San Pedro and LGB Questions

[Bruin Steve]

6 hours ago, mtnesterz said:

So, may I ask, since we live not far from each other and neither of us need a hotel or airport, how do you get to and from San Pedro Terminal?

Before Covid, we used SuperShuttle but they're history. Primetime doesn't have the usual setup at the port anymore that we saw. 

We've never used Lyft or Uber, which several say is slow. The usual family ride will not be available for our next cruise, going or coming.

Any thoughts on Red Line shuttle? If you use a limo, we'd consider it. Appreciate a good referral. Thanks!

We used to just drive down and park at the pier, but last few cruises, depending on hotel rates and our schedules, we've either driven down and done a park & cruise at the Doubletree or Crowne Plaza...or, last cruise, we just took an Uber both ways.  Next month, while on Navigator, we'll probably just use Uber or Lyft both ways (we did that for our Navigator cruise back in June)...Surprisingly, the Uber/Lyft rates weren't much different than the cost to park at the pier...and we could leave our cars safely in the garage at home rather than exposed to the elements and risks at the pier.  Wasn't slow at all...Pick up at the pier for the ride home was within 10 minutes of clicking on the app.  Initially, I was slow to accept the Uber concept but now we love it...don't need to deal with cash or credit cards and we can track our driver on the app.  Very convenient,  A few issues when using them at LAX (higher prices due to fees and surge pricing issues)...but very easy and reasonable to and from the pier.  We've actually had fares as low from the pier home as from LAX home!

[mtnesterz]

Thanks @scottca075 and @Bruin Steve Whether staying in a hotel or not, we still have to get to and from our city, roughly 50 miles one way. Next cruise in a 16 night. Have to check on how much that would cost to leave the car at the hotel, weigh it against Uber. Will ask our daughter how to book a ride. We too, are slow to accept new ideas.

[Bruin Steve]

Uber and Lyft are both really rather easy.

First, at any time (sooner rather than later), download the app onto your cell phone.  You input all of your information, including credit card info (don't worry, it's trustworthy).  Then, when you need to get a ride, you merely bring up the app and type in the location you need to get to--either a street address, an intersection or a landmark...like "World Cruise Center", "LAX Terminal 5" or the name of a hotel or business.  The GPS-based system is such that they already know where you are at present.  It then calculates the route, quotes you prices for the type of service you want (n Uber, for example, "UberX" is the basic ride...then there is Uber XL for larger vehicles, Uber Black for a luxury vehicle and other options for Spanish language, handicapped, shared ride, etc.  Typically, for us, it's UberX--meaning a driver with a typical sedan--a Toyota Prius or Honda Accord or Hyundai Excel or so on)...

 

You can either choose the service--which then sends the car/driver to your location...or you can just pass by clicking out.  (Often, we'll try both Uber and Lyft to see wh has the better price, then pick one).

 

Now, for example, you click on UberX.  The app now tells you the driver's name, his/her "star" rating, theyt type and color of the car and the license plate number.  And it shows you a map/tracker with the driver's location and an estimate as to the time he/she will arrive to pick you up.  You can watch where he/she is in real time...and you will spot the car and license plate as he arrives.  The app then automatically charges the fare directly to your credit card....and when the ride is over, it gives you the option to rate the driver and add a gratuity.  You don't need cash and never have to present your credit card.  The app also has a dispute function.

 

Drivers all have GPS in their car and follow that to take you where you are going.  It's all pretty easy...Rates can vary a bit at times as they include factors such as traffic and availability of drivers.  Sometimes, you can get an unusually high fare if there is a sudden large demand in a specific location (like many flights just landed at LAX)...so, often, if there is a really high price, you can just pass, wait five minutes and try again.   Also, sometimes Uber's fare will seem a bit high, but Lyft will be much lower--or vice versa...If you have a good idea going in what the ride should cost, you can just pick an app, enter the address and, when the fare shows up, just click it and wait for your ride...