Pre-Cruise Stay at Westin Long Beach: Lovely! by Seattlite

We stayed at the Westin Long Beach for one night before boarding Carnival Splendor. The hotel is located across the street from the Long Beach Convention Center. It's a business/convention-type hotel, but all of the staff were very welcoming to our family, including our 2-year-old son. We asked for a crib at check-in and had one before we had a chance to fully check out the room. Staff were able to direct us to an Albertson's that was a few blocks from the hotel, where we were able to buy diapers, sip'n'toss cups, and any other sundries we could possibly need during our vacation.

Our room came with a king bed, a chair with ottoman, a desk with a desk chair, and a decent sized and newly-renovated-looking bathroom. The tub was a good size and had that wonderful Westin showerhead that I adore! And of course the Westin bed, which I also love. The room was clean and tastefully decorated.

We ordered room service for dinner and breakfast. I had a grilled fish (can't remember what type) that was excellent, my husband had a steak he loved, and my son had a grilled cheese sandwich and fries that it turned out he wasn't in the mood for. For breakfast, we had yogurt and beautiful fresh fruit and toast and danishes. Coffee was good and plentiful.

We were able to book the Westin through a deal that came with 4 free passes to the Aquarium of the Pacific, which is only a few blocks away from the hotel. Our tickets were waiting for us when we checked in. There are lots of casual sit-down restaurants near the aquarium in a shopping area that has a ferris wheel. You could also walk to the beach from this hotel--wish we'd had time for that! Next time, we'll fly in two nights before the cruise instead of just one.

I would definitely stay at the Westin Long Beach again--great location, great staff, great room!