The Official Catalina Express Luggage Policy and Weight Limitations

[leabre]

I got this from a friend on Facebook, just thought I'd share with everyone. Due to the language in this document -- and the unpleasant experience I had -- I am now officially boycotting Catalina Express as a means of transportation to the Island.



Here is a complaint form if anyone wants to attempt to get this changed:

 

[Captain12Pk]

As I'm sure you suspected, I'm right there with ya. As long as this policy is in effect, I'm boycotting the Catalina Express, and I suppose indirectly Avalon. I'm not gonna bother with the complaint form though. If they don't want my business, that's fine. "The Dana" in San Diego is a very nice hotel. And it's right across the street from the Marina and only a few miles from Old Town. You can back the car right up to your door to load and unload.
I doubt our boycotting will have any affect though, at least until after Labor Day. But that's ok too.

 

[stargost]

As I'm sure you suspected, I'm right there with ya. As long as this policy is in effect, I'm boycotting the Catalina Express, and I suppose indirectly Avalon. I'm not gonna bother with the complaint form though. If they don't want my business, that's fine. "The Dana" in San Diego is a very nice hotel. And it's right across the street from the Marina and only a few miles from Old Town. You can back the car right up to your door to load and unload.
I doubt our boycotting will have any affect though, at least until after Labor Day. But that's ok too.

You also need to change your Avatar...

The dive park is great, but for a 1 day trip, it's still more expensive than jumping on a boat. Granted, you can do more dives and at the rate you want overthere, but still, you need to carry all the gear, wait for the cab, rush, find a spot, pay 7$ for (just) air ;-), etc ...
Summer time will be for classes anyway. Yes, interesting to see how much business will they care loosing after labor day. Now, they might just cut the early morning boat, which is often empty, and with only divers !
Less divers => no 6am boat => more saving ?

 

[fisheater]

As I'm sure you suspected, I'm right there with ya. As long as this policy is in effect, I'm boycotting the Catalina Express, and I suppose indirectly Avalon. I'm not gonna bother with the complaint form though. If they don't want my business, that's fine. "The Dana" in San Diego is a very nice hotel. And it's right across the street from the Marina and only a few miles from Old Town. You can back the car right up to your door to load and unload.
I doubt our boycotting will have any affect though, at least until after Labor Day. But that's ok too.

Heck. If you dive with Waterhouse Charters (the Humboldt), they're so close to The Dana that you can use one if their dock carts to carry your gear back and forth. Works great.


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[Captain12Pk]

Ha! Didn't even think of my avatar. I'll start looking for a new one. Yeah, pretty rare for me to day trip Casino Point. Would only do that for traiing days. Just too much work. We'd usually take OW classes over for the entire weekend. But absolutely... from Orange County, by the time I drive to the Downtown Dock, Park, unload, get on the boat, cross the channel, get to the hotel... MUCH faster and MUCH easier to drive to San Diego where I have my choice of 3 great boats, all within sight of The Dana.
BTW, I think the Marissa has a 2x on the USS Hogan Sunday.

 

[SoBay Jim]

Based on this thread and my love of the island, I've sent email messages (see content below) to the Catalina Island Company, the Chamber of Commerce and the Catalina Island Conservancy asking that they get involved in finding a solution to this apparently aggressive luggage rule. We'll see if I get any response.

There is a thread on a very popular internet message board that caused me concern (see http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/so...xpress-luggage-policy-weight-limitations.html). It appears the Catalina Express has become very aggressive about their luggage policy which is a great concern with divers and their gear. Some people are now suggesting boycotting the island.

I'm hoping that you can impress upon the Catalina Express how important diving is to the island economy and get them to work with the diving community on a solution.

Thanks,

Jim​

 

[daz88]

It seems that their weight limits are only imposed on divers. I was there over the weekend and the only bags I saw being checked were dive bags. And I saw several suticases larger than my dive bag that never got a second look by the guy with the scale.

 

[drbill]

It seems that their weight limits are only imposed on divers. I was there over the weekend and the only bags I saw being checked were dive bags. And I saw several suticases larger than my dive bag that never got a second look by the guy with the scale.

Now THAT would REALLY concern me.

I can't boycott Avalon since I live here, but I am concerned about the impact this will have on divers coming to the dive park. It already is more economical for many to take mainland dive boats to our island sites, due in large part to the fares on the Express. Enforcing this policy, especially if it is being enforced only against divers, will certainly help drive a decline in our already depressed economy.

I encourage those who are bothered by this to contact the Catalina Express directly as well as the Chamber of Commerce (the Santa Catalina Island Company really has little to do with this issue). Please be courteous in addressing the issue and point out the apparent inconsistencies if you see it being applied selectively only to divers. I plan to talk to the owners of all three dive shops to see if they will add their leverage to this.

If visits to the dive park decrease any further, I may be able to dive it completely solo even on weekends. Of course that would eliminate the poor visibility stirred up by the classes... but who would I have to socialize with topside?

 

[Captain12Pk]

It seems that their weight limits are only imposed on divers. I was there over the weekend and the only bags I saw being checked were dive bags. And I saw several suticases larger than my dive bag that never got a second look by the guy with the scale.

Kinda like biting the hand that feeds you huh? So the construction crews that daytrip over to the island; hauling all of their tool and such, etc. get to board without hassle, but the divers, those of us who spend days at a time in Catalina hotels, grocery stores, restraunts, yada yada ya... well we just wont put up with them any longer.
Sad. The policies of The Catalina Express are going to adversely affect the livliehoods of Avalon residents.
Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.

 

[leabre]

It seems that their weight limits are only imposed on divers. I was there over the weekend and the only bags I saw being checked were dive bags. And I saw several suticases larger than my dive bag that never got a second look by the guy with the scale.

Now THAT would REALLY concern me.

I can't boycott Avalon since I live here, but I am concerned about the impact this will have on divers coming to the dive park. It already is more economical for many to take mainland dive boats to our island sites, due in large part to the fares on the Express. Enforcing this policy, especially if it is being enforced only against divers, will certainly help drive a decline in our already depressed economy.

I can't speak on behalf of Catalina Express, but I imagine that they select divers in particular because their luggage is significantly more likely to meet the weight limits than a tourist who will not be diving.

Even so, it seems to me that if someone appears to have a weighty luggage item, then regardless of who they are, that luggage should be weighed. Select a group, and the'll revolt or boycott.