CATALINA EXPRESS

Catalina Express was formed in 1981 with one 60-passenger vessel providing scheduled service between Los Angeles and Catalina Island. It prides itself in offering comfortable and personalized service to residents as well as visitors. The company was formed by three Island residents who saw the need for reliable transport and who worked tirelessly to develop the means of providing it. Working closely with boat builders to design vessels to specifically serve the waters of the Catalina Channel, they introduced features such as full ride control systems for vessel stability and state-of-the-art navigational equipment. Next came airline-style cabin seating, panoramic viewing windows and on-deck seating, which won immediate acceptance by passengers. Today, Catalina Express operates a modern fleet of seven vessels that run on published daily schedules from boat terminals in Long Beach, San Pedro and Dana Point. In 1999, a state-of-the-art catamaran named Starship Express was introduced into service from Long Beach. Featuring two passenger decks, special Commodore Lounge seating, and a top deck for open-air seating, the catamaran carries up to 302 passengers at speeds of 37 knots.