Catalina Express

We went to Catalina this past November —
the ride there was great, but the ride back to San Pedro — OMG! There was a storm, and the company really should have cancelled the boat rides. Many people (incl. me) got very seasick, and worse, I was afraid for my life.
I have never been on a boat during a storm, and before I ever go on a boat ride again I will check conditions myself to see if I want to subject myself to another nightmare on sea. Apparently wind knots were around ³²⁄₃₃ knots when we took the passage back to LA.
I wish they’d informed us better before boarding that it will be very rocky due to storm conditions so passengers have the option of rescheduling.
5 stars for the captain to bring us safely back to LA, and 1 star for the company itself for not cancelling the trip, or at least warn people about the storm-​conditions, and high likelyhood of a VERY rocky nightmarish ride.

What a great way to get away for a day… cost was reasonable for the trip of us. The day had perfect weather to and from Catalina. Say outside both ways. Hope to go again soon.

The ride was relatively bumpy but the scenery is nice. Paying the upgrade definitely helps. You do get a «snack» and a «free» drink coupon. A snack is a small cookie OR a very small trail mix bag. And by very small, I mean, it’s about the portion size for a child.
It was cold outside and yet for some reason they had the air conditioner blasting. So wear warm clothes.

I was looking for great bday deals and boy did I score! The express in normally $ 75.00 for a round trip fare for general seating… Yet on your bday its totally FREE!!! The ride take’s about 1 hr 15 min each way.
However our ride took a little longer because we had «WHALES» swinging by our boat. The Captin slowed down the express so we could watch the swim. All I can say this was an awesome experience and will totally use again.

The staff/​crew are friendly and very helpful. The Commodores Lounge/​First Class is $ 15.00 more and gives you a beverage, snack and upgraded leather seats AND priority boarding. When it comes to disembarking, it is a cattle call and it would be worth more being able to get that priority than almost anything else. The ride is a little over an hour and enjoyable with some great views. Cost is (without upgrades) $ 75,00 round trip and there are more options out of Long Beach than Dana Point or San Pedro. Make reservations for best results. If you go out of Long Beach there is covered, secure parking right there and it runs like $ 12.00 per day. Well worth it!

Attention Birthday Celebrants! You get a free roundtrip ride on your birthday to Catalina Island on the Catalina Express. That’s an awesome deal! It’s a good thing our friend remembered that it’s a free ride on your birthday, and it just happened that it was my significant other’s (SO) birthday on December 4, 2015 when we rode on the Catalina Express to Catalina Island. It was about a $ 75 savings on my SO’s birthday. You also get more special treats at businesses on the island on your birthday.
The trip to and from Catalina Island was relaxing, for the most part, except for this obnoxious group of drunkards. I love to party myself and enjoy a cocktail, but this group was on the same trip on our way to and on our way back from island. Loud and obnoxious all the way! Thank goodness one of the crew members told this group on our way back to the mainland to be mindful and respectful to the other passengers.
To receive your birthday pass, you’ll have visit their website to register and also make your reservation. Valid identification is required at the time of your check in. Enjoy the ride to and from the island!

First off, I think it’s great that they offer a free ride on your birthday!
I asked some island natives if there was anyway to get discounts for this boat, but they said generally not. One native suggested checking the Catalina Flyer (from Newport) because they sometimes have deals on Groupon. However, it looks like the Flyer has a much more limited schedule compared to this boat.
We took the ferry ride back in September during the heat wave, on that trip we opted to sit outside on the upper decks. It was quite enjoyable sitting outside in the sun.
My husband and I decided to take a trip here for NYE and spent a couple of days on the island. We booked our ferry tickets about 1 month in advance, I did notice that they were sold out on the day that we traveled. On this trip we opted to sit inside on the first level since we had a piece of luggage with us and it was chilly outside. We grabbed some seats that had a table in front of them, they were quite comfortable. I found the ship to be very clean.
We did have our small dogs with us and they did ask me if I had a muzzle when I boarded. We have a small Shih Tzu, this breed has no snout, but I purchased a muzzle off of ebay for a few bucks and carried it with me. I put my smaller dog (5 pounds) in an airplane travel bag. I did notice that some people had there dogs muzzled when they boarded.
My husband did get a bit queasy on the way over to the island, but I think it was due to the fact that he was staring down at his cell phone screen. I have a sensitive stomach, but the ride over and back were totally fine for me.
It is a bit costly to get over to the island at $ 75 round trip, but it’s very peaceful once you are there.
We will definitely be taking a trip to the island again in the future.

Seriously if your a diver and haven’t been to Catalina yet you’re MISSING OUT. It’s the best! You’ll find the most amazing dive park\diving but also amazing everything! Don’t forget to stop by the Marilyn club to see Bryan and also Descanso beach club to see Sarah most amazing people in the island. This fairy is the best! Best staff and fast and easy ride at a low rate! Don’t forget to use your AAA Card for a 7.50 $ discount. Also if you go there multiple times a year like I do they have Catalina fairy offers — 10 pass deals just ask your Catalina fairy desk concierge. Have fun!

Free on your birthday :) This was a great idea! The boat does move pretty fast but it is a bit rocky, so if you have any suspicion that you could get seasick, do take dramamine beforehand. I did, thanks to another Unilocal reviewer, and I’m glad that I did.
It feels a little like being in an airplane because of the seats and trays.

I was greeted by a team of friendly and professional staff at the check in counter. The best part is that the round trip ferry ride is FREE on your birthday. The catamaran ferry ride glided through the ocean smoothly and speedily. Thanks a ton, Catalina Express Crews for creating the most enjoyable and seamless birthday experiences, I had the best celebratory day.
Cheers to creating memorable travel experiences!

Took this service on Sunday and back on Monday and was pleased. Staff is really attentive and with a smile.
If you have any questions they are happy to answer them.
Boat was clean and under a hour going and coming back we reached our destination.
This year’s promotion is if you go on your birthday it is free, your return has to be done within 30 days, so sign up online before the year ends.
Adult pricing is about $ 74 when I paid for mine. My girlfriend’s ticket was free. Cash Only when buying refreshments or snacks.

A fun day trip or mini getaway is totally possible thanks to the Catalina Express! With trips out of San Pedro, Long Beach, and Dana Point, there’s a location near you whether you’re in LA or OC. Pricing also isn’t terrible and admission is free on your birthday!
I’ve departed from both Long Beach and Dana Point and recommend the former due to quicker travel time (approx. 1 hour as opposed to an hour and a half). I also recommend going in the summer if you plan on a simple day trip or in the late winter if you’re staying overnight to take advantage of some of the hotel packages which include roundtrip fare.
P. S.: Be sure to arrive well before departure time to ensure you get on in time as the boat will not wait for you!

There’s nothing much remarkable about this boat shuttle to Catalina Island. It’s perfectly fine for what it is. You can purchase tickets online. Tip: If it’s your birthday (your exact birthday) you can travel for free, but you have to register online in advance. There are three ports they depart from. We left from Long Beach.
There’s a parking garage with a moderate cost for parking. It was $ 15 for us for over 12 hours.
The staff at the departure area were very friendly and helpful. We were able to get on standby for no charge for an earlier departure. There are multiple price levels. We went with the cheapest, general admission one.
There were no instructions on when or where to line up. But there was enough signage to figure out. We wound up being second in line so we had our pick of seats. You definitely want to get seats by the window so you can see.
There are also areas at the back and sides where you can step out outside. It was quite chilly and very windy. Tip: Be prepared for it to be cold, even during the summer, out on the water. I’m glad I wore pants and brought a jacket. People might have thought I was crazy, but I was able to stand outside and not be cold.
There’s a concession area where you can purchase alcohol and snacks for a fee (not cheap). But I couldn’t pass up the chance to have some champagne as it was my birthday trip.
The boat was a bit older, but comfy and just fine. Clean. The trip took about 1 hour.
Inside the office/​departure station is a waiting area with plenty of chairs (like airport chairs) and a concession area for coffee and/​or a snack. It’s also older and a bit rundown, but clean and perfectly fine.
All in all, this is basically the easiest and cheapest way to get to Catalina Island. There’s not much remarkable about it. But it was perfectly fine and we enjoyed the ride.

*confetti* Birthday FREEBIE! *confetti*
That’s right, on the anniversary of when you were expelled out of your mother’s womb you get to ride the Catalina Express for FREE. Yippee! A general seating ticket without discount costs $ 74.50 round-​trip.
Steps:
1. Go to Catalina Express’s website.
2. Click on the blue box that says «FREE on your Birthday».
3. Follow steps to receive birthday code in your email’s inbox. (It shows up immediately)
4. Book your trip on their site & enter birthday code in promo box or call them and book over phone. (Online is very easy and straight-​forward)
5. Happy travels on your birthday!
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There are several ports where you can depart from LA to Avalon: Long Beach, San Pedro, and Dana Point. Unless you are going to Two Harbors (departs from San Pedro ONLY), I recommend departing from Long Beach because it has the most amount of ferries scheduled and also has the latest ferry scheduled to return to LA.
We took the 6:15 AM ferry from Long Beach on my birthday because we just didn’t want to deal with traffic from Pasadena to Long Beach on a weekday morning. Anyone who commutes in the morning knows that is no way to spend part of a birthday. No siree. After arriving at our destination according to Google maps we followed signs for ferry parking. It costs $ 15 for every 24 hour period. Since we made a day trip out of it I’m not sure if they prorate the cost if your car is parked between 24 – 48 hours.
Inside the ferry building we brought our printout of our confirmation and were given real tickets for our departure and return. Oh, and I got a spiffy birthday ribbon! We picked up the free Catalina Island magazine (there are a ton located in a rack right next to the ticket counter. The magazine contains a lot of recommendations on what to do on the island as well as certain promotions. Thanks to the magazine we were able to go to the Wrigley botanical garden as a buy one ticket get one 50% off. Most of the other people in line paid full price! I highly recommend picking up the magazine and flipping through it while you wait for the ferry or on the 1 hour 10 minute ride there.
Once you’re onboard you find your own seats. General seating is the bottom level and commodore seating is upstairs. On the ride to Avalon, we practically slept the whole way after waking up at 4:30am just to make the ferry. On the ride back, I was awake and tried to use my phone. Huge mistake. I became so nauseated for the rest of the trip. The ferry wasn’t smooth enough for me to read anything and if you know you get seasick on other vessels, you will probably get seasick on this one, too.
Overall, no real complaints about the ferry rides especially when they are free! Already have plans to take advantage of this promotion next year!

Catalina is a hop, skip and a float away for the most part. I’ve been going since I was a kid and I was probably in utero the first time I was here.
Years back the boat ride of you had a couple of choices.
1. The tthhhhrreeee hooouuuuurrrrr crrrruuuuuiiiisssseeee (happily sung in the Gilligan Island music theme)
2. The 1 hour Fast Express
Out of the two options the 3-​eeeeeeee hour cruise was the most economical even if you lost 6 hours (3 coming and 3 going) to get there. And to be honest coming back ALWAYS took LONGER for some reason. So taking the last boat back was a FRIG-​EN NIGHTMARE. If you didn’t get a seat inside you were undoubtedly a corpse-​cicle by the time to reached the LBC. Not to mention tired and drained and then you had to drive home. No bueno EVA but as the saying goes… you get what you pay for!
Option 2 was the quickest and cost more but it got you there and home in no time. And now it is the ONLY option besides flying over or taking your own boat!
This express has NICE COMFY seating INSIDE! I don’t like having to sit outside because way too many people are up-​chucking their bfast over the side or if your REALLY LUCKY right to the side of you because they can’t make it to side or a trashcan. REALLY very gross!
There is a little snack bar of sorts inside that has drinks, snacks, and munchies for PURCHASE! There is also an upgraded seat you can get in which you sit in the same seat just a different color and are in front of everyone else. I believe you get the SAME snacks and DRINK but they bring it to you if your TOO LAZY and TRIFFLIN to GET UP and go get it yourself which is about 5 to 10 steps away from your seat. For me that doesn’t warrant an additional $ 15 buck-​a-​roos. But you can do what you want with YOUR MONEY and I’ll do what I WANT!
The service has ALWAYS been SUPER NICE. The crew go around ad check on sea-​sick passengers and make sure they are ok. If you are feeling nauseous let them know and they can get you a bag. Hopefully in time. Also because it is a boat they ALWAYS do a/an…IN CASE OF EMERGANCY… sch-​spill with the life vest and where they are located which if you watch the NEWS or are NOT living under a ROCK you might know how MANY BOATS have had issues in the past where they had passengers WISHING they were paying attention to where the life vest were located. I KNOW I am ALL EARS during that speech and I know how to swim like a Free Willy, but I can ONLY tread water for so long with 5−10lbs of WET clothing on in freezing cold water, with waves trying to drown my azz. So PARDON ME when I go to STEP on YOU to RUN for my LIFE VEST over the tops of chairs! I know that sounds so mean, but Unilocal is about HONESTY and I HONESTLY WILL ELBOW YOU in the FACE for a life jacket. All decorum WILL be sinking with the ship and the window and you KNOW good and dog-​gone well I’m telling the truth and you’ll be right next to me trying to get a life vest yourself. I’m just saying!
Anyway I digress. They have a NICE orderly way to corral the guest getting on and off the boat! Aside from those guest trying to run down fellow passengers before the boat even docks to get off. Everything has ALWAYS been pretty easy to board and depart the boat.
Your allowed to bring luggage, bikes, pets, etc with you on the boat I believe for FREE and they have a an area for you to put it and pick it up on your way departing the vessel which is NICE! If you enjoy siting out doors there is plenty of seating as long as some rude fellow passenger is trying to occupy 2 to 3 seats for one butt!
A good ride and a nominal price and it your lucky you can snag a Groupon or Living Social for a cheaper price to save some moola. Or if you want to go over ON YOUR BIRTHDAY you can snag a FREE (my fav F-​word) ticket. Please go to their website to furthers details.
Float, float oooooonnnnnn…

Seamless experience with the Catalina Express. Came from Los Angeles and took the Long Beach ferry to Avalon and back. So easy getting to Long Beach, good parking structure that costs $ 15/​day. We had bought discount ticket vouchers and had no problem attaining the real ones at the location. Everything was on time and ran smoothly. Most, but not all of the employees were really nice. Ill put it this way: every worker on the ferry was great. But the employees we dealt with over the phone and at the ticket counter were a little short and gruff. Not the most personable people in the world.
The ferries were clean and had some food and drink option (alcohol as well). A bit dated, but perfectly comfortable.

This is by far THE BEST BIRTHDAY FREEBIE EVER!
You have to pre-​register online and then use your specific code to book your trip but DANG you get free round trip (value of $ 76) on your birthday and it is AWESOME!
I was in Long Beach the night before celebrating with my friends but I still managed to get to the check-​in for my 11am charter about 30−15mins before to check in.
It was really simple. I think I printed out my voucher beforehand and gave it to the check-​in agent. She asked for ID and I obliged. She verified it was indeed my birthday with a «Happy Birthday!» and gave me my Catalina Birthday badge and sent me to wait in the boarding line which was already super long but since I was a lone ranger and only needed one seat, I wasn’t worried about where that seat was.
About 5 minutes before our scheduled departure time we started to board the boat and I was happy to have found an upper seat where I could enjoy the sea air and sunshine! I crossed my fingers that we’d see dolphins and such but we didn’t… What we did see were lots of big ships importing goods from Asia and amazing views of the island from afar! It got a little choppy but nothing that made me fee woozy… I saw a few people come up to the top for the fresh air. You can stand or sit or move about as you please so its nice to take photos and etc on the upper deck. I highly recommend it!
How beautiful it is to be on the ocean celebrating your life! lol
Anyway about an hour later we arrived at Catalina and disembarked.
I was soooo happy to just have the free ride but now I get to enjoy adorable island life too?! AMAZING! What a great way to spend a few hours on my birthday…
Thank you, Catalina Express!

Not going to lie. it’s NOT cheap to get over to Catalina, but how else are you going to get there? The port parking lot is covered and seemed pretty safe. I left my car there for 3 days and did not find it to be problem. Once you get to the station, there is large waiting area with seats so you can just lounge around until your departure time. People will begin to line up 30 minutes before departure so when you see the line forming outside, you can go out and stand in line. Don’t worry if the line seems really long, everyone gets a seat on the boat and it moves pretty quickly.
The boat was clean with nice seats and tables. There’s bar so you can buy a drink and relax on the 45 min ride over. If you would like to buy a drink, I’d suggest purchasing as soon as you can as there will be a line, especially on Friday night. They offer free rides on your birthday so make sure you take advantage of it!
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Parking: Parking structure available for short and long term parking. Follow signs once you enter into the station driveway. $ 15 daily per 24 hour period.

Everyone (who lives in LA area) and likes to travel should go to Catalina Island once (at least). Avalon is a beautiful getaway all year around.
The Catalina Express is the only way to get there (except a helicopter ride). The Long Beach port was the most convenient to us, you can get there by subway till downtown Long Beach and walk a bit or park at the terminal for $ 15/​day flat rate, there’s a big garage at the terminal.
We used the b-​day deal (travel for free that day) for my husband’s b-​day. All I had to do was register him online, and reserve the tickets (you can do it online or by phone). Their site is easy to navigate in terms of departures, arrivals, pricing, etc so that you can organize the trip better.
The Catalina express terminal isn’t big, but it has a decent size, it has everything you need. As you enter you see the tickets counter. We brought the reservation over and paid for my ticket ($ 75 round trip), and 0 for my husband’s. So that’s nice. He got the bday ribbon and the list with the activities and deals for the island. For seniors is $ 68 round trip, kids $ 59, infants $ 5. It does cost more for the commodore lounge (upstairs). I don’t know for how long they’ll keep the b-​day deal, but take advantage (you get freebies and discounts on Avalon, so that’s nice).
The terminal offers a small restaurant, bathroom, waiting area. We didn’t wait too long to board. It takes an hour to get to Avalon, you can seat wherever you’d like, the boat wasn’t full, the ride was smooth (you won’t get sick on the boat even if you have motion sickness — and I do) and nice. Seat back, read, snack on and enjoy the beautiful views of the Long Beach harbor, we even saw dolphins on the way to the island.
There’s a small bar where you can get snacks, drinks (they sell alcohol, too), tea, coffee. I didn’t get anything so I don’t know the prices.
Nice ride, it’s not cheap, but it’s worth it. Good experience on the way back too, although we had some fellow travelers who had too many drinks on the island and on the boat (some held the boat for a few minutes, they couldn’t find their tickets…), but if you have some humor, it’s all good.
Great getaway! Nice and relaxing ride and trip. It makes you wanna go back, away from it all!

COME SAIL AWAY, COME SAIL AWAY, COME SAIL AWAY WITH ME…
BACKGROUND:
Catalina Express takes you to Catalina Island in just an hour with year round service and up to 30 daily departures. Boats depart ports in Long Beach, San Pedro and Dana Point. Catalina is just 22 miles off the coast of Southern California. Catalina Express’ fleet of high-​speed ferries makes the trip quick, easy and fun.
STATS:
Book on-​line or call (800) 481‑3470
Choose your date, port and time of travel
Upgrade and one way available
Price range, depending on age: $ 5.00-$ 74.50 RT
Add-​ons: Bikes/​surfboards $ 7.00 RT
Captain’s Lounge Upgrade $ 120.00 RT
Commodore Lounge Upgrade $ 30.00 RT
EXPERIENCE:
Can’t believe I neglected to post this review along with a hike me and The Crew did around the island of Avalon. Anywhoo, better late than not at all.
With gear on our backs and Mr. Sandman in our eyes, we arrived at Catalina Express on a Saturday morning at 5:30 a.m. for a 6:15 a.m. departure.
We were corralled in a zig-​zag line like getting on a Disney ride, until we were on board, and so it was a free for all seating. While some of us braved the upper deck that was half extended, half exposed to the elements, others kept warm and cozy inside on the lower deck.
Our captain and crew were awesome, they made sure we remained safe and sound. There were no men, women, or children overboard.
We shoved off on-​time and heaved hoed from point A to point B within an hour’s time. Although you can take your own rations, food and bevs are available for purchasing, for a hefty price, in my opinion.
There’s just something about watching the sunrise while on the water that just seems to put an extra spring into your step, which is something we needed for this all day island adventure. And on our counter, catching the sunset was calming and slowing down, some were able to get a short nap.
Although the drive was smooth, there were some who called for some tummy settling medication just in case. So, if you are seasick prone, I suggest not taking the chance of ruining a perfectly great day with a weak tummy.
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#catalinaexpress #catalinaisland #highseastravel