celebrity cruise concierge embarkation lunch

An Overview of Celebrity Cruises Concierge Class Benefits

Posted on Published: 12/05/2023

If you are looking for an elevated experience with some special perks on your next Celebrity Cruise, concierge class may be a great option. It doesn’t cost too much extra, and includes some fun bonuses and perks that may be worth the extra expense.

If you are considering this class of service on your cruise, read more about Celebrity Cruises concierge class benefits as well as our experience with this class on our latest sailing.

Disclosure: We paid full price for our cruise. This post contains affiliate links and a purchase/click through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us. All opinions are my own.

See prices for Celebrity Cruises here .

Celebrity Cruises already provides fantastic service to all guests. But, when you book your stateroom, you’ll see the option to book concierge class. This higher service level does come with a higher price. However, it’s important to know that concierge class isn’t the highest level (unlike some other cruise lines were concierge is the highest level).

Other options include:

• The Retreat: A full luxury experience with exclusive dining options, sun decks, and much more.
• AquaClass: Comes with spa Persian Garden access, a spa concierge, and more.

On my first time on the Celebrity Cruise line, I decided to book a Concierge Class stateroom. I was eager to experience this new-to-me cruise line and wanted to get the additional benefits from booking Concierge.

What is Celebrity Cruises Concierge Class?

Concierge class on Celebrity is a premium level of both service and accommodation. Specific rooms are designed as Concierge rooms, and you’ll need to book one of these when you reserve your cruise.

When you purchase your cruise, you’ll see a variety of options that are available, and concierge class will be one of these choices. Within the category, some subcategories further differentiate the type of room you’ll have but won’t change the service you’ll experience.

These options may include concierge rooms, prime concierge rooms, and sunset concierge rooms. The prime rooms are in a better location and sunset rooms are at the aft of the ship. During our sailing, we booked a regular concierge room, and had a verandah stateroom with a slightly smaller verandah with an obstructed view.

As a concierge class guest you do get some perks, but keep in mind that the best perks are reserved for those in the Retreat.

Key Benefits of Celebrity Cruises Concierge Class

Concierge rooms.

Concierge rooms are a step above the traditional stateroom. These rooms have floor-to-ceiling glass windows and doors, as well as a verandah.

You’ll also feel a little pampered with 100% cotton bathrobes, slippers, and towels, as well as Co Bigelow toiletries in the shower (including shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and body lotion). Rooms contain a golf umbrella and a small pair of binoculars for your use on the ship.

While the website states that guests will receive a Celebrity keychain in their concierge room, we didn’t. Instead, we had a gray Celebrity card case, which is perfect for holding IDs and credit cards. Complimentary shoe shine is also offered to concierge guests as one of the extra benefits.

The rooms also offer a pillow menu if you’d like to upgrade from the standard pillows in the stateroom. The menu includes several options, including a body pillow, a Swedish Isotonic pillow, and a hypoallergenic pillow. We didn’t try any of those options, however, because the pillows in the stateroom were very comfortable.

Concierge Service

When we arrived in our Concierge stateroom, we had a note from our concierge team. They are available for any assistance you may need during your sailing, including booking reservations for restaurants and scheduling excursions. We never interacted with our team, because we were easily able to book everything we needed, but it was nice to know that it was available to us.

Concierge Perks

So, what are the additional perks available to Concierge guests? Here are some of the benefits you’ll experience:

Embarkation Lunch in the dining room: This was my favorite of the perks, and it made the concierge class worth it for us. The exclusive lunch on embarkation day is offered in the main dining room and is a nice relaxing environment rather than the chaos of the buffet.

The food was delicious as well and included items like braised short ribs and apple pie. We enjoyed the opportunity to sit and look through our schedule as we planned out our 4-night cruise.

Sparkling Wine in the stateroom: As a concierge class guest, you’ll have a bottle of sparkling wine delivered to your room. We had the classic drink package, and never even ended up drinking this wine. If we weren’t flying home right away, we would have taken it with us.

Afternoon Canapes (officially called “daily delectable delights” delivered to the stateroom: Every afternoon, we had a small plate of canapes delivered directly to our stateroom. Again, we really didn’t feel like we needed these, because there was so much delicious food readily available on the ship.

Captains Club Points: Concierge class guests receive 5 Captains Club points per night of their cruise. These extra points can be useful if you are getting close to the next level.

Disembarkation Lounge: On our sailing, Concierge guests were invited to wait in the Tuscan Grille restaurant for their disembarkation time. We didn’t take advantage of that because we left the ship right after breakfast and didn’t have to wait at all.

Is Concierge Class on Celebrity Worth It?

The big question is whether the Concierge class is worth the extra money. We purchased it for our recent Celebrity Summit cruise, and while we didn’t take advantage of all of the benefits, we still found it worthwhile.

For us, the major benefit was that private embarkation lunch. It was a real treat and a great (relaxing) way to start our cruise. To take advantage of this, you’ll want to have a port arrival time before or around lunchtime.

We all enjoyed the benefits of the concierge class staterooms, including the toiletries and the robes. If it had rained, we definitely would have liked having the umbrellas as well.

If you are considering this upgrade, it’s a good idea to look through the benefits to decide which you will use. Even a few of these can make the extra cost worthwhile.

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• Celebrity Cruises

Don't expect your concierge embarkation lunch.

By Tricia28 , June 2, 2023 in Celebrity Cruises

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Just boarded the Millenium in Seward. We took the train to get in early for the concierge  embarkation lunch as it's something my husband and I really enjoy on our first day. We usually never visit the buffet on our cruises at all. Personal preference. When we boarded at noon we went to guest relations and asked where and what time the lunch was taking place. After much back and forth between 3 guest agents they told us to go to our cabin, drop our bags and the information should be with our keys. Once in the room and finding no info we went to Deck 5. The Maitre'd sent us to deck 4. Once there we saw people being seated but we were denied entry and told that lunch was only for back to back cruisers. He said our lunch was on day 5 in Icy Strait Point. We went back to guest relations and now the story was people would miss it because they wouldn't arrive in time so they cancelled it. I asked how many people would miss it when it was in the middle of the day while in port! Sorry but that's ridiculous. They were already serving lunch for b2b cruisers. Another way to cut costs because people won't come back to the ship in the middle.of a port day to have lunch. Less food budget for Celebrity. My husband was pretty pissed because this was a selling point when we upgraded. Let's face it, he could care less about a pillow menu and upgraded toiletries. Waiting to hear back from guest relations now. Not happy at all. And before the "flaming" starts. Yes we will still enjoy our cruise. It won't ruin our day but I hate paying money for something promised and not delivered. Day 5 is not an embarkation lunch.

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cruiserchuck

I would also be pissed.  If they promise it, they should deliver it.

On my only cruise in a suite, we got to the ship early so we could have lunch in Luminae.  When we arrived, we were told it was closed , since they were installing new furniture that day.  We were not happy.

Back in the day, we used to enjoy going to Bistro on Five on embarkation day for a nice, leisurely lunch.  We are not big fans of going to the crowded buffet on embarkation day.   

Tricia ~ I can understand your disappointment.  It almost seems like the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing.  My suggestion is going back to Guest Services and ask to schedule an appointment with the hotel director (maybe do this tomorrow morning when the frustration subsides).  Politely let them know you only want to talk the hotel director and only the hotel director (they'll try to get you to talk to the guest relations manager).  While nothing can be done since embarkation lunch time has come and gone, it's the hotel director that needs to hear from you and why it upset you.  They are the top person in Hotel Operations on the ship.  I don't do this very often but if it's something really bugging me, I will.  

To some, it may seem silly to be upset, but I get it.  If you don't feel it's necessary to talk to them tomorrow, that's fine, too.  Just know it's your best option if you want to be heard....in a nice way, of course.

There was a Concierge lunch on the Summit for or 2 sailing late in April.

While I've had Concierge and not taken them up on this 'perk' it is not right for things to be listed as 'pluses' and not offered.

I think what is most disheartening reading stuff like this is if it becomes more normalized for 'Celebrity' to shrug it off.  The practice of not delivering on what is promised, no matter the perceived worth, is not okay.

Managing expectations 101.

mahasamatman

One incident on one ship is not indicative of a pattern.

abbydancer2003

Just out of curiosity, what time did the ship leave?  

I know when they started back up in St. Maartin in 2021 the ship left at 10pm so that people could, if they wanted, comfortably fly in the day of the cruise.  They also moved the concierge lunch since it was very possible that many booking it would miss it.  However, they made that clear in advance that they were doing that.

And for what it's worth, of all the Alaska ports that I've visited, Icy Straights is the least interesting, to me anyway.

16 minutes ago, abbydancer said: Just out of curiosity, what time did the ship leave?  

According to Celebrity's website, the Southbound Glacier cruises from Seward are scheduled to depart at 7:00 pm.

GottaKnowWhen

I would be irritated as well.  While our main reason for booking concierge is the extra per night points, we truly look forward to the embarkation lunch (and the sparkling wine as silly as that sounds) to get our trip started.  It's a tradition with me, my daughter and my mom. 

Another tradition is the nightly (elite) happy hour which they have now kind of done away with (depending on number of people).  We loved getting dressed up and going to that event each night.

I'm hoping all these things will be in place for our trip in January.

1 hour ago, mahasamatman said: One incident on one ship is not indicative of a pattern.

That is, of course, true. But the only pattern I care about is the one on my ship on my cruise...

scrapcreator

I would be upset as well. We look forward to the Embarcation Lunch when we sail Concierge. 

We board the Millennium on June 16 in a concierge cabin. While I didn’t book this because of the lunch (I like the slightly larger rooms on M class), I find myself annoyed at this. I’m glad you posted this because I will plan on a larger breakfast on the train from Anchorage to Seward. Couple this with the fact that several classic desserts are no longer available, along with some other changes, irritates me, maybe more than it should. I’m sure we have a great time, but, where do these cuts stop?

1 hour ago, mic123 said:   Another tradition is the nightly (elite) happy hour which they have now kind of done away with (depending on number of people).  We loved getting dressed up and going to that event each night. I'm hoping all these things will be in place for our trip in January.

At this point, I wouldn't count on the nightly thing.  It hasn't been brought back on any cruise, nor has the cruise critic connections party.  Originally they said Covid because of crowds, yet even then they had silent disco.

17 minutes ago, abbydancer said: Originally they said Covid because of crowds, yet even then they had silent disco.

Maybe they thought you couldn't spread COVID if your ears were covered...

hellokittyluver

On our Seward to Vancouver cruise last September, the Concierge luncheon was indeed on Icy Strait Point day. We had to rush back from our shore excursion. We were not happy. And the lunch was not great at all. Very disappointed. Also our Concierge class canapés everyday were horrible, almost inedible. We wrote that on our surveys but I guess it still going on.  😕

We just got off the Millennium Northbound cruise (today) and we had the concierge class lunch on embarkation day last week.  

NMTraveller

Maybe we need a list of ships and what they are currently offering and not offering.  From food quality to you name it, it seems to be all over the place.  Perhaps a sticky on the top of the board for each ship.

I suspect it's simpler then all that.  It seems that if a ship leaves after about 6 or so, you get the lunch later.

It looks like the Mille leaves Vancouver at 5 pm, so concierge lunch on embarkation day.  It leaves Seward at 7, so it's later in the cruise.  Where I fault them is that the OP didn't know that - it would have been so much better if it' had been communicated in advance.

Last year this side of the pond, the Concierge Lunch (on Silhouette) wasn't on embarkation but on the first sea day. We were handed the Concierge menu along with the MDR menu and seated away from the rest of the diners.

2 minutes ago, cublet said: Hello,   Last year this side of the pond, the Concierge Lunch (on Silhouette) wasn't on embarkation but on the first sea day. We were handed the Concierge menu along with the MDR menu and seated away from the rest of the diners.   Regards,   Cublet

What was embarakation time, if you remember?

2 minutes ago, abbydancer said: What was embarakation time, if you remember?

12.00 noon.

6 minutes ago, cublet said: Hello,   12.00 noon.   Regards,   Cublet

My bad.  (It's late here) I meant what time did the ship leave?

9 minutes ago, abbydancer said: My bad.  (It's late here) I meant what time did the ship leave?

Sorry I cannot remember exactly but I would say either 4.00 or 6.00 pm.

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• Celebrity Cruises

Concierge Lunch

By drakes2 , July 14, 2022 in Celebrity Cruises

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I just upgraded from a regular balcony cabin to a C1 aft balcony. The last time I was in concierge class was in 2019 and lunch in the MDR on embarkation day was included. My CVP now says they can sometimes hold the lunch on the first sea day but doesn't make sense as DR is open to everyone.  Would anyone know first hand?  I was really looking forward to the special lunch. Cruise is September 26th 10 night Southern itinerary. 

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Yes, while it is usually held on embarkation day, there have been reports if it being held later in the cruise, which as you say makes no sense.  I remember one report where the ship had just returned to service and they said that’s why it wasn’t held on embarkation day but I think there have been a couple more cases, too

12 minutes ago, Alakegirl said: Yes, while it is usually held on embarkation day, there have been reports if it being held later in the cruise, which as you say makes no sense.  I remember one report where the ship had just returned to service and they said that’s why it wasn’t held on embarkation day but I think there have been a couple more cases, too

Well let's hope its on day 1 of cruise. This was the main reason for the upgrade. Don't really care about the afternoon appetizers as I'm not always around to enjoy them.

1 minute ago, drakes2 said: Well let's hope its on day 1 of cruise. This was the main reason for the upgrade. Don't really care about the afternoon appetizers as I'm not always around to enjoy them.

According to the APP it is day one of my upcoming cruise.

Solstice June 17 it was 12:00 to 2:00 went to cabin dropped off carry on and went to  lunch. No problem. I think that is back to normal.  

We sailed Reflection in May and it was on the app as embarkation day from 12:30-2. We are sailing Millennium in a couple of weeks and it’s not on the app nor have I been able to get any confirmation of when it actually is. I think it varies by ship.

It was on embarkation day for my recent cruise last month.  

58 minutes ago, jakebloke said: It was on embarkation day for my recent cruise last month.  

Hopefully will be on Embarkation day. I'm on the September 26th Equinox. Not a fan of buffets.

CharlieCharlieCharlie

2 hours ago, Purplsmurf said: We sailed Reflection in May and it was on the app as embarkation day from 12:30-2. We are sailing Millennium in a couple of weeks and it’s not on the app nor have I been able to get any confirmation of when it actually is. I think it varies by ship.

In 2018 (could have been 2017, I forget which year) when sailing on the Millennium from Seward, Alaska, there was no Concierge lunch.  We were practically laughed at when we asked about it, and after the main dining room, we were sent to two different venues (one was Luminae*, where we were looked at and treated with disdain) to check on where it might be held.  One person finally told us that on that ship, it was just early access to the buffet (I dislike the buffet - any buffet.)  It was not a big deal to not have the embarkation lunch, but a disappointing and somewhat embarrassing waste of time searching. It is certainly possible that the embarkation concierge lunch is available now.

*The Luminae thing was weird, because we often sail in suites where we have been treated very well and enjoy the food in that restaurant. 

Northern Aurora

2 hours ago, CharlieCharlieCharlie said: In 2018 (could have been 2017, I forget which year) when sailing on the Millennium from Seward, Alaska, there was no Concierge lunch.  We were practically laughed at when we asked about it, and after the main dining room, we were sent to two different venues (one was Luminae*, where we were looked at and treated with disdain) to check on where it might be held.  One person finally told us that on that ship, it was just early access to the buffet (I dislike the buffet - any buffet.)  It was not a big deal to not have the embarkation lunch, but a disappointing and somewhat embarrassing waste of time searching. It is certainly possible that the embarkation concierge lunch is available now. *The Luminae thing was weird, because we often sail in suites where we have been treated very well and enjoy the food in that restaurant. 

We have boarded the Millennium in Seward.  With so many folks taking the cruise chartered train from the Anchorage airport to the siding beside the Seward cruise terminal (think warehouse) the ship is very empty until that chartered train run arrives.  We boarded around noon and there were few passengers on that ship.  A few dribbled on throughout the day but once that chartered train arrived the ship filled.  And my recollection is that the muster drill (we were on it pre-covid) wasn't until very late as the ship departed Seward (again, if my recollection is correct) about 8 PM. The fact that there would have been very few Concierge passengers onboard is most likely why there was no Concierge Class lunch.

When we boarded in Seward we were on a B2B so we disembarked in Seward two weeks later.  The same was true again as once there was a final boarding announcement for the early morning cruise chartered train that ship became a ghost ship.  Few passengers were still onboard.

Last month on Silhouette it was on embarkation day but finished by 13.30.

Last year it was on the first sea day and I, for one, couldn't see why they bothered.

MDR open on sea days so no point.

It was on boarding day on Silhouette in May and Beyond in June. Both finished by 1.30 or 2pm I believe, so if you had late boarding time  you were out of luck 

On Silhouette they kept plying us with wine, we didn't have the DP so we thought it was part of the 'special' lunch, but on Beyond we were charged for our wine.

23 minutes ago, sgmn said: It was on boarding day on Silhouette in May and Beyond in June. Both finished by 1.30 or 2pm I believe, so if you had late boarding time  you were out of luck  On Silhouette they kept plying us with wine, we didn't have the DP so we thought it was part of the 'special' lunch, but on Beyond we were charged for our wine.  

I actually go to the lunch as I love the beef short ribs on the menu plus the fact I avoid the crowded buffet.   Since my cruise is out of Fort Lauderdale many will be onboard by lunch.

2 hours ago, BigAl94 said: MDR open on sea days so no point.

Apart from the fact that you then have two menus from which to choose.

3 hours ago, sgmn said: It was on boarding day on Silhouette in May and Beyond in June. Both finished by 1.30 or 2pm I believe, so if you had late boarding time  you were out of luck  On Silhouette they kept plying us with wine, we didn't have the DP so we thought it was part of the 'special' lunch, but on Beyond we were charged for our wine.  

We were on Silhouette in June. We were successful in Moving Up to concierge and one of the things we were really looking forward to was the embarkation lunch. Prior to the move up we had been allocated an embarkation time of 1 - 1.30pm. We arrived at the port on time and were then kept waiting in the terminal for over an hour prior to boarding. We didn’t reach our cabin until 2.45pm to find our invitation to the lunch from 12 to 1.30pm. We were so disappointed and as we were starving had to use the buffet, which I hate on embarkation day, and was one of the main reasons for moving up to concierge. I complained to concierge the following day, and asked why no-one checked the move ups to make sure they were allocated an earlier embarkation time if necessary, and they just shrugged and thanked me for the suggestion!!!

1 minute ago, higgib said: . I complained to concierge the following day, and asked why no-one checked the move ups to make sure they were allocated an earlier embarkation time if necessary, and they just shrugged and thanked me for the suggestion!!!

Thats not good enough.  I would have complained and taken it further. That embarkation lunch is not free; we pay for it as part of the concierge class.

2 minutes ago, drakes2 said: Thats not good enough.  I would have complained and taken it further. That embarkation lunch is not free; we pay for it as part of the concierge class.

You’re right, but we’d waited 3 years for this holiday, and just wanted to enjoy it - not spend hours sat in the concierge office moaning. I did mention it to them again a couple of days later, and ask for the matter be escalated, but we then both contracted Covid so wasn’t able to follow it up.  I don’t actually think concierge is worth it (my husband said it was the most expensive plate of cheese cubes we’d ever had!) so lesson learned. We won’t be doing that again. 

12 minutes ago, higgib said: We were on Silhouette in June. We were successful in Moving Up to concierge and one of the things we were really looking forward to was the embarkation lunch. Prior to the move up we had been allocated an embarkation time of 1 - 1.30pm. We arrived at the port on time and were then kept waiting in the terminal for over an hour prior to boarding. We didn’t reach our cabin until 2.45pm to find our invitation to the lunch from 12 to 1.30pm. We were so disappointed and as we were starving had to use the buffet, which I hate on embarkation day, and was one of the main reasons for moving up to concierge. I complained to concierge the following day, and asked why no-one checked the move ups to make sure they were allocated an earlier embarkation time if necessary, and they just shrugged and thanked me for the suggestion!!!

They really don’t have any way of assigning move ups a special boarding time. YOU pick your boarding time when you do your check in.

1 minute ago, Alakegirl said: They really don’t have any way of assigning move ups a special boarding time. YOU pick your boarding time when you do your check in.

The earliest time we were offered at check in was 1pm. And that was on the day on line check in opened. I assumed that embarkation was being started in the afternoon to allow for thorough cleaning between cruises, and the lunch would be timed appropriately. It took over an hour for us to get through the terminal, and we were horrified to discover that others had been on board since 11am and we’d missed the lunch. 

42 minutes ago, higgib said: You’re right, but we’d waited 3 years for this holiday, and just wanted to enjoy it - not spend hours sat in the concierge office moaning. I did mention it to them again a couple of days later, and ask for the matter be escalated, but we then both contracted Covid so wasn’t able to follow it up.  I don’t actually think concierge is worth it (my husband said it was the most expensive plate of cheese cubes we’d ever had!) so lesson learned. We won’t be doing that again. 

@higgib they have all sorts of apps delivered to state room on Concierge class. I've had shrimp and hummus which we enjoyed. And if you don't care for something delivered you can ask for a substitution. I also like the sparkling wine as I order OJ in the morning and make my own mimosas.  No drinks package on this upcoming cruise. 

49 minutes ago, drakes2 said: @higgib they have all sorts of apps delivered to state room on Concierge class. I've had shrimp and hummus which we enjoyed. And if you don't care for something delivered you can ask for a substitution. I also like the sparkling wine as I order OJ in the morning and make my own mimosas.  No drinks package on this upcoming cruise. 

I think reading this that we were short changed. We were never offered any alternatives to the canapés and never offered sparkling wine either. Also, the binoculars and hairdryer that should have been in our cabin were also missing.  I couldn’t see the point of the concierge making restaurant bookings etc for us as it was just as easy to do this ourselves, and the concierges didn’t answer their phone anyway. Whenever I wanted to contact them, I ended up queuing at their office. As I say, and expensive mistake that we won’t be repeating! 

goofysmom99

46 minutes ago, higgib said: We were never offered any alternatives to the canapés and never offered sparkling wine either. 

It's unfortunate that we have to request both the alternative canapés and the bubbly.  And sadly, if you don't know that, you miss out.  I usually remember to ask for the bubbly maybe half the time.  I'm gluten-free which means I receive some really weird canapés if I forget to request a cheese or fruit plate substitution.  I still book concierge class most often, primarily for cabin location.  

4 hours ago, higgib said: We were on Silhouette in June. We were successful in Moving Up to concierge and one of the things we were really looking forward to was the embarkation lunch. Prior to the move up we had been allocated an embarkation time of 1 - 1.30pm. We arrived at the port on time and were then kept waiting in the terminal for over an hour prior to boarding. We didn’t reach our cabin until 2.45pm to find our invitation to the lunch from 12 to 1.30pm. We were so disappointed and as we were starving had to use the buffet, which I hate on embarkation day, and was one of the main reasons for moving up to concierge. I complained to concierge the following day, and asked why no-one checked the move ups to make sure they were allocated an earlier embarkation time if necessary, and they just shrugged and thanked me for the suggestion!!!

How annoying. We booked our Silhouette holiday late and concierge was all that was available. Because of late booking we also had a late boarding time, but think we were a little early and were told by the people organising the queue to go straight into the check in building in Southampton because of concierge class.  We did join the general queue once inside but it moved quite quickly. We went straight to the dinning room and just squeaked in . We liked that they sat us on an 8 top and we had a lively lunch with our fellow diners. And as I said the wine flowed

CruiseOrRust

21 hours ago, CharlieCharlieCharlie said: In 2018 (could have been 2017, I forget which year) when sailing on the Millennium from Seward, Alaska, there was no Concierge lunch.  We were practically laughed at when we asked about it, and after the main dining room, we were sent to two different venues (one was Luminae*, where we were looked at and treated with disdain) to check on where it might be held.  One person finally told us that on that ship, it was just early access to the buffet (I dislike the buffet - any buffet.)  It was not a big deal to not have the embarkation lunch, but a disappointing and somewhat embarrassing waste of time searching. It is certainly possible that the embarkation concierge lunch is available now. *The Luminae thing was weird, because we often sail in suites where we have been treated very well and enjoy the food in that restaurant. 

We were on Millennium sailing in concierge last month (June 10 Vancouver-Seward).  There was never an invitation for any concierge lunch.  On a positive note, our cabin steward graciously substituted a bottle of chardonnay for our (unwanted) bottle of bubbly.

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Los Angeles Cruise Port: Frequently Asked Questions

By Sue Bryant

Last updated: August 1st, 2024

• Find a Cruise

The southern California city of Los Angeles is a massive metropolis, surfer beach haven, vibrant cultural center, and natural wonderland all at once. Not only is it one of the world’s best vacation destinations, but it’s also the jumping-off point for cruises along the Pacific Coast and through the Panama Canal.

Where do Celebrity Cruise ships dock in Los Angeles?

Cruises from Los Angeles dock in the Port of Los Angeles, which is also called the Los Angeles World Cruise Center, located just south of Los Angeles in San Pedro.

How far is LAX from the Los Angeles cruise terminal?

Los Angeles International Airport

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is about 20 miles from the Los Angeles cruise port at San Pedro, which is about a 30- to 45-minute drive away.

Where should I park for my cruise?

Parking is available at parking garages on the port property. Free shuttle buses will take you to and from the Los Angeles cruise terminal. The cost is about $20 per day.

How early should I arrive at the LA cruise port before my cruise?

When you check in for your cruise on the Celebrity app , you can choose an embarkation time. This time will be listed on your Xpress Pass and is when you should arrive. Spreading embarkation like this helps avoid congestion in the terminal.

Note that guests who have chosen The Retreat , have loyalty status with Celebrity, or have completed online check-in and already have their Xpress Pass can use priority embarkation lanes.

If you’ve decided to spend the day exploring the surrounding area and want to skip any lines by being among the last to board, please check the latest embarkation times very carefully. The time check-in closes is not the same as the ship’s departure time.

Are there any restaurants or cafés near the LA cruise port?

Downtown San Pedro

There are plenty of places to eat in downtown San Pedro, mainly clustered along W. 6th Street and offering everything from sushi to Tex-Mex, Thai, and pizza. From here, it’s only around five minutes by cab to the cruise terminal.

Even closer to the terminal is the famous San Pedro Fish Market, less than a mile’s walk, which is manageable if the weather is not too hot. This is the place to head for fresh seafood—try the famous sharing plates of shrimp—and cold beer.

What is the embarkation process like at the LA cruise port?

The LA cruise port is the principal cruise port on the West Coast and as such, is highly organized with excellent facilities. You’ll find plenty of bathrooms and seating areas, and the whole space is ADA-compliant.

Before embarkation day , it’s recommended that you check in online or via the Celebrity app. This way, your credit card details will be logged, your passport details will be entered, and your electronic Xpress Pass will be issued.

Print off your luggage labels and attach them. Then, when you get to the port, all you need to do is hand over your luggage to a porter and head to a check-in desk.

You can complete this process at the terminal if you prefer. Our crew will provide luggage tags, and a check-in agent will handle the admin and issue your Xpress Pass.

Are there any attractions or things to do near the LA cruise port?

Cabrillo Beach

If you have time to spare before you cruise, there’s plenty to do in the area immediately around the LA cruise port. You could visit the striking Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, which houses species native to Southern California and is also a working research facility. It’s only three miles from the port near Cabrillo Beach, where you can swim.

Anybody interested in U.S. naval history should visit the Battleship USS Iowa Museum, right next door to the cruise port. This is your chance to scramble around the decks of the famous battleship and explore its history via interactive displays.

There’s more history at the Los Angeles Maritime Museum, close to the USS Iowa in the old Municipal Ferry Terminal building, a historic landmark. The museum showcases the history of Los Angeles as a port city through ship models, navigational equipment, vintage figureheads, and commercial diving gear.

Which Celebrity Cruises ships sail from Los Angeles?

Celebrity Summit

Celebrity’s revolutionized Celebrity Summit sails from the Los Angeles cruise port. Enjoy contemporary, comfortable staterooms, Broadway-level entertainment, and a wide assortment of restaurants offering world-class cuisine on this much-loved ship.

Where can I cruise to from the Los Angeles cruise port?

Cruises from Los Angeles sail along the coasts of California and Oregon to Vancouver, Canada, and through the Panama Canal to Fort Lauderdale.

Pacific Coastal

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

Our Pacific Coastal cruises take you north from Los Angeles to San Francisco, where you can explore the colorful neighborhoods, experience Alcatraz, ride the vintage trolleys, and take a trip into Sonoma for wine tasting.

You’ll also visit Astoria, Oregon, famous for its history connected to Lewis and Clark’s epic exploration. Explore the area’s long, empty beaches and the wines of nearby Willamette Valley. Across the border in Canada, there’s a day in enchanting Victoria , on Vancouver Island, where you can go whale watching and explore the ornate Butchart Gardens.

This cruise also gives you two days at sea to relax, unwind, and enjoy the many amenities of Celebrity Summit.

Panama Canal Cruises

On one of our Panama Canal cruises from California, you’ll sail from LA to the Mexican Riviera city of Puerto Vallarta before venturing further south to pretty Huatulco.

In Puntarenas, Costa Rica, trek through a cloud forest, test your nerve on a zipline, or explore coastal rainforests and magnificent beaches.

Panama Canal

Sail through the engineering wonder of the Panama Canal , admiring the intricacies of the colossal locks as you pass through. You’ll also cross Gatun Lake, famous for its wildlife. The trees of the surrounding rainforest are home to eagles, sloths, and toucans.

Once you’ve emerged into the Caribbean, spend a day in Cartagena, Colombia , strolling through the colorful walled city. Finally, there’s a day in Grand Cayman to enjoy the famous Seven Mile Beach.

Beach in Jamaica

Pick a slightly longer 16-night voyage and you’ll visit Puerto Quetzal in Guatemala, rich in Mayan history, instead of Huatulco. There’s also an additional day in the Caribbean, in Falmouth, Jamaica , from where you can explore old plantation houses, the famous Dunn’s River Falls, river rafting, and glorious beaches.

See all of our cruises from Los Angeles and book your next unforgettable vacation today.

Sue has been writing about cruising for 20 years and is lucky enough to have sailed all seven continents. She lives in London, where she is cruise editor of The Times and The Sunday Times newspapers, as well as a freelance contributor to magazines and websites worldwide.

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