This is our first cruise with Carnival and was wondering which hotel in the Long Beach area would  be a nice and safe place to stay before our cruise.  We would like to stay fairly close to the port.  Some of the reviews on the travel sites were saying that some of the hotels are in kind of a seedy area of town.  We have never been to the Long Beach area and would appreciate any help.  We do not want to start our first cruise out on the wrong foot.

You should try the Queen Mary first.  They have had some really good deals in the past and it is right next to the Carnival terminal.  There is also early cruise check in at the QM.

There is another hotel past the QM with a shuttle service to the dock.  It is the Coast Long Beach Hotel - about 1/2 mile from the Carnival terminal.

Thanks for the info.  We will check into it.

I was wondering the same thing... thanks for the advice!

Another decent place is the GuestHouse Hotel   www.guesthouselb.com

Not overly fancy but has always been clean.  They have a nice continental breakfast and free shuttle to the ship so you can park you car there.  Prices range from $89 to $119 a night depending on the time of year.

 We are staying there before our New Years cruise and already have rooms booked for our March cruise.

Nice staff and spectactular restaurant next door....will prime you for eating on the ship that's for sure!

I just booked 3 rooms for the night before our 2/8/2009 Pride cruise. AAA rate is $99.68/night. This includes parking for the duration of the cruise, shuttle to, and from the Carnival terminal. Parking in the port garage is $12.00/day. We think this deal is the way to go. The package is "Snooze & Cruise". Web site is guesthouselb.com. Phone # 1-800-990-9991. They also pick-up from Long Beach airport. Don't know about LAX. I hope this help you out. ENJOY YOUR CRUISE!

I am  also  looking for info  on   hotels   in that  area

So  I will be  watching for more updates

Thanks  everyone

If  anyone  wants  to post a   review of  the hotels  after being there, that would be  great   as well

Thanks

We are leaving on the Splendor on May 17 and staying at the Best Western at Convention Center. All the reviews were good that I read and it's approx.6 miles from port.

Other Hotels might be cheaper, but I've stayed on the Queen Marys because it saved travling time to the Cruise Ships and also they take your luggage to the ship for a tip and you don't have to wait in that long line you can check in early and get on the ship early about $147+tax for that one night

We are staying at the Crown Plaza in San Pedro for our April 12th Splendor Cruise.  Price was good (about 115.00 for a king room) and they offer a free shuttle to the terminal.  It is closer to Royal Carribean and Princess cruise ports but with the free shuttle, I thought it would be nice to stay where we could watch the ships come in the morning of our cruise.

We are staying at the Hyatt Long Beach.  Arriving 2 days prior to our 8/9/09 cruise and want to explore the area.  Looks like it is pretty close to the port and in a nice safe area.  I know the pictures showed the Queen Mary from the hotel.  Have heard good and bad about her for staying there but definetly want to go see her while we are there!

Julie:

Looks like it is ... in a nice safe area.

Pine Avenue and the area around the Pike are ok but I don't recommend you walk around the other areas on your own otherwise, especially at night.

~ MattInSoCal 

We stayed at the Guest House the night before our cruise and were able to leave the car there during the trip. We were not impressed with the hotel. The first room had some kind of power on the floor as if they had forgotten to vaccum it. The second room was fine. They were doing construction around the pool so there was not a good view of the pool area. The service was great, and the people were nice. We may have just hit them at a bad time.

I would give them a second chance. Their continental breakfast was great! We liked the fact that they took us to the dock and picked us up after the cruise. NOTE: it took about 20 minutes for them to get there after we called. So once you start to debark for your group I would call them. 

We're staying on the Queen Mary, price is right!  Taking the Super Shuttle from LAX to the Queen Mary on Sat 2 May.  Should be checked in by 1:00 ish.  Then out  to maybe do a little sight seeing.  Hoping to do early cruise check-in while on QM Sun morn.

Bill & Brenda

We are doing the same thing as Bill & Brenda.  Leaving Vegas on Sat May 2nd and arriving at LAX Saturday PM.  Hoping to sight see as well.

 Any suggestions??

Kevin & Mary Ann