LOS ANGELES TOURS and CRUISES
TIP: if you easily get motion sickness, buy dramamine and take it 30-60 minutes before a cruise or helicopter flight; on a cruise, sit in the rear of the lower deck where motion sensation is reduced. When booking a tour, inquire if it has a live guide or recorded guide - lower prices tend to have recorded guides.
Catalina Island Cruises from Marina Del Rey
DESCRIPTION: Two 149-passenger ferries make the 90-120 minute cruise to beautiful Catalina Island - its only 40 miles southwest; dolphins like to approach the ship shortly after the cruise departs - a nice reminder that you really are getting away; if you like boating, then enjoy upper deck views with a light jacket since the Marina Del Rey Flyer, a dual engine catamaran, travels up to 30 knots per hour and it gets windy; snacks, beverages and mixed drinks are available on board; 8 passengers can upgrade to the Admiral's Lounge inside the upper deck; the Flyer outbound from Marina Del Rey first stops at Avalon (southern end of the island) then doubles back to the less active Two Harbors (northern end of the island). If
DAYS & HOURS: check their website seasonal schedule since departures to Avalon is 8:30a some days and 9:15a on others; return departure is at 5p
PRICES: Roundtrip to/from Avalon $75 adults; Age 62+ $68, Ages 2-11 $56; Age 1 and under $4; book online for significant discount and you can rent island bikes with them; it is recommended to book Catalina Island hotel and tour packages at the same time as the cruise for more discounts and convenience; they also book non-scheduled group cruises to the island
ADDRESS: Fisherman's Village, Marina Del Rey MAP
PARKING: $8 per day, cash only
PHONE: 310-305-7250
WEBSITE: http://www.catalinaferries.com
Marina Del Rey Harbor Tours
DESCRIPTION: 40-minute narrated tours of multi-million dollar yachts, homes and sometimes sea lions; Fisherman's Village is not as vibrant as it used to be, but they is still a nice seafood restaurant on hand for pre- or post-dining
DAYS & HOURS: tours depart 12a, 1p, 2p, 3p, 4p and 5p
PRICES: $10 adults, $6 ages 2-12, $8 seniors
ADDRESS: Fisherman's Village, Marina Del Rey MAP
PARKING: pay by the hour or $8 per day, cash only
PHONE: 310-577-6660
WEBSITE: http://www.hornblower.com/port.asp?port=md
Los Angeles World Cruise Center
DESCRIPTION: Home port of The Love Boat television series 1977-1986 and next to a port of cargo vessels, World Cruise Center handles three major cruise lines and express ferries to Catalina Island; 3000+ passenger cruise ships dock at the two large terminals; the complex has ample parking, a cafe and restrooms; courtesy shuttles from ship to parking lot are scheduled on ship days only; Yellow Taxis are always around when ships are in port and you can rent a car; the cruise center is managed by Pacific Cruise Ship Terminals
Royal Caribbean offers regular 3 and 4-night cruises to Mexico Baja on Monarch of the Seas and 7-night Mexican Riviera cruises aboard Vision of the Seas.
Princess Cruises offers 7-night Mexican Riviera cruises on Star Princess, the biggest cruise ship on the West Coast. Additionally, Princess offers a 10-night cruise to the Mexican Riviera on the Sun Princess seasonally. In 2005 Dawn Princess and Island Princess will transport passengers on 7, 10 and 11-night cruises to Alaska.
Disney Cruise Line homeports its flagship here, Disney Magic for 7-night cruises to Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán and Cabo San Lucas
ADDRESS: World Cruise Center at 500 North Front Street, San Pedro MAP
PARKING: $11 per day with 2500 secured parking spaces available
PHONE: 800-540-PARK
WEBSITE: http://www.pcsterminals.com
Catalina Island Cruises from San Pedro
DESCRIPTION: Cruise to Catalina Island to hike or picnic year round during warm months. Most of the island is a habitat preserve, so there are rules to protect the wildlife. Boats dock at Avalon harbor and reservations recommended. Get there in 60 minutes aboard Catalina Express
PRICES: see website
ADDRESS: 95 Berth, San Pedro MAP
PARKING: $11 per day with 2500 secured parking spaces available
PHONE: 310-519-1212
WEBSITE: http://www.catalinaexpress.com
Catalina Island Cruises from Long Beach
DESCRIPTION: Get there in 55 minutes; reservations recommended; embark at the passenger terminal next to the Queen Mary; from LA take the 405 Freeway south to the 710 Freeway south to its end. Stay to the left, follow signs to downtown Long Beach. Look for the Queen Mary signs and exit on Golden Shore.
PRICES: see website
ADDRESS: 320 Golden Shore, Long Beach MAP
PARKING: Parking costs $10 daily, cash only
PHONE: 310-519-1212
WEBSITE: http://www.catalinaexpress.com
TOURS
L.A. By Pam Siteseeing Tours
DESCRIPTION: Pam Garrett is a premier Black family reunion coordinator of personalized city tours and specialty tours of LA and surrounding locales, sponsor of a youth travel club; Pam also provides city guide services for visiting authors; available for large groups and has a concierge service for small groups; a travel club membership is available for Los Angeles residents
DAYS & HOURS: appt only
PHONE: 323-777-7833 or 800-LABYPAM
WEBSITE: http://www.heattours.com
Black LA Tours
DESCRIPTION: Since 1991, Valerie Holton has been conducting group tours of Black Los Angeles Heritage, but her specialty is Black Family Reunion tours to Allensworth, California - a model Black Town from early 20th century, which lies about 100 miles outside LA
DAYS & HOURS: since these are only 30+ person group tours, they require 3 weeks advance reservatiion
PRICES: $30 adults, $25 Age 60+, $18 Ages 6-18, ages 5 and under enter Free
PHONE: 323-750-9267
Gloria Vinson Audiences
DESCRIPTION: a by former television producer, Gloria Vinson's Hollywood Tour can get you in popular TV show audiences with the least hassle; she also arranges tours of movie studios and city tours; She also conducts a Celebrity Tour and one tour hosted by actress Ja'net DuBois; her tours last from 2-6 hours depending on whether a TV show is included; she also produces a African American Heritage Tour
DAYS & HOURS: appt only
PRICES: Hollywood Tour $40/person, Celebrity Tour $50/person, Willona's Ride $50/person, African American Heritage Tour $40 per person
PHONE: 323-295-0888
WEBSITE: http://www.heattours.com
Starline Tours of Hollywood
DESCRIPTION: Since 1935 these have been the most popular tours of Hollywood, Sunset Strip, Beverly Hills, Miracle Mile, Melrose Ave, Santa Monica, Downtown, celebrity homes, movie studios and night tours; red top double-decker buses imported from the UK are the most visible buses used on most Hop On-Hop Off routes, but often have recorded guide information; small shuttle buses are used to tour Movie Star Homes with the driver also serving as you guide - clarify which Movie Star homes you will see before your tour since some take different routes; a red & green trolley bus is used to for Hollywood only Hop On-Hop Off; closed-top vehicles are used when it rains; if you prefer not to drive in LA, they offer a wide range of packages to cover the biggest attractions with a 48 hour Hop On-Hop Off pass; see their website for wide range of tour options
DAYS & HOURS: daily 9:30a
PRICES: begin at $20 adults, $16 kids for 1 hour Hollywood only tour up to $63 adult for the 5 1/2 hour Grand City Tour; purchase tickets at the Starline kiosk in the Chinese Theater courtyard; other prices available for tours combined with destinations such Universal Studios, Getty Museum and Disneyland
ADDRESS: Chinese Theatre on 6925 Hollywood Blvd MAP
PHONE: 800-959-3131
WEBSITE: http://www.starlinetours.com
SCENIC FLIGHTS
Catalina Island Helicopter Flight from San Pedro
DESCRIPTION: a family run business that flies 3 six-passenger turbine powered, sound proofed helicopters; their aerial views include a portion of the Palos Verdes Peninsula and Avalon Catalina Island; takes only 15 minutes to Avalon in good weather; each helicoter carries 1 to 6 passengers
DAYS & HOURS: 8a-Sunset
PRICES: Per person $86 one-way or $164 roundtrip + tax
ADDRESS: World Cruise Center - Berth 95, San Pedro MAP
PARKING: $11 per day with 2500 secured parking spaces available
PHONE: 800-228-2566
WEBSITE: http:www.islandexpress.com
Catalina Island Helicopter Flight from Long Beach
DESCRIPTION: For aerial views that include Long Beach, consider this option which takes only 15 minutes to reach Avalon in good weather; each helicoter carries 1 to 6 passengers
DAYS & HOURS: 8a-Sunset
PRICES: Per person $86 one-way or $164 roundtrip + tax
ADDRESS: 1175 Queens Highway, Queen Mary Heliport, Long Beach MAP
PARKING: $10 per day
PHONE: 800-228-2566
WEBSITE: http:www.islandexpress.com
BLACK CULTURAL TRAVEL MADE EASY