First time riding, boarded in Alamitos Bay and got off at Shoreline Village. We had a great experience and $5 each way was a great deal! They had plenty of seating inside and some outside as well, although we went during the week and it wasn't too busy. All team members were very friendly and welcoming, answering any questions with great attitudes. The views were nice and we were able to get some nice family pictures. Definitely recommend experiencing at least once or as a quick fun outing to catch some ocean breeze. read more

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Started in 2001, the Aqua Link shuttles passengers along the 5-mile shoreline to connect DTLB (Aquarium) with Alamitos Bay Landing (has one of my favorite brewpubs in Ballast Point). Managed by Long Beach Transit, it runs in the summer 7 days a week (4.5 round trips with one boat M-Th; 8.5 round trips with two boats Fr-Su). Cost is $5 one-way (no change in fares since beginning....heavily subsidized by LBT since I don't think the fares would cover the cost of fuel for these runs), and now accepts credit card taps (as well as TAP cards) at the point of entry (so no longer need exact change). One is required to exit the boat at each end-point, and then go to the end of the line for the return journey (if all one wants to do is to take the boat ride roundtrip). Unfortunately, the boats had limited capacity, and on both my trips, people in line towards the back didn't make the boat they were waiting for (which can be a problem since it could be up 1.5 hours between boats, though in my case it was only 45 minutes). Thus, had the chance to ride on both boats this Sunday (Aqualink from Aquarium to Alamitos Bay; Aqualink II from Alamitos Bay to Aquarium). Measuring time, it took about 41 minutes from leaving to exiting the boat in one direction. There is comfortable indoor seating (with a snack and alcohol bar area that was not open). Outside, there is a small space at both the aft and forward section of the boat where passengers can enjoy the outside (mostly standing room only). Life jackets are not required. It's mostly a smooth ride, but there is one area on the route where swells definitely makes your stomach feel the drop. Notes: (7/26/2026): Boarded at 13:42 from Aquarium Dock 4. Left exactly at 14:00. Landed at Queen Mary dock at 14:11. Left at 14:15. Captain intentionally did a pass-by of the Queen Mary for great picture opportunities (also saw the Carnival Panorama docked at the Carnival cruise port as well). Got off at Alamitos Bay at 14:42. Got back in line. Denied entry at 14:50 (was the first person of the group that didn't get on). Waited for next boat (Aqualink II). Boarded at 15:45. Left at 15:52. Landed at Aquarium (DTLB). Got off at 16:26. read more

Aqua Link - Aqualink schedule summer 2026 - Boating Near Me

A round-trip boat ride for $10 in Long Beach? This is such a hidden gem activity! I tried this boat ride after 4 years and the experience was just as good with the same low prices. My friend and I tried the Aqua Link around late afternoon/evening in June. We started at Long Beach Pier and did a round-trip to Seal Beach. The boat ride was fun and we enjoyed cruising through the bay. It can get a bit cold around this time, so I would recommend bringing a blanket/warm clothes. The round-trip took around 2ish hours I believe. Upon arrival at Seal Beach, we disembarked and re-boarded right afterwards. You can explore the stop and catch the next boat too. They have both inside and outside areas you can sit at. The inside portion has tables, concessions, and I even think there's a bathroom on board. Outside food seems to be allowed on board. You need to pre-purchase your ticket on the Long Beach transit site/app. Don't activate your ticket until you are close to boarding. You need to line up, but boarding isn't guaranteed since the boat has maximum capacity, so I would recommend planning around their schedule and showing up early if you want to board at a certain time. I believe you can also pay for your ticket in cash and metro credits too. Overall, I would highly recommend this experience and I will continue bringing guests and visitors here! read more

Aqua Link - View of lighthouse from Aqua Link - Boating Near Me

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Once I found out that there was a ferry that provided transportation to Alamitos Bay, the Aquarium, and the Queen Mary, I had to get on it. The Long Beach Aqua Link website has all the information needed, including the schedule for the Aqua Link and the Aqua Bus. The Aqua Bus only provides transportation from the Queen Mary to the Aquarium and vice versa for $1. The $5 one way ride on the Aqua Link was so worth it. We started at Alamitos Bay and waited in line to board the first ferry of the day at 11:30am. On a Monday, it wasnt too crowded. We sat outside in the rear and had fabulous views on the ride that lasted approximately 30 minutes. You'll get close up views of the Queen Mary and the docked cruise ship, along with Shoreline Village. The first stop was the Aquarium and you have to get off. Although we wanted to ride the ferry back again, we still had to get off and then get back in line pay another $5 and reboard. On the way back to Alamitos Bay from the Aquarium, the ferry stops at the Queen Mary and then heads back. There are drinks and snack available on board and a restroom. Plenty of free parking at Alamitos Bay. Super touristy, but I loved it! read more

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Aqualink tickets cost $5 for a single trip and $10 for a round trip (covering all 3 stops). Children under 2 ride free. The views were fantastic and definitely worth seeing. However, I would only recommend this if you have plenty of time, as the wait can be quite long. We boarded at Dock 4 around 2:30 PM and didn't get back until nearly 6:00 PM. One thing to keep in mind is that after riding two stops to Alamitos Bay, all passengers were required to disembark and rejoin the queue for the next boat. If you're lucky, you may be able to board the same boat again, but during busy periods the wait can easily stretch to two hours. According to the staff, two boats operate on weekends, while only one runs during the week. The service is available only from May 22 through September 7 this year. Note: Tickets can be purchased online, and credit cards are also accepted on the boat. read more

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Highly recommend for you to try this at least once in your life. It's $5 one way, we usually catch it at alamitos by ballast point and then we hang out at shoreline village & catch it back on doc 4 next to chilli's restaurant. This is a such a neat experience, you can bring kids too. There's seating indoor and outdoor. You can't get too much of motion sickness but if the water is choppy then you might but i recommend taking Dramamine. It's only a 40 minute ride. There's a bar area that sells snacks and drinks. There are two restrooms inside too. You can also bring your bike on here. They allow strollers too. There's limited seating outside but you can always just stand and enjoy the view. read more

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Took the Long Beach AquaLink from Los Alamitos Bay over to Rainbow Park, and it was a great, smooth ride on a beautiful sunny day. Be sure to get there at least five minutes early, they're quick to stop boarding if you're not on time. It's a great thing to do whether you're local or an out of town tourist. At Rainbow Park there's a walkway around the water, a lighthouse, and lots of green grass to picnic on. read more

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Rode the Aqua Link for the first time for the Long Beach Grand Prix. Such a great option to avoid all of the traffic and crazy parking! Parked at the Queen Mary and the ride over was only $1 per person. Make sure so bring cash! read more

Aqua Link - Boating Near Me

I have lived 10 years in Long Beach and have heard about Aqua Link, finally ride and look forward to next time! We had walked from 4th & Redondo to the Queen Mary and decided to take Aqua Link back to Alamitos Bay. So easy, very clean. $5 for a 30 min ride along the coastline, past the oil islands. Everyone on the boat was friendly and helpful. So easy! read more

Aqua Link - Great boat ride - Boating Near Me

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Such a fun activity in Long Beach. We boarded at Los Alamitos Bay (follow signs to free parking, somewhat by the Crab Pot) and took the link over to the Aquarium dock so we could enjoy lunch at Gladstone's. There are plenty of other places to eat around there or you could actually head to the Aquarium, the Pike shopping center, and more. $5 each way. The schedule was accurate / boats on time. Our kids (8 and 11) loved this too. read more

From Los Alamitos Bay to Dock 4, the ride was perfect and enjoyable. They cancelled the afternoon 2:30 return trip without notification. Their schedule posted inside the water taxi didn't indicate a change. No announcement was made, leaving us and many more waiting in the hot sun for a ride that never showed up. Word on the street was that they had a special charter which replaced their regular schedule. Huh? There were 22 mostly elderly ladies in my group and it was an extreme hardship for many. Most of us got a ride from Lyft back to Los Alamitos Bay. I consider this very poor service. I will never trust them again. Be ready to be abandoned by Aqua Link! read more

What a joke. It took over an hour to get across after the Luke Bryan concert. NEVER AGAIN

A Spontaneous Day Out on the Long Beach Water Taxis. Sometimes the best days are the ones you don't overplan. This summer (May 23 - September 1, 2025), Long Beach is running its seasonal Water Taxi service, a fun, breezy way to get around the harbor for just $1 or $5 a ride! Two routes to choose from: 1. Aquabus (blue route on the map) * Ride time: ~20 minutes * Fare: $1 one way Stops: * Dock 4 by the Aquarium * Shoreline Village (Dock 9) * Queen Mary 2. Aqualink (yellow route on the map) * Ride time: ~40 minutes * Fare: $5 one way Stops: * Dock 4 by the Aquarium * Queen Mary * Alamitos Bay Landing (Berth 3) *Tickets: You can buy them ahead through the Long Beach Transit app, or just pay cash onboard (they can give change). *Schedule & tips: Each fare is one way which means you can hop off, explore the area for a while, and then catch another boat back (just pay again for the return). Be sure to check the timetable carefully, especially the last trip of the day.) Weekends (Fri-Sun) have more departures than weekdays (Mon-Thu), but either way, it's first come, first served and no reserved seats. If the boat is full, you'll just have to wait for the next one. Parking: Where you park depends on where you board. The official site has detailed info and you can search : Long Beach Water Taxis We parked at 99 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802 (height limit 8'2"). The boats have both indoor and outdoor seating, plus a little snack counter. On our 40-minute ride, we got so caught up chatting with friends that we didn't realize we'd reached the last stop and the crew had to ask if we were staying on for another round. The sun was out in full force, but with the breeze off the water, it felt perfectly relaxing. After heading back, we strolled through Harbor Village and ended the afternoon with a leisurely lunch at Parker's Lighthouse. What a perfect way to wrap up a sunny day on the water. Highly recommend this watertaxi experience. read more

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Discovered this air taxi when I went with a group outing on the Duffy boats. I went from the marina to Downtown Long Beach, and it took about half an hour. You can sit outside, but cover your ears when they sound the horn, which they tell you. They have a snack bar inside. It's run by Long Beach Transit Center, and you'll often find locals commuting as well as visitors. read more

Really cool inexpensive ride. We took our four year old on a quick boat ride to shoreline drive. Coming was great! The boat wasn't packed. Super clean. Everyone was really nice . They have snacks available for purchase and we got to see the queen mary. Leaving was different. We were delayed because the crew had to take lunch. The departure time was3:45 we waited like an hour in the heat. Sun scorching us. I recommend the ride but I really wish they'd get the timing together. The sun completely burned us . We'll absolutely be returning but we'll plan differently read more

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What a great deal for a boat ride. $5 to go on a boat from Ballast Point to the aquarium, and if it weren't for their lunch break we could have also gone to the Queen Mary. Easy and convenient and something different. We chose the front of the boat and we got wet. So if you don't want to get wet don't sit in the front. Drinks available as well in board. We did not partake in beverages. *water taxi $5 water bus $1* Cash is best read more

Aqua Link - Boating Near Me

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We took Aqua Link out of Alamitos Bay Marina, the water taxi takes you to Aquarium of the Pacific, then to the Queen Mary and finally back to the Alamitos. The cost is $10 round trip. CASH ONLY!! The boat holds 65 passengers. The round trip is about an hour, depending how many people are exiting and boarding the boat. There is outdoor and indoor seating.it was a smooth pleasant ride .get there early ifyou want outdoor seatiing . It fills up quickly.if you sit up in the front , expect to get wet.Thete are many shops and restaurants to see at the stops.Good for wheelchairs and strollers. ADA friendly. Good for kids. Definitely worth the wait and trip. read more

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Disappointing experience for our senior group We have enjoyed riding the Aqualink several times in the past and have always had a wonderful experience. That is why we were excited to bring a group of widows, many of whom are older seniors, for a special outing. We boarded at 11:30 a.m. and planned our day around returning on the 2:45 p.m. water taxi after lunch at Outback. Unfortunately, the boat never arrived. We were left waiting with no information and ultimately had to arrange Uber rides home because we could not wait until the next boat at 4:15 p.m. Our biggest disappointment was the lack of communication. Had we been told before boarding, or even notified while we were on the boat, we could have made other arrangements. Instead, our group of older ladies was put in a stressful situation trying to find transportation home. We had even done a trial run the week before to make sure everything would go smoothly for our group. Many of these women had little or no experience using Uber, and having to navigate a new transportation option unexpectedly was confusing and upsetting. We appreciate the Aqualink and the enjoyable trips we have had in the past, but we hope management understands that clear communication is especially important for older passengers who rely on planning and dependable transportation. We are sharing this experience so others--especially seniors and group organizers--can be aware and plan accordingly. read more

Great affordable water cruise along the waterfront. $5 one way for anyone over 2yo. You pay on the boat. Taking it one way takes about 20min and is a great way to see Long Beach including Queen Mary. IIt doesn't come too often, so you'll need to look at the schedule ahead of time. read more

First time on the Aqua Link. I loved the experience. The price is reasonable, that I would ride it often. Great way to get around Long Beach. read more

Fun way to get from Alamitos Bay to Shoreline for lunch. Clean, awesome staff , great schedule and only $5.

Always a great time! About 30 mins each way. Grab a bite at Boathouse or Ballast Point. $5 each way read more

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Had an amazing day on the water taxi only down side is only on the summer we went the last weekend and was really ling waiting to get on board read more

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Love the ride. Can't beat for five bucks then I go to Chillis and have a three for me special

Such a fun little outing/boat ride. My friend and I first went on this 4 years ago with our kids. We went again this week (minus the kids). It's only $5 bucks to ride and takes about 25 minutes from The Boathouse dock to the dock by Chili's. Such beautiful views of the water and harbor. Snacks and beverages are sold on the boat. Check it out this summer!! read more

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Aqualink is a water taxi in Long Beach that takes you from Shoreline Village to Alamitos Bay and vice versa. It's $5 per person, and the ride takes about 30 minutes from the west to the east side of Long Beach. Maximum capacity is 70. Make sure to check their schedule for the arrival and departure. It's a fun and cheap excursion of getting out in the water. Sometimes, you need to feel the breeze to refresh your mind. The boat travels around the three artificial oilfield islands within the channel. They sell refreshments, including beer, and restrooms are available inside. read more

Aqua Link - Shoreline Village - Boating Near Me

It is a wonderful ride and so convenient. It has been so busy this summer that some people are unable to board as the boat is filled. I think next summer at peak times they could use more boats. read more

So good for so little $! I wish it was year round. Kids love it, so do we. Would recommend adding this to any experience in town.

Love the city's efforts to provide a fun day on the shoreline, very affordable. Unfortunately, their choices in crew members is questionable. Very arrogant and rude conductors ruin the whole experience and make it difficult to want to take the trip again. Simple courtesy and professionalism goes a long way and it represents this city a little bit better. It can't be that hard to smile and welcome somebody aboard, the whole process is simple but it should be explained not everyone is from the area and most people will mistake a round trip and pay it in advance by mistake. The crew won't advise you otherwise and gladly, will take your money and offer no refunds. read more

This was a really fun child adventure. We docked right next to Ballist Point, it took us to the lighthouse and then to queen mary. The trip was $5 per person and total travel time, round trip, was 2 hours. They have two different boats going at the same time so check the website for boarding times. They have a nice snack bar with alcohol. Highly recommend taking your child on this adventure One star is removed because one of the boats smelled like the septic tank inside and gave us a headache. read more

Aqua Link - Boating Near Me

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The crew was amazing and the views were worth the $5 ride from the aquarium to Ballast point would absolutely do it again. Just make sure you plan your time right because it is about a 45 min ride. read more

If you are in the area the Aqua Link is a fun, little boat ride for $5 one-way. It's a great activity for family and kids. Snacks and refreshments are available for purchase on the taxi. They also serve beer and cocktails. It's a 65 person max. If you go on the weekend, I recommend checking the dock times on their website and getting there a little early, as the taxi is on schedule. read more

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It's a wonderful experience, I would recommend everyone try this service. Cheap and amazing views

It was nice evening to enjoy a boat ride, entertainment and food. Will definitely make this a staple.

Well the aqua bus we had Capt MaX very informative about the history of Long Beach and very ocean life Friendly felt like a friend talking to us which made the trip around the harbor that much more fun. Thanks Capt MaX And only 2 buck$ to tour the harbor Awesome read more

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Protocol seems pretty strict and simple, yet the captain Jessie allows line barging. So go ahead and cut the line he'll allow it. Simply rude!!! #whiteprivilage. read more

Long Beach has few best kept secrets. One is Berth 55 and another is the Aqualink. I always knew that the Aqualink was there, but I just recently tried it out. It only runs in the summer. Stops include Alamitos Bay near The Boathouse, the Belmont Pier, Rainbow Harbor in front of Gladstones and the Queen Mary. In a nutshell, you are getting a harbor cruise for only $5. Not only that, but they have a full service bar on board. We went on a Tuesday afternoon and there was only a handful of people. There is limited seating outside, but plenty inside. They have bike racks to to hook your bike up at no extra charge. They do have a policy of not allowing round trips. But you can get around that by getting off and having food or a drink at one of the stops, then getting back on the next one. They run about every hour. read more

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This is the thing I recommend most for both friends and tourists alike. It's a boat ride, but... + it's cheap and doesn't require advance ticketing, + it has moments of speed* (if you go directly from Seal Beach to the Aquarium without stopping at Belmont Pier), + you can sit in the front and dangle your feet as the water sprays as we commonly did with our day care students, + you can chill out in the smooth, clean but 90s Vegas carpet cabin, + and the fast that they serve stiff "airplane drinks": those tiny plastic cups with a small liquor bottle makes them officially my favorite bar in the state. Get there early if you may want to get the best seat... in the very back, nearest the engine, but that's only the best seat when the engine starts. Housewives line up for that seat. read more

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This is the best kept secret in the Long Beach area. I don't get it, why does the city of Long Beach not advertise this amazing product to the locals and even to the people in Los Angeles and Orange County. So we jumped on the boat at pier number four, right down near the Shoreline Village. We headed east and made a quick stop over by the Queen Mary. The views of the actual Queen Mary are amazing from the pier we have to pull up to. Then we headed across what I'm gonna call the bay in to the next marina and we get dropped off near all these amazing restaurants. We go in we have a great dinner and some cocktails and then we come back out and jump on the boat and headed back to Shoreline Village. Such a fun night!! The views from the boat are amazing, the staff was very friendly and I can't believe I've lived in Southern California my whole life and not taking advantage of this amazing service. read more

Aqua Link - You don't get to see the Queen Mary like this very often! - Boating Near Me

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Great way to see the harbor and get a taste of high speed catamaran style boat in the open waters. $5 each way made the entire round trip $10 per person - such a deal! Hopped on at Alamitos bay and expected to go to the Aquarium but the boat needed to do a crew change so they went to the Queen Mary first. This route showed how the boat handled the open waters at high speed - quite well even on a very windy day with white wind capped waves. Didn't get seasick so that was good. This would be a good trip for families and kids. The crew was very nice, talkative, and the bartender did a great job with stiff drinks! The return trip was nice - about an hour apart which made it easy to do some strolling, shopping and a bite to eat at Shoreline drive. On the way back, at Belmont Pier, some angler caught a stingray and landed it on the pier. The angler had to destroy the fish because the hook was caught too deep and would not have survived. Many of the boat folks thought it was cruel. As an angler, I do understand these things happen not with any ill intent..... read more

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