Nice boat.I highly recommend getting in line early,as last two years,I arrived late and had to stand the entire ride over.You can upgrade for a extra fee and get captain area,which is private with tv's,and I think you get a drink.It is only available on select boats,but worth the extra money.
Jo A.
Our first time riding Catalina Express. The ride to Catalina was awesome, and so was the staff! I did a YouTube video review check it out click here
Lynne B.
I am normally impressed with my travel on Catalina Express, however on my travel from Avalon back to Long Beach we were delayed boarding for no reason. It was a 3:50pm departure and we did not start boarding until 3:40pm. It just happened to be almost 90 degrees on the pier and people and animals could have suffered heatstroke. No explanation and when someone asked an employee when we were boarding he gave a surly response. I was very disappointed in the attitude of Catalina Express.
Priscilla R.
Such a beautiful cafe. We were so happy that they had breakfast when we arrived. The food was delicious! Only wish that they stayed open later.
Crystal M.
Lack of organization of behalf of the loading onto the boat plus the lack of lines on where to go! I arrived over an hour early. I purchased my ticket online so that was easy. I waited in no line to get the printed boarding pass. On the ticket there was no gate or line designated for two Harbors. I asked a gentleman's for that worked there and he said this line. I waited in line with a couple of other people. People started to arrive and packed their camping gear in front of the fence and the crowd got larger and larger. They first loaded Avalon passengers but as soon as they were going to let the two Harbors people on I walked out of the line to ask who are you getting first. I said we have been waiting in line for over an hour and yet these people seem to walk up and want to get on first. I said, "please come get all the people who are in the correct line." The gentleman said, " of course"! I was taken back by the group of people who were terribly rude and called me a rude name. The key to this is have a mega phone or more designated lines so people don't get confused because those campers were!
Aleksandra F.
When we went back so we should to wait our boat . Our time in ticket was 22-30 , but island we leave just 23-20 Was so cold to waiting
Richards S.
I took the Catalina Express a few weekends ago. We were camping so we brought on all of our food and gear. When the boat got out into open water I opened a spiked seltzer. Some random guy that worked there walked up and literally lost his s*** on me. Complete power trip because I couldn't have a personal drink but could only drink things I paid for because of their liquor license. However, by no one and nowhere was that previously stated. 1. I have been on cruises and you can.. have your own drinks once you get out to open water. 2. If this is an issue, state the issue and be kind.. you are selling vacations right? 3. Random dudes do not have the right to power trip and yell at women, who are not at all being confrontational.. ever. And why the hell would you.. you are selling vacations right? 4. I am a 40 year old woman. A solid part of the California community. Why is it appropriate to think, as a worker on a boat, you can yell at me? 5. Parking to board the boat is 20$ a day, the boat is 75$ round trip, camping at the island was 100$ a day. No one should pay that kind of money for "camping" when it involves being policed by power trippers. The island is overpriced and understaffed. There isn't anything specifically cool to see until you get to the northern islands (ocean kayaking is super fun in Anacapa and no one yells at you) I personally would never take a trip back and not give my money to the Catalina Express. Chill out and be fun.. you are selling vacations. No one cares about your power trip.
Tom C.
Absolutely uncooperative ticketing agent in San Pedro. They used to be helpful and work through issues, particularly with frequent commuters. Not any more. But I guess when you have a monopoly you don't have to worry about your customers.
Johnny M.
Ship crew was awesome but the short 30-35 year old girl with black hair needed to go back to bed, versus aboard people onto a boat. She was rude, miserable and put a bad taste on everyone's mouth boarding the ship. Miserable human! She literally screamed at me for not having a mussel on my dog. Disappointing to see the lack of professionalism and hospitality from her. Get rid of her while you can!
Anne S.
The ferry this morning was a smaller, older boat, not the catamaran. The crew took our luggage and stowed it for us. The boat departed from San Pedro exactly on time!
Very Nice Hotel. Comfortable bed, hot shower, breakfast. Enjoyed our honeymoon there.
Martha Barnes
Great fish tacos.
Dominic F.
Had blast! I had to go out to Avalon to work. Made my reservations online and took my wife and kids with me so they could spend the day in the island while worked. Showed up early and had a bite to eat. The only downside for the trip were the drunk passengers that were already hammered before they got on. Of course they got rowdy and we had to drive back from almost the light house to drop them off in the custody of the police. Drinks made me an hour late. My daughter and I spent the trip on the deck so we could feel the air in our faces. The trip back was very choppy. From the rear deck I could see the captain was steering in and out of the waves. Very rough ride, my daughter and myself still rode it out on the upper deck. Loads of fun. Can't wait till we do it again!!
Anonymous A.
They need to update their ticketing and reservation system. 1st off they area monopoly which is a lawsuit in itself. But the way they run their ticketing is so out of date even the supervisor at Avalon said "well this is the way we have been doing it for 30 years"not anything I want to hear as a customer in this day and age. The customer service SUCKS. They are rude it was freezing on the ride and the snack bar host comes to the tip and tells everyone the doors have to stay open but in the rudest way possible. Even though as rude as she was she was on her phone the entire time. *see attached picture* The ticketing person at Avalon by the name of Angelica was rude and TOLD us we lost our tickets and made us buy new ones. Was not at all solution oriented...even though we never received them out of San Pedro. So we paid twice. Again, out of date ticketing system and inefficient.
Morgan G.
Will use the Catalina express quite a bit and we have a lot of fun people are really good I go to Catalina been to Long Beach than a few other place we had a good time enjoy yourself tell him Captain Morgan sent you
Nice boat.I highly recommend getting in line early,as last two years,I arrived late and had to stand the entire ride over.You can upgrade for a extra fee and get captain area,which is private with tv's,and I think you get a drink.It is only available on select boats,but worth the extra money.
Our first time riding Catalina Express. The ride to Catalina was awesome, and so was the staff! I did a YouTube video review check it out click here
I am normally impressed with my travel on Catalina Express, however on my travel from Avalon back to Long Beach we were delayed boarding for no reason. It was a 3:50pm departure and we did not start boarding until 3:40pm. It just happened to be almost 90 degrees on the pier and people and animals could have suffered heatstroke. No explanation and when someone asked an employee when we were boarding he gave a surly response. I was very disappointed in the attitude of Catalina Express.
Such a beautiful cafe. We were so happy that they had breakfast when we arrived. The food was delicious! Only wish that they stayed open later.
Lack of organization of behalf of the loading onto the boat plus the lack of lines on where to go! I arrived over an hour early. I purchased my ticket online so that was easy. I waited in no line to get the printed boarding pass. On the ticket there was no gate or line designated for two Harbors. I asked a gentleman's for that worked there and he said this line. I waited in line with a couple of other people. People started to arrive and packed their camping gear in front of the fence and the crowd got larger and larger. They first loaded Avalon passengers but as soon as they were going to let the two Harbors people on I walked out of the line to ask who are you getting first. I said we have been waiting in line for over an hour and yet these people seem to walk up and want to get on first. I said, "please come get all the people who are in the correct line." The gentleman said, " of course"! I was taken back by the group of people who were terribly rude and called me a rude name. The key to this is have a mega phone or more designated lines so people don't get confused because those campers were!
When we went back so we should to wait our boat . Our time in ticket was 22-30 , but island we leave just 23-20 Was so cold to waiting
I took the Catalina Express a few weekends ago. We were camping so we brought on all of our food and gear. When the boat got out into open water I opened a spiked seltzer. Some random guy that worked there walked up and literally lost his s*** on me. Complete power trip because I couldn't have a personal drink but could only drink things I paid for because of their liquor license. However, by no one and nowhere was that previously stated. 1. I have been on cruises and you can.. have your own drinks once you get out to open water. 2. If this is an issue, state the issue and be kind.. you are selling vacations right? 3. Random dudes do not have the right to power trip and yell at women, who are not at all being confrontational.. ever. And why the hell would you.. you are selling vacations right? 4. I am a 40 year old woman. A solid part of the California community. Why is it appropriate to think, as a worker on a boat, you can yell at me? 5. Parking to board the boat is 20$ a day, the boat is 75$ round trip, camping at the island was 100$ a day. No one should pay that kind of money for "camping" when it involves being policed by power trippers. The island is overpriced and understaffed. There isn't anything specifically cool to see until you get to the northern islands (ocean kayaking is super fun in Anacapa and no one yells at you) I personally would never take a trip back and not give my money to the Catalina Express. Chill out and be fun.. you are selling vacations. No one cares about your power trip.
Absolutely uncooperative ticketing agent in San Pedro. They used to be helpful and work through issues, particularly with frequent commuters. Not any more. But I guess when you have a monopoly you don't have to worry about your customers.
Ship crew was awesome but the short 30-35 year old girl with black hair needed to go back to bed, versus aboard people onto a boat. She was rude, miserable and put a bad taste on everyone's mouth boarding the ship. Miserable human! She literally screamed at me for not having a mussel on my dog. Disappointing to see the lack of professionalism and hospitality from her. Get rid of her while you can!
The ferry this morning was a smaller, older boat, not the catamaran. The crew took our luggage and stowed it for us. The boat departed from San Pedro exactly on time!
Restaurantji Recommends
Very Nice Hotel. Comfortable bed, hot shower, breakfast. Enjoyed our honeymoon there.
Great fish tacos.
Had blast! I had to go out to Avalon to work. Made my reservations online and took my wife and kids with me so they could spend the day in the island while worked. Showed up early and had a bite to eat. The only downside for the trip were the drunk passengers that were already hammered before they got on. Of course they got rowdy and we had to drive back from almost the light house to drop them off in the custody of the police. Drinks made me an hour late. My daughter and I spent the trip on the deck so we could feel the air in our faces. The trip back was very choppy. From the rear deck I could see the captain was steering in and out of the waves. Very rough ride, my daughter and myself still rode it out on the upper deck. Loads of fun. Can't wait till we do it again!!
They need to update their ticketing and reservation system. 1st off they area monopoly which is a lawsuit in itself. But the way they run their ticketing is so out of date even the supervisor at Avalon said "well this is the way we have been doing it for 30 years"not anything I want to hear as a customer in this day and age. The customer service SUCKS. They are rude it was freezing on the ride and the snack bar host comes to the tip and tells everyone the doors have to stay open but in the rudest way possible. Even though as rude as she was she was on her phone the entire time. *see attached picture* The ticketing person at Avalon by the name of Angelica was rude and TOLD us we lost our tickets and made us buy new ones. Was not at all solution oriented...even though we never received them out of San Pedro. So we paid twice. Again, out of date ticketing system and inefficient.
Will use the Catalina express quite a bit and we have a lot of fun people are really good I go to Catalina been to Long Beach than a few other place we had a good time enjoy yourself tell him Captain Morgan sent you