Popular Long Beach water taxi resumes with free weekend rides through July 4 - Long Beach Press Telegram

• Guest board the Aqualink water taxi which had been put back in service this weekend allowing guest to travel back and forth along the shore in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, May 28, 2021. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)

• The Aqualink is officially back in service in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, May 28, 2021. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)

• Guest ride the Aqualink water taxi and enjoy a view of the landscape in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, May 28, 2021. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)

• The Aqualink water taxi is back in business on the water starting this weekend in Long Beach , CA, on Friday, May 28, 2021. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)

• The Aqualink water taxi is back in service starting this weekend in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, May 28, 2021. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)

• Michael Clemson, Board Chair, Greg Bombard, President of Catalina Express, Samantha Mehlinger, Director of Communications, and Kenneth McDonald, President and CEO of LB Transit kick off Memorial weekend with the Aqualink water taxi back in business on the water in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, May 28, 2021. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)

• The Aqualink is back in business on the water taking guest back and forth along the shore in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, May 28, 2021. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)

Long Beach’s popular AquaLink water taxi service returned Friday, May 28, for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic — and just in time for the Memorial Day weekend.

The service, which ferries folks to various points of interest along Long Beach’s waterfront, resumed under sunny skies and amid hopes for a resplendent post-pandemic summer.

The popular Long Beach Transit water taxi will mark its return by offering free weekend trips between Alamitos Bay Landing and the Aquarium of the Pacific dock through July 4. After that, fares will return.

The Queen Mary stop is off the schedule for now, however.

Capacity on the catamarans normally top out at about 75 people, but will be limited to 40 initially to promote social distancing. Masks also are mandatory and admission for the free rides is first-come, first-served.

A small gathering of media and Long Beach Transit employees boarded one of the two 75-foot water taxis at the Pine Avenue dock for a cruise around the bay on Friday, passing Shoreline Village, the Queen Mary, the Carnival Panorama cruise ship that is currently docked, a seagull hanging out on a buoy, a group of jet skiers, and glimpses of the downtown Long Beach skyline, the new bridge and cranes from the nearby working harbor.

The popular water taxi service began as a spring-summer attraction and went year-round in 2019.

The taxis offer “fantastic views,” said Kenneth McDonald, Long Beach Transit president and CEO, who greeted guests for the debut relaunch on Friday. “It’s an opportunity to see Long Beach from the water.”

The free rides run from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and last about 45 minutes, with the vessels traveling at about 22 knots — that’s about 25 mph by land.

Departure times from Alamitos Bay Landing over the Memorial Day weekend are 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 4:45 p.m. and 6:15 p.m.

Departures are 12:15 p.m., 1:45 p.m., 4 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. from the Aquarium Dock 4 location.

Those who miss getting on one of the boats will have to wait about 90 minutes for the next one.

Greg Bombard of Catalina Express, which operate the vessels, said the relaunch’s timing is great, as folks get ready for a summer that will offer more activities than last year. The onboard galleys, food and drinks won’t be available for now, he said, but those protocols could change if coronavirus numbers continue to drop through June.

Bombard also said there could be a similar future service on the San Pedro side of the harbor, but that will depend on the new waterfront project, West Harbor, coming on board. The concept also would make more sense with a secondary destination as a link along the same waterfront, he said.

Information: www.ridelbt.com/aqualink.

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