Starting June 1, Chula Vista will finally have a direct ferry link to downtown San Diego, giving residents and convention visitors a straight boat ride across the bay. Operated by Flagship Cruises & Events, the route connects Safe Harbor South Bay in Chula Vista with Fifth Avenue Landing in downtown San Diego, with crossings of about 45 minutes and one-way fares set at $15. Boats will run daily, beginning with an 8 AM departure from Chula Vista and continuing into the evening, with the final sailing leaving Fifth Avenue Landing at 7 PM.
Route, schedule and fares
According to Flagship Cruises & Events, the Chula Vista run will operate roughly every two hours between 8 AM and 7 PM, using a small 32-passenger vessel that does not have restrooms on board. The company notes that both terminals are within easy walking distance of the Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center and the San Diego Convention Center. Tickets are sold as one-way trips and boarding is first-come, first-served, with all passengers required to get off at the end of each leg before reboarding. Riders are encouraged to buy tickets in advance through Flagship’s online booking system or at the Fifth Avenue kiosk.
Launch details and what officials said
As reported by The San Diego Union-Tribune, the service is slated to launch June 1, with one-way fares of about $15 and crossings expected to take roughly 45 minutes. The paper notes that Safe Harbor Marina reached an operating agreement with Flagship to run the route. Chula Vista Mayor John McCann told the outlet, “The ferry launch fulfills a vision dating back more than two decades.” Brad Engel, president of Flagship Cruises & Events, told the paper the company aims to grow the service and add more trips over time.
Local context and the tall-ship saga
The move to host a commercial ferry at Safe Harbor follows months of scrutiny over the marina’s management, including a March termination notice to the nonprofit that operates the tall ship Bill of Rights and a later reversal, according to previous reporting. NBC 7 San Diego detailed the public reaction and the involvement of local officials. As reported by Hoodline, Flagship is also working to transition some routes to cleaner ferries, a shift that could influence future service on the bay.
Plan ahead for the trip
Passengers should keep in mind that the current vessel is small and not wheelchair accessible, so it is wise to bring water and plan around the lack of onboard facilities. For Flagship Cruises & Events, round-trip tickets require two separate one-way tickets, and boarding is handled on a first-come, first-served basis. Officials and the operator say they expect to scale up service if demand calls for it, so riders are urged to check the latest schedule before heading to the dock as the new route settles into a regular rhythm.
