Cruises to Catalina Island

122 Reviews
Catalina Island (California) (Photo:Chris Grant/Shutterstock)

About Cruising to Catalina Island

Catalina, third largest of the Channel Islands, feels like a world away.



Twenty-two miles west into the Pacific from Los Angeles, the island combines natural beauty with a wide range of amenities and activities. With over fifty miles of shoreline, secluded coves and dramatic views, this destination has earned a reputation as "the island of romance."



Fittingly, Avalon, Catalina's mile-square port city, is named for an island paradise in the King Arthur legend. Catalina's most famous landmark, the 1929 Art Deco Casino, dominates the waterfront. Rows of shops, restaurants and hotels stretch along Crescent Avenue and up into narrow streets dotted with bougainvillea-framed bungalows. Most of the town's attractions are within comfortable walking distance from the pier - snorkeling, kayaking, dining and shopping.



The good news is that Catalina's charms should be enjoyed for years to come. The Santa Catalina Island Conservancy, a non-profit organization, owns and manages over 80% of the 76-square-mile island, a gift from the family of chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr. The Conservancy's holdings include Catalina's rugged interior and most of the coastline. Its goal is to restore and preserve the island's natural state.

Catalina is a relaxed, friendly island with a Mediterranean feel, easy to explore on foot or by golf cart. Its rich marine life and clear calm waters make it a popular destination for water sports, from fishing and wake boarding to snorkeling and kayaking.

  • More about Catalina Island

  • Why Cruise to Catalina Island?

  • Catalina Island Cruise Port Facilities?

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We found you 54 cruises

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Zaandam Cabins
Zaandam
Zaandam Dining
Zaandam
Zaandam Activity/Entertainment
Zaandam
Zaandam
Zaandam

4 Nights

Pacific Coastal Cruise

Port: San Diego • Catalina Island • Vancouver

558 reviews
Holland America Line
Holland America Line

6 Nights

Pacific Coastal Cruise

Port: Vancouver • Victoria • San Francisco • Catalina Island • Los Angeles

1,565 reviews
Sep 22, 2024
Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean International
Celebrity Summit
Celebrity Summit
Celebrity Summit Cabins
Celebrity Summit
Celebrity Summit Dining
Celebrity Summit
Celebrity Summit Activity/Entertainment
Celebrity Summit
Celebrity Summit
Celebrity Summit

6 Nights

Los Angeles To Vancouver Cruise

Port: Los Angeles • Catalina Island • San Francisco • Victoria • Vancouver

2,477 reviews
May 4, 2024
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises
Zaandam Cabins
Zaandam
Zaandam Dining
Zaandam
Zaandam Activity/Entertainment
Zaandam
Zaandam
Zaandam

7 Nights

Wine Country & Pacific Northwest

Port: San Diego • Catalina Island • San Francisco • Victoria • Vancouver

558 reviews
Apr 20, 2024
Holland America Line
Holland America Line

11 Nights

Wine Country & Pacific Northwest

Port: San Diego • Catalina Island • San Francisco • Victoria • Vancouver • Astoria, Oregon +2 more

558 reviews
Apr 20, 2024
Holland America Line
Holland America Line

4 Nights

California Retreat

Port: San Diego • Santa Barbara • Catalina Island • Ensenada • San Diego

866 reviews
Oct 21, 2025
Holland America Line
Holland America Line

7 Nights

Classic California Coast

Port: San Diego • Catalina Island • San Francisco • Ensenada • San Diego

964 reviews
Holland America Line
Holland America Line

4 Nights

Catalina & Ensenada Cruise

Port: Los Angeles • Catalina Island • Ensenada • Los Angeles

2,293 reviews
Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean International

4 Nights

Catalina & Ensenada Cruise

Port: Los Angeles • Catalina Island • Ensenada • Los Angeles

2,293 reviews
Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean International
Cruise Critic Favorite

7 Nights

Classic California Coast

Port: San Diego • Catalina Island • San Francisco • Ensenada • San Diego

866 reviews
Holland America Line
Holland America Line

4 Nights

Pacific Coastal Cruise

Port: San Diego • Catalina Island • Vancouver

1,201 reviews
Apr 20, 2026
Holland America Line
Holland America Line
Cruise Critic Favorite

4 Nights

Pacific Coastal Cruise

Port: Vancouver • Catalina Island • San Diego

866 reviews
Oct 22, 2024
Holland America Line
Holland America Line

8 Nights

Pacific Coastal Cruise

Port: Vancouver • Victoria • Seattle • San Francisco • Santa Barbara • Catalina Island • Los Angeles

1,235 reviews
Sep 27, 2024
Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean International

14 Nights

Mexican Riviera & Classic California Coast

Port: San Diego • Puerto Vallarta • Mazatlan • Cabo San Lucas • San Diego • Catalina Island +3 more

866 reviews
Nov 9, 2024
Holland America Line
Holland America Line

4 Nights

Pacific Coastal Cruise

Port: San Diego • Catalina Island • Vancouver

964 reviews
Apr 30, 2025
Holland America Line
Holland America Line

More about Catalina Island

Why Cruise to Catalina Island?

Pros:

The island's casino is still in exquisite shape; its Avalon Theatre debuted the first films with sound

Cons:

There's not much for free; you'll pay for tours, water sports, scooter rentals and even the beach

Bottom Line:

Once the retreat of the rich and famous, Catalina still offers vacationers an afternoon of amusement

Catalina Island Cruise Port Facilities?

Green Pleasure Pier is a hub of activity. It's home to the Visitors Bureau, as well as rentals for motorboats, wave runners and fishing equipment. Glass bottom boat tours and semi-submersible tours launch from here. For years, the pier has been Avalon's official weigh station for sport fishermen, including Zane Grey, Cecil B. DeMille and Charlie Chaplin. Nearby Crescent Avenue is a pleasant place to window shop and enjoy an ice cream cone.



Insider's Tip: On weekdays, tourists easily mingle with the island's 3,800 year-round residents. But on weekends and during the summer, it can be tough to find a place to lay your beach towel. To escape the crowds, bring your mask and snorkel on a short walk from the boat dock to the preserve at Lover's Cove. With no fishing or boat anchorage allowed, the Cove is rich in marine life. Or visit Little Harbor on the southwest shore, reached by Catalina Safari Shuttle Bus. Rugged waves crash on two beautiful sandy beaches at this secluded cove.

Getting Around?

Cars are limited on Catalina (there's a 8-10 year waiting list to own a car on the island). Most folks walk or rent golf carts and bicycles, the preferred modes of transportation. Even the sheriff drives a golf cart fitted with a siren and special high-speed gears (about $30/hour for carts for those 25 and older with a driver's license; $10/hour for bikes).

Currency & Best Way to Get Money?

The U.S. dollar is the official currency and ATMs are plentiful.

Language?

English.

Where You're Docked?

Catalina's port is too small for cruise ships. Instead, ships anchor outside the harbor and tender passengers to Green Pleasure Pier in the center of downtown Avalon.


Catalina Island Cruise Reviews
Catalina was a gem of a port. We had a lovely lunch by the water, visited a history museum featuring the history of Tiki on the island, and some mini golf. It was so nice in fact I wish we’d just ferried to the islanRead More
DPadres69
I walked around Catalina on my own, it was pleasant, reminded me of the 1960s :)Read More
Seventyishtraveller
Catalina is the only reason I have done this cruise 4-5 times. So much to do, all walkable (except the interior tour which I recommend). Go get lunch at Maggie’s Blue Rose and a Cadillac margarita. Walk over to tRead More
Catmomma
Catalina was easy to get off and on, even though you have to take another boat in, but it goes quickly. Read More
Rockynrobyn71

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