The Best Pre & Post Cruise Guide for Port of Los Angeles Sailings

After the Cruise: Battleship Iowa

If your Mexican Riviera cruise ends in San Pedro and you have a late flight home, do yourself a favor and don't head straight to the airport. We made the most of our final day by visiting the Battleship Iowa Museum right on the San Pedro waterfront — and honestly, it turned out to be one of the best decisions of the whole trip.

A Living Piece of American History

Nicknamed "The Big Stick," the USS Iowa is a World War II marvel that has been through wars, hosted famous guests, survived tragedies, and welcomed visitors from all over the world. She was launched in 1942, commissioned in 1943, and served in WWII, the Korean War, and the Cold War — earning 11 battle stars along the way. She's hosted five U.S. Presidents and is known as "The Battleship of Presidents."

What struck us most was how the experience made you feel the reality of war in a very human way. Seeing how the massive cannons and missiles were loaded and fired, and then stepping into the tiny living quarters where crew members spent months at a time — it's both fascinating and humbling. History class can't prepare you for standing inside it.

What You'll See on the Self-Guided Tour

The self-guided tour map in your brochure gives you nine key stops across multiple decks.

Highlights We Loved

Some of our favorite parts of visiting the Battleship Iowa included:

✔ The massive 16-inch gun turrets — seeing them up close really puts the scale of the ship into perspective.

✔ President Roosevelt history — learning about his secret voyage and seeing the only bathtub ever installed on a Navy warship for a sitting president was fascinating.

✔ The living quarters — stepping into the small spaces where crew members spent months at sea gave us a completely different appreciation for life onboard.

✔ The missile deck — seeing how the ship evolved through different eras of military history was incredibly interesting.

✔ The artifact room — this was probably our favorite area. Seeing pieces of history up close made the entire experience feel more personal and meaningful.

The guys in our group were absolutely riveted from start to finish.

Guided vs. Self-Guided Tours

The museum offers both options. Self-guided tours are included with general admission. Private guided tours and special behind-the-scenes tours (by reservation only) take you into areas not accessible on the self-guided route — including the Engineering spaces, the Big Guns tour, and the Presidential Tour. We chose self-guided and loved the freedom to linger wherever we wanted.

After Your Tour — Vicky's Doghouse Cafe

Work up an appetite on those decks? Stop at Vicky's Doghouse Cafe on the fantail of the ship — gourmet hot dogs, sandwiches, and drinks with harbor views. There's also a Ship's Store for souvenirs and gifts, and all purchases help support the museum's nonprofit mission.

Practical Tips

Open 7 days a week, 10am–5pm (last tickets sold at 4pm); closed Thanksgiving and Christmas

Ticket prices: $29.95 adults / $26.95 seniors (62+) & military / $21.95 youth (ages 3–11) / children under 3 free

The museum has 34 luggage lockers on site — perfect for cruise passengers still hauling bags

Watch your step! The ship is being refurbished and some decks have plywood covering renovation areas

Parking: free first hour, then $2/hour up to $22 maximum

Wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes — heels and flip flops are not recommended

Book tickets in advance through Viator: Book Battleship Iowa Tickets

Battleship Iowa Museum — 250 S. Harbor Blvd., San Pedro, CA 90731 — pacificbattleship.com