Catalina Island Ferry from Newport Beach to Avalon

BEWARE: Massive issues with this experience, 09-19-2026

1. This coupon only works for the ferry from 8:30 AM-4:30 PM roundtrip, it is NOT eligible the whole day like we had originally anticipated. By the time you get to Catalina, it will already be 10:15 AM. You will also have to line up for the departure ferry starting at 3:30 PM, cutting your trip short nearly 2 hours already. 2. Our ferry’s propeller was caught on a line as they were pulling in, forcing us and 500 other people to wait 2.5 additional hours (after the original departure time of 4:30 PM) in the sun with no shade while they tried to untangle it. The worst part of it though was ZERO communication from company the entire ordeal. Their office said they were closed for the day and repeatedly sent to us voicemail as we tried to figure out what was wrong. They also had no representatives working on the island either. During this time we watched the Long Beach bound ferry shuttle 100s of passengers back and forth twice while our boat just sat there like 100 feet away from us. We finally departed at 7:00 PM, 2 and a half hours after our original departure time of 4:30 PM. 3. Insanely overbooked boat packed like sardines. People forced to stand and sit on deck stairs in choppy waters. Crew were just warm bodies and NPCs and didn’t enforce any rules. Crew just walked by as passengers still kept their bags in seats that others could’ve sat in. 4. Parking in Newport Beach for the day will cost you ~$48 already, essentially offsetting the Groupon discount anyway. Take the Long Beach ferry instead which offers free (or at least much cheaper) parking.

Response from the operator: Thank you for taking the time to share this detailed feedback, and please accept our sincere apologies for what should have been an enjoyable day trip. The mechanical delay with the propeller was outside anyone's control, but the way we communicated (or failed to) during those 2.5 hours was not acceptable — you and the other passengers deserved real-time updates and staff on the ground, not a closed office and voicemail. We're also taking a hard look at our booking capacity and crew procedures around seating and boarding, because what you described — people standing on stairs in choppy water — is a safety issue we take seriously, not just a comfort one. We'd like to make this right. Please reach out to us here with your booking reference, and we'll process a full refund for your trip. We'll also pass your feedback about the Groupon terms along to our team, since it clearly wasn't communicated clearly upfront. We hope you'll give us another chance to show you the trip you were expecting.

via Tripadvisor

Thanks for a safe ride to...

Thanks for a safe ride to and from Catalina Island. It was Like clock entering and exiting the boat.

via Viator

Reckless Captain and Unacceptable Crew Conduct

On August 29th, I attended an event organized by Casa Del Mar OC on Catalina Island. Transportation was provided by the Catalina Flyer. The ferry was scheduled to leave at 11:00 AM, but it was delayed by approximately an hour and a half and did not depart until around 12:30 PM. It was obvious that the captain was trying to make up for the delay by operating the ferry at an unsafe and reckless speed. The ride was incredibly rough and aggressive. I personally witnessed approximately 40 to 50 people vomiting during the trip. The crew announced that no one could use the restrooms because they needed to stop and clean them after so many people had gotten sick. I became extremely sick myself and vomited during the trip. The movement of the ferry was so violent, constantly going up and down, that the crew began handing out vomit bags to passengers. People were openly complaining and questioning why the captain was operating the ferry so aggressively. This completely ruined our day. We were supposed to enjoy the event and have a good time on Catalina Island, but instead, many passengers spent the trip vomiting and feeling extremely sick. We were not able to properly enjoy the party or the activities, and the entire day was negatively affected by this experience. What made the situation even worse was the crew's completely unprofessional and disrespectful behavior afterward. When I spoke with the crew and explained what had happened, they laughed at me and made fun of me instead of taking my complaint seriously. When I spoke with the captain, his response was simply, "It is what it is." There was no apology, no accountability, and no concern whatsoever for the passengers who had become seriously ill during the trip. This level of negligence, unprofessionalism, and disrespect toward paying customers is completely unacceptable. The captain's reckless operation of the ferry and the crew's response afterward turned what should have been an enjoyable day into an absolutely miserable experience. I demand that higher management fire the captain and crew responsible for this unacceptable and reckless treatment of passengers.

via Tripadvisor

Won't be going back.

You need to arrive at least 1-2 hours prior to the docking/onboarding time for the vessel in order to get a seat. This ferry gets overbooked and it should be a huge safety concern. I was there with my two children and husband, and people were 'saving' their seats for their family or placing their bags next to them. There was one handicap seat open that we just told my 6 year old to sit on, otherwise my husband had to sit on the floor and my 3 year old daughter had to sit in her stroller on the boat, and I had to stand holding onto a pole. There were dozens of people sitting on the floors on the outside decks. I couldn't believe this was allowed. Also very poor snack stand and the burnt popcorn smell permeates throughout the ferry. Gone are the days where women and children get preferred seating. But I digress. The ride is about 1.5 hours. It was miserable. We ended up upgrading to the 'first class' at $20 per ticket to avoid the awful experience on the way back. Overpriced, overrated, and needs new management that actually cares about the customer experience.

via Tripadvisor

Not the Best Experience

I can't say the voyage was terrible because we were able to see a whale and a very large pod of dolphins en route to Catalina. That was amazing! However, it had nothing to do with the ferry ride itself or the company. The company has issues. Their communication is overdone and jarring. VIP access allows you onto the ferry first and not all their ferries are the same. They don't tell you which one you're getting either. so beware. We had the smaller ferry and I believe they overbook. They don't account for XL people, purses/backpacks and lots of little kids. You may find yourself squeezed in or standing. VIP access, other than boarding first, is questionable for value. You don't get to disembark first and you don't get to sit where you want upon embarking either. They made us go upstairs during embarking. Due to the sheer amount of people with VIP access, we ended up sitting outside anyway. Thankfully it was sunny and warm. The interior seating upstairs is only valuable if it had been raining. The only other issue I had was upon our return. The dock number was switched. We only knew that because we recognized some of the people in line that came aboard with us. At 5:30pm, their offices are closed and they did not answer texts. With all their communications, you would think they would send out a banner text to EVERYONE about which dock to line up at for departure! I think I will book in advance and use the Catalina Express. Larger craft and everyone is inside. I'm sure the overbooking is with both companies though.

via Tripadvisor