Many who take a cruise around Southern California will make a stop in sunny Santa Barbara. The Santa Barbara Cruise Port is right in the heart of town on Cabrillo Boulevard, within walking distance of all sorts of local attractions. It’s an easy walk to the bottom of State Street, the main thoroughfare through town.
Sometimes called the American Riviera due to its resemblance to that famous stretch of the Mediterranean in France, Santa Barbara is a seaside port town on the Southern California coast. Stop in the city's Funk Zone to sample local wines, get pampered at high-end spas, or dine at Michelin-starred restaurants. The beaches are awash in surfing and kayaking opportunities, and the Old Mission Santa Barbara offers lessons in history and Spanish architecture.
Santa Barbara is situated on the Southern California coast, about a 2-hour drive to downtown Los Angeles (traffic-dependent) or around five hours to San Francisco on the scenic Highway 101, which passes some of the state’s prettiest stretches of coastline, including Big Sur. Walk to the Harbor and Stearns Wharf from the port.
Cruise ship passengers anchor offshore and are taken to Sea Landing. You'll find seafood restaurants, museums, souvenir shops, and ATMs, in the Harbor and Stearns Wharf area. Bike rentals are available. The US dollar is the local currency, and English is the spoken language, although you may encounter some Spanish, too.
