Catalina Express
Catalina Express
4.5
About
Jump aboard Catalina Express to travel to the beautiful Santa Catalina Island. Relax by the large window seats from the comfort of the boat’s interior, or head on deck to get panoramic views of the idyllic gulf and maybe even spot some dolphins. Running all year long, Catalina Express leaves from three different ports—Long Beach, San Pedro and Dana Point. Grab a cappuccino or cocktail while you wait at the port of your choice, or upgrade to the Commodore Lounge for priority boarding, more comfortable seating, and beverages and snacks served by the Express’s friendly staff. – Tripadvisor
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  • tmlnmb
    Auburn, Alabama164 contributions
    Great day trip from Long Beach
    I took the Cat. Express over on the 9:55. It was such an easy smooth ride over (January). I enjoyed sitting outside (upstairs and in the back) a while and then inside where it was warmer and quieter. The staff was friendly and helpful. There is a bar for food and drinks and bathrooms are fine. The trip took 1 hour 10 mins as stated. We saw so many playful dolphins and the view of Avalon coming into C Island was like coming up on a European village. The reason for 4 stars is bc I was frustrated that there were no seats built into the boat in the front - I wanted to look for whales and had to go from side to side and in the back. They didn’t point anything out. It’s strictly transportation. They stayed on schedule. The ride back to LB (3:55) was the same - so glad I went!! I walked up and bought my round trip ticket 15 mins ahead.
    Hello! Thank you for your review. We are glad you enjoyed your trip and look forward to having you aboard again soon.
    Written February 8, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited January 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written January 22, 2023
  • Alan D
    5 contributions
    Comfortable and roomy seats
    Very comfortable and stable trip to Avalon from Long Beach. Water was a little rough but not enough to trigger my motion sickness. The next day the afternoon ferry was cancelled due to red flag conditions. We spent that day in Avalon as planned. Staff on the boat and at both terminals were friendly and helpful. Return trip was smooth as the wind had died down. We are looking forward to our next trip to Avalon
    Hello! Thank you for your review. We are glad you enjoyed your trip and look forward to having you aboard again soon.
    Written April 3, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited February 2023
    Written February 22, 2023
  • Heather W
    41 contributions
    Great Experience
    This is our second time taking the Catalina Express out to Avalon on Catalina Island. We loved it both times. Sleek, large boat that glides over the waves and cuts through any turbulence on the water. The crew are kind and fun, knowledgeable and skilled, It has been a pleasant journey both to and from both times. The price is affordable and the schedules are at great times. The ship is kept up and runs well. We will use this service again.
    Visited June 2023
    Written June 6, 2023
  • SPT
    80 contributions
    Day trip was sufficient
    Got the Commodore lounge. Comfortable seating and efficient service. It is very cold inside the boat so dress accordingly. The atm didn’t work. We boarded anyway and got cash from the atm on the island. A day trip was more than sufficient.
    Visited August 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written August 5, 2023
  • Adam T
    Twickenham, United Kingdom294 contributions
    Fast and well managed
    Fast and efficient service both ways. Good facilities at Long Beach, but less on Catalina. Maps of the island are available before boarding. Lots of parking right by the office in Long Beach too. All very easy.
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written September 21, 2023
  • Reed
    Orlando, Florida1,480 contributions
    Great way to visit the island!
    The Catalina Express was really the perfect way to visit Catalina Island on a day trip. We splurged and got the Commodore Lounge seats which were in a nice enclosed area on the upper deck and included free snacks and one free drink. Service was good throughout the voyage and it was a surprisingly smooth ride. While the tickets aren’t that cheap, it was worth it for a special excursion.
    Hello! Thank you for your review. We hope you enjoyed your trip and look forward to having you aboard again soon.
    Written November 13, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited June 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written November 5, 2023
  • ADXBS
    Paris, France962 contributions
    Efficient ferry service to Catalina
    Very efficient service. At first thought it was a bit pricey but it is a 70 minute trip each way. Service was reliable and comfortable. There are some good timings to match check in and check out times for the hotels as well. All staff were happy to help. Even managed to see some dolphins on the way back!
    Visited November 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written November 15, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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1,151 reviews
Excellent
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Cmclewis
Los Alamitos, CA34 contributions
Aug 2020
I always try to leave only positive reviews, but wish I would have read other comments here before booking the Catalina Express from Long Beach on August 8th at 6 am (returned 8:30 pm on August 9th). We had heard that Catalina Island had once again opened to tourists, with many safety protocols in place, and less crowds. With that being said decided to look into a quick weekend getaway for our family. When I called to book the Express, I was told that they were using larger boats, and only booking at 50% capacity to allow for social distancing. Masks or face coverings were also required for the duration of the trip. Our trip over was in the Commodore Lounge. We saw no social distancing. In addition, once the boat sailed, drinks were served and masks came off, many stayed off. We went outside on the deck and luckily found a corner which was not too crowded to hover in. Once we got to the island, there were signs posted everywhere regarding Covid-19 precautions. However, saw many totally disregarding and very little (if any) enforcement. Avalon was extremely crowded, and became more so as the day went on. Our boat ride home the following evening was packed, There was no social distancing in the crowds waiting to get on the boat. We had been unable to get Commodore Lounge on the return, but did find a spot outside on the deck. There were no empty seats that I saw! The crew tried their best to enforce the mask rule, but many would just remove as soon as crew left the area. We actually witnessed a young woman screaming at one of the crew members about being asked to put on her mask. She totally refused. Very uncomfortable situation. I would not recommend venturing to Catalina at this time by anyone who is is at any risk for the Coronavirus. If you do go, be safe! I would be more likely to return to the island after the pandemic if the information given by the Catalina Express customer service personnel had been more upfront and honest when I called. .I am giving this an average rating since I know that times are difficult right now, and businesses are doing what they can to survive. I have gone to Catalina many times, but never experienced anything like this. Hopefully things will be back to normal soon enough.
Written August 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sarah V
Redondo Beach, CA8 contributions
Jul 2020
I took the Catalina Express to the island from Long Beach on July 25th at 7:00 AM and returned on July 26th at 4:15 PM. I was nervous about how the boat was handling safety during this time and was assured by a ticket agent that many safety measures are in place, including boats being booked at 60% capacity to allow for social distancing and masks being required the entire time, including inside the boat terminals.

When we arrived around 6:30 AM on Saturday to the Long Beach terminal we found a long line at the ticketing booth where you have to wait to pick up your physical tickets. Whole groups of people were clumped together in a slow moving line. People were wearing masks but few groups were staying 6 feet apart. The Catalina Express should have a rule that only one person per party can stand in line to pick up tickets while all other group members can wait outside. Or better yet, they can update their technology so that people can have electronic tickets and bypass waiting in line inside all together.

My husband and I felt lucky to snag two seats outdoors on the boat. However, the outdoor seats are all jam packed into a small outdoor area. We still felt safer being outside rather than inside where perhaps we could have spread out a bit more, but ventilation isn't great. The windows don't open inside the boat and they are still providing food and drink service so while masks are required, people don't have to wear them if they are eating and drinking.

Overall, the Catalina Express staff were friendly and helpful. I did appreciate that they actively enforced people wearing masks (when not eating or drinking), but couldn't count on them to enforce social distancing. I wouldn't recommend my older parents or anyone "at risk" during this time making the crossing unless absolutely necessary. Perhaps there are fewer people traveling mid-week on the boat so that could be a safer option. Otherwise, wait to go off season.
Written July 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review. We value all of our customers and take seriously all positive or negative feedback concerning our service. We hope you enjoyed your trip and look forward to having you aboard again.
Written August 7, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Safar_Maestro
Los Angeles, CA25 contributions
Oct 2020
Pleasant and quick way to get to Catalina, but management needs to think about how it approaches Covid.

Pros:
1) Nice views from the ferry.
2) Staff reminded guests to wear masks when not eating/drinking. They seemed serious about it.

Cons:
1) Windows were shut throughout the ride. Ventilation seemed to be switched off until the ferry was actually moving. I may be wrong, but the ventilation system appeared to be nowhere near as efficient as on a modern plane.

2) No real process for disembarking. No physical distancing enforced. Everyone just stood up and crowded around the exits. Why not a phased unboarding process to prevent crowding?

3) This is the worst, because it was actually initiated by a crew member: asking everyone inside the ferry to join in singing “Happy Birthday” for a passenger! I guess he hasn’t read all the well-documented super-spreader events that have happened at choir practice.

In hindsight, booking the higher-cost interior Commodore Lounge was a mistake. But I still wouldn’t be comfortable sitting outside due to the crowding during boarding and unboarding.

Sadly, I won’t be back on board for a long time.
Written October 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for sharing your experience to Catalina Island. We value all of our customers and take seriously all positive or negative feedback concerning our service. Your review has been sent to the appropriate manager for further review. We hope the rest of your trip was very pleasant and will give Catalina Express another try in the future.
Written October 16, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

yvrguy2016
West Vancouver, Canada47 contributions
Sep 2021
Everything is done by paper in 20th century style. Don't be a fool like me and assume you can show your electronic receipt and waltz aboard. The receipts and online checkout do not clearly encourage you to arrive 45 minutes early. This early arrival is necessary so you can get your paper ticket in the main ticketing hall. With dozens or a hundred other passengers, you can be sure there will be a line so arrive early. Staff on the ground are competent. My ticket was rebooked (I missed the boat due to the paper ticket issue) without comment or charge. The mainland terminal at San Pedro was very well organized. The parking is both good and easy and reasonably priced at 20/day (given there are no alternatives!).

Downsides: The boats are getting on in years. The staff on the Catalina side had a chaotic way of boarding two different boats with different staff members giving conflicting instructions, leading to stress on the part of passengers in the line. They need large, clear signage to assist with these busy evening return sailings.

The biggest downside, however, is safety. The safety announcement was cursory. It was hard to hear due to other noise. Most passengers were not paying attention and on the return trip there was no microphone or amplifier, making it very difficult to hear. The passengers did not seem to care about safety and did not pay attention to the very minimal, rapidly-spoken safety instructions which I felt were lacking. I still could not tell you where the life raft is. I am quite sure if there were an emergency there would have been a stampede for the life vests which is scary. These vests should be distributed in various different areas to minimize queuing in a crisis. Given the tragedy off the coast of Santa Barbara in 2019 in which dozens of passengers died in a vessel of similar size, it is very hard to fathom how security is not better handled. These ships are not large and are decades old. The younger crew, while friendly and cheerful, did not seem very safety-conscious in the way an airline stewardess is.

Be alert, pay close attention to the safety instructions and don't be afraid to ASK QUESTIONS afterwards so you can be sure of where to go to the life raft. Your life could depend on it.
Written September 23, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review. Your review has been sent to the appropriate manager for further review. We value all of our customers and take seriously all positive or negative feedback concerning our service. Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention.
Written November 1, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Trippen
1 contribution
Dec 2021 • Couples
9am tickets, delayed 1 hour...check back at 10am.
10am, your ride is canceled but we are putting everyone from 9am boat on stand by for 12:15 boat...that is sold out. 2pm boat is not sold out if you don't get on sold out 12:15 boat. 2pm, one hour there, golf cart reservation passes, lost that money. Can arrive around 3pm, it gets dark at 4- 4:30pm. No Thanks! Catalina Express had no consideration for ticket holders, no back up plan. Never Again!
Written December 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Richard C
Oceanside, OR10 contributions
Feb 2022
Our family traveled roundtrip aboard the Catalina Express Starship recently and paid a 65% premium (+$280) to travel in its Commodore Lounge. While the previous trip we did the same aboard CE's largest vessel, and found it to be worth the premium (i.e. lounge with separate private tables, couch seating, roomy, with fantastic vistas of the sea throughout), the Starship's Commodore Lounge offers very little more than its general seating, other than it is enclosed and you (sometimes) receive your complimentary alcoholic beverage. (Turned out to be very expensive drinks!). On the return trip (Avalon to Long Beach) we were also treated to a crew member assigned to the "enclosed seating area" who considered himself "the enforcer" regarding masks, even though our group was in compliance continuously. (He insisted that we put on our masks if we were going to talk to him -even though we were in the middle of eating or having a drink. Airlines don't even require you to do this!) The Enforcer harassed all lounge passengers who dared speak to him while eating/drinking!. This guy was a real (certifiable! jerk! A slow response to my email to CE's owner totally missed the points I made and was a complete waste of time for me. (Basically the message from CE management was "tough".

If they respond to this review with the same deflection, flawed assumptions and non-responsive response, I'll follow up and post my email to them as well as their reply so that all can judge for themselves regarding their "customer be damned attitude"

As an alternative, try the Catalina Flyer out of Newport Beach. Large lounge with tables on their vessel but no premium at all charged. First come, first served, yes (but we always manage to get a window table without a problem). Note: The Flyer is in dry dock for a couple of months each winter which is why we tried Catalina Express in 2020 and this year.
Written March 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lauren P
Gaithersburg, MD26 contributions
May 2022 • Couples
The ride was fine, but we paid extra for the Commodore Lounge on a morning ride and the service people there were terrible.

From the beginning, the person acted like she was annoyed to be serving people, and didn’t have time to answer basic questions like “what do you have?”.

Ultimately, we asked if we could have two unopened cans of Modelo beer (because we don’t drink at 9:00am). She told us, and I quote, “You’re not supposed to take them off the boat, but I will not open them.”

Then, she returns with two opened cans with cups on top, leaves them on the counter, and walks away. When we realize they’re open, and said something, she proceeded to raise her voice and loudly accuse us of trying to break the rules.

It was crazy.
Written May 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention and apologize for any inconvenience. Customer service is a core value of Catalina Express and we are taking this matter very seriously. Your review has been sent to the appropriate manager for further review. If you would like to file a formal complaint, please contact our corporate office at 310.519.7971 and ask to speak to our Passenger Services Representative. We hope the rest of your trip was very pleasant and will give Catalina Express another try in the future.
Written May 27, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

linda z
6 contributions
Jul 2020
The ferries are usually a great way to get to / from Catalina Island. But they’re having trouble enforcing COVID-19 safety measures. Masks are required, but it’s not enforced. Many people wore a mask only to board then took them off and ignored the crew’s request to put masks back on. Social distancing is not enforced either. I felt bad for the crew; there isn’t much they can do when passengers simply refuse. If you’re concerned about the spread of COVID-19, you might want to avoid Catalina Express this summer. Ferries are less crowded in the fall & winter.
Written July 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review. We value all of our customers and take seriously all positive or negative feedback concerning our service. We hope you enjoyed your trip and look forward to having you aboard again.
Written August 7, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Chris D
Puerto Rico162 contributions
Apr 2022
It was a great, and reasonably priced way to get to Catalina from Long Beach. We stayed the first night at an airport near LAX, and then took an Uber to the port. It was about 45 mins across the water to Avalon, and it was a comfortable. We didn't get a snack or drink aboard, but I noticed the refreshments were way overpriced. Bring your own aboard if you can't make it 45 mins without something. At the time, the port restaurants were still closed due to COVID, and we had to wear the annoying masks aboard, but hopefully all that will end soon.

The upper deck filled up pretty quickly, but it wasn't a problem to walk up and take pictures or enjoy the view. It would have been a little hot if I had rode up there anyway, and much sunscreen would have been needed. Easy, comfortable trip with great views. Well worth the price for our party of 3.
Written April 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience to Catalina Island. We love hearing about our passengers’ trips. Thank you for writing a review and we look forward to having you aboard again soon!
Written April 26, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Terence H
Charlotte, NC193 contributions
Apr 2022 • Couples
Great experience overall. Booked a few days ahead of time and everything went well with respect to finding the location after I put it into the GPS. Check in and boarding were easy, best to be there at least a half hour before sailing. Ride over was great most of the time it was in total fog but pleasant and easy. Catalina island was fun and great to explore. The staff on board the ship made you feel comfortable and safe and explained everything upfront
Written April 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience to Catalina Island. We love hearing about our passengers’ trips. Thank you for writing a review and we look forward to having you aboard again soon!
Written April 8, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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