PlayTheAces

Yes, the parking structure is blocked off. You drive up, unload your luggage and give it to the porters. A security person then gave me a parking permit to display on the dash with directions to the off site parking. Then you drive on to the off site parking. You can't access the parking structure.

We just got off the Panorama and used the off site parking. Here are my thoughts. First, I was expecting the absolute worst and we actually had a pretty good experience. We're Platinum so I had a 10:30 am check-in for embarkation. I arrived at the port at 8:30 am. I drove up and dumped the luggage. They had porters waiting to receive it. They gave me a parking permit and instructions to the off site parking at the convention center. It's about a ten minute drive, located off Ocean if you know Long Beach. I placed the permit on the dash and the attendants saw it and directed me to the designated lot and a parking space. Then we jumped on the shuttle bus and they drove us back to the port. All in all it was a smooth operation and we were back to the port by 9:30 am or so. Disembarkation was pretty easy as well. Again, being Platinum we were off the ship by 9 am. I checked the luggage the night before (getting too old to schlep it myself) and grabbed it in the terminal. Facial recognition makes clearing customs a breeze for us. We proceeded to the bus parking area and got in a short line. The driver loaded our luggage into the bus and drove us back to the off site parking. I tossed everything into the car and we were on our way before 10 am. It's certainly not as easy as parking in the terminal and I don't think I'll be booking anymore cruises on the Panorama because of being forced to park offsite. However, it certainly wasn't as bad as I expected. The day we left the convention center parling lots were deserted. A week later when we returned they were packed with a considerable amount of traffic in the area so it depends on events taking place, though we were out of the lot fast so it's probably a non-consideration. They charged me $20 a day and it should show up on my shipboard account charges in the next couple of days. The terminal garage currently charges $23 per day. So that's what we experienced on the June 8th cruise. I would recommend getting to the terminal early even if it means waiting a while to check in. Hope the info helps a bit.

We were on the Panorama a few weeks ago. The time before that we were on her we were pretty late getting back to Long Beach. It was after 11am when we finally got off. I was talking to someone at the port as we were waiting to embark on our last cruise and mentioned we had been late getting back on our previous cruise, and was told the ship has engine issues. We got back on time without any problem at the end of this cruise, but if I were flying home I'd be really cautious about booking an earlier flight. The Panorama isn't very predictable when it comes to returning home on time. Fortunately for us we drive so it's never a problem. As much as I like the Panorama I think replacing her next year with the Firenze will be a good move.

This is exactly why I'm not too excited about booking with them again. And the fact you have to call them to book. They're still living in the 20th Century when it comes to conducting business on-line.