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CATALINA EXPRESS BIDS FOND FAREWELL TO ‘BIRTHDAY RIDE’ PROMOTION AND
GIVES THANKS TO ITS MANY BIRTHDAY ISLAND PARTNERS

Birthday Celebrants Have Until December 31, 2017 to Take Advantage of the Offer
SAN PEDRO, Calif. (October 13, 2017) – On its 30th anniversary in 2012 Catalina Express
launched its “Birthday Ride” promotion and its “Birthday Island” partnership. Since
then, the ferry company has been proud to continue the promotion for six years, which
has resulted in nearly 500,000 registrations and 200,000 round-trip voyages.
As with all good things, the popular birthday promotion — which introduced many new
visitors to the wonders of Catalina — will end for visitors and island residents on
December 31, 2017. There is still time for visitors to visit on their birthday, as long as
they register and begin their journey by December 31, 2017.
Greg Bombard, President/CEO, says, “Catalina Express wishes to thank its more than 45
island partners who participated in the Birthday Island program over the past six years,
offering discounts, perks and value-added products and services for birthday celebrants.
This program made visitors’ special day on the island even more meaningful with other
visitors, residents and business owners wishing them a happy day.
“We launched the program not only to celebrate our 30th anniversary, but to provide an
incentive for visitors to get a ‘taste’ of the new Catalina, which has grown and evolved
with the opening of new attractions, restaurants, culture and entertainment.”
The Birthday Ride program provided visitors a novel way to celebrate their birthday with
friends and loved ones, with nearly 60 percent of birthday celebrants being first time
visitors to the island. While many visited for the day, a large percentage also spent one
night or more, and now come to the island to celebrate other special occasions too.
Catalina Express will continue to offer many other promotions and contests, providing
more reasons to visit the island year-round, including boat and hotel packages, holiday
gift card program, the Ship and Zip package, and more to be announced.
About Catalina Island and Catalina Express
Located 22 miles off the coast of Southern California, Catalina Island is accessible by boat from three ports
via Catalina Express: San Pedro, Long Beach and Dana Point. Catalina Express offers up to 30 daily
departures and year-round service to Avalon and Two Harbors, transporting nearly one million passengers
annually. It offers comfortable airline-style seats and grouped table seating. Traveling to Catalina Island in
as little as one hour, each vessel was designed and built/purchased specifically for comfort and speed.
Catalina Express is an unparalleled resource in Southern California, and one of the world’s most respected
ferry fleets. For information and reservations, call 800-429-4601, or visit Catalina Express.
Catalina Island’s clear blue waters and Mediterranean climate and ambiance are a Shangri-La. This laidback
island town is chock full of places to eat, drink, shop. Catalina has a wealth of natural and cultural
resources, unique animals and plants found nowhere else on earth. Sightseeing opportunities are
numerous and varied from escorted tours around town, adventure rides into the interior, jeep eco tours,
hummer rides, to zip lines, rock climbing and undersea adventures. Independent activities are plentiful,
camping, hiking, snuba, diving, snorkeling, kayaking, spa treatments, beach lounging, golf, motor boating,
parasailing, fishing, boat rides down the coastline and more.