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lax airport to san pedro cruise port

dkrysansk

By dkrysansk,
in West Coast Departures

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bcnvcanada

bcnvcanada

Posted
Posted

What is the cost of a taxi from cruise port to LAX ? The cruise line gave us a very early flight from LAx 11:00am. We will have only a carry on case and will do a walk off. Know how slow customs can be. We checked

into a car service and back at 89usd. We would like to use a shuttle,

but again, we would have to wait until it was full. The shuttle companies

said the earliest one would be at 9:30. With traffic on a Friday morning,

we are concerned. Any help would be great. thanks

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Cruisin' Chick

Cruisin' Chick

Posted
Posted
What is the cost of a taxi from cruise port to LAX ? The cruise line gave us a very early flight from LAx 11:00am. We will have only a carry on case and will do a walk off. Know how slow customs can be. We checked

into a car service and back at 89usd. We would like to use a shuttle,

but again, we would have to wait until it was full. The shuttle companies

said the earliest one would be at 9:30. With traffic on a Friday morning,

we are concerned. Any help would be great. thanks

 

You should call the cruise line (or if you went through a TA, have them do this) and point out that all cruise lines that use the Ports of LA and LB all recommend not booking a flight before 1PM. So they need to either change your flight or guarantee you a back up flight without extra cost to you.

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kenish

kenish

Posted
Posted (edited)

My 2c worth as a SoCal native who's been to Ensenada many times over the years by ship and by road.

 

Drug cartel turf wars were going on in Baja (area including Tijuana, Ensenada, and Rosarito) until about 5-10 years ago. One cartel kingping had another assassinated, and the military in turn took him out (that's my recollecation, anyway). Drug-related violence has moved to other parts of Mexico; Tijuana is enjoying a renaissance of restaurants, night spots, etc.

 

Ensenada is like New York City...there are safe areas and other areas you shouldn't go to in broad daylight. Use common sense in either place, stick to the tourist areas, and Ensenada is as safe as Times Square. The last thing Mexico needs is a tourist being harmed, hence the tourist areas all over Mexico are heavily patrolled. (If M-16 toting Federales walking the streets bother you, that's something to think about).

 

That said, I don't care for Ensenada. There's really not a whole lot to see or do. Also you will see some very sad and desperate poverty. It's hard to imagine that could exist 30 miles south of gleaming San Diego, but it does. The blowhole is interesting....one issue is traffic safety. Our tour bus botched a pass on a 2-lane highway and it's the closest I've ever come to being in a very serious traffic accident. The nearby wine area is interesting too, but nothing special compared to your Okanagan Valley or Napa down here.

 

If you want a cruise that visits the west coast of Mexico, look into Cabo, La Paz, and Puerto Vallarta. Just as safe for tourists as Ensenada with much more of interest. I personally don't care for Mazatlan, and most cruiselines have pulled out due to safety concerns.

 

Hope this helps.

Edited by kenish
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Bruin Steve

Bruin Steve

Posted
Posted

I've done this cruise several times...

 

In fact, I just took the Golden Princess on the 3-night Ensenada cruise two weeks ago...

I took the same exact cruise last November as well...

 

Frankly, Endenada is nobody's favorite port. The cruise ships go there because that's where they can get to on a 3-night run out of LA...or where they have to stop to get in a foreign port.

 

That said, it's not all that bad either. There are things to see and do and one can spend an enjoyable day there.

 

I truly believe that the fears of violence or crime are overblown. I wouldn't go wandering off into unknown parts of the city...and definitely don't go looking for trouble--like looking to buy drugs or other illegal contraband that will put you into contact with the criminal element. If you stick to the Downtown Tourist area, the port area or the Wine Country on an organized tour, you will be more than okay...but I can say the same about a lot of places around the world (I'd give the same advice on Jamaica, for example).

 

For us, our favorite thing to do is a Wine Country Shore Excursion...We just did this (once again) two weeks ago. Princess offers an excursion that takes you to two wineries in the Guadalupe Valley. The Valley is a quiet rural area about a 45 minute drive from the port. The two wineries they visit are Dona Lupe--a small winery where they also give you samples of bread, olive oil, jellies and jams and pizza plus a little entertainment from a guy in an Aztec costume--and LA Cetto, Mexico's largest winery, where they also have bread and olive oil along with some surprisingly good wines. It is a very good shore excursion as shore excursions go. This past time we had them bring us back to the ship as my sister and brother-in-law were with us and my sister just had back surgery...but, usually, we have them drop us off in the center of town after the tour...then walk back to the ship.

 

The town is a nice little fun shopping adventure...lots of shops selling all of the typical tourist junk--leather goods including fake designer purses, cheap silver jewelry, tacky T-shirts, etc. You can also buy some Kahlua at very cheap prices. There are a couple of interesting bars in town--the old Hussong's Cantina--where the Margarita was invented--with it's mariachi musicians...and Papas and Beer--a rowdy bar frequented by college kids and other young people. Papas and Beer also has a nice little restaurant downstairs from the bar with great Fish and Shrimp Tacos...

 

The ships also sell shore excursions to La Bufadora--the blowhole--which, frankly, I find less than interesting...and it's fronted by a gauntlet of aggressive merchants and beggars...Not my cup of tea, but lots of people seem to opt to go there...The excursions also may take you to their "convention center"-- a somewhat historic building originally built as a Casino/Bar during US Prohibition days...where they present a folkloric dance show...

 

All in all, I really think it IS "worth getting off the ship", especially if you haven't been before...or if you enjoy a little wine tasting...and I would not let any of those crime warnings deter you...Probably as much crime as you have back home--except back home, you know what neighborhoods not to venture into...You just need to be more aware when travelling...anywhere...

 

Good luck...

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SadieN

SadieN

Posted
Posted

Haven't seen a Mountain Bike excursion.

 

The wineries on the two winery tour are La Cetto and Dona Lupe. A bottle of La Cetto is given to you as part of the tour price. You can purchase La Cetto in the markets for about $8.

 

Carnival is starting a Cheese Cave tour. It's gotten positive reviews.

 

Been to Ensenada three times in November, once at night. Felt safe. The first two times I was with people that had walking issues so we stayed on the main tourist streets. The third time we went to the gordita place on Second and Riveroll Only issue were the sidewalks.

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Husky61

Husky61

Posted
Posted
Please to share what compies, have the prices for car service under 80usd. I have contacted two and both were 74 usd and 89 usd.

Please help.

 

If there are just two of you it is $55 plus tip. Usually 4 people are too many for a town car with luggage. The company we use when there are more than 3, is On Time Transportation, ontime1.com, . 4 People would be $65 in a very nice and large SUV, and they will stop where you would like to purchase wine etc. I might add that the vehicles are immaculate and they meet you right outside baggage claim. No waiting for additional passengers and no trips around the airport looking for additional fares. :)

 

They get excellent reviews on Yelp. And no, I am not affiliated with them, just use them for transportation:)

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HawksFan74

HawksFan74

Posted
Posted
Hopefully you won't have any problem with your flight. Personally' date=' if I was coming in for a cruise out of SP/LA, and wasn't the hour drive from our house, I would come in at least a day ahead and stay by the port.[/quote']

Personally, I wouldn't fly all the way from the Pacific NW to LA for a cruise unless it was for 6 days or more.

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Bruin Steve

Bruin Steve

Posted
Posted (edited)
hi i need some advise on finding a hotel near the cruise port.

i do not want something real fancy just a clean place to stay 1 nite

do you all know if any hotels offer shuttles to pier?

thank you

 

By the cruise port, I assume you mean San Pedro, correct? Carnival cruises out of Long Beach--on the other side of the harbor...everyone else, for the most part, uses San Pedro...

 

There are only two hotels in San Pedro I recommend: The Crowne Plaza and the Doubletree...both have shuttles to the pier, but I've heard the CP is now charging $5 pp for the shuttle...otherwise, it's about a half mile to three-quarters of a mile easy walk...

 

Not really my choice in hotels, but there's also the Sunrise--right across the street from the Cruise Terminal...

 

The other hotels in San Pedro...and definitely NOT what I, personally would find acceptable, are the Vagabond and the Best Western San Pedro Inn both on Gaffey...right where the freeway dumps out onto a main thoroughfare...not a great location, not near restaurants or anywhere you'd walk...

 

Good luck...

Edited by Bruin Steve
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Wehwalt

Wehwalt

Posted
Posted

I'd concur with that. The Crowne Plaza is closer, but possibly the Doubletree is a little bit more upscale. Close call. No place else I'd consider closer than Long Beach.

 

Alternatively, stay near LAX and take a cab or car service. The hotel almost certainly will have a recommended car service. Even with traffic, it's unlikely to take more than an hour.

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Cruisin' Chick

Cruisin' Chick

Posted
Posted
Personally, I wouldn't fly all the way from the Pacific NW to LA for a cruise unless it was for 6 days or more.

 

I guess if someone combines a short cruise with a land vacation, that's one thing, but I wouldn't fly anywhere to take a short cruise and not add some days for sightseeing. When we did our Alaskan cruise, we had one full day (we got in Friday close to midnight for a Sunday cruise) pre-cruise and a few days post-cruise in Seattle.

 

I'd concur with that. The Crowne Plaza is closer, but possibly the Doubletree is a little bit more upscale. Close call. No place else I'd consider closer than Long Beach.

 

Alternatively, stay near LAX and take a cab or car service. The hotel almost certainly will have a recommended car service. Even with traffic, it's unlikely to take more than an hour.

 

I would definitely advise against staying by LAX unless you have an early morning flight out the next day. Even if you're getting into LA at night, you can catch a shuttle or taxi to take you to a hotel near the port in very short time (not too much traffic after 9pm or so).

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Wehwalt

Wehwalt

Posted
Posted
what is the best and most cost effective to get from san pedro to LAX?

i have a 12:45 p.m. flight back

do i tell them on the cruise i need to get off asap?

please advise

 

If it is possible for you to carry off your bags, that would work.

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Cruisin' Chick

Cruisin' Chick

Posted
Posted
what is the best and most cost effective to get from san pedro to LAX?

i have a 12:45 p.m. flight back

do i tell them on the cruise i need to get off asap?

please advise

 

Best and cost effective may not be the same thing. But for going from the port to LAX with a reasonable flight time like yours, you may be okay with just going across to the shuttle island and getting into the Super Shuttle van. I don't think you even have to pre-book, but someone may know more about this. Odds are, you might actually go straight to the airport, rather than be given an unintentional tour of the city going to a zillion hotels first.

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