preta

The check-in staff at the San Pedro port will be happy to scan your boarding pass to look up your records, but if you do not have the boarding pass, no big deal, they can also use your cabin number or your last name for lookup. I'm not sure about the security lines, though. On the other hand, passport books, passport cards, or birth certificates are required. Check that you have current versions with you. It is very sad to see people getting turned away because they brought expired passports or forgot them altogether. There are only two lines at San Pedro, green lane and blue lane. No elite or suite lines. Once you check in, the elite folks (those with black medallions) get to wait in a separate elite lounge (just a slightly separate area with chairs and a few non-alcoholic drinks). Platinum level passengers have a different reserved seating area, no drinks though. Everyone else has to find seats on the other side, or just stand. This is only while waiting for boarding to start, normally around 11:00. At that point, elites get to board first, then platinum, then those of us in the teaming masses. That all clears out in about 15-30 minutes, then everyone who arrives after that can board at their leisure.

The distinction between blue and green lanes is strictly having a medallion or not. If you have it, you are green, if not, blue. The blue lane is always slower and longer than the green lane, sometimes substantially. It is well worth the extra $10 to me to get the medallions shipped to my house, although I definitely resent the petty nickel-and-diming of the extra charge. Let's all complain about that during the post-cruise survey. Either way, you really only need your passport (or other identifying papers - be really careful that you have whatever is required). They look up your records based on your cabin. If you have the app, they scan the QR code to find you. If you have the medallion, you scan it to look up your records. If you have neither, they can find you based on your cabin number, and if you don't know that, they can use your name.

Traffic from LAX to San Pedro should be very light that late at night in those areas. It should take about 30-45 minutes for the drive down to San Pedro, vs. 5-10 minutes to get to the LAX hotels. There isn't really anything to do or anywhere easily accessed in the LAX area, whereas the Crowne Plaza in San Pedro is located near a few blocks of retail shops and restaurants, as well as the waterfront a block from the hotel. It's not an upscale marina, but is still safe and interesting.