Amazing company to deal with, very accommodating.. they deal with charters so they take campers to camps on Catalina Island, they do amazing harbor cruises with disc jockeys, and sometimes even live bands.. They are also the boats responsible for offloading cruise ship passengers and taking them to Avalon in Catalina Island.. Overall an amazing company with an amazing staff and crew.. read more

I first sailed on the Catalina King more than 35 years ago, traveling to Camp Cherry Valley on Catalina island as a kid. If memory serves, so did my dad when he was a kid. That alone should give you plenty of data to do a quick math problem... Illustrating that these are not what you would call "new vessels." Still, the Catalina classic fleet, with it signature red and white paint jobs, I've been reliably if not conspicuously taking passengers to Catalina island for decades. The Catalina express Fleet, with it's much faster Catamaran hulls, i've probably put quite a dent in their business; however, it seems that the classic fleet has found a niche providing cruises for parties and other events. Recently, I traveled on these boats with our Cub Scout pack to go to camp. The crew is very friendly, safety is a priority, and the boat operates reliably without any problems. this is definitely a fancier trip than other options for transportation to Avalon or two harbors, but I guess I just have a nostalgic preference for these old deep V hulls. I had to laugh when we returned a few days later, as we were unloading our gear from one of the boats, a party of 20 somethings dressed quite provocatively we're boarding one of the other vessels for some kind of dance booze cruise. Almost laughed out loud from the dichotomy of kids in Cub Scout uniforms and young folks in next to nothing club attire. But hey, that's Long Beach for you. And I hope that the Catalina classic flight will be here for another 70 or 80 years, re-powered and welded to continue serving new generations exploring our little corner of paradise, 26 miles across the sea. read more

See all

My cruise line used this company to tender from the ship to Catalina. That process was smooth, but I hard one of the workers (a Hawaiian man who's name I missed but had an elephant tattoo) was coaching a coworker to ignore the cruise line worker's direction that was dismissive of the safety of people in wheelchairs. I didn't catch exactly what the cruise line worker said but it was essentially to leave them on the ramp instead of walking them completely off, where they were in risk of falling into the water or something unexpected happened. I really appreciated that he truely had everyone's safety in mind, especially for those who wouldn't be able to save themselves. I would definitely recommend taking tours with this company based on the attention to safety. read more

What a fun night. DJ's playing Depeche Mode on lower level and 80's DJ on upper level. Music Drinks and friends. Can't wait to do this again in the future read more

Catalina Classic Cruises - Ship in dock - Tours Near Me - Long Beach, California

See all

I've been on this boat twice and both times it was for Goldroom's boat parties. So you know it's gonna be a good time. For the goldroom party theres 3 areas for music, and 3 bars, the longest line for drinks is the top level bar near the back of the deck where the main stage is. The other 2 floors are pretty empty and you can get drinks pretty quickly at those other bars. Overall I've enjoyed it both times I've gone. I will say however though they could make the boarding process faster so you can get more time on the boat. It was advertised as starting at 4, but we literally stood in line and didn't finish boarding til like about 530. And the boat docked early at like 730, so it wasn't quite the 4 hour party was expecting. The bathroom situation isn't great, theres like only 2 bathrooms on the boat, for the guys its like 2 stalls and like 3 urinals. Its not a gigantic boat, so things can move around when the water is a little rough. So dont be over confident when you're going you might need to stand wide or hold on to something. They do not let you bring any water bottles or anything of that nature on board, if you brought it you need to take back to your car or hide it somewhere so you can retreive it when you disembark from the boat. Goldroom = A+++++ Catalina Classic Cruises = B read more

My kid went to CIMI for her field trip by Catalina Classic Cruises. Since I've never been there , I called them ahead of time to find out how to get there. The lady was very helpful and told me about the direction and their parking lot. The morning they came back from CIMI, I called them and asked them about their arrival time. She told me to call her back around 1pm and she told me that she would get more detail info by then. I called her back and she told me the expected arrival time, but she called me back 5 minutes later and she gave me the latest update. Since I was coming from 25miles away, it was very helpful and I was very happy with their service. My kid had a great trip. Thank you! read more

Catalina Classic Cruises - The day kids came back from CIMI. - Tours Near Me - Long Beach, California

See all

I have been on this boat many times for music boat parties and there has always been two bad situations that happen every time. One is the electricity always goes out in the beginning so the music stops and the cash registers don't work for a few minutes so they always have to go to the circuit breaker. Second situation is how AWFUL the bathroom smells. You can smell it upstairs from the other side of the boat. The photo attached to this review explains it all. It appears the fixtures are trapped and not vented. Please fix this (at least the bathroom situation) ASAP so your customers can enjoy their experience with normal air scent. read more

Catalina Classic Cruises - Tours Near Me - Long Beach, California

I went in the Cumbia cruise 7/15/23. First time on this Catalina Classic Cruise boat & event. First impression- boat needs a paint job. I lifted the padded benches to look for lost keys & saw the life vests. They looked so gross & filthy. The staff were not properly monitoring the alcohol consumption of the guests. Many people were intoxicated over the top. The boat had to return to the dock before the cruise was supposed to end due to a woman who had passed out due to overconsumption of alcohol. The boat has 3 levels. A handful of people got upset due to the boat docking sooner & started shouting REFUND! So the crew decided to punish all the guests on the third & 2nd decks & moved us all to the first floor deck (enclosed) No air conditioning! It was already hot! They did itin a rude manner, herding us like animals. No explanation- just Let's go'! I It was definitely a fire code violation to put everybody into the enclosed room with no air conditioning. Never going on this boat again. The dance floor was carpet. the 2nd floor deck outdoor was uneven & in need of repairs. There was no music playing inside the 2nd deck indoors?!!! read more

Always a great venue to work with and a very friendly staff. Plenty of parking in the adjacent self parking lot. Would definitely recommend for those wishing to host an event at one of their boats. read more

Catalina Classic Cruises - Tours Near Me - Long Beach, California

I attended the tropical boat party and Long Beach on August 12th 2017. If I'm not mistaken the ticket said the event started at 7:30 but we didn't board the boat until about 8:30 and we didn't leave the dock until about 9:15-930 ish. My issue was crowd control and security. While we were standing in line for an hour there could have been a way for them to check our bags then instead of checking our bags one by one, when they finally let us on the boat after waiting in line over an hour. They caused a huge delay with the party boat taking off. Cash only with the bars in the boat. One of the things that delayed us from getting on the boat was the bars and the DJs were not set up on time. In my opinion they had all day long to fully stock that boat and make sure the djs arrived early to set up. But once we got a few more drinks and the boat started to fill up with people we started to have a little bit more fun but it took them forever to set the DJ up on the top deck. They had one small bar upstairs and one big bar downstairs. And a taco guy on the top deck with plenty of seating. Overall I had a good time and I would attend a boat party again it just got off to a pretty Rocky start with crowd control. It was a very mixed crowd 21 + and much older but mixed well. Met some really nice people the music was surprisingly good. House, trance & Progressive. Everybody seemed to be in good spirits positive attitudes no drama. Great views of the Queen Mary, the marina they took us out pretty far and out and about. It does get pretty hot on the lower deck but they have plenty of AC in certain spots. I left about 30 minutes early once we talked and we were able to catch an Uber right away and head home. They have a Rideshare pickup and drop-off area I suggest ubering to and from. My overall experience is three and a half Stars security gets three stars needs some Improvement. read more

See all

If you are looking for a fun and out of the ordinary Long Beach activity, be sure to check out what Catalina Classic Cruises has to offer. While they do offer daytime cruises, I have personally hopped on a couple evening cruises on the 'Catalina King'. The boat is spacious and has a couple open air levels to explore in addition to the enclosed main level deck. The views of the bay, city skyline and the Queen Mary are beautiful and I definitely will be returning, perfect spot for special events as well! read more

Catalina Classic Cruises - Beautiful bay views - Tours Near Me - Long Beach, California

I decided to take my wife to the Catalina "Ducchess" cruise. Instead of having a good time, I was threatened by a big black bartender that wears glasses. I ordered a double shot of patron, which was around $20. The bartender was selfish and poured me 2 sips instead of 2 shots. So I simply returned the drink and asked for my money back because it was a complete rip off. Instead of refunding me my money, he was completely ignorant and started threatening me. He started saying "Lets meet outside after this cruise is over", meaning he wanted to beat me up. At this point, I realised the situation was escalating so I left to go dance with my wife. I am extremely disappointed, don't spend your new years eve in this garbage cruise that doesn't respect its passengers. I still tried to make the best out of this experience but I just wasn't able to. read more

The "Speakeasy" New Years Cruise was a dirty boat crammed with people and a DJ playing rap music way too loud. "Plenty of bars" was one bar where you could get a tiny glass of champagne for $7. There was someone up front cooking something on a hot plate by the light of a shop style drop light. Will never waste my money like this again! I was ashamed to bring my fiancé from the UK to a disgusting place that was filthy with nothing roaring 20s or New Years about it. They advertised beautiful views- not through those filthy windows. Couldn't wait to get off that boat. I was expecting to see Gilligan and the Skipper! read more

Was here for new year. Complete disappointment. We paid for vip but there nothing vip about it. The theme was 1920 era attire and the all d.j. play was hip hop and rap. I feel sorry for other older couple, dont get me wrong, i like the this type of music but there no variety to it. Mix it up gear toward other genre then just one! Con: boat was old and DIRTY. Somebody clean the fucking window! It was not decorated with ANYTHING new year or from the 1920. On the flyer it says "gorgeous setting". How you gonna tell his to dress to impress and upscale attire when you cant even do your part?? Only ONE restroom as in only one toilet was working. The door was super ghetto. The ship smell like old grandpa room. Some was already leaving before the ship even start. The firework? It was small and nothing impressive. I've seen wayyy better elsewhere at a free park. Iam NO WHERE EXAGGERATED this whole review. I dont even write review! Parking was 40$ at the lot. It says 20$ on the flyer. I feel like i was being lie too and this whole shit was a COMPLETE RIP OFF. read more

This event for New Year's we escaped once we saw that the "yacht" was actually a ferry. We are happy to hear we decided not to go, given the other review about the lack of restrooms, and the dirty ferry. We read the reviews and contacted the event holders about the false advertising and that total rip off this event was. We never heard back from them and now we are considering a small claims action. This is neither fair nor a way to do business. read more

Don't ever book the Catalina Duchess trip for New Years Eve!!! The excursion details said Check in at 10:00 Boarding at 10:30 Cruise 11:00-1:30. The boat took off at 10:20. We had a party of 8 and there were at least 40 more people who arrived after us wondering why the boat left early. One of the parking lot attendants said they did the same thing the previous year. The fine print said No Refunds. Obviously they do that knowing that they are going to leave the dock early and take peoples money. The boat looked old and not at all what the event planners made it out to be. Bottom line it's not worth it and try to get your money back is another joke. read more

Justin Oshiro and the folks at Catalina Classic Cruises did every thing they could to provide us with a safe, enjoyable trip. We will definitely go with Catalina Classic again! read more

I chartered the Catalina King for an evening cruise with about 200 guests on Thursday December 13, 2018. Joe, the captain and crew were all very helpful with all aspects of the cruise. From the moment I arrived the crew offered assistance, recommendations and answered all my questions. The cruise went well and I was happy with the evening. I would highly recommend Catalina Classic Cruises for large party charters. read more

This is not for the cruises but I urge you all to straighten out the parking situation for your embarking/disembarking passengers. I came to pick up my kid for a school CIMI trip today and paid $20 to get out of the lot when I came at the correct arrival time. The boat arrived late and took kids even longer to disembark. There should be some type of validation for folks picking up their children. This is ridiculous and feels like a rip off when it's people handwriting Times of tickets and then hand accepting tickets. read more

The crew is really cool! They enjoy their job and know what their doing. I recommend them for school/camp trips to Catalina or even charters! read more

My school has traveled on Catalina Cruises for the past 10+ years to a camp (CIMI) on Catalina Island. I have nothing but respect for the folks who run this transport with unending patience and good humor for all the loud and excited children on the ferry! Noah and Justin were so very helpful in getting the kids on and off safely and orderly. The employees (Cathy and others) who organize the loading and off-loading of the schools, and point us toward our shuttles and buses are super helpful, too. I HIGHLY recommend Catalina Classic Cruises as a safe and enjoyable mode of transportation! Annette Koweek, Elgin School read more

New Year's Cruise...the description stated the boat checks in at 10, boards at 10:30 and leaves at 11. We arrived at 10:40 and the boat was 20 ft away from the dock leaving already. We yelled and waved to them to come back and I know the captain saw us, but just left anyway. We estimate he left approximately 40 people behind stranded at the dock. Tried calling 4 different places to get a refund and got a total runaround. The boat was actually a ferry which looked dirty and unkept. This event was a total scam and a joke....don't be fooled and buy a ticket to this event in the future! read more

Take 2 Entertainment hosted their 'Boatylicious' event on the 3rd of May. The cruise boat was a little out dated and reminded me of The Office episode where Michael takes his colleagues out for the evening. I am not rating based on the event, but the boat was a bit messy along with démodé upholstery. It just wasn't what i was expecting, but then again, the event was an 18+ over mini 'EDC' event anyway with roaring young teens with lack of mindfulness. Nonetheless, the cruise was smooth and didn't even feel like we were on a boat. Would I give them a try again? Quite truthfully, no, sorry Catalina Classic Cruises. read more

Never again! This was the most pathetic attempt to pass off a old boat ride for a New Years Yacht Party. People paid over $100 dollars to fall prey to a scam of a sewage smelling, cold, boat cruise that failed to offer any free beverages and had false advertising about 4 levels of music. The bathrooms were the definition of a health violation and not even a decoration. It was incredibly cold, a subpar taco bar, no coat check. A low class experience to say the least, a rip off and waste of time and money. read more

We where on our way to Catalina for a field trip the weather was really bad it was heavy rain fall we boarded that ship there where some technical difficulties that delayed the trip for two hours and then on the same boat we set sail it was still raining and the weather wasn't good at all about 15 minutes in me and my friend went to the window to look at the view when a huge wave came and hit the window the force was so strong that the window caved in on me and my friend the water gushing in was holding it down on us at some point the edge of the window hit my in the back of my neck the water threw me up against the table in front of me we where both drenched and freezing cold we where both hit really hard and the crew acted like nothing happened there where no safety percussion taken after that nobody had asked if we where all right and if we needed anything we had to insist on getting an ice pack we had to go and get our own ice pack as we where sitting down still in pain we also had to get our own towels we where still freezing cold we where not handed any life vest then we witnessed the crew standing around "cleaning up" there where laughing about the whole situation we still hadn't been assisted they turned the boat around we called our parents as our moms where talking to the manager he was being the rudest and most insensitive person ever we told him that we Weren't helped at all when we told him the crew was laughing about the situation he insisted that he knew his crew and that they're very professional as he said that he was also laughing as if we were lying he insisted that we lying and that we didn't know what we were taking about . We will never ride on any of there boats again and I suggest you don't either. parents trusted this company to keep there children safe and the couldn't even do that read more

I was on the ferry as a chaperone for my daughter's sixth grade field trip to the CIMI program. The staff was respectful and efficient in getting the kids' luggage on and off. However, the snack bar was stocked with items such as ring pops, styrofoam noodle cups, etc, and there was trash not only all over the boat, but inevitably being blown into the ocean. Individually wrapped snacks don't bode well with distracted kids in windy boats, and to see so much trash being blown into the ocean goes against the plastic/trash awareness that is being raised to help curb ocean pollution. I strongly suggest this company reevaluates the snacks that are being sold in order to do their part to keep our oceans clean. read more

This review is for labor day weekend party cruise. Overall great experience! Me and my wife got tickets for labor day weekend party cruise. It was awesome!!! 2bars and 2 floors with different music played by djs(hip hop and house). 2 drinks for around 20$, which is so cheap!!!keep them comming :) the crew was nice, also beautiful views of long Beach and marina. I recommend it for people who like to have fun :) read more

After booking my cruise, I read these reviews and it got me nervous that it was going to be horrible. However, we really enjoyed our cruise! We booked the annual Ballast Cruise on their larger boat. The boat is older and being inside can get very hot! But we hung out on the deck and we had amazing sunset views. Checking in was easy. 2 lines: women and men for security check. We lined up at. About 6 for the check in process and we were let on the boat by 6:30. The boat promptly departed at 7. It was fast process. They gave us tasting cups and they had different stations through out the boat to taste the limited edition, promotional and original beers. They had pizza that was included in the package but other food for purchase. A band played downstairs. Overall, we had a great time. I'm the beginning, the lines were long for the beer tasting but they shorten over time. Security actually kept it running smooth. Would definitely book another cruise. read more

Catalina Classic Cruises - Tours Near Me - Long Beach, California

See all

My daughter left at home 50 girls camp program copies and they already arrived at the Catalina ferry waiting to leave. The camp leaders had an email copy on their phone and asked Catalina Classic Cruises if they had the ability to print the copies they needed before leaving and they were very accommodating. They didn't even charge for the service! The girls camp on Catalina Island can now go off without a hitch! Thank you Catalina Classic Cruises for being so helpful. read more

I took my boy to Camp Cherry last year. We had a great time; the crew were all great and the ride was a good one. My boy got a little "sea-sick" but he toughed it out. Their crewman Ernie was very helpful, getting him situated with a barf bag. I'd like to take both m'boys next time with the rest of our YMCA group to Camp Fox, which they also service. 5/5 all around. I'm a repeater for sure. read more

Catalina Classic Cruises has been the best. They work with my school group to get to Catalina Island safely and on time. The boat ride over is as smooth as can be depending on the water conditions. The crew is knowledgeable and helpful during the ride over as well as disembarking on the island. My school has science equipment that needs to be taken to the island every year and Classic Cruises accommodates for the extra equipment. I highly recommend Catalina Classic Cruises for transportation for your group to get to Catalina Island or special charters. They are awesome. read more

Horrible!!! Please be advised that yesterday May 28, 2015, my 13 year old son was traveling with his school from Camp Cimi on your boat - Catalina King which departed Catalina at approximately 12:30 pm. At that time he was required to sweep the boat, fold boxes and clean for an hour as demanded by one of your crew members. Your crew member said that because my son left an empty water bottle on his seat when he left to use the restroom, he was required to clean. Can you tell me where on your policy for guests this is a requirement. I paid for my child to ride on your boat and yet he was required to clean the boat for an hour. There is an obvious abuse of power by a crew member who was extremely confrontational and inappropriate with the children on the boat yesterday afternoon. In another instance, the children had two candy wrappers on the table as they sat and talked. Your staff person told the children that they must take it to the garbage at that moment and he followed them to the garbage can. He stood next to them for 5 minutes and stared, making them very uncomfortable. I hope that you will provide better training for your crew in the future. Stay away from this company. Staff are bazaar, inappropriate with children!! read more