# What To Do On A Catalina Island Cruise Ship Visit *By James Hills — Updated April 2026* Written by: [James Hills](https://cruisewestcoast.com/james-hills.html) Published: 04 April 2026 Last Updated: 04 April 2026 Evergreen BlogHits: 33304Reading 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)       --- ***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? #### This Isn't A New Problem: What We Can Do To Help Cruise Ships Avoid Hitting Whales In Alaska [This Isn't A New Problem: What We Can Do To Help Cruise Ships Avoid Hitting Whales In Alaska](https://cruisewestcoast.com/cruise-ship-whale-strikes-alaska-why.html) [Plan Your Next Cruise Today!](https://cruisewestcoast.com/book-a-cruise.html) ### Latest Cruise News #### Holland America Opens 2028 Canada and New England Bookings With the Most Montréal Calls [Holland America Opens 2028 Canada and New England Bookings With the Most Montréal Calls](https://cruisewestcoast.com/holland-america-opens-2028-montreal-cruises-canada-new-england.html) ### Cruise Gear & Shopping Guides #### Florsheim Lakeside Is A Perfect Shoe For Cruise Vacations [Florsheim Lakeside Is A Perfect Shoe For Cruise Vacations](https://cruisewestcoast.com/florsheim-lakeside-is-a-perfect-shoe-for-cruise-vacations.html) #### 10 Best Gifts Cruise Lovers Will Actually Want For Their Next Alaska or Mexican Riviera Cruise [10 Best Gifts Cruise Lovers Will Actually Want For Their Next Alaska or Mexican Riviera Cruise](https://cruisewestcoast.com/best-gift-ideas-for-cruisers.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) [Ask Cruise Questions Here!](https://cruisewestcoast.com/cruise-questions-and-answers.html) #### Things To Do In San Francisco On A Cruise Visit [Things To Do In San Francisco On A Cruise Visit](https://cruisewestcoast.com/san-francisco-california.html) #### Things To Do In Portland, Oregon On A Cruise Visit [Things To Do In Portland, Oregon On A Cruise Visit](https://cruisewestcoast.com/portland-oregon.html) #### Things To Do In San Diego California On A Cruise Ship Visit [Things To Do In San Diego California On A Cruise Ship Visit](https://cruisewestcoast.com/san-diego-california.html) #### Sailing On A Viking Ocean Cruise Is Vastly Different Than Any Other Cruise I’ve Taken [Sailing On A Viking Ocean Cruise Is Vastly Different Than Any Other Cruise I’ve Taken](https://cruisewestcoast.com/viking-ocean-is-a-very-different-type-of-cruise.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. 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