Carnival Cruise Line has been voted as “Best Cruise Line of 2019” in this year’s Cruise Ship Awards. Carnival was up against 11 other cruise operators.
Carnival Cruise Line Voted Best Two Year’s Running
Miami-based Carnival Cruise Line has been voted as the best according to Cruise Hive readers in this year’s Cruise Ship Awards. The cruise line received more votes than 11 other lines and this is now the second consecutive year Carnival has won the category.
The cruise line, which was founded by Ted Arison in 1972, was up against many other major cruise lines, including main rival Royal Caribean, along with Norwegian Cruise Line and MSC Cruises. Carnival is growing strong and in 2019 welcomed the completely transformed Carnival Sunrise and the third Vista-class cruise ship named Carnival Panorama.
The cruise line is the largest in the world and currently has a fleet of 27 ships with the oldest currently being Carnival Fantasy which entered service in 1990. In 2020, Carnival’s largest-ever cruise ship, Mardi Gras, will join the fleet and take Carnival into a new era of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) powered vessels.
Full Results
Carnival Cruise Line dominated the votes as Royal Caribbean was in a far behind second-place just like in 2018. The cruise line, which is also based in Miami, had a busy year by welcoming the first Quantum Ultra class cruise ship, Spectrum of the Seas, and upgrading several large vessels, such as Oasis of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas.
However, it has not all been smooth sailing with the sad news of the passing of Royal Caribbean founder Edwin W. Stephan at 87 years old. The cruise line currently has 27 ships in the fleet, with the new Odyssey of the Seas making it 27 in 2020.
In third place, just like last year, was Norwegian Cruise Line, which has been growing steadily and had a busy 2019 too. The cruise line currently has 17 ships in the fleet, including the new Norwegian Encore, which entered service in 2019 as the final Breakaway-class ship.
Those were the top three in the category, which included a total of 12 major cruise lines around the world. Here is the full order of the results:
Carnival Cruise Line
Royal Caribbean
Norwegian Cruise Line
MSC Cruises
Princess Cruises
Celebrity Cruises
Disney Cruise Line
Holland America Line
Viking Cruises
P&O Cruises
Cunard Line
Costa Cruises
Cruise Ship Awards 2019
This is the sixth annual Cruise Ship Awards and we would like to thanks all those readers who took the time to cast their vote. Readers have only been able to make one vote in each category.
Any repeat IPs or suspicious votes were not counted in the final result. Do note that these results are only according to Cruise Hive readers and may not be the general industry view.
Port Canaveral in Florida has been voted as the best cruise ship homeport in the United States. The port was up against 13 others in this year’s Cruise Ship Awards.
Port Canaveral Voted as Best in the U.S.
Port Canaveral, which is the world’s second-busiest cruise port has come out on top in the 2019 Cruise Ship Awards. The port received the most amount of votes from Cruise Hive readers and has won the “Best Cruise Ship U.S. Homeport” category.
The port was up against 13 other homeports in the United States, including the nearby cruise capital of the world, PortMiami, and the popular Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. Other major hubs such as Galveston, Tampa, New Orleans, and New York were also in the category.
Port Director and CEO Capt. John Murray stated:
Our commitment to providing the best possible experience for our cruise partners and guests has helped us earn this prestigious distinction.
We are very proud and thank Cruise Hive readers for recognizing our efforts.
Port Canaveral is growing fast and right now a new Cruise Terminal 3 is being constructed to cater to the Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) Mardi Gras vessel operated by Carnival Cruise Line. The Disney Cruise terminal is also to be renovated to cater for the larger Disney ships. The port has become a major hub for the industry since first welcoming cruise ships in 1972.
Full Results
It was actually a close battle at the top with Port Canaveral receiving just a handful more votes than PortMiami from Cruise Hive readers. The cruise skyline of Miami is also changing fast with a new modern Royal Caribbean terminal already built, a new Norwegian Cruise Line terminal under construction, a new double berth MSC Cruises terminal to be constructed, a new Virgin Voyages facility and even an upgraded Carnival Cruise Line terminal being planned.
In a faraway third place came Port Everglades which is located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The port just recently broke its own record with 55,964 passengers in a single day! With even larger ships on the way, it will just be a matter of time until it’s broken again. In fourth place came the highest non-Florida-based port of Galveston in Texas which recently celebrated its one-millionth cruise passenger.
Here are the full results in this year’s Best Cruise Ship U.S. Homeport:
Port Canaveral, Florida
PortMIAMI, Florida
Port Everglades, Florida
Port of Galveston, Texas
Port of Tampa, Florida
Port of New Orleans, Louisiana
Manhattan Cruise Terminal, New York
Cape Liberty Cruise Port, New Jersey
Port of Long Beach, California
Port of Charleston, South Carolina
Port of Jacksonville, Florida
Port of Baltimore, Maryland
Port of Seattle, Washington
Port of Mobile, Alabama
This is the first time we’ve done this category as part of the sixth annual Cruise Ship Awards. There were thousands of votes by Cruise Hive readers who were only able to vote once in each category. Any repeat IPs or suspicious votes were not counted as part of the final result. Do note that the results only reflect our readers and may not necessarily be the general consensus.
Thanks to everyone who voted in this year’s awards which opened up in mid-September 2019. So far, Carnival Cruise Line has dominated by already winning several categories. Still more to come!
Carnival Cruise Line’s new Mardi Gras has come out on top as the most anticipated new cruise ship of 2020. The ship was up against six others.
Mardi Gras Voted Most Anticipated New Cruise Ship of 2020
The Carnival Mardi Gras cruise ship which is currently under construction at Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, has received the most amount of votes from this year’s “Most Anticipated New Cruise Ship of 2020” in the sixth annual Cruise Ship Awards.
Carnival’s largest ever cruise ship, which will be powered by Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) was up against Virgin Voyages’ first-ever cruise ship Scarlet Lady, Celebrity Apex from Celebrity Cruises, P&O Iona, which will enter service for British-based P&O Cruises, Enchanted Princess for Princess Cruises, MSC Virtuosa from MSC Cruises and Odyssey of the Seas for Royal Caribbean.
Even though eight of the first sailings for Mardi Gras have been canceled and her first voyage delayed until November 14, 2020, there is still huge anticipation for the new class mega-ship. She will introduce the first roller coaster at sea named Bolt, new specialty restaurants, new secluded retreat, expanding offerings already seen on other ships on the fleet and a whole lot more.
Once complete she will be at least 180,800 gross tons with a guest capacity of 5,282 at double occupancy. The ship will have 17 passenger decks along with 1,745 crew members. Mardi Gras will be based out of the new Carnival terminal at Port Canaveral, Florida sailing 7-day eastern and western Caribbean itineraries.
Full Category Results
Mardi Gras dominated the votes and in a far behind second-place came Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas. She is the second Quantum Ultra class ship for the cruise line and sister to Spectrum of the Seas which is already in service. The ship is currently under construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany and will begin cruises out of Fort Lauderdale in November 2020. She will be 169,000 gross tons with a guest capacity of 4,198 at double occupancy.
We thought this upcoming cruise ship would be right up there at the top but she only came in third place! Scarlet Lady will be the first-ever vessel from Virgin Voyages and she is in the final stages of construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Genoa, Italy. The 110-000-ton vessel will be based out of PortMiami starting from March 2020.
In fourth place came the second Edge-class ship from Celebrity Cruises named Celebrity Apex. The is currently being constructed at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France and is scheduled to begin service with a preview cruise from Southampton, UK on April 1, 2020. The new ship will eventually be based out of Port Everglades, Florida starting in November 2020.
In fifth place came Enchanted Princess which is part of the Royal-class of ships from Princess Cruises. The vessel is being built by Fincantieri in Italy and once completed will be 143,700 gross tons and a passenger capacity of over 3,600. She will spend the Summer sailing Europe starting in June 2020 and then out of Fort Lauderdale for the winter season.
The largest-ever P&O cruise ship named P&O Iona came in sixth place and she will also be powered by LNG just like Carnival’s Mardi Gras. In fact, she will be a similarly designed vessel as both ships are owned by the Carnival Corporation. Iona will be around 183,900 gross tons with a guest capacity of 5,200. The giant cruise ship will debut in May 2020 out of Southampton, UK.
With the least amount of votes from Cruise Hive readers came MSC Virtuosa, a Meraviglia-Plus class vessel currently under construction at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. The ship will be over 181,000 gross tons and be based in the Mediterranean starting in November 2020.
Mardi Gras (Carnival Cruise Line)
Odyssey of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)
Scarlet Lady (Virgin Voyages)
Celebrity Apex (Celebrity Cruises)
Enchanted Princess (Princess Cruises)
P&O Iona (P&O Cruises)
MSC Virtuosa (MSC Cruises)
Cruise Ship Awards
We received thousands of votes in this year’s Cruise Ship Awards and we would like to say thank you! The results are only according to Cruise Hive readers who have only been able to cast one vote in each category since the awards opened in mid-September. Any repeat IP’s or suspicious activity was not counted.
Do keep checking Cruise Hive as we still have some more results to announce before the New Year.
Carnival Panorama has been voted as the best new cruise ship of 2019, according to Cruise Hive readers in this year’s Cruise Ship Awards.
Carnival’s Newest Cruise Ship is Best of 2019
As we continue to announce the results of the 2019 Cruise Ship Awards we are pleased to reveal that Carnival Panorama has won the “Best New Cruise Ship” of 2019. The new Vista-class vessel was up against Spectrum of the Seas from Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Encore operated by NCL, Sky Princess from Princess Cruises, MSC Bellissima from MSC Cruises, Costa Smeralda operated by Costa Cruises, MSC Grandiosa from MSC Cruises and Costa Venezia which is also in the Costa Cruises fleet.
Carnival Panorama won the category by a huge amount and has just recently started sailing for Carnival Cruise Line. The ship was constructed by Fincantieri in Italy and is the third Vista-class ship in the fleet. She recently celebrated her naming ceremony in Long Beach, California with godmother Vanna White and launched year-round Mexican Riviera cruises from the terminal on December 14, 2019.
Carnival Panorama is the first new Carnival cruise ship to be based on the U.S. West Coast in 20 years. The ship offers Mexican Riviera cruises including calls at Puerta Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Cabo San Lucas.
She features the first Sky Zone trampoline park at sea, the first Heroes Tribute bar in the fleet and the largest retail offerings in the fleet. Many popular favorites, such as Guy Fieri’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse Brewhouse, can also be found onboard, just like the sister ship Carnival Horizon.
The new Carnival cruise ship is 133,500 gross tons with a guest capacity of 4,008 at double occupancy. She has 15 passenger decks and 1,450 crew members.
Full Results for Best New Cruise Ship
Spectrum of the Seas came in a faraway second place in the category. The ship is the first Quantum Ultra class in the Royal Caribbean fleet and was constructed at the popular Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. She is based out of China and is 168,800 gross tons with a guest capacity of over 4,200 at double occupancy. The ship started sailing from Shanghai, China in June 2019 after completing a 46-night Global Odyssey voyage.
In a close third place came the new Norwegian Encore which was one of the biggest highlights of the year. The final Breakaway Plus-class cruise ship operated by Norwegian Cruise Line is 167,800 gross tons with a guest capacity of over 3,900 at double occupancy. She features the largest Go-Kart track at sea and debuted from Bremerhaven, Germany on October 31, 2019. Her naming ceremony took place with godmother Kelly Clarkson in Miami on November 21, 2019.
Sky Princess, which is operated by Princess Cruises, came in fourth place. The Royal-class cruise ship began sailing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida in December 2019. The 147,700-ton vessel has a guest capacity of 3,660 and was built by Fincantieri in Italy.
The giant MSC Bellissima came in fifth place and the second Meraviglia-class vessel for MSC Cruises was constructed at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. She was christened in Southampton in March 2019 and is 171,598 gross tons with a guest capacity of 4,434 at double occupancy.
In Joint sixth place came the Costa Smeralda from Costa Cruises and the MSC Grandiosa from MSC Cruises. Costa Smeralda is the largest ever Costa cruise ship and is powered by Liquified Natural Gas (LNG). She was delivered from the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland in early December and is based in Europe.
MSC Grandiosa which is a Meraviglia-Plus class ship was christened in Hamburg on November 9, 2019, and is a massive 181,000 gross tons. She began regular 7-night cruises in the Western Mediterranean on November 23, 2019. In the last place with the least amount of votes from Cruise Hive readers was Costa Venezia which is another vessel operated by Costa Cruises.
Carnival Panorama (Carnival Cruise Line)
Spectrum of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)
Norwegian Encore (Norwegian Cruise Line)
Sky Princess (Princess Cruises)
MSC Bellissima (MSC Cruises)
Costa Smeralda (Costa Cruises)
MSC Grandiosa (MSC Cruises)
Costa Venezia (Costa Cruises)
Cruise Ship Awards
The Cruise Hive Cruise Ship Awards is now in its sixth year and opened up for voting in mid-September 2019. The results are only according to Cruise Hive readers and don’t reflect any official rankings. With thousands of votes, this year readers have been able to only vote once in each category. Any repeat IP address was not counted along with any suspicious votes.
If you are planning a cruise from Seattle, you are likely to
be overwhelmed with choices. There are different cruise lines, different ports
of call and a wide range of prices. We take an in-depth look at the pros and cons
of taking cruises from Seattle compared to cruises from Vancouver or other West
Coast U.S. ports, so check out the important factors before booking your cruise
from Seattle.
The Pros for Cruises from Seattle
Easy to reach by road
Seattle is very easy to reach by road from Canada or the
western U.S. seaboard. The I-5 Interstate runs north from San Diego CA to the
Canadian border with exits just a couple miles from downtown Seattle and the
cruise terminals.
Easy to reach by air
Seattle-Tacoma Airport (Sea-Tac) has regular flights from all over the USA and international cities further afield. It is very easy to fly into Seattle and get transport to the cruise terminals by taxi, Uber, bus or Link Light Railway. Consider using complimentary hotel transportation between the airport and your hotel, and then from the hotel to the cruise terminal if you are staying in Seattle pre or post-cruise. We cover all the options with our Must-Know Transportation Tips from Seattle Airport to the Cruise Port article.
Save Money Flying to Seattle Airport
Domestic airfares are always cheaper than international flights, so for U.S. residents, flying to Seattle is likely to be a lot cheaper than flying to Vancouver for your cruise departure.
Seattle Sightseeing
You will probably want to stay a night or two in a hotel in Seattle before or after your cruise. Seattle is brimming with top sights that you won’t want to miss. Enjoy panoramic views from the observation platform of the iconic Seattle Space Needle which stands 605 feet (184m) high with amazing views of the islands, the city of Seattle, the Cascades and the Olympic Mountains.
Visit Pike Place Market, the vibrant Chihuly Gardens and Glass Museum, historic Pioneer Square, take a boat trip, go fishing, visit Seattle Aquarium, tour the Boeing factory, visit the Westfield Southcenter (the biggest mall in Northwest USA), the Nordic Heritage Museum and the Pacific Space Center…we could go on and on!
Get around easily with the Link Light Railway
Link Light Railway runs from Angle Lake and Sea-Tac Airport through downtown Seattle to Capitol Hill/ University of Washington. There are currently 12 stops with additional stops planned to serve the new Pier 46 cruise terminal.
Tickets cost from $2.25 to $3.25 depending on the length of journey and must be purchased before boarding, either at the station of via the app. Link trains runs from 5am to 1am daily with services every 6 minutes at peak times and every 15 minutes at quiet times. It’s very easy for visitors to get around the city, to the airport and within taxi or walking distance of the cruise port.
Great food and drink
Seattle is a great place for gourmands to visit as it has fresh seafood delivered daily to the port and local fish market. Fish and chips or a bowl of clam chowder never taste better than at a waterfront cafe in Seattle.
The city is also considered the world center for coffee roasting. It is home to Starbucks Coffee company and many more coffee roasting company HQs. FYI, more coffee is consumed in Seattle than any other American city with 35 coffee shops per 100,000 residents.
Scenic cruise itinerary
The Port of Seattle is located on Elliott Bay at the north
end of Puget Sound. Once your cruise ship leaves Seattle it will navigate
smoothly between the thousands of islands scattered across the Sound to the
north and west of Seattle. It provides a very scenic start to your Alaska
cruise with snowcapped mountains in the Cascades Range rising to the east as you sail towards
Alaska.
Top cruise destinations within easy reach of Seattle
Seattle Cruise Port offers some amazing destinations including Alaska and Hawaii which are too far from most other cruise ports to make them viable. Seattle mini cruises lasting 2-5 days are offered by Holland America, Royal Caribbean and Princess Cruises. Northbound mini cruises are the best way to visit Vancouver along with Victoria and Nanaimo on Victoria Island.
South-bound cruises from Seattle provide a great way to visit Astoria, San Francisco and Monterey. Longer cruises and repositioning cruises take in the California coast, Los Angeles, San Diego and the breathtaking Panama Canal Transit.
Top ports of call on Alaska cruises
Alaska cruises from Seattle offer an easy way to access some
of the most remote cities and outposts in the world. If you are planning to
take an Alaska cruise from Seattle, pick your preferred ports of call and then
find a cruise that includes them.
Not all cruises visit all the ports, national parks and
highlights. For example, if you want to see more wildlife, opt for a cruise
that sails through the deep Inside Passage where orcas, whales and seals are a
common sight.
Popular ports of call on Seattle cruises include:
Victoria (Vancouver Island)
Nanaimo (Vancouver Island)
Vancouver, Canada
Ketchikan, AK (Inside Passage cruises only)
Sitka, AK (Inside Passage cruises only)
Juneau, AK (Inside Passage cruises only)
Glacier Bay, AK (Inside Passage cruises only)
Haines, AK (Inside Passage cruises only)
Skagway, AK (Inside Passage cruises only)
Hubbard Glacier, AK
Anchorage, AK
Whittier, AK
Kenai Fords National Park, AK
From these ports of call, shore excursions provide a unique
and exciting range of activities including dog sledding, glacier climbing,
whale-watching, sea kayaking, snow-shoeing, cross-country skiing, wildlife
viewing, hunting trips, fishing, backcountry hiking and exploring local towns.
No-Fly Cruises to Hawaii
The best way to take a cruise to Hawaii and visit several of
the islands is on a cruise from Seattle. If you take a longer Hawaiian cruise
(or back-to-back Hawaii cruises from Seattle) you can enjoy the whole
experience without having to fly.
Seattle Port Valet Service
One of the big benefits of cruising from Seattle is the Port Valet Service. Free to cruisers, it collects your baggage from outside your stateroom on the last night of your cruise. It transports your bags to the airport, drops them with your airline and has them checked right through to your final destination.
How’s that for cruise efficiency? You need to organize the Port Valet service while on-board your cruise and label your bags clearly using the baggage tags provided. After that, you’re free to explore the city sights until it’s time to head to the airport for your journey home.
Cons Against Cruises from Seattle
Generally cruises out of Seattle take the Outside Passage while cruises departing from Vancouver take the more scenic Inside Passage between Puget Sound and the Gulf of Alaska.
The Inside Passage has calm waters, fantastic wildlife sightings, spectacular scenery and some additional ports of call including Skagway, Ketchikan, Sitka, Juneau and Glacier Bay National Park. Check your itinerary before booking to make sure that your Alaska cruise includes all the places and experiences you want to see.
Shorter stay in Victoria Island
If you want to spend time exploring Victoria Island and the
magnificent Butchart Gardens, you need to take a cruise that departs out of
Vancouver. Cruises from Seattle only include a very short stop at the island
with insufficient time for cruisers to visit the main sights.
Few Seattle cruises through the Inside Passage
Most cruises from Seattle unfortunately do not sail up the
Inside Passage, which is a big disadvantage if you want the best wildlife
sightings. The deep waters through the Inside Passage are where orcas, whales
and seals are a common sight.
Rough seas
Cruises from Seattle must sail through open waters to reach
Alaska if they do not include the Inside Passage. This can leave ships open to
rough seas and bad weather. For those suffering from seasickness, this is a big
disadvantage for taking cruises from Seattle rather than from Vancouver,
British Columbia.
High cost of cruise parking
Seattle cruise parking is much more expensive than some
other U.S. cruise ports with on-site parking at Pier 91 starting at $26 per
day. One of the reasons why Seattle cruise parking is so expensive is that it
is all on the waterfront. This is prime land near downtown Seattle with a lot
of competition for the space.
Most cruise port have all the cruise terminals in one area
of the port but in Seattle the cruise terminals are widespread so you need to
know which cruise terminal you are departing from. Pier 91(Smith Cover
Terminal) is 3.5 miles north of Pier 66 (Bell St Terminal). The new Terminal 46
(0.8 miles south of downtown) will add a further choice for cruisers who may
already be confused about where their cruise is departing from.
No ATMS at Seattle cruise terminals
Currently there are no ATMs at Pier 66 and Pier 91 cruise
terminals. International travelers needing US dollars should visit a bank in
downtown Seattle before boarding, or wait for a port of call in Alaska.
Passport requirements
Cruisers sailing from Seattle to Alaska are not required to
have a valid passport and can use an official form of photo ID when
checking-in. However, if the cruise stops at any Canadian port of call before
reaching Alaska, passengers must have a valid passport.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How much does a cruise from Seattle to Alaska cost?
Prices vary widely for cruises from Seattle to Alaska, depending on seasonal demand, what type of stateroom you choose, how long the cruise lasts and which cruise line you are sailing with. Prices for a one-way cruise with Norwegian cruise Line (NCL)Â start from $799 for a 7-night cruise in an Interior cabin.
Princess Cruises and Carnival Cruises are slightly more luxurious and therefore more expensive while cruises aboard Oceania are usually over $2000. You also need to add the cost of port taxes, tips, drinks and shore excursions as well as a return flight home from Anchorage (ANC) Airport which can easily double the basic cruise price.
What cruise lines go out of Seattle?
Currently the Port of Seattle serves seven major cruise lines. Pier 91 (Smith Cove) currently serves Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity, Holland America, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean cruise lines. Pier 66 currently serves Oceania Cruises and Norwegian Cruise line, A new cruise terminal is being developed at Terminal 46 which will accommodate new mega cruise ships and some of the existing cruise lines.
How far is Seattle airport from the cruise terminal?
Distances from Seattle Airport to the Cruise Port of Seattle vary depending on which cruise terminal you are departing from. Seattle Airport is 13 miles south of Pier 66 Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal and 16.7 miles south of Pier 91 Smith Cove Cruise Terminal.
When the new Pier 46 cruise terminal opens it will be 12 miles north of Seattle Airport and the journey by road will take about 18 minutes.
What’s the best thing to do before a cruise from Seattle?
If you only have a short time in Seattle before or after your cruise, make sure you visit Pike Place Market. It is within walking distance of Pier 66 and the new Terminal 46. It has a fascinating collection of stalls selling everything from fresh cut flower bouquets and artisan foods to antiques and china.
The market includes a famous Fish Market where traders entertain shoppers by throwing and catching huge fish between themselves or making fish on display twitch by pulling on hidden threads. There’s a lively Craft Market with over 200 stalls and a host of live entertainers and buskers. The market covers 9 acres and includes plenty of cafes for tasty refreshments and snacks. You’ll find the original Starbucks at 1912 Pike Place, which is well worth a photograph.
Carnival Sunrise has come out on top in the “Best Cruise Ship Refurbishment” category in 2019, according to Cruise Hive readers.
Carnival Sunrise Wins!
Carnival Cruise Line’s newly transformed Carnival Sunrise has won this year’s Cruise Ship Awards in the Best Cruise Ship Refurbishment category of 2019. The ship was up against Norwegian Getaway, Celebrity Millenium, Navigator of the Seas, Diamond Princess and Marella Explorer 2.
The cruise ship which is formerly known as Carnival Triumph underwent more than just a refurbishment, it was more like a complete transformation into a new vessel. The massive $200 million dry dock began on March 1, 2019, at the popular shipyard in Cadiz, Spain and lasted for two months.
Among the new features added during the upgrade were a new Guy Fieri BBQ eatery, WaterWorks park, RedFrog Pub, and an adults-only retreat. There were tons more upgrades, which you can read about right here. All the cabins had a makeover along with decor and furniture shipwide. The undertaking of the transformation was so huge that work actually started on some cabins two cruises before the dry dock.
The ship debuted as the Carnival Sunrise out of Norfolk, Virginia on April 29 with a brand new look, features, and experiences. She kicked off a new season of 4-day to 14-day itineraries from the Norfolk Decker Half Moone Cruise Center. As the ship was pretty much all new she had a naming ceremony in New York on May 23 and taking center stage was godmother Kelly Arison, daughter of Carnival Corporation Chairman Micky Arison.
Full Results for Best Cruise Ship Refurbishment
Carnival Sunrise won the category by a huge margin, and Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas came in second place. The vessel underwent a major $115 million amplification and added new duo waterslides, a reimagined Caribbean pool deck, new dining venues, bars, and a lot more. The 3,386-guest ship arrived in Miami, Florida, with her new look at the end of February 2019.
In third place came Norwegian Getaway, which spent two weeks in Brent, France, to receive some major new upgrades and enhancements. One of the biggest highlights of the refurbishment was the first dedicated Starbucks venue in the fleet along with a new Syd Norman’s Pour House featuring rock hits. The dry dock was completed just in time for the 2019 summer season and was part of The Norwegian Edge program.
Celebrity Millenium, operated by Celebrity Cruises, came in fourth place. The ship underwent an important refurbishment with new carpets, decor, enhanced dining rooms, and much more.
Diamond Princess came in fifth place with not many votes at all. The Princess Cruises vessel completed her 14-day dry dock in Singapore and was part of the cruise line’s $450 million investments across the fleet.
And finally, with the least amount of votes from Cruise Hive readers was the British-operated Marella Explorer 2. The vessel underwent her dry dock in Cadiz, Spain which included a new hull livery as she became apart of the TUI fleet in the UK.
Carnival Sunrise (Carnival Cruise Line)
Navigator of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)
Norwegian Getaway (Norwegian Cruise Line)
Celebrity Millenium (Celebrity Cruises)
Diamond Princess (Princess Cruises)
Marella Explorer 2 (Marella Cruises /TUI)
Cruise Ship Awards
This is the sixth annual Cruise Ship Awards which first opened up in mid-September to Cruise Hive readers. We received thousands of votes and we only allowed one vote in each category per IP address. Any repeat or suspicious votes were not counted as part of the final result. Do note that the results are only according to Cruise Hive readers and may not be the overall view in general.
We’ve already announced the winner for the Best Cruise Ship Feature right here and we’ll be announcing more over the next few days. Thanks to everyone who has voted!
The SkyRide, which is currently on three Carnival cruise ships, has been voted as the best cruise ship feature for the fourth consecutive time.
Carnival SkyRide Wins Best Cruise Ship Feature 2019
Once again, the Carnival SkyRide, which can be found on the Vista-class cruise ships from Carnival Cruise Line, has won “Best Cruise Ship Feature of 2019” in this year’s Cruise Ship Awards.
It is the fourth consecutive time SkyRide has won this category, which also included the Go-Kart track from Norwegian Cruise Line, The 10-story Ultimate Abyss slide from Royal Caribbean, SeaWalk from Princess Cruises, the AquaDuck from Disney Cruise Line, and the North Star from Royal Caribbean.
Photo: Copyright Cruise Hive
The SkyRide was first introduced on the Carnival Vista in 2016 and it has been designed by Scott Olson from SkyRide Technology. The award-winning feature is located at the top deck and lets guests pedal at their own speed with speeds up to 25 MPH. The ride is 800-feet long and elevated above the deck offering stunning ocean views.
SkyRide can be found on Carnival Vista, Carnival Horizon and the recently delivered Carnival Panorama. With even more thrilling features on the way this could be the final winning year for SkyRide, we’ll just have to wait for the 2020 Cruise Ship Awards.
Full Order of Results
In second place came the popular Go-Kart track from Norwegian Cruise Line. In fact, it is the third year in a row the Go-Kart track has come in a close second place. The feature was first introduced on the Norwegian Joy in 2017 and then added to Norwegian Bliss in 2018 and more recently the Norwegian Encore.
The innovative North Star which takes guests up above the ship in a London Eye type capsule came in third place. The feature was first introduced on Quantum of the Seas in 2014 and has been the main attraction on all Royal Caribbean Quantum-class ships. The North Star can also currently be found on Anthem of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Spectrum of the Seas and the upcoming Odyssey of the Seas.
The 10-Story Ultimate Abyss slide which is located at the aft of the Oasis-class ships from Royal Caribbean came in fourth place. The feature is currently on Oasis of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas and soon added to Allure of the Seas.
The SeaWalk which can be found on the larger Royal-class cruise ships from Princess Cruises came in fifth place. In the last place came the thrilling AquaDuck water slide from Disney Cruise Line.
Skyride (Carnival Cruise Line)
Go-Kart Track (Norwegian Cruise Line)
North Star (Royal Caribbean)
Ultimate Abyss (Royal Caribbean)
The SeaWalk (Princess Cruises)
AquaDuck (Disney Cruise Line)
Cruise Ship Awards 2019
Thousands of Cruise Hive readers voted in this year’s Cruise Ship Awards which is now in its sixth year. The awards for 2019 opened in mid-September and readers have only been able to vote once in each of the eight categories. Do note that the results are only according to Cruise Hive readers and are only based on the major cruise lines with more of a focus on the cruise ships.
Do keep checking Cruise Hive as we’ll be revealing the results for more categories before the end of the year.
If you’re taking a cruise out
of LA, you may need a hotel room for the night before your cruise or the night
after. Fortunately, LA is a huge city full of great hotels. Unfortunately, it’s
also full of bad ones, and because it’s so big it can be hard to find a hotel
that’s close to where you need to be.
We’ve done the hard work for you, though, and put together this list of 26 quality hotels near the Los Angeles Cruise Port. You’ll notice that only a handful of them are within walking distance; LA isn’t a city that’s built for walking. Some of these hotels will offer shuttle service to the cruise port, but not all of them.
Disclaimer: Do note that many of the links in this post may earn us a commission if any purchases are made.
1. Crowne Plaza Los Angeles Harbor Hotel
This popular hotel has a perfect location for cruise-goers. Just 1.1 miles away from the World Cruise Center, the hotel is really within walking distance if you’d prefer not to worry about trying to find parking. It’s also conveniently located within walking distance of plenty of restaurants and local bars, giving you abundant entertainment and dining options during your stay.
Distance from Cruise Terminal
1.1 miles
Prices starting at
$87 per night
Shuttle Service
Yes
Address
601 S Palos Verdes St Norwalk, Los Angeles, CA 90650
Phone Number
1 (877) 859-5095
2. Best Western Plus San Pedro
The name “Best Western” doesn’t conjure up images of luxury, but this Best Western Plus is not only one of the most popular pre-cruise hotels in the area, it’s genuinely one of the more comfortable hotels you’ll find. This newly remodeled hotel actually has the largest rooms of any hotel in San Pedro. The “Plus” in the name isn’t just a marketing gimmick, this is genuinely a major upgrade over the standard Best Western line, and you’ll find that it’s a true boutique hotel.
Distance from Cruise Terminal
1.5 miles
Prices starting
$105 per night
Shuttle Service
Yes
Address
111 S Gaffey St San Pedro, Los Angeles, CA 90731-2429
Phone Number
1 (800) 568-8520
3. All Star Inn
It’s a budget hotel, but don’t let that fool you. It’s clean, comfortable, and conveniently located. Besides, the people who’ve stayed there generally give it good ratings. It isn’t going to be as nice as the Best Western Plus, but it’s still a comfortable room and it’s very affordable. For a pre-cruise stay, it’ll give you everything you need.
Distance from Cruise Terminal
1.3 miles
Prices starting
$80 per night
Shuttle Service
No
Address
411 S Pacific Ave San Pedro, Los Angeles, CA 90731-2625
Phone Number
(310) 831-0195
4. Vagabond Inn San Pedro
This local hotel is situated close to the harbor, giving you easy access to attractions and restaurants like the San Pedro Fish Market. The building is a bit old but the rooms are well-appointed and comfortable, with air conditioning and flat-screen TVs in all of them.
Distance from Cruise Terminal
1.5 miles
Prices starting
$109 per night
Shuttle Service
Yes
Address
215 S Gaffey St, Los Angeles, CA 90731-2431
Phone Number
(310) 831-8911
5. DoubleTree by Hilton San Pedro
One of the more upscale hotels, the DoubleTree is a bit more expensive than others but you do get what you pay for, and the DoubleTree has a lot going for it. Like many hotels in the area, they offer free parking for the duration of your cruise if you book with them. If you choose to do that, the hotel shuttle will take you to the cruise terminal and pick you up when you return.
Distance from Cruise Terminal
2.9 miles
Prices starting at
$124 per night
Shuttle Service
Yes
Address
2800 Via Cabrillo Marina, Los Angeles, CA 90731-7223
Phone Number
1 (855) 605-0318
6. America’s Best Value Inn
This is a surprisingly nice little hotel in the middle of an affluent neighborhood. It’s not the closest hotel to the cruise terminal, but it’s not that far away, either, and the rooms are nice. It’s a budget chain, so you won’t get the same amenities you’d find at a Hilton. What you will get is a nice room in a quiet neighborhood.
Distance from Cruise Terminal
2.7 miles
Prices starting at
$90 per night
Shuttle Service
No
Address
29601 S Western Ave, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275-1314
Phone Number
(310) 519-9900
7. Pacific Inn and Suites
Another budget option, Pacific Inn and Suites is an affordable hotel in San Pedro. It’s in an older building, but it’s safe and it’s near the Port. For a one night stay before a cruise, it’s a good choice for people looking for a cheap room. It wouldn’t be our first choice, but the price and location are good.
Distance from Cruise Termina
3.5 miles
Prices starting at
$85 per night
Shuttle Service
No
Address
516 W 38th St San Pedro, Los Angeles, CA 90731-6921
Phone Number
(310) 514-1247
8. The Queen Mary
It’s mentioned more often in connection with the Long Beach Cruise Terminal, but The Queen Mary is a great hotel choice for anybody taking a cruise out of Los Angeles, no matter which cruise Port you’re using. The prices are reasonable and the rooms are excellent. The entire ship is basically a floating museum, too, and there are several restaurants on board. It’s just an all-around great place to stay.
Distance from the cruise terminal
7.3 miles
Prices starting at
$99 per night
Shuttle Service
No
Address
1126 Queens Hwy, Long Beach, CA 90802-6331
Phone Number
1 (866) 380-5988
9. Best Western Los Angeles Worldport
Another winner from Best Western, this hotel offers spacious, comfortable rooms along with a pool and hot tub. The concierge can direct you to the best local attractions and restaurants and there’s ample parking. In the morning, enjoy the complimentary breakfast before leaving for your cruise.
Distance from cruise terminal
4.1 miles
Prices starting at
$109 per night
Shuttle Service
No
Address
1402 W Pacific Coast Hwy, Los Angeles, CA 90744-1803
Phone Number
1 (800) 568-8520
10. Hyatt Centric the Pike
For those who want the hotel stay to be just as much a part of the vacation as the cruise itself, look no further than the Hyatt. The rooms are incredible and many of them offer ocean views. Beautiful beaches are within walking distance, as are world-classs restaurants and some of the best shopping in Los Angeles.
Distance from the Cruise Terminal
6.4 miles
Prices starting at
$159 per night
Shuttle Service
Yes- to and from the airport only
Address
285 Bay St, Long Beach, CA 90802-8178
Phone Number
(562) 432-1234
11. Ramada by Wyndham Torrance
With pristine beaches nearby and a pool on the property, the Ramada Torrance is a great place to unwind after a long flight. You also get a complimentary breakfast in the morning and free wifi in a clean room, so there’s a lot to like here.
This is the highest-rated hotel that’s close to the Port, and for good reason. The rooms are stunning, with plush beds, tons of space and beautiful decor. The bathrooms are huge, too, which is always a nice touch if you’ve got more than one person who needs to get ready in the morning. It’s more affordable than you’d imagine, too.
Distance from Cruise Terminal
7.9 miles
Prices starting at
$110 per night
Shuttle service
No
Address
2448 Sepulveda Blvd, Torrance, CA 90501-4323
Phone Number
1 (310) 539-9888
13. Courtyard Los Angeles
Like most of Marriott’s hotels, this Courtyard offers impeccably clean and comfortable rooms with quality beds and linens and lots of amenities. Complimentary breakfast, free parking and wifi, and concierge to help you find the best local restaurants are all available for you to use. Courtyard and Marriott are trusted names all around the world, and they provide a reliably good experience.
Distance from Cruise Terminal
10.5 miles
Prices starting at
$119 per night
Shuttle service
No
Address
2633 Sepulveda Boulevard, Torrance, CA 90505
Phone Number
1 (844) 631-0595
14. Travelodge Harbor City
Like most Wyndham-owned hotels, this Travelodge offers comfortable accommodations at a reasonable price. Wyndham has a habit of buying sketchy hotel chains and renovating them into something much better. If you’ve had a bad experience at a Travelodge before, forget about it. This is a different experience.
Distance from Cruise Terminal
4.3 miles
Prices starting at
$71 per night
Shuttle service
No
Address
1440 Pacific Coast Highway, Los Angeles, CA 90710
Phone Number
1 (844) 913-0265
15. Rodeway Inn and Suites
You won’t find many budget hotels as highly rated as this one. It doesn’t look like much on the outside, but the interior has been remodeled fairly recently and it’s been maintained well. You’ll find the rooms comfortable, tastefully decorated, and clean.
Distance from Cruise Terminal
4.5 miles
Prices starting at
$75 per night
Shuttle Service
No
Address
1665 Pacific Coast Hwy, Los Angeles, CA 90710-2627
Phone Number
(310) 326-9026
16. Quality Inn
An affordable and comfortable option with free wifi, free breakfast, and a pool. Like a lot of budget options, there’s not much to say about it other than that you’ll get a clean bed and good room at a lot price. For budget travelers looking to save most of their money for the cruise itself, it’s hard to go wrong with the Quality Inn.
Distance from the Cruise Terminal
4.8 miles
Prices starting at
$77 per night
Shuttle Service
No
Address
2037 Pacific Coast Hwy, Lomita, CA 90717-2604
Phone Number
(310) 534-0700
17. Super 8
Yet another reclamation project from Wyndham, don’t let past experiences at Super 8 inform your decision here. Wyndham has been remodeling them for years now and making them into much more comfortable, well-run hotels. This one even has a concierge, and the rooms are spacious, clean and quiet.
Distance from Cruise Terminal
7.7 miles
Prices starting at
$73 per night
Shuttle service
No
Address
2360 Sepulveda Blvd, Torrance, CA 90501-4321
Phone Number
1 (800) 536-1211
18. Days Inn
Another budget-friendly hotel by Wyndham that doesn’t sacrifice too much in quality. Days Inn includes kitchenettes in each room which is nice, even if it isn’t necessarily relevant to people spending one night here before their cruise leaves. Other than, you also get complimentary breakfast, a pool, and a concierge.
Distance from Cruise Terminal
7.6 miles
Prices starting at
$71 per night
Shuttle Service
No
Address
4111 Pacific Coast Hwy, Torrance, CA 90505-5713
Phone Number
1 (800) 329-1992
19. DoubleTree Carson
We’ve already listed the merits of DoubleTree hotels here. This one is a little further away from the Port, but it still has all the features of a DoubleTree: nice rooms, a great pool, and quality room service, among others.
Distance from Cruise Terminal
8.7 miles
Prices starting at
$164 per night
Shuttle Service
N
Address
2 Civic Plaza Dr, Carson, CA 90745-2231
Phone Number
1 (855) 605-0318
20. Econo Lodge
This newly renovated hotel offers great rooms at an equally great price. The staff are friendly and you’ll find ample parking here, too. The only real downside is that, while it’s not that far, it still isn’t as close to the Port as some of the other hotels we’ve listed here.
Distance from Cruise Terminal
9.5 miles
Prices starting at
$129 per night
Shuttle Service
No
Address
1325 E Carson St, Carson, CA 90745-1631
Phone Number
(310) 830-8044
21. Sunrise Hotel
The building is older, but this hotel is the only one located in the harbor at San Pedro, so the location is unbeatable if you’re taking a cruise out of LA. Despite the building’s age, the rooms are well maintained, clean, and comfortable. They also offer a Park and Cruise package, allowing you to leave your car parked at the hotel while you cruise, and shuttling you to and from the cruise terminal.
Distance from Cruise Terminal
.6 miles
Prices starting at
$105 per night
Shuttle Service
Yes- to and from the cruise terminal only
Address
525 S Harbor Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90731-3335
Phone Number
(310) 548-1080
22. Monterey Inn Hotel
This hotel is in a historic building that dates back to the 1800’s. The rooms are on the small side because the building is an older one, but it definitely has a lot of character. New ownership has improved the appearance of the hotel dramatically, and you won’t find anything else like it in Los Angeles.
Distance from Cruise Terminal
3.7 miles
Prices starting at
$51 per night
Shuttle Service
No
Address
233 N Avalon Blvd, Wilmington, CA 90744
Phone Number
(310) 835-8352
23. Crescent Inn
An affordable hotel with modest rooms that’ll keep you comfortable the night before your cruise. There are plenty of shops and restaurants nearby. If you’re staying here the night after your cruise has returned, the hotel has laundry facilities for guests if you need them.
Distance from Cruise Terminal
4.5 miles
Prices starting at
$80 per night
Shuttle Service
No
Address
1104 W Pacific Coast Hwy, Wilmington, CA 90744
Phone Number
(310) 830-9898
24. Harbor Inn
This is another hotel that falls into the no-frills/no-problems category. It’s not incredible, but it’s clean, quiet, and you won’t have any problems with your stay. It’s affordable, too, so budget-conscious travelers may want to take a close look at this one.
Distance from the Cruise Terminal
4.5 miles
Prices starting at
$84 per night
Shuttle Service
No
Address
1634 Pacific Coast Hwy, Harbor City, CA 90710
Phone Number
(310) 325-0066
25. Dockside Boat and Bed
You’re about to spend your vacation on a ship, so why not make spend the night before you leave on a different ship? Dockside Boat and Bed operates like a bed and breakfast on luxury yachts. It’s unique and luxurious, and it’ll definitely add something special to your vacation.
Distance from Cruise Terminal
6.6 miles
Prices starting at
$211 per night
Shuttle Service
No
Address
5 Rainbow Hbr, Long Beach, CA 90802
Phone Number
(562) 436-3111
26. Hotel Maya
Most people who stay here are cruising out of the Long Beach Cruise Terminal, but it’s really not that far from the World Cruise Center, and it’s a fantastic hotel. It’s unclear if their Park and Cruise package applies if you aren’t cruising out of Long Beach, though, so double-check with them before you plan on that.
Distance from Cruise Port
7.3 miles
Prices starting at
$174 per night
Shuttle Service
Unclear
Address
700 Queensway Dr, Long Beach, CA 90802-6343
Phone Number
1 (855) 605-0318
Conclusion
As you can see, the hotels
near the Los Angeles Cruise Port vary widely in price and in amenities. You can
choose between budget-friendly (but still comfortable) hotels that are fine for
a night or two, mid-priced rooms that the whole family will love, or high-priced
luxury rooms that you’ll never want to leave.
The tricky part of booking a hotel room when cruising out of Los Angeles is that there aren’t actually a whole lot of hotels in close proximity to the cruise port. Most of them are actually a few miles away, and they won’t necessarily be catering to cruise passengers. Since you’re most likely only staying there for one or two nights, that should be fine.
You should also be thinking
about transportation as you select your hotel. Since only a handful are within
walking distance of the cruise port, and most don’t offer shuttle service to
the cruise port, other transport options may be necessary. If you prefer not to
worry about transportation at all, you’ll need to be sure and book a hotel that
offers shuttle service to both the airport and the cruise terminal.
Whether you’re just looking
for a comfortable room for one night, or you want a hotel that adds as much fun
and luxury to your vacation as a night on the cruise would, there’s a hotel on
this list for you. Whichever one you pick, you’re sure to be happy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the closest hotel to the cruise terminal?
The Sunrise hotel is just over half a mile from the cruise terminal, so it’s the closest by far. The Crowne Plaza and Best Western Plus are the next closest.
Where do the cruise ships leave from in Los Angeles?
Cruise sailing from Los Angeles leave from the World Cruise Center in the Port of Los Angeles.
How far is LAX from cruise port?
LAX is 19.7 miles away from the cruise port.
What’s the best hotel near the cruise port?
That’s really going to depend on what you want in a hotel. For the best overall experience it’d be hard to be the Queen Mary or the Crowne Plaza. If you’re looking for the most affordable hotel there are several places that can compete for that, and the Sunrise Hotel is the closest. Take your pick- they’re all good.
Do all hotels offer a shuttle service?
No, in fact most hotels don’t. Remember, most of these hotels aren’t actually catering to cruise passengers. Many of the ones that do offer shuttle service only offer it to and from the airport.
What does shuttle service mean?
It can mean different things at different hotels. Many of them only offer shuttle service to and from the airports. Some of them, especially the ones closest to the Port of Los Angeles, offer pickup and drop off at the airport in addition to pickup and dropoff at the cruise terminal. It’s best to check with the hotel before you commit to anything.
Can I book a hotel room as a package deal with my cruise?
None of the cruise lines or hotels offer such a deal, so you’ll probably need to book these separately. If you’re booking through a travel agency, they may be able to offer a deal like that.
The Carnival Glory and Carnival Legend have collided at the popular western Caribbean cruise port of Cozumel, Mexico.
Carnival Cruise Ships Crash in Cozumel
The Carnival Glory has collided another ship in the fleet, Carnival Legend, on December 20, 2019 during a port of call at Cozumel, Mexico, in the western Caribbean. While the ship was maneuvering in port this morning the aft of the ship crashed into Legend, which was already securely docked.
The collision caused extensive damage to Carnival Glory. While maneuvering, the vessel also was very near to striking Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas, which was also docked nearby at a different pier. The incident was caught on camera by passengers onboard different ships.
Damage was done to the bow of Carnival Legend, which is a Spirit-class vessel, and Carnival Cruise Line has stated that one person has been injured when a group of passengers in Carnival Glory’s Deck 3 and 4 aft dining room were evacuated.
Carnival Cruise Line has released a statement and on social media, the cruise line has confirmed the next scheduled sailings for both ships will go ahead.
We are assessing the damage but there are no issues that impact the seaworthiness of either ship. We have advised guests from both ships to enjoy their day ashore in Cozumel.
The 110,000 gross ton Carnival Glory is currently sailing a 7-day western Caribbean cruise out of New Orleans, and the 88,500 gross ton Carnival Legend is sailing a week-long voyage out of Tampa, Florida.
This is developing news and we will be updating this post once more is known. Until then, guests are being told to enjoy their day in Cozumel, and no doubt crews are assessing the damage done. Thankfully, as the damage is above the waterline, both ships remain seaworthy.
A total of eight cruise ships are calling in Cozumel today, including Carnival Glory, Carnival Legend, Oasis of the Seas, Majesty of the Seas, Norwegian Sun, Norwegian Dawn, Costa Luminosa, and Regal Princess. A very busy day indeed!
This is not the first time two cruise ships from the same cruise line have collided in port. Two Holland America ships hit each other at the Port of Vancouver in May 2019 and in February 2019 two MSC Cruise ships collided at the Port of Buenos Aires.
