Note: For Round Trip Ferry Service You Must Also Book The Return Leg From Avalon To Newport Beach.
Departing from the iconic Balboa Pavilion in Newport Beach daily. Departing times vary depending on time of year see all times available when booking. Travel time is approximately 75 minutes from Newport Beach to Avalon, Catalina Island. This is one of the most easily accessible ports for residents/visitors of Orange County, Greater Los Angeles, Inland Empire and San Diego County to travel by boat from the mainland to Avalon, Catalina Island.
This is the "largest" catamaran to Catalina Island and is state of the art, with three decks. The first deck is enclosed with plenty of seating and a snack bar. The second deck offers a full bar and additional indoor seating. The third deck is open air with seating in the California sunshine and offers stunning views during the trip. Enjoy “Speed – Service – Comfort”.
The day of your trip we ask that you try to arrive 1 hour to 45 minutes before your departure time as we leave exactly on time. Looking for bite to eat or a warm cup of coffee while waiting to depart, the Balboa Bakery is right in front of where the ferry boards for departure and is perfect for grabbing a snack/beverage. Once you board you will depart arriving in Avalon on Catalina Island. From there you will unload and if staying for the day have the rest of the day to explore and enjoy the many activities and sights of Avalon and Catalina Island.
See Availability.
400 Main St, Newport Beach, CA 92661, USA
1 hour 15 minutes(approx.)
120 Pebbly Beach Rd, Avalon, CA 90704, USA
Wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation
Transportation is wheelchair accessible
Most travelers can participate
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 600 travelers
Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Posted By : P4257DRsallym
Great experience, we loved Catalina Island ❤️ rent a golf cart and see the whole island, it was so fun. Great little town full of beautiful houses and businesses
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Posted On : 2024-05-11
Posted By : Ann_C
I took my family from Cincinnati to Catalina Island and they loved it. We and took the glass bottom boat tour and the buffalo tour. Unbelievable scenery but we didn’t see any buffalo! Anyway, it still was gorgeous and we loved it.
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Posted On : 2024-05-08
Posted By : FarAway61801864501
The Ferry offers a fun ride to and from Avalon. We found comfortable seats in the Commodore Lounge, and were offered free beverages as part of the package we purchased. Seas were a bit choppy but definitely had a good time. Restrooms are clean and accessible.
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Posted On : 2024-01-27
Posted By : davidkC1614VB
All you should know is the boat on the website is not the one you will be taking to Avalon. Apparently the boat on the website has been getting fixed for a while. This tactic is the good 'ol boat and switch. This speaks to integrity in business unfortunately. It's a very uncomfortable boat, very small, very rough and very old. I would suggest taking the ferry out of Dana Point, Long Beach or San Pedro.
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Posted On : 2023-08-28
Posted By : taydardal
The boat they advertise is not the boat you get. No notice or explanation about this. VIP upgrade is only worth the priority boarding. 2 tickets for a drink and snack on a roundtrip ride is laughable. I'll have my snack now and my drink on the return trip. 🤣 Crew were not rude but not the friendliest bunch either. They seemed extremely bored with their job. The female employee who checked us in was very nice hence 2 stars instead of 1
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Posted On : 2023-07-29
Posted By : NDJ152
Nice ride over to Avalon / Catalina Island. A few things I wish I would have known and might help other travelers. First, it did get cold on the boat. Bring a jacket and try to sit inside or the cover area on the second floor. Second, it fills up fast. If you want your pick of seat (or to get a seat) get in line at least 45 minutes before departure. There is a snack bar, full bar and restrooms on board. The staff is nice and helpful. Boat is clean. Plenty of room for luggage. Would utilize this service again.
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Posted On : 2022-06-14
Posted By : strltxpress
Since we got the discount on Groupon, we decided to purchase the priority boarding which allowed us to pick our seats at a table inside on the second-level deck where there was bar service. Masks were not required so there's no issue with that. When the ferry was on its way and it became cold and windy, a few people came in from outside to sit at tables with others. As long as people were willing to share seats at the tables, there's not an issue for the requirement of 4-6 people at the window tables either. As mentioned in other reviews, they were on time in both directions. The only schedule is 9;00 AM from Newport Beach and 4:30 PM from Catalina. We parked at Balboa Pier Parking Lot and used Park Mobile App to pay for it. Total cost for parking was $31 for 10 hours ($3.10/hour). The ferry appeared 80% full so get there early as there were already people in line when we got there at 8:15 AM.
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Posted On : 2022-06-03
Posted By : Christine C
Overall, good experience getting to and from Catalina/Newport Beach. The vessel was clean and leftarrived on time. A few things to note: the indoor window tables (only tables, no seats) are for parites of 4-6 only so if you're a couple and want to sit at a table, you'll have to sit near the middle, away from the windows and without a view. Also, I was told upon parking in the structure that I could get a validation which would bring parking cost down from $30 to $16 but I asked three different crew members on the Flyer how to get that validation and they all told me something different (I had to do it on the boat, I had to do it at the office upon returning, etc.). Ultimately, no one validated the parking. You'd think if that were an option, the crew members would all be on the same page about how to do it and when. The arrival time on Catalina (around 10:30am) meant missing several of the tours. The CF leaves promptly at 4:30pm so don't plan on having dinner in Catalina. It'd be nice if it left a little later. At $75 r/t per person, you only get about 6 full hours on the island. Embarking and disembarking process was smooth and efficient. You can buy cocktails and snacks onboard as well. It's a little bumpy when the water is choppy, so if you get sick easily, I recommend sitting outside. Bring a jacket as it does get cold and I was really happy I'd brought a beach towel because where I was sitting on the way back, I was splashed often enough that the towel ended up being wet by the time we returned to Newport. I suggest arriving early because the lines are long and the boat does fill up, otherwise your party may not get to sit together. Buy tickets online and print them to expedite the boarding process. They do offer a senior discount.
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Posted On : 2021-09-13
Posted By : AimeeB8
Spent a lovely day on Catalina Island . Facilitated by the Catalina Flyer. Masks were required to board. Two bars on the boat. 75 minutes travel there. 85 minutes back to Newport. Staff were helpful and knowledgeable regarding the islands.
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Posted On : 2021-08-30
Posted By : Alexandra T
The Catalina Flyer goes from Newport Beach to Avalon. The crew was friendly and attentive to passengers. The trip takes about an hour and 15 minutes. On the way over we saw a small pod of dolphins!
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Posted On : 2021-08-26
