Hotel Maya - Doubletree - Long Beach, CA
When it came time to embark our first cruise ship in Long Beach, CA (Carnival Panorama), we decided a pre-cruise stay was in order. Our choice for this trip was Hotel Maya, a Doubletree-Hilton property located less than a mile from the cruise ship terminal.
We flew in to LAX from DFW and took Uber to the hotel on a Friday afternoon. FYI, the drive to the hotel took just over an hour in the traffic and the Uber Comfort cost $60. Upon arrival, we were able to check-in promptly and obtain the keys to our room. The staff at the front desk was friendly and efficient.
The property is a multi-building design with the hotel reception, banquet and restaurant located in Building 1. Our Deluxe King room with a view was located in Building 3. The room was quite large, an indication that this is an older property, and there were other signs as well. A popcorn ceiling, minimal AC outlets at the desk, and lack of any USB charging ports also point to an 80s-era build. Nevertheless, the decor looked to be recently updated. The bathroom was small, but all fixtures appeared relatively new.
A large sliding glass door leads out to an expansive balcony with an unobstructed view of the marina and a small sandy “beach” outside the room. A fire pit is used for evening marshmallow and smores roasts.
Balcony overlooks “beach” and fire pit
The Queen Mary is permanently moored in Long Beach and is now a hotel and tourist attraction. From our balcony, we can see the bow of the Queen Mary peeking through the two large palm trees. Less visible is another Carnival ship docked at the Long Beach Cruise Terminal.
The Queen Mary is Permanently Docked In Long Beach
As we sat on our balcony in the early evening, we could hear music playing somewhere off in the distance. Across from Queen Mary, there was a music festival about to begin. We could see dozens of groups walking along the waterfront on their way to the festival. This was the first hint of things to come for the evening.
As the evening turned into nighttime, the music from the festival became only louder and louder, with heavy bass notes literally vibrating the all-glass wall and sliding door in our room. This went on until well after 2am, making any restful sleep impossible. Thankfully, we were able to use our Bose Noise-Cancelling headphones to filter out some of the sound and get a little sleep. It was not until the next morning did we notice that the hotel provides earplugs on the bedside table! I have never seen that before! That combined with a written “Party Policy” on the desk would indicate that noise is the rule and not the exception.
Ear PLugs and Party Policy
A hotel staff member told me that it is not uncommon for groups of 4 young people to share the cost these rooms for parties on weekends. Believe it or not, the loud music fired up again at 8:30am the following morning!
Due to the hotel’s close proximity to the Long Beach Cruise Terminal, we decided to walk to the ship the next morning. The hotel does provide a free shuttle for cruise ship passengers, but since we are traveling with only carry-on luggage, it is an easy 11-minute walk.
If you are looking for a hotel conveniently located to the cruise ship terminal, Hotel Maya may be the perfect choice. However, you should inquire about any festivals that may be scheduled during your stay. Also, a room in Building 1 or Building 2 would put you farther from any noise. Unfortunately, because of our personal experience, I think we will look elsewhere for a hotel should we sail from Long Beach in the future.
