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Travelers looking for a cruise from California have several departure port options.

Cruises from San Diego depart year-round for the alluring destinations of Mexico's Pacific Coast. From fall through spring, you can board a ship bound for Hawaii or the Panama Canal. In early summer, San Diego often serves as a starting point for cruises repositioning to Alaska.

Cruisers who want to board a ship in the Los Angeles area have two departure port options, with facilities at San Pedro and at Long Beach. These cruise terminals are just a few miles apart. Cruises to Mexico's Pacific Coast leave from both ports year-round. From San Pedro, you also can board ships bound for the Hawaiian islands or for the Panama Canal; cruises to both of these regions depart fall through spring.

Cruises from San Francisco head north to Alaska from May through September. In fall and spring, ships sail south to Mexico's Pacific Coast. This Northern California city also is the port of departure for small-ship cruises of the Napa and Sonoma wine country in autumn.

• If you must fly a long distance to reach your port of departure, we suggest that you arrive at the port city at least one or two days in advance of your cruise from California. This will give you time to rest and get oriented before boarding the ship. Most cruise lines offer pre-cruise hotel packages.