5 Best Family-Friendly Cruises Out of LA and Long Beach

Sports Court on Carnival Radiance.

(Carnival Cruise Line)

Download: Ensenada, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán, La Paz, Cabo San Lucas and Catalina Island via three- to five-day winter cruises
Cost: Starting at around $200 per person

Carnival Reliance is one of the cruise line’s oldest ships, having launched in 2000 under its original name, Carnival Victory. After a $200 million renovation in 2021, it has become a landmark along the Long Beach waterfront.

The 2,984-guest ship offers a variety of short excursions, which first-time cruisers may appreciate. Some of its staterooms are connected, allowing extended families to vacation together. And its many outdoor activities – such as mini-golf, a sports court and a two-level ropes course – are conveniently clustered together. Nearby are water slides and pools, one of which sits beneath a large movie screen.

Like Carnival Fairies, Radiance also has NASA and Dr. Seuss-themed activities, in addition to an ocean craft workshop and “Zombini,” a kid-friendly Zumba class.

The best food doesn’t require a diet. Radiance has 15 dining options, nine of which are included in the cost of your cruise. A few have famous names attached to them: along with Guy Ferry’s burger joint and barbecue restaurant, there’s also a chicken counter from basketball star Shaquille O’Neal.

If you’ve tested the waters with a short Carnival Radiance cruise and can’t get enough, the ship will begin a 14-day cruise to Kahului, Maui, in early January. Honolulu, Ohio; Novel, kawaii; Hilo, Hawaii; and Ensenada, Mexico.