What places should we totally not skip? We have three days before our cruise starts. Should we see more than just Santa Monica? We appreciate your feedback. Any other insight?
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I travel frequently to Santa Monica. I wouldn’t skip the Pier at sunset. Or maybe the Pier, yes, and go a bit more to the west of the Pier. It’s pretty empty over there and you get more privacy. That’s the perfect postcard picture for family & friends. Try to walk down Palisades Park on Ocean Ave in the morning and then do Third Street Promenade for an hour, or well, maybe half an hour, it isn’t as it was before. Many stores closed down. Maybe rent bikes and ride the path south to Venice. You can actually cover a lot without a car.
Should you see other places? Well, you've got three days, but L.A. is huge. I would do Santa Monica, Venice, then drive up to Malibu. A tram runs from 4th St to Downtown Los Angeles. Check out the Perch for an hour or so.
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That sounds doable, even without a car.
Hollywood in traffic is a half-day eater if you’re not careful. The Walk of Fame wouldn’t be my priority. Check out the Venice Canals and ride a bike all the way to Marina Del Rey.
Some interesting restaurants are the Wurstkuche, Rae's, and the Upper West. I recently discovered a nice taco spot called Tacos el Valiii, thanks to another user here. 
Check it out if you love tacos.
The water temperature is still around 72 °F. Some rather secret beaches close by are El Matador Beach and Will Rogers. Worth the drive up, won't take too long (maybe 20 min).
Enjoy your cruise. Kinda jealous. 
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I wouldn't even rent a car for three beach days. Just take an Uber from LAX, then explore the coastal areas on foot. Parking in Santa Monica is doable, but still a hassle. If you get a car anyway, the drive up to Santa Barbara is worth it. You will find some of the best seafood over there.
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Definitely visit the rest of LA. There's so much to see and eat. As Arabella mentioned, the LA Metro E Line brings you all the way to downtown. You can also reach West L.A. via the E Line. If you go to places like West Hollywood, take a Waymo, or you might spend an hour looking for parking. Santa Monica Blvd is definitely worth a visit. The Walk of Fame is the most touristy thing ever, but that's up to you. Runyon Canyon offers some of the best city views. Check out Spire 73 in DTLA for the best rooftop views.
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Thank you! Let's see if we can make it five days and then explore the other places as well. I checked some of the places you mentioned, and now I feel like I want to see a bit more of the other parts.
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Five days would be perfect to include everything above. Maybe make it three beach days to relax, then explore the other areas for two days. Win-win.
There are lots of cool hiking spots around Los Angeles.
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One place most people don't talk about or even know about is the Annenberg Community Beach House. It's a public oceanfront facility featuring a historic 1920s pool and quiet sand.
This is my secret spot where I come to the beach and relax in almost private settings. It's such a long stretch of clean beach, perfect for escaping the craziness of the Pier. There is ample parking, a cafe, a splash pad, the Marion Davies Guest House, a small playground, and so much more.
Maybe I should have kept my mouth shut, but I want to be fair. 
Maybe I should even open a thread about it. Yes, it's that unique.
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Too late now. 
I'll check that one out with my family, too.