One thing we've learned over time

Arriving the day before a cruise makes the entire experience more relaxed. Instead of worrying about delays or rushing to the port, it gives you time to settle in and actually enjoy the start of your trip.

Before Embarkation Day

For this cruise we arrived in the Los Angeles area the day before and stayed in San Pedro, which turned out to be a great decision. If you're sailing out of the Port of Los Angeles, San Pedro is a convenient and easy place to stay before embarkation.

Traveling With Friends

Traveling with friends adds an extra layer to trips like this. Sharing the planning process and looking forward to time together is just as much a part of the experience as the destinations themselves. To stay organized I created a travel itinerary guide that we used for this trip — and I now share a version of it on Etsy.