Catalina Express is mostly a pleasant experience. Tickets are easy to purchase online, though we purchased via phone because I had questions about schedules. The phone operator was great. Check in was easy. The only negative part came after that. Everyone was required to stand outside in a line for about 30 minutes before boarding. The sun was quite hot, and a shaded queue would have been preferable. The boats were comfortable and clean. The crew was friendly. We didn’t buy food or drinks because the trip was only one hour, but the bartender and bar selection seemed pleasant enough. Some people like to sit outside and Starship Express (our return boat) is a much better experience for that. In contrast, Jet Cat Express (our outbound boat) has a strong diesel smell outside that wafts over half of the outside rear deck area even when the boat is traveling at full throttle. Inside seating is similar for both boats, comfortable enough for an hour, with large windows so passengers can watch the ocean. Commodore Lounge (available for an additional fee) is nearly identical to regular seating, but passengers are one level up and they get a free drink. They also get to board about five minutes earlier. It seems hardly worth it unless you plan to buy a drink. With a drink, the Commodore Lounge is a good deal. Reservations are for rides, not specific seats, so if you have a particular place you want to sit in the boat, then it’s a good idea to be at the front of the line. We were in the back part of the line both ways, so prime places were taken when we boarded. Nevertheless, we easily found seats together. Catalina Express is convenient and mostly comfortable, and for most people it’s the easiest and cheapest way to reach Catalina. So it’s worth the price.