A different take:
I'm sailing in January with NCL on a trans-canal voyage.
Looking at the options for a hotel chain that I like to use, I chose one that seems a decent choice that is almost exactly half way between LAX and the pier (in Torrance). Just under 12 miles for each leg.
I didn't choose based on being mid-point, it just worked out that way; and there were a few hotels to choose from. This gave choices that did not carry premium prices.
The kicker here is that with my member points, the hotel stay is free.
Perhaps 2 trips is a bigger nuisance, but this options saves me a lot for the hotel, We have no sightseeing planned, just an overnight stay. And the trip to the terminal on embarkation day will be quicker and have less traffic issues than a trip from LAX.
I was originally booked on a nearly identical cruise exactly 3 years ago (Covid strikes again).
At that time, I had a free booking (with my BW points) in San Pedro, not far from the pier. That facility had a free shuttle to the terminal. Alas, the hotel is no longer with the chain and neither has the shuttle.
Hence my plan B.