Catalina Classic Cruises

Catalina Classic Cruises isn't a room with a door. It's a Long Beach charter operator, and the EDM and concert boat parties listed under its name are private charters that promoters book on one of its six passenger vessels. The boarding point for its harbor cruises is 100 Aquarium Way, the Aquarium of the Pacific's own address on Rainbow Harbor at the downtown Long Beach waterfront. Don't head for the reservation office at 1825 W Pier D St. That's a working-port address for phone and email bookings, not a dock you can board from.

The boat matters, because the fleet ranges a lot. The King is the flagship, 128 feet with room for up to 500 guests, and the company says it has carried passengers across Southern California waters for more than 50 years. The Catalina Duchess takes 250 and makes Catalina in about 90 minutes. The Catalina Duke holds 225 and has the upper-deck dance floor the company itself calls out for parties. The Two Harbors and the Sentinel each take 149, and the Island Explorer 225. A party on the Duke and a party on the King are different nights, so find the vessel name on your ticket listing.

The company's own harbor cruises come with a DJ, dancing and drinks on board, and its sunset cruises loop Long Beach Harbor as the light goes. Its Catalina Escape trips run to Avalon and Two Harbors and back in a day. For a promoter-run party, the boarding time and the age limit come from the promoter's listing, not from the boat company, so read that listing closely and arrive before the posted boarding time. The office answers charter questions on weekdays from 7 AM to 3 PM and on Saturday mornings at (562) 495-3566.