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Glass-Bottom Boat Tour
Family45 min$20 adult / $15 child
A semi-submersible tour through the underwater Lover's Cove sanctuary. Garibaldi (California's state fish) and kelp forests visible through the boat's windows.
Best for: Family quick hit
United States · Pacific Coast · Tender port
A 22-mile-long island 26 miles off the LA coast — calm Pacific water, no rental cars allowed, and an Art Deco casino that's never been a casino.
~9 hours
Typical Port Time
Tender to Avalon
Dock Type
Tender ride
To Avalon
USD
Currency
English
Language
Mediterranean, mild year-round
Climate
Catalina Island sits 26 miles off the coast of Los Angeles — close enough to LA to be in Los Angeles County, far enough to feel like a different world. Disney ships tender into Avalon, the island's only town, where cars are restricted and most people get around in golf carts.
The 1929 Catalina Casino dominates the Avalon harbor (it's a ballroom and movie theater, never a gambling casino). The town itself is walkable in 90 minutes; the rest of the island is mostly protected wilderness with bison roaming free.
The activities Disney cruise families consistently rate highest, ranked by popularity and quality, not by what an excursion desk wants to sell.
A semi-submersible tour through the underwater Lover's Cove sanctuary. Garibaldi (California's state fish) and kelp forests visible through the boat's windows.
Best for: Family quick hit
A 5-minute walk from the pier. Calm water, chair rentals, beach restaurant, and zip line. Easier than Avalon's small main beach.
Best for: Family beach day
Guided tour of the 1929 Art Deco casino building — including the underground ballroom and the upstairs movie theater. The only way to see inside without buying movie tickets.
Best for: Architecture buffs
The protected Lover's Cove marine reserve is steps from the tender pier. Bright orange Garibaldi, kelp forests, easy entry from a small beach.
Best for: Beginner snorkelers
Catalina is small enough that DIY works for everything. Disney excursions are mainly worth it for the inland Hummer tour (which requires permits) and the zip line course.
$135 per person
A 4-hour Hummer tour through the island's protected interior — bison spotting, ocean overlooks, eagle nests.
The interior is closed to non-tour vehicles, so this is the only way to see it.
Free
Walk the harbor, climb to the casino, lunch downtown, snorkel at Lover's Cove.
Rent a golf cart ($60/hour) for a fun way to see Avalon's hills.
Local spots and notable bites worth leaving the ship for — or that work well as a quick shore-side break.
📍 Avalon harbor
Waterfront seafood — fresh fish, fish and chips, and harbor views. Family-friendly.
📍 Avalon
A long-running Catalina restaurant focused on lobster, fresh fish, and a kid menu.
Things that make a real difference with little kids on a port day.
Tender ride takes 10–15 minutes — fine for most kids but bring Dramamine if seasickness is a concern.
Avalon is walkable but hilly. A rented golf cart is fun and easier with small kids.
The water at Descanso Beach Club is colder than tropical beaches — wetsuit rentals available.
Money-saving and time-saving tricks most cruisers learn the hard way.
💡 Free tour of the casino lobby
The Art Deco lobby and stairwell are open to the public for free. Walk in and look up — no paid tour needed for the photos.
💡 Bison are real
Wild bison roam the interior. The herd descends from 14 brought over for a 1924 movie shoot. They're mainly visible on the inland Hummer tours.
Catalina is mild year-round with Mediterranean climate. May–October is warmest and driest. Winter can be chilly and rainy.
| Months | Weather | Crowds |
|---|---|---|
| May – Oct | 70s, dry | High |
| Nov – Apr | 60s, some rain | Lower |
Pacific water at Catalina is cooler than tropical (65–72°F) — bring a wetsuit if you plan extended snorkeling.
Avalon is walkable end-to-end in 30 minutes — flat along the harbor, hilly inland.
No regular cars allowed in Avalon. Golf carts are the local taxi.
Loops through Avalon to the main destinations every 15 minutes.
Upcoming Disney Cruise Line itineraries that include Catalina.
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