LAX RT to San Pedro

[Markanddonna]

First, for those of you who aren't used to LA traffic, it is crazy. Rush hour begins at 5AM and continues until late evening. That prompts my first suggestion to bite the bullet and stay at one of the two San Pedro hotels before your cruise. We chose the Marriott Doubletree. No hotel has a free shuttle to the airport, but the Doubletree offered a nice, prompt shuttle to the port.

 

We reserved Primetime Shuttle for our trip from LAX to the hotel and then the return from the ship to LAX. They were less expensive than Supershuttle and the same quality.

 

The World Cruise terminal was just fine for embarkation and everything went smoothly. Disembarkation was quite a nightmare. It is probably the worst port experience we have observed in 15 cruises. The customs line was very long and the agents sit at tables rather than at booths. The line monitor hammered my husband and I for going under the ropes when we were separated from our family members as it was "unsafe and dangerous." I thought the woman was going to arrest me (we are both older women.) My husband told her that I needed to be with him as I had the passports and she didn't care. What a power hungry witch! She made quite a scene for such a minor thing. No one was even behind us. It was obvious an "unforgivable mistake" was made. I won't be going to LA or LAX again!

[SadieN]

So

You're pissed off at not being escorted to the front of the CBP line?

Haven Owner's Suite and Disembarkation

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2475139

 

Why did you go under the ropes? Could have backtracked as no one was behind you, could have unhooked them or waited til your party met up at the front of the line.

Rush hour might start at 5 am, but it's at it's heaviest between 6-8:30, depending on freeway and direction.

[Markanddonna]

The lady in charge refused to allow us to unhook them. You weren't there. BTW- I usually travel in inside cabins, so I'm used to being with the crowds.

[Cruisin' Chick]

Most of my cruises have been from San Pedro and I've had varying experiences some fine and a few not so there. In 2003, we met a real b**** port employee inside the terminal before our cruise. We were in the waiting area, but she made us move our drinks (my soda bottle and my 5-year-old's juice box) from a table next to us. then she put a water bottle there for her use (we're guessing that she's not supposed to have it in that area but figured she could bully us to have that whole table). Then when a group of people (maybe a family reunion) was gathering near us and one guy had his camera out, my hubby offered to take their picture so all could be in it. The employee yelled at him, no photos allowed. She could have been nice about it, but again, she was a b****. I seem to remember there was more about her....but I'm repressing some of the memories

This was not the norm for our experiences there. I imagine if you had a problem, you could find someone official to help you. But it's better to ask first, rather than do things like climb under ropes (my mother would pull nonsense and get in trouble....she seems to behave badly in airports to the point of kicking a French cop in the shins, according to my very patient sister).

 

We did have a very bad experience with booking Prime Time. They messed up our pickup (sending the driver to the port) and then two weeks later, made the same mistake in reverse (and even telling the curbside rep, who was dealing with a lot of their screw ups that morning, that we are supposed to be at our house waiting for our pickup and was still insistent even though the rep assured her that we were standing right by him at the port -- I could hear her). I did have an email confirmation with the right info. So we will never ever use them again.

the next time we used On Time, which actually came to the right place and the driver was the one who called us to say he was on his way to our house -- and two weeks later, to the port. PT had a recording call and it was to say the driver was on the way. Not too helpful when it's to the wrong location.

[Bruin Steve]

They've got one of those "power hungry witch" monitor ladies at EVERY port...You just don't notice them unless you break one of their rules...

 

I'm surprised the disembarkation process at San Pedro went so slowly...We always seem to get out of there pretty quick...

 

By far, the worst we've ever experienced was Galveston, Texas...The line there wrapped around the terminal and moved like a herd of snails...We spent two hours in line AFTER retrieving our luggage...and it didn't require ticking off any line monitors in order to have a bad experience...

 

Last time we cruised out of LA, it was about 10 minutes from stepping off the ship until we were at our car...

[blackfly]

I'd like to jump in here if I could. There will be 6 of us arriving at LAX from Miami for a Panama Transit Cruise out of San Pedro. I have looked at most of the websites from companies running transport services between the two locations and my head is spinning. can anyone make a recommendation as to what service to use. We will be arriving the day before the cruise departs and staring at the Crown Plaza in San Pedro.

[Bruin Steve]

I'd like to jump in here if I could. There will be 6 of us arriving at LAX from Miami for a Panama Transit Cruise out of San Pedro. I have looked at most of the websites from companies running transport services between the two locations and my head is spinning. can anyone make a recommendation as to what service to use. We will be arriving the day before the cruise departs and staring at the Crown Plaza in San Pedro.

 

There are half a dozen or more shuttle companies serving LAX...plus over a hundred limo companies ...plus taxi companies. New into the mix are phone app based ride share companies like Uber.

 

I'll try to simplify it...

 

With six of you all arriving at once, you don't need a shared shuttle. Limos are nice, but a bit pricey if you just need basic transportation. Taxi fares tend to be high and unpredictable and you'd likely need at least two taxis. Uber is usually a good choice, but with six, you'd need the more expensive UberX...

 

So, my recommendation is to contact one of the shuttle companies...Their prices are all comparable, so, I'll say go with SuperShuttle as they are the largest and have actual agents at the curb outside baggage claim and are easy to find.

 

They will charge you $79 (plus tip) for an exclusive van for your party of six from LAX to the Crowne Plaza...

 

https://booking.supershuttle.com/selectride

 

Easy...

[Husky61]

You can always book an SUV that easily holds six (we did it last year) for $65 plus tip. Look at ontime1.com:)

[amjberg]

Allow me to jump in with a question: Does anybody know of discount codes for supershuttle from LAX to San Pedro hotel?