Universal Studios after cruise before late flight

[Sportmom55]

Help - I’ve spent some time trying to figure out how to coordinate a day at Universal Studios after a NCL cruise.  We will have our luggage, so that’s a big issue.  Do we Uber to LAX and rent a car?  Would it be quicker to rent a car at the San Pedro port ( can you do this?) and drive straight there (storing in trunk)?  We arrive at 8 am and will carry luggage off and our flight is at 7:45 pm. 

 

Any help is appreciated - surely we aren’t the only ones with this dilemma.  We don’t want to do the tour bus and drive around.  Thanks!

[Philob]

Arriving at 8am doesn't mean you can get off at 8am, sometimes there are customs & immigration delays.  

 

Recommend renting a car, that way you keep your stuff with you and no need find a locker and go to/from it.

 

Let's do the time math:

 

After clearing customs & immigration, say it takes half an hour to get your rental.

 

From San Pedro to Universal Studios is about a 45 minute drive, no traffic.

 

Say you have to check in/clear security for your flight an hour before departure so you'll have to be there by 6:45. 

 

Universal Studios is about a 50 minute drive, no traffic.  Add another half hour for car return.

 

I'm assuming your doing this on a Sunday, you'll be going through the middle of LA weekend rush hour, so expect some traffic.

 

You may have to leave Universal Studios by 5pmish at the latest and hope for minimal traffic to LAX.

 

Some of the ride wait times are a minimum 45 minutes, I think Harry Potter was 90 for us and it was at 10am.  Buy the fast pass $$$ to shorten the wait.

 

 

Edited August 30, 2019 by Philob

[dog]

We've rented from Enterprise car rental in San Pedro a few times. Their van picked us up at ship.

 

Some ships offer a debark tour and take care of your luggage, check your shore excursion list or wait until you board and ask if it is offered through your cruiseline.

 

[princeton123211]

You could also skip the car rental to save time and Uber from San Pedro to Universal. Check your luggage either at the Hilton or Sheraton that are on property there-- just tip the person at the bellstand and it should be fine. 

 

When you are ready to leave just get an Uber back to LAX from either of the hotels that you check luggage at. I agree with the above timing though-- even with this plan you will not likely get into the park until 10am-ish and you'll have to leave around 5-530, at the very latest. At least you wont have the extra step of stopping for gas and dropping off the rental car though which should save you 30-40 minutes. 

 

Getting the line skipping add on will be a must if you want to see any of the major attractions.