Residence Inn by Marriott Downtown Long Beach

We had a suite and it was first rate, with a lovely view overlooking the Queen Mary. The desk person was great and helpful, telling us about places to eat, drink, and both. Breakfast was delicious and there was plenty of it. They offered park in cruise, which was perfect. Everything was top notch, nothing bad to say. We'll be back next year.

The room was spacious and had a kitchen, which was nice. I picked the place because it's close to the Queen Mary, and from the window we could see the New Year's Eve fireworks. Customer service was amazing when they checked me in. But the breakfast was just okay, and the parking lot filled up so badly that people used the fire lane. They need more parking. There were lots of black hairs on the bathroom floor, so I picked them up and threw them away, but it was gross. I wore flip-flops or shoes around the room the whole time because the floors weren't clean.

Our group of four spent two nights in two rooms before a Princess cruise. The harbor view was nice, though from the fourth floor the bridge blocked the Queen Mary, so ask for a higher floor if you want to see it from your room. The rooms were clean and beds comfortable, and breakfast was standard hotel fare. There wasn't really food nearby, so we had to Uber across the bridge. At night, small boats returning to the marina played loud music, something to keep in mind if noise bothers you.

The cruise terminals are conveniently close. Front desk staff weren't as friendly as at other Marriott properties, and the rooms don't have USB charging unless you bring your own plug block. There are no ice machines. You can make ice in the room, but the trays start empty and it took about 3-4 hours for ice to form.