blue steal
Contributor
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This is my feeble attempt at a trip report.
CATALINA EXPRESS
Starting with the Catalina Express in Long Beach.
Parking is easy, but it is $15 per day, ouch!
Check in and boarding also no problem. I like to sit on the starboard side of the ship to watch as we approach the casino.
You can go outside on the rear deck or up top for a nice view.
If you decide to change you time going back to LB, there is a $5 charge.
I have used the luggage transport before and it is $8 RT, and they deliver you gear to the park while you walk over.
Taxis are available and run about $13 for 2.
DIVE PARK
The dive park has stairs for entry/exit. One should enter on the right side and exit the stairs on their right.
There is a bathroom around the side of the casino, although not the cleanest, it is functional.
There are lockers and the price is .75 for each entry, bring quarters.
The fill station has rental stuff, snacks, sodas, etc. I always open a tab and pay when I'm ready to leave. Fills are $7.
They do require to see your C-card, so make sure you bring it with you.
SEAPORT VILLAGE INN
Okay, most of my trips to the dive park have been single day trips, but we decided to stay this time.
Many Scubaboarders had recommended the Seaport Village Inn.
I was worried at first as the reports from tripadvisor were not favorable.
But after talking to Rauol the manager, we got the diver special and I asked for an upgrade from the standard room to the premium rooms. Very friendly folks. Rauol was waiting for us at the ferry landing at 7:15 in the morning and took us directly to the dive park. He said to call when we were ready to come up and that the room was already ready.
After the dives, called and he was there pronto to take us up the hill to SVI.
The property is clean and no smoking. They have an outdoor shower for rinsing and a hottub next to the lobby.
They offer a breakfast and although it is not fancy, it's ok. Coffee, tea, orange juice, oranges, apples, cereal, breads, those frozen waffles, scrambled eggs, and diced potatoes.
Our room was on the 4th floor and they do have elevator, thanks for that.
The room was clean, fair in size, bathroom with jacuzzi tub, skylight, micro, mini frig., tv. I did not use either the AC or heater, just left windows open.
They will store your stuff after check out and still take you to the dive park or back to the ferry. I thought that was a nice touch.
One complaint is that it is at the end of a cul-de-sac up the hill, but quite frankly it is a pretty easy walk, although I would not want to haul my gear back and forth.
There is a stairway behind the hotel that goes down the hill, but lots of stairs.
Ok, would I go back to the SVI. You bet. Not fancy, but worked for us quite well.
Lastly if you to see some photos, go to my gallery and click on the first picture called Catalina Dive Park, then click slide show in the upper right hand. There is about 34 pictures with captions.
CATALINA EXPRESS
Starting with the Catalina Express in Long Beach.
Parking is easy, but it is $15 per day, ouch!
Check in and boarding also no problem. I like to sit on the starboard side of the ship to watch as we approach the casino.
You can go outside on the rear deck or up top for a nice view.
If you decide to change you time going back to LB, there is a $5 charge.
I have used the luggage transport before and it is $8 RT, and they deliver you gear to the park while you walk over.
Taxis are available and run about $13 for 2.
DIVE PARK
The dive park has stairs for entry/exit. One should enter on the right side and exit the stairs on their right.
There is a bathroom around the side of the casino, although not the cleanest, it is functional.
There are lockers and the price is .75 for each entry, bring quarters.
The fill station has rental stuff, snacks, sodas, etc. I always open a tab and pay when I'm ready to leave. Fills are $7.
They do require to see your C-card, so make sure you bring it with you.
SEAPORT VILLAGE INN
Okay, most of my trips to the dive park have been single day trips, but we decided to stay this time.
Many Scubaboarders had recommended the Seaport Village Inn.
I was worried at first as the reports from tripadvisor were not favorable.
But after talking to Rauol the manager, we got the diver special and I asked for an upgrade from the standard room to the premium rooms. Very friendly folks. Rauol was waiting for us at the ferry landing at 7:15 in the morning and took us directly to the dive park. He said to call when we were ready to come up and that the room was already ready.
After the dives, called and he was there pronto to take us up the hill to SVI.
The property is clean and no smoking. They have an outdoor shower for rinsing and a hottub next to the lobby.
They offer a breakfast and although it is not fancy, it's ok. Coffee, tea, orange juice, oranges, apples, cereal, breads, those frozen waffles, scrambled eggs, and diced potatoes.
Our room was on the 4th floor and they do have elevator, thanks for that.
The room was clean, fair in size, bathroom with jacuzzi tub, skylight, micro, mini frig., tv. I did not use either the AC or heater, just left windows open.
They will store your stuff after check out and still take you to the dive park or back to the ferry. I thought that was a nice touch.
One complaint is that it is at the end of a cul-de-sac up the hill, but quite frankly it is a pretty easy walk, although I would not want to haul my gear back and forth.
There is a stairway behind the hotel that goes down the hill, but lots of stairs.
Ok, would I go back to the SVI. You bet. Not fancy, but worked for us quite well.
Lastly if you to see some photos, go to my gallery and click on the first picture called Catalina Dive Park, then click slide show in the upper right hand. There is about 34 pictures with captions.
