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There is parking available on site at the Long Beach Cruise Terminal, in a dedicated parking structure, but parking there does come with some issues.

The Long Beach Cruise Terminal is owned and operated by Carnival Corporation, and only Carnival Cruise Line ships sail from the terminal.

If you’ll be on one of the line’s upcoming cruises from this big, busy port, then you’re probably already wondering about parking, or maybe you’ve even heard some horror stories (of which there are plenty, some of which I can personally attest to) about the parking situation here.

Here’s everything you need to know and how to find the parking you need ahead of your cruise.

Long Beach Cruise Terminal Parking 

The Long Beach Cruise Terminal parking structure can hold 1,450 vehicles and the parking rate is $23 per day, though rates are subject to change. All spaces are priced the same. Payment is due in full when you leave, via cash or credit card.

If you need to park for a shorter length of time (which really wouldn’t make sense if you’re going on a cruise), the fees are $0 for the first 30 minutes, $4.00 for 30 to 60 minutes and $8 for 1 to 2 hours.

The garage’s height limit is 7 feet, so no oversized vehicles are allowed, including those that require more than one parking space, such as RVs.

As the parking structure is under the Carnival Cruise Line terminal’s umbrella, it receives the same security measures as the entire complex. Reviews show that there are very few worries about security among travelers and I myself have never felt it was a risk leaving my vehicle here.

However, do note that the top floor of the parking garage is uncovered, so if you’re worried about leaving your car exposed to the elements, you’ll especially want to try to get there early for a good spot, lower to the ground level.

Future plans exist to expand the parking garage, so that it can hold upwards of 2,000 vehicles at once, but nothing firm has been announced just yet.

How to Get to Long Beach Cruise Terminal Parking

The parking structure is located at the same address as the cruise terminal: 231 Windsor Way, Long Beach, CA 90802. (You actually can’t really even drive up to the terminal without passing the parking garage first.)

Getting to the terminal from LAX, where many cruisers are flying in from, is relatively easy, too. Depending on your route, the journey is just around 22 to 26 miles.

When you arrive at the terminal, if you’ve checked your luggage in advance, you can immediately pass it on to the porters, who can further direct you to the parking garage, if you still need assistance.  

Parking Lot Overview 

Long Beach Cruise Terminal ParkingDaily Rate$23/dayCapacity1,450 vehiclesSize Restrictions7 foot height limit and no vehicles that require more than one parking space

Issues with Long Beach Cruise Terminal Parking

While the garage’s size restrictions can be a bit of an issue for some, there are several other problems with parking at the Long Beach Cruise Terminal.

No Reservations

Unlike some cruise ports that will allow you to reserve a parking spot at the terminal ahead of your embarkation date, that’s not the case at Long Beach.

It’s all first-come, first-served, so you’re going to have to get there fast and early if you want a good spot as close to the ground level as possible (but don’t get there too early; adhere to the arrival window listed on your ticket, so you actually have access to the terminal when you arrive).

Not only does this “no reservations” issue play into capacity problems (which I’ll discuss below), but it also just makes the embarkation day more stressful. It gives many cruisers (myself included!) peace of mind knowing that you have your parking reservation sorted in advance. 

The lack of reservations here is a con, in my opinion. 

Capacity 

Now on to capacity. In the past, the parking garage actually filling up was not all that much of a frequent occurrence, but we’re seeing it become more and more of an issue.  

For example, in December 2025, Carnival Cruise Line literally issued a statement to guests that said, “The parking facility at the cruise terminal has very limited capacity. Please make plans to use alternate transportation that does not require parking.”

A similar statement was issued in October 2025, and yet another statement was issued in September 2025… and on and on it goes throughout much of last year, stretching back all the way to 2022. 

It’s expected that this issue will lessen once Carnival Firenze heads to the East Coast in 2027, but that’s still a long way off.

What Happens if the Parking Garage Fills Up?

If the parking structure fills up, then the terminal will reroute you to off site parking. In the past, cruisers have reported that they’ve been rerouted to parking at the Long Beach Convention Center, and then a shuttle was provided to take them from the convention center to the terminal (it’s only about a mile or so away). 

Parking off site may come with other fees as well, though that’s not necessarily a negative. Some cruisers actually end up paying less for the off site parking (which is how it should be).

It makes sense that the garage would fill up on occasion. When you have large ships that can hold thousands upon thousands of people, you’re going to need more than 1,450 parking spots every once in a while. Still, this fact does negatively impact the overall cruising experience.

Other Nearby Parking Options

Luckily, if you don’t want to deal with the hassle of even trying to park at the Carnival Cruise Line terminal, you have other, off site options. While they’re not nearly as close to the terminal as the official structure, they’re not too far away, could be cheaper, and might save you a headache.

Cruise Parking

Cruise Parking is a cruise parking booking platform that serves terminals around the country. When looking for Long Beach parking on the platform, make sure to search specifically for parking near the Carnival terminal not the Port of Long Beach, which is in a totally separate spot.

Cruise Parking offers several different options, as close as 2 miles to the terminal, with prices starting at around $10 per day. All available options are at nearby hotels that offer cruise parking. While none offer port shuttle service, other amenities are available, such as covered parking or valet service.

Park Whiz

Park Whiz isn’t cruise specific, but I’ve had great success using it to find easy, cheap parking while traveling. Pop in your desired address (remember, you want the Carnival Cruise Terminal at Long Beach, not the port) and then you’ll see a range of parking options, at hotels, in other garages, in outdoor lots, etc. 

You can sort by options closest to the terminal or the cheapest, with options just a mile away from the terminal, and prices starting at under $10. 

Hotel Park and Cruise Packages

Another option that a lot of cruisers prefer is booking a hotel park and cruise package. This way, you can arrive in Long Beach a day or two before your cruise, explore the sights (visiting the Cunard ship Queen Mary is a great pick!) and then leave your car at the hotel after you embark.

You get a stress-free embarkation day (I’ve said it many a time: You don’t want to arrive in your port destination on embarkation day. That’s a sure recipe for a rushed, stressful start to your cruise). You get a little time to enjoy a destination. Your know your car is safe and sound while you’re gone.

Here are a few hotels offering cruise packages.

The Cove Hotel

The Cove Hotel provides a park and cruise package that includes one night’s accommodation, free parking for up to seven nights while you’re on a cruise, and then transportation to and from the terminal.

Hotel Current

Hotel Current likewise offers a “Snooze & Cruise” package, which similarly gives you seven days of parking and shuttle service to the Long Beach cruise port. 

The Queen Mary

Okay, this may be the coolest option of all (even if it’s not the most budget friendly). The Queen Mary literally has a Stay & Cruise package. You can stay onboard the Queen Mary the night before your cruise and enjoy extended parking while you’re gone. For an avid cruiser with a keen interest in cruising history, this is a truly can’t miss treat.

Hilton Long Beach

Hilton Long Beach provides a Park, Stay & Go package with parking for up to seven nights after your one night stay, and shuttle service to not just nearby cruise ports, but also the airport. Just be sure to call the hotel ahead of booking to confirm current cruise port shuttle service availability. 

Hotel Maya

With rates starting at $229, Hotel Maya’s Carnival Bon Voyage package includes complimentary parking for seven nights and shuttle service to the terminal. 

As you can see, there are plenty of hotel park and cruise options available throughout Long Beach, to help you get around the hassle of dealing with the terminal’s on-site parking options. 

Long Beach Cruise Parking Guide: Costs, Options and What to Know

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