# What To Do On A Catalina Island Cruise Ship Visit *By James Hills, cruisewestcoast.com — Updated April 2026* Written by: [James Hills](https://cruisewestcoast.com/james-hills.html) Published: 13 December 2019 Last Updated: 04 April 2026 Evergreen BlogHits: 32563Reading time: 01:30 Only 22 miles from the cruise terminals at Long Beach and San Pedro, Catalina Island is a popular stop for cruise ships traveling to Mexico and Pacific Coastal cruises. With a combination of natural beauty popular with divers and natural beauty to explore on land as well as quaint shops, restaurants, and historic gardens, this is a cruise destination that you won't want to miss. Catalina Island does not have docking facilities for large cruise ships and so all but the smallest expedition cruises must tender just outside of Catalina Island's main town of Avalon. The tender ride takes 10-15 minutes and brings visitors to the center of town where they can explore shops, restaurants, and spas. One of the most popular activities here is to rent a golf cart and explore the area on your own. Watch out though, Catalina Island's roads are narrow, steep, and in some instances have sharp drop-offs so be careful! ## Eco-Tourism: Catalina Island offers a wealth of opportunities to explore by land or sea. This includes SCUBA tours through the kelp forests just offshore, snorkeling tours, and fishing as well as boat tours around the island. Onshore, guests won't want to miss a chance to go hiking, ziplining or explore the backcountry on a Jeep Tour to see the herd of buffalo that was first brought to the island more than 100 years ago as well as rugged parts of the island accessible only by off-road vehicles. ## History Tourism: Catalina Island has several historic features that are fun to explore. These include the "World Famous" Catalina Casino, featuring the world's largest circular ballroom, Avalon Diving History Exhibit at the Marine Animal Rescue Center, Catalina Island Museum, and Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden. ## Relax On The Beach: This is Southern California, so of course, there are beaches. Catalina Island has three public beaches if you are looking to kick back and relax in the sun for a while.   ## Videos of What To Do On Catalina Island: ## More Photos of Things You Can Do When Visiting Catalina Island: (coming soon)       --- --- {"html":""} --- ***Thanks for reading. We hope this was helpful!*** Why stop now? [Participate In Our Polls](index.php?Itemid=1275) | [Ask or Answer A Cruise Question](index.php?Itemid=1262) | [Contact Heather to Book Your Next Cruise!](index.php?Itemid=828) --- Written by: [James Hills](https://cruisewestcoast.com/james-hills.html) Pro-BloggerWest Coast Cruise ExpertThought Leader James is an avid fan of all types of cruising but especially enjoys exploring the Pacific coastal regions since it perfectly captures the elements that he is passionate about, including natural beauty, conservation, opportunities to explore new cultures, and meeting some fantastic new people too.  ### 🚢 Ready To Book A Cruise? #### Why Royal Caribbean Bans Baby Monitors but Allows Walkie-Talkies [Why Royal Caribbean Bans Baby Monitors but Allows Walkie-Talkies](https://cruisewestcoast.com/royal-caribbean-radio-policy-explained.html) [Plan Your Next Cruise Today!](https://cruisewestcoast.com/book-a-cruise.html) ### Latest Cruise News #### Brilliant Lady Sails Into LA With Expanded Wellness Programming for Her West Coast Debut [Brilliant Lady Sails Into LA With Expanded Wellness Programming for Her West Coast Debut](https://cruisewestcoast.com/brilliant-lady-wellness-west-coast-debut.html) ### Cruise Gear & Shopping Guides #### These Huk Classic Brewster Shoes Will Help You Avoid Slipping On A Wet Cruise Ship Deck [These Huk Classic Brewster Shoes Will Help You Avoid Slipping On A Wet Cruise Ship Deck](https://cruisewestcoast.com/huk-brewster-deck-shoe-review.html) #### Lightweight Waterproof Backpacks Perfect for Your Alaska Cruise Tours [Lightweight Waterproof Backpacks Perfect for Your Alaska Cruise Tours](https://cruisewestcoast.com/lightweight-waterproof-backpacks-for-alaska-cruise-tours.html) #### Wiley X Boss Sunglasses Kept My Eyes Protected On Our Alaskan Cruise [Wiley X Boss Sunglasses Kept My Eyes Protected On Our Alaskan Cruise](https://cruisewestcoast.com/wiley-x-boss-sunglasses-kept-my-eyes-protected-on-our-alaskan-cruise.html) [Ask Cruise Questions Here!](https://cruisewestcoast.com/cruise-questions-and-answers.html) #### Holland America Line Koningsdam Is The Perfect Cruise For California Wine Lovers [Holland America Line Koningsdam Is The Perfect Cruise For California Wine Lovers](https://cruisewestcoast.com/holland-america-line-koningsdam-is-the-perfect-cruise-for-california-wine-lovers.html) #### James's California Coastal Cruise On Holland America Line Koningsdam [James's California Coastal Cruise On Holland America Line Koningsdam](https://cruisewestcoast.com/california-coastal-cruise-on-holland-america-line-koningsdam.html) #### Things To Do In Seattle Washington On a Cruise Visit [Things To Do In Seattle Washington On a Cruise Visit](https://cruisewestcoast.com/seattle-washington.html) #### Things to Do in Santa Barbara Cruise Ship Visit [Things to Do in Santa Barbara Cruise Ship Visit](https://cruisewestcoast.com/santa-barbara-california.html) We are dedicated to supporting a community of west coast cruisers from ports including [San Diego](index.php?Itemid=838), [Los Angeles](index.php?Itemid=839), [San Francisco](index.php?Itemid=840), [Seattle](index.php?Itemid=841), and [Vancouver](index.php?Itemid=842) as they set sail to destinations worldwide. We offer cruise news, tips, and deals to help make cruising to our favorite West Coast and [Canadian destinations](index.php?Itemid=1812) an amazing adventure! ### Cruise Community Login: {"html":""} --- ### Need help planning? **Heather** is a cruise and travel specialist at cruisewestcoast.com with over 15 years of experience in personalized trip planning. She helps travelers plan cruise vacations tailored to their specific needs — whether it's choosing the right ship, coordinating a group, or finding the best itinerary for your budget and interests. **Get in touch:** - [Request a personalized quote](https://cruisewestcoast.com/book-with-heather?ref=agent) - Email: heather@flowmediamarketing.com --- **About cruisewestcoast.com:** West Coast cruise travel authority since 2015. Expert cruise reviews, port guides, and personalized trip planning. *Source: [What To Do On A Catalina Island Cruise Ship Visit](https://cruisewestcoast.com/catalina-island-california.html) — cruisewestcoast.com* **Related content you may find useful:** - [Cruise ship reviews and comparisons](https://cruisewestcoast.com/cruise-ships/) - [West Coast cruise port guides](https://cruisewestcoast.com/cruise-ports/) - [Plan your trip with our cruise specialist](https://cruisewestcoast.com/book-with-heather?ref=agent)