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    Catalina Express

    3.3 (197 reviews)
    Closed 5:45 am - 4:30 pm

    Services - Catalina Express

    Boat charters

    Catalina Express Photos

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    Bye!
    Lisa T.

    All went well on the EXPRESS!! Seamless for my son's Birthday!! Arrived early as rqstd. Had another guest do up a watercolor portrait real quick!! So sweet xtra special . Did Descanso (but you can just do the little beach area rt next to it, on the cheap) but still nice, access to gift shop rentals,, bar, RRooms, showers, large green area. Pack some goodies to drink or eat in your carry on, no one checks anything completely fine. Took 8:45 departure , beach thing opens at 11:00, did Jet Skis, super fun!, clam chowder on the way to depart was amazing!! Took the 6:00 Express back to Port, San Pedro which there is plenty of parking on site too!

    Virgilynn B.

    For my first experience on the Catalina express, I was pretty happy with the ride and smoothness of the trip. Although I took Dramamine on the way to Catalina, on the way back I opted to just ride it through and made it back without any motion sickness. Lots of seating and a bar inside. Boat leaves on time and staff is friendly!

    On the ferry back to San Pedro
    Angel C.

    I was not thrilled at all to spend $80/RT for a ferry ride. But it was soooooo totally beyond worth it, I would do it again in a heartbeat. I've found it easier to book thru San Pedro than Long Beach, and it's better for me as I live in LA, only 30 mins away. The boats are kinda old and shabby but the crew was soooo nice and fun. They were hyping everyone up to start their trip with alcohol haha I don't think u should have to arrive so early as they require. But we left promptly on time so that was nice. The ride over was beautiful and sunny! On the way back we saw a pod of dolphins swimming and jumping right next to us! It was so cute and awesome. As for Catalina, it's amazing. I could go into details on that part but this review is just for the ferry (: Oh yes parking is $2/hour or $20/day

    Best experience to give my family since I did it as a kid myself! Be prepared to spend because something like this isn't for the low when you have a big family

    John H.

    The boats are on the older side. On the trip back one of the panels was open. I am guessing some motor problem, and it was an extremely loud ride home. The whooshing wind from the open panel made it uncomfortable.

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    1 year ago

    Beautiful ride over to Catalina from San Pedro. We saw dolphins on the way. I recommend sitting near the front if you get seasick.

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    4 years ago

    Crew is beyond rude and terrible to large groups boarding. Really gross treatment this past weekend. Not worth the trip.

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    Ask the Community - Catalina Express

    Is there a more sufficient way to cancel your reservation? I have been waiting for over 40 minutes to speak to a human. Perhaps, I should have just kept my reservation.

    Hi, do you still have the promo for the free ticket on your birthday?

    Hi Nevein C. Thank you for contacting Catalina Express. Unfortunately, our birthday promotion… Read more

    How strict the take off time is? I get off at 12 and the commute is exactly 30 mins (depart time is 12:30pm) so I'd arrive exactly at depart time.& will buying my ticket online speed it up? If I miss it, can I use same ticket for the long beach dock?

    Hi Imani, Our boats do depart on time and our boarding ramps close 5 minutes prior to departing. If it is convenient for you, there is a boat leaving at 2 pm from Long… Read more

    View All 4 Questions

    Review Highlights - Catalina Express

    I didn't get sea sick and I have gotten sea sick on a harbor cruise and kayaking in the ocean so the ride was very smooth.

    Mentioned in 7 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Catalina Express - 2018 Coupon "Print it out" it also it only works when you do phone reservations rather then online. They keep making it harder to use. GL

    Catalina Express

    (28 reviews)

    San Pedro

    My wife and I took the Catalina Express from San Pedro to Avalon, and both the trip there and back…read morewere great. The whole process was very easy--navigation to the boat was straightforward, and since we paid for our tickets online, we just scanned our QR codes and hopped on. Super smooth and stress-free. The boats themselves are a bit older and show some wear, which makes sense given how many passengers they transport daily, but they're functional and comfortable enough. There are bathrooms onboard and a snack bar with decent prices. Just a heads-up: there is absolutely no smoking of any kind allowed, including vapes. One of the highlights was the top observation deck--it's really cool and worth checking out during the ride. One thing to be aware of is parking. Parking at the terminal is very expensive at $22 per day, so be prepared to spend a good amount on parking. Overall, we had a great experience and would highly recommend Catalina Express.

    Waited in line inside to check in only to find out we didn't need to, so we were directed outside…read more Disorganized line up, we went from first 20 ppl in line to last of the entire group. We even got in the right lane that the man directed us to and was told to completely start over. We straight up got given wrong direction by the man so shout to him for landing us shitty seats . They can't accommodate to close their doors when it's cold, even tho we showed up early to get good seats. I understand you gotta run a ship, but still shitty service. Just go to Long Beach instead of these guys. These guys clearly just care about getting people on and off and that's all. NOTE: we arrived an hr before departing, if you do come PLEASE don't come last minute

    Norwegian Cruise Line - On the Bliss

    Norwegian Cruise Line

    (301 reviews)

    San Pedro

    Second time on Norwegian Cruise Lines but a first on NCL Bliss which is considerably bigger and…read moreupdated than the Jewel. We sailed to the Mexican Riviera on a 7 night cruise. Pre sailing with NCL is easy. The app works great. The terminal at port of Los Angeles is confusing. I have cruised out of port of LA on Royal Caribbean many times. It seems more chaotic this time. I'm not sure who to blame. I needed wheelchair assistance for my mom but was told Haven Guests have a different check in. The staff at this terminal were curt and down right rude. I don't even think they know what they are doing. We chose to go through security and check in at the Haven stand. Lady there was ok but it wasn't the warmest of check ins. We then went to another desk where we received our cabin cards. There the staff were pleasant. Next, we went to the Haven waiting area. This is where you receive the wheelchair assistance. Communication was very much lacking all around! The drinks and snacks were very nice and appreciated. The NCL Bliss is a stunning ship! There is plenty to see and do. The standouts were the observation lounge, water slides, cleanliness, jogging track (only before 7am or after 7pm), outdoor movie theater, entertainment staff, the pool, and the Haven. We had cabin 18714 and 17712 in the Haven area. This was the highlight of the cruise. My experience with NCL is mostly with Haven because everything here is elevated from service, cabin amenities to food. There were some hits and misses in the Haven restaurant. I wish they rotated the menu daily. It is the same every single day. The restaurant was empty every day and I believe it's because the menu does not change. Service from the butlers, Jane and Shree were amazing. The stewards did a great job of cleaning. The rooms were amazing. They are starting to look out dated but overall we were pleased. They use LOccitane products which I love! The four stars really is for the Haven experience. I would give 3 stars for the rest of the ship. The speedway looks fun but you have to pay! The food At the buffet and main dining room were subpar. The buffet wasn't my favorite. I got real tired of the food there. I did like the ice cream scoops and the crepes. The entertainment was a 3/5. They had a magician who was more a mentalist that then tried to sell his program on memory. Odd! The Beatles band from Argentina played twice. It was good. They had plenty of dancing and dance classes. Cruise Director was great. I would go on NCL again if it's in the Haven!

    This review is definitely overdue since we actually took this 7 day cruise on the Norwegian Bliss…read morelast year, but the memories are still so vivid. We would give the experience a solid 4 star rating. The absolute highlights for us were the onboard activities that kept us moving the whole week. We loved the race track and found the alien themed laser tag to be absolutely incredible. It was such a thrill running around the open air course at night. The water slides were also a blast, especially the ones that loop out over the side of the ship. We found the food to be consistently good across the different dining rooms and the entertainment was fun and kept us busy every single night. Even though the ship has been sailing for several years now, it still feels very modern and the amenities are top notch. We especially loved the Observation Lounge with those floor to ceiling windows and the Waterfront area which was perfect for a sunset stroll. The only reason we are not giving it a full 5 stars is that the ship can feel a bit crowded during peak times and you really have to be on top of your reservations for the popular activities. Overall we think it was a fantastic vacation and we would definitely sail on the Bliss again.

    Navigator of the Seas - Advertised food

    Navigator of the Seas

    (53 reviews)

    San Pedro

    I usually just do food reviews but thought I'd share my overall experience on a seven-day cruise my…read morewife and I enjoyed last October to celebrate our anniversary. I'll be talking a lot about the food too! First, the service: The crew was top notch, from the waiters to the bartenders to cabin stewards, everybody was friendly, helpful and just plain good at their jobs. It might have helped that I tipped everybody on our first day, not the last. The ship: Now it's one of the oldest and smallest in the RC fleet, but was remodeled in 2019 I think, so it doesn't feel old at all. Spacious cabins, lots to see and do onboard. Never felt crowded at all. And the cleaning crew kept every inch of that boat SPOTLESS. Food: We usually had breakfast and lunch in the "Windjammer" which is an all-day buffet. Huge selections of hot dishes, Chinese, Indian stuff like Butter Chicken etc... staples like pasta, salads, soups, sides, fruits, desserts, usually a carving station at lunch/dinner. One surprise: They had baked cod on the buffet that was actually DELICIOUS. For breakfast I usually went for a bagel with cream cheese and lox. Lots of topping choices, like tomatoes, capers, onion etc. They also had an omelet station for made to order omelets. At lunch there was a burger/hot dog station mainly for the kids I think. The burger I had was ok, but overcooked. The fries however were super crisp, hot and delicious. Everything in the Windjammer I'd rate OK to good. For dinner we usually ate in the Main Dining Room, which had a different menu each night, usually along a theme e.g. Mexican, Italian, French etc. The best night was Italian. I had one of the best lasagnas ever, and they also had rich, buttery, garlicky escargots served with crusty bread. The worst dinner was Mexican night, when I had enchiladas that had zero flavor. Ironic, as it was a Mexico cruise! What?!! But overall, the Main Dining Room food was usually good to very good. Ambiance and service, excellent. Our waiter Robert was always quick with a joke. BTW we did not try any of the extra cost "specialty dining" restaurants onboard, as I didn't see the value since the included dining was so good. Finally, drinks. We got the "Deluxe Beverage Package" which gets you UNLIMITED beer, wine, mixed drinks, even shots of Patron if that's your speed. It's all top shelf liquors and a great selection of wines and beers. Plus unlimited fountain drinks and bottled water. The package was $60/day per person after I was offered a discount (usual price is $75 I think) . It sounds like a lot, but considering they will charge you $14 for a Jack and Coke, it pays for itself at about 4.5 drinks. No problem if you start the day with a couple Tito's bloody marys, have some beers at lunch, a glass of wine with dinner, and finish the evening with a beautifully poured Bombay Sapphire martini or a Johnny Walker Black on the rocks. Which we did. Every day. Yikes! My liver needed a break by the end of the trip for sure. Entertainment: Fun shows onboard. A Vegas-style variety musical, an ice capades style show on ice, a very funny comedy show (the late night one is racier and better). And very good musical entertainment in the lounges. Good jazz band, fun piano bar sing-a-longs. That's about it. We didn't sign up for any shore excursions, so I have no notes on those. We did go out on our own and explored the port towns of Cabo, Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlán. It was a good time, and I think I am a Royal Caribbean loyalist now. A much better experience than a cruise we took on Carnival. Peace!

    This is my 3rd time on Navigator of the Seas, my first review. I paid for a junior suite and won…read morethe lowest bid to a grand suite. It was the best decision! We were upgraded to cabin 1298 which is beneath the pool. Embarkation was seamless. We arrived at 930am which I recommend. Quantum was also at the port and the parking lot was full by 11a.m. We had a separate line for Suite members outside. We also had to wait until 10:30a.m. at a waiting area inside the terminal. The whole process was very smooth. Cabin 1298 although a bit tired was perfectly situated in the middle. It was central to everything. Our cabin steward, Mojo did a great job of cleaning our room Always smiling and greeting us. I asked for slippers and he brought it right away. The suite Concierge, Denzel was amazing. He called us. He knew us by name. He even made me hot cocoa the right way. He checked on us often. The lounge was airy and roomy. It was very quiet. They stocked it in the am and pm with good finger foods. Every night from 5-8 p.m. bar drinks were unlimited. I liked their choices of non alcoholic drinks like mocktails, zero proof drinks, non alcohol beer and wine even! The ship was decked in christmas decor and they had many Christmas events to go with the season. Activities were plenty. The water slide was finally working. My only real complaint is the night time shows were a snooze fest. The comedian was funny. The ice skating show was also very good. I would cruise on Navigator of the Seas again!

    Odyssey Yacht Charter

    Odyssey Yacht Charter

    (87 reviews)

    I recently charted a yacht for employee appreciation week at the company I own. We all had a…read moredelightful time, except for the Executive VP who barfed into the harbor--an unlikely and smelly chum--and caused the fish to start floating belly up in the water! (AG, you know who you are, lol). Other than that mishap, it was a fantastic experience, and it made me consider participating in a yacht timeshare myself. Boating makes me want to quit my career and travel the world by sea. But alas, Wifey likes her diamonds, and I like my luxury cars...

    Poor customer service and poor quality of boat. I have to…read moresay it's difficult for me to write this review as my family and I were very much looking forward to spending a beautiful day on the bait to celebrate my dads birthday. And all though we still made the best of it it really did not live up to what was promised and the amount of money we paid. So let's start with m: 1. The address did not match what was listed on their Yelp page and created a lot of confusion and frustration especially since we had kids with us. I had to text the owner, Mario, and he gave us another location to charter form which was not at all what was listed on their page. 2. Not sure if the captain of the day,Noah, was having a bad day or what but he was definitely not in the mood to greet us properly. He was very short, not so friendly and barely spoke to us during our ride. 3. The boat was not like the photos they presented or posted on Yelp. I even texted the owner and asked him to send me a few photos of what the boat will look like. It was definitely dirty, the coaches were so damaged and dirty they had black clothes over them. One of inside couches was wet, my uncle sat on it unknowingly making his pants wet and him uncomfortable for the rest of the ride. 4. The table surfaces were all damaged & chipped. We had to be careful for the kids not to get splinters when they would approach the table to grab something to eat. 5. Worst of it all was that we only watched cargo shipments for 2 hours!! On our phone call with Mario mentioned we can go through the canals and even get a far glimpse of the Queen Mary but we didn't. We even asked Noah to take us the other way around into the open water and he said no he needs to this way first (meaning by the cargo shipments). It was very disappointing since it was my dads actual birthday and the experience was completely robbed from us. It's very sad that we wasted over a thousand dollars and didn't receive what we had paid for. And I even texted Mario afterwards telling him our concerns but didn't get a reply back. Poor customer service.

    Catalina Express - boatcharters - Updated May 2026

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