Key Aspects:
- Catalina Island’s City of Avalon has just approved a preferential berthing agreement with Disney Cruise Line.
- For at least the next five years, Disney will get preferential scheduling when visiting the cruise port on Tuesdays all year and on Saturdays during select months.
- Making this a mutually beneficial agreement, Disney will pay a per passenger fee to Catalina and will bring at least 120,000 cruisers to the island every year.
Located just 22 miles off the coast of Los Angeles, Catalina Island has made a name for itself as a lovely cruise destination, especially for Baja and Mexico-bound sailings.
I speak from experience when I say the town of Avalon is absolutely charming, and there is no shortage of beaches or outdoor activities on the beautiful island.
In the past, Catalina has allowed the cruise lines to visit without firm anchorage agreements in place. However, that is now changing.
In March, Disney Cruise Line entered into a 5-year preliminary berthing pact with Catalina that would give them preferred access to the port on certain days depending on the time of the year.
And as of October 7, 2025, the agreement was officially approved by the Avalon City Council. It will be in place until at least September 14, 2030, with two additional five-year renewal options available.
The terms of the deal are that Disney will get preferred anchorage space for Saturdays and Tuesdays during Catalina’s “peak season,” which runs from September 15 to May 15.
During the summer season, from May 16 to September 14, Disney will have preferential scheduling on Tuesdays.
In exchange, Disney will bring a minimum of 120,000 cruise passengers to the island every year. If the cruise line falls short of the annual minimum, they will be required to remit payment.
Additionally, Disney will pay the city a fee that is equal to the City Wharfage Rate plus an additional Passenger Service Charge that is equal to 20% of the Wharfage Rate for each passenger. The amount is subject to a 2.5% annual increase.
But while this sounds like a lot of money, the fee per passenger is starting out at $9 USD.
A Mutually Beneficial Agreement
In Catalina’s case, securing formal port agreements with the major cruise lines is smart because it helps to provide financial stability for the island and to better manage the influx of cruise guests.
Tourism is really the backbone of Catalina’s economy, which makes this extra important.
A large percentage of the island’s approximate 4,000 residents are employed in food services, hospitality, and recreation that caters to visitors.
Additionally, trading preferential berthing for higher passenger fees will help to fund harbor maintenance and improvements to both city and cruising infrastructure.
In addition to Disney, Catalina has also been negotiating with Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean.
In Disney’s case, having a preferential berthing agreement with Catalina guarantees their visits to the cruise port and prevents cancellations due to scheduling errors or port congestion.
As a small tender port, the number of cruise ships that is permitted to anchor in Avalon Bay in one day is carefully managed to avoid overcrowding – both in the harbor and in the small town.
Catalina is also likely a key part of Disney’s plan as it expands its presence on the West Coast.
In the recently released itineraries for fall 2026 and spring 2027, Disney has increased the volume of its San Diego-based cruises.
Disney Wonder will homeport in San Diego for seven months straight beginning in October of 2026, while Disney Magic will homeport in San Diego in October and November of 2026 – and many of their itineraries include Catalina.
More From Cruise Hive
Neither of Disney’s first two ships are a stranger to island life though.
Disney Wonder made her maiden call to the island in 2022, and added Catalina to her 3 and 4-night Baja Cruises in 2024 and 2025. Disney Magic, meanwhile, first started sailing to Avalon in 2023.
And with a long-term agreement in place, many cruisers are hopeful that more of Disney’s magical fleet will be making their way to the West Coast in the future as well.
