the port or should we count on hanging out until the boarding commences??? Thanks in advance!!!

By the time you get your luggage and grab a shuttle (if you're talking about a shared shuttle that you catch outside the terminal, you might not be taken directly to the World Cruise Center in San Pedro, but see the front of some hotels and motels on the way if that's the route the driver takes), it could be late morning or even afternoon by the time you get to the port. Often passengers will be allowed into the terminal to start the check in process around 11am or so (Princess will send out an email telling you your time to arrive is 1pm -- I've gotten those the last three cruises out of there, but have never been asked to wait til then, and often will be on the ship, with carry on's unpacked and in the Horizon for lunch by 1pm).

Adding: make sure to tell the shuttle driver (or taxi driver) that you need to go to the Port of Los Angeles, in San Pedro, and not the Port of Long Beach (which is the one Carnival uses).

I'm typing this about a mile from SNA. The good news is from the plane through baggage claim to the curb is fast...probably 30 minutes max. The best bet is to contact the ground transportation when the luggage from your flight starts appearing at the carousel.

As you've discovered, the bad news (not that bad) is ground travel to San Pedro. I'd recommend a either a shared shuttle van for around $60 excluding tip (Super Shuttle, Primetime, or Karmel)...or for more personalized service, Uber shows the fare as $81-$107 for your entire party (assuming they fit in a standard passenger sedan) and Execucar is $119. Note that Uber does not allow tipping so it's an all-in price.

Assuming no traffic the nonstop drive is around 45-60 minutes.