All Reviews for Sunset & Cocktail Cruises

The cruise and crew were amazing. Very helpful getting people on and off the boat.

Third time on my dinner cruise - it was excellent!!!!

We participated as a family. I think more than half of the guests were Japanese. After we set sail for a while, the captain stopped in an area where whales might be and made announcements in English about which direction they were located. Everyone then rushed over to that side, straining their eyes and holding their breath, staring at the sea. (That silent moment felt strange.)

In my case, there were about 5 or 6 instances like that, but I hardly saw anything. (The photo was taken with a super telephoto lens.) Even if a whale spouted water occasionally, it was hard to tell where it would appear in the vast ocean, and most of the time it was either very far away or a fleeting moment that I missed. No matter how brief or distant it was, if a whale appeared, it would count as an "encounter," so it seems we wouldn't receive a free ticket for the next time.

However, it really seems to be a matter of luck. A lady I met on the boat said that the last time she went, a whale came very close, and it was an impressive sight!

家族で参加しました。お客さんの半分以上は日本の方だったと思います。出港してしばらくすると、船長さんが鯨のいそうなあたりを探して泊まり、英語でどこの方角に居ますとかアナウンスが入ります。すると皆一斉にそっちへ行って目を凝らして海をジッと固唾をのんで目つめます。（そのシーンとした時間が変な感じでした）
私の場合はそういうのが5～6回あって、ほとんどが見れなかった。（写真はカメラの超望遠です）たまに潮ふいたとしても、広い海のどこに出るかわからないし、すんごい遠くにだったり、一瞬の出来事で見逃してしまうのがほとんどかも。どんなに一瞬でも、どんなに遠くでよく見えなくても、現れれば「遭遇した」となるので、次回の無料券はもらえないみたい。
でも、ほんとに運みたいで、船上であったご婦人は、前に乗ったときはすぐ近くに鯨がきて迫力だったわ！なんて仰っておりました。

If you are looking for a sit down dinner & white table cloths, go to Lahaina (and pay a lot more). If you want a relaxed cruise, good music, plenty of good food & drinks with a fun crew, check out the Pride of Maui. The open concept encouraged visiting with other people, which was fun. We even had the extra bonus of having three whales swim right next to the boat! A great evening!

We really had a great time- friendly staff and plenty of room on the boat- not crowded. We would definately do it again

My wife and were on vacation for a vow renewal after 14 years that we wanted to celebrate with amazing Oahu views. I had never heard of Makani and will be sure to spread the good word to many of our friends about an overall unforgettable trip! The Makani Catamaran Sunset Dinner Cruise was 5 star all the way. The boat was amazing, the staff was incredible (polite, fun, upbeat, funny and overall engaging) the food was great and, of course, how could you beat an amazing Hawaiian sunset watching the perfect fireball dip in to the endless blue water. You always expect for the trip to be good when you pay the money to be entertained, but this trip far exceeded my expectations. Everyone wanted to lay out on the catamaran nets to watch the fireworks which is always fun. Overall, this trip was the single highlight of our week long vacation in paradise and I wouldn't have changed a thing. A++ rating for the Makani and as I stated before, we will be sure to spread the word that Makani is the #1 way to spend your night watching the fireworks over the beautiful beaches of Oahu.

I had been looking for a nice dinner cruise that is a little more intimate than the large ships with several hundred people. The Makani sunset dinner cruise was perfect with only 30-40 people and a much more personal feel. Check-in was 5:00 and we boarded the catamaran around 5:20. We were given a quick overview of the ship, safety protocol, and facilities and were off around 5:30.

The initial drink service was a little slow with only one bartender but after the first round, ran fairly quickly. The food came out about 30-45 minutes into the trip and was a very tasty buffet line, similar fare to most Asian buffets in Hawaii.

The catamaran is a great design with a lot of exposed areas to stand, sit, and sunbathe as well as rails all around the ship. There is also a covered seating/dining area below deck in the center with the bar that is perfect for getting out of the wind and/or enjoying your dinner.

The night we went out was pretty windy/choppy but it didn't bother us and didn't look like anyone else aboard the ship had any motion sickness issues. The crew was very friendly and helped to deliver a great dinner cruise experience. We had captain Johnny, bartender Jenna, and can't remember the first mates name.

The fireworks display finished off our night and then we quickly returned to the harbor. I'd definitely recommend this dinner cruise and will take friends and family visiting Hawaii on this again in the future.

I really enjoy our Sunset Dinner cruise. the food was awesome.We also were able to see lots of whales as a bonus. The staff was so polite and helpful. very friendly. I would do this one again and again.

It was the right choice to select the largest boat in Hawaii since our family is prone to seasickness. There was absolutely no rocking, so we had no worries about seasickness and thoroughly enjoyed the lunch buffet. While eating lunch, we were able to see many humpback whales spouting, dorsal fins, and tail fins, which got the kids really excited. Onboard, we made leis using orchids that were sized to be worn on our heads, and my daughter had the opportunity to present in front of everyone after taking a hula dance lesson, which made her very happy. The men who took the ukulele lesson also had a performance, and the host sang famous songs from the area where the American guests were from, playing the ukulele and really engaging the guests onboard. It was truly entertaining. For the Japanese guests, they played and sang "Ue o Muite Arukou" on the ukulele, and it was really fun.

船酔いし易い親子なので、ハワイで一番大きな船を選んで正解でした。
全く揺れず船酔いの心配は皆無で、ランチバイキングも存分に満喫できました。
ランチを食べながら沢山の親子のザトウクジラの潮吹き、背びれ、尾びれ等が見られ、子供達も大興奮。
船上では蘭を使って頭に乗せるサイズのレイを作り、フラダンスの講習を受けた娘の頭に乗せて、皆の前で発表もする機会があり、娘も大満足。
ウクレレ講習を受けた男性陣の発表もあり、司会進行役の方はアメリカのお客さんが来た地区に合わせて、その地区の有名な歌をウクレレで唄い、凄く上手に船内のお客さんを盛り上げてくれていて、本当にエンターテイナーでした。
日本人に対しては、ウクレレで「上を向いて歩こう」をウクレレで弾きながら唄い、本当に楽しかったです。

Incredible views of Honolulu & Diamond head, nice breeze, a fun crew, and all you can drink Mai Tais, what could be better?

My wife & I were really glad we chose the sunset catamaran over the night (fireworks) one, as it got a bit chilly after the sunset... especially if you happen to get wet. If you enjoy being at the front of the catamaran, I would recommend a swimsuit, as you'll probably get wet. Also, if you choose the Friday night catamaran, just be aware that fireworks are only about 10 minutes long at around 7:45pm.

Otherwise, this is a must, enjoy it!

I participated in the tour on April 11. I opted for the shuttle service, but there was only one other group besides my child and me. The bus driver was very pleasant and made sure to check if the air conditioning was too cold for us. The tour guide was also very nice.

When we arrived at the port, it seemed that the other tour guests had come on their own, and I thought we could have taken The Bus as well. Once on board, we were given a file with explanations about the ship and whales in English, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean, and we were instructed to wait in the cabin until the captain's speech was over.

Until we reached the viewing point, announcements about whales and viewpoints on Oahu were made in Japanese as well. When we stopped at the point, we were able to see some whales after a while, but only a little bit of spouting, backs, and tails were visible from the waves. If you’re not carefully watching the surface of the water, you might miss them, so if you're expecting to see big jumps like in photos, you might be disappointed. However, it was great to see the large cruise ships, Waikiki, and Diamond Head from the sea.

Once we were out at sea, the wind was strong, and there were moments when the boat rocked quite a bit, so if you tend to get motion sickness, it might be a good idea to take some medication beforehand. On the way back, I asked the driver to drop us off at the Ward Shopping Center near the port instead of our hotel in Waikiki, which helped shorten our travel time, and that was great.

4月11日にツアー参加。
送迎有りにしましたが、利用したのは私達親子の他、もう一組のみでした。バスのドライバーさんは感じがよく、エアコンが寒くないか等気遣って頂きました。
添乗員さんもすごく感じが良かったです。
港まで行くと他のツアー客は自力で来た様で、ザ・バスでも行けたなと思いました。
乗船すると、船やクジラの説明が記載された（英語、日本語、中国語、韓国語）ファイルを渡され、船長のスピーチが終わるまで船室で待つようにとのことでした。
ポイントに着くまで、クジラやオアフ島でのビューポイント等の説明が日本語でもアナウンスされていました。
ポイントで停泊し、しばらくするとクジラは見れましたが、波間からほんの少し潮吹きや背中や尾ビレが見えるくらいでした。
注意深く海面を見ていないと見逃してしまいそうな程でしたので、写真で見る大ジャンプ等を期待して行くとがっかりします。
でも海上から大型クルーズ船やワイキキ、ダイアモンドヘッドを見れたのは良かったです。
沖に出ると風が強く、大きく揺れる場面もあったので、乗り物酔いする方はあらかじめ薬を飲んでおいた方がよいかもしれません。
帰りはドライバーさんにお願いして、ワイキキのホテルではなく、港近くのワードショッピングセンターで降ろしてもらいましたので、移動時間を短縮する事ができ、良かったです。

I signed up for this cruise because I wanted to experience the best sunset on the last day. The waves were rolling right in front of me, sparkling and creating an incredible atmosphere. The weather was also perfect, allowing for an emotional sunset. I think it's definitely better than being on a cruise ship. I will participate in this again next time.

最終日に最高のサンセットに出合いたくてこのクルーズに申し込みました。波が目の前でうねりキラキラ輝いていて臨場感が半端ないです。天気も最高によかったので感動的なサンセットが見れました。クルーズ船より断然いいと思います。次回もこれには参加すると思います。

Since it's nature, I prepared myself for the possibility that I might not see any whales (but deep down, I really wanted to). The weather was nice, so I thought just seeing the hotels in Waikiki from the ocean would be a good experience. However, I did get to see the whales! (I’m not sure how low my expectations were, but it felt like I encountered more than I had anticipated. Once they started appearing, they were quite visible almost continuously.) I didn’t get to see the dynamic jumps like in the tour's promotional photos, but I did see them spouting water, and I enjoyed watching what seemed to be a mother and calf taking breaths in succession multiple times.

I think taking photos is quite challenging. By the time you think, "There it is," they dive back down, so with a smartphone camera, by the time you press the shutter, it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll only capture waves (laughs). My mother was using a compact camera, but when I looked at the photos later, it was like, "Hmm?? Where??" Unless you have the right skills and a camera (with zoom and continuous shooting), I recommend just imprinting the experience in your memory.

I didn’t fully understand what "English guide" meant, and I was actually a bit anxious, but I think it probably means that the guide who assists during pickup will only speak English. It seems that as long as you can say your name (the applicant's name) at the reception, there won’t be any issues. After confirming the name, I was given a sticker as a boarding pass. I boarded a large shared bus (like a tour bus) at the Sheraton, and after getting on, a video with announcements in Japanese played inside the bus. Once on board, the captain and guide greeted us and provided information, all in English. They explained how long we would be traveling, when lunch would start, and which direction to look for whales. After the explanations, a recorded announcement in Japanese was played.

The announcements regarding the whales were also in English, but since everyone else on board looked in the same direction, it was okay even if you couldn’t catch everything in English.

I brought my grandmother, who has difficulty walking, but even without going out to the third-floor observation deck, we could see the whales (spouting water) well from inside the cabin.

My 11-year-old son was so excited that he forgot to eat. I even thought it might have been fine without a meal.

As we approached the time to return to land, an experience program started on the boat. I participated in a lei-making experience, which was a great experience. In the hula class, the little hula girls were dancing with all their might. The ukulele class seemed popular with the fathers, and at the end, there was a collaboration with the little hula girls that turned into a mini showtime, allowing even the other passengers who weren’t participating to enjoy it together.

This tour, where you might get to see humpback whales that you can't see at an aquarium, is definitely worth participating in. I didn’t need it, but for those who might be anxious, I think it would be good to bring motion sickness medication.

対、自然のことなので、クジラには会えないかもという心づもりで（でも本心は会いたい）臨みました。
天気がよかったので、滞在しているワイキキのホテル群を沖から見るだけでもいい経験だと思います。
ですが、ちゃんとクジラたちには会えました！
（どんだけ期待値低かったのかはわかりませんが）思っていたよりたくさん遭遇できたように感じます。見えだしたらけっこう絶え間なく見えます。
ツアーの商品紹介の写真のようなダイナミックなジャンプを見ることはかないませんでしたが、潮を吹くところも見れましたし、親子でしょうか立て続けに息継ぎをする様を何度も楽しむことができました。
写真を撮るのは至難の業だと思います。
「出た」と思ったらすぐに潜ってしまうので、スマホのカメラですとシャッターを押すころにはほぼ間違いなく波しか写っていません（笑）
母はコンデジで撮っていましたが、後から見ましたら「う～ん？？どこ？？」な感じでした。
それ相応のテクとカメラ（望遠・連写）をお持ちの方でないならば自分の目に焼き付けることをお勧めします。

＜英語ガイド＞というのがよく理解できていなくて、実は内心不安でしたがおそらく送迎時に対応してくれるガイドの方が英語しか話せませんよという意味でしょうか。
受付の時に自分の（申込者）名前さえ言えれば問題ないようです。
名前のチェックが済むと乗車券がわりのシールを渡されました。
シェラトンで乗合の大型バス（観光バスのようなもの）に乗ったのですが、乗車後に車内のビデオで日本語の案内が流れます。
乗船してから船長やガイドの方があいさつや案内があります。これはすべて英語です。
今からどれくらい移動するとか、何時ごろランチが始まるとか、クジラが見える方向はガイドが教えますとか、そういったことを説明しているようです。
一通り説明が終わると日本語で録音されたアナウンスが流れます。

肝心のクジラが見えだしてからのアナウンスも英語ですが、一緒に乗船している他の方が一斉にその方向を見ますので、英語が聞き取れなくても大丈夫でした。

足の悪い祖母を連れて行きましたが、３階の展望デッキに出なくとも、室内からでも十分クジラの姿（潮を吹く様）を見ることができました。

１１歳の息子は興奮しっぱなしで、食事をするのも忘れるほどでした。
食事なしでもよかったかもと思うくらい。

陸に戻る時間になると、船内で体験プログラムが始まります。
レイ作り体験を体験しましたが、とてもいい経験になりました。
フラ教室ではチビッコフラガールたちが一生懸命踊っていました。
ウクレレ教室はお父様方に人気のようで、最後にチビフラガールたちとコラボでミニーショータイム状態になって盛り上がり参加していない他の乗客たちも一緒に楽しめました。

水族館では見ることができないザトウクジラに会える（かもしれない）ツアー、
是非参加されると良いでしょう。
私は必要ありませんでしたが、不安な方は酔い止めを持参されるとよいと思います。

fireworks were amazing. Ride was great and just long enough. Very relaxing. Crew members were nice and funny. Drinks were delicious.

Great time on the boat! Drinks were good, people were nice & a whale and her baby gave us a show! Not to mention the sunset was just great! Will surely do it again!!

It was a very special time. The staff all spoke English. They also provided explanations about the restrooms and other things. It was on a boat. There was an all-you-can-drink option. Almost everyone ordered a Mai Tai cocktail. They were very accommodating with refills. There were also other drinks available, including sparkling wine and white wine. Knowing it was all-you-can-drink, I brought some snacks. I wasn't particularly scolded for eating, and it felt like it was okay. An overseas guest who was on board praised it as the best Mai Tai they had ever had. It was very easy to drink.

When getting on and off the boat, your feet can get wet. I recommend bringing a towel or a cover-up. The staff is very kind and offers to help.

The view from the boat is amazing. The sunset over the horizon was beautiful, and we were able to see the sun setting.

It was very special time.
とても素敵な時間でした。スタッフは全員が英語でした。トイレなどの説明もしてくれました。船にあります。飲み放題でした。マイタイカクテルをほぼ全員が注文。おかわりも、快くいれてくれます。また、ちがうドリンクやスパークリングワインや白ワインなどもありました。飲み放題と知ってたので、スナックを持ち込みました。特に食べていて注意されたりはなく、オッケーという感じでした。一緒に乗っていた海外の方はこれまでに飲んだマイタイの中で一番おいしいと絶賛していました。とても飲みやすかったです。
船に乗り込むときやおりるときに足がぬれます。タオルやはおりものを一枚もっていくのをおすすめします。スタッフが手を貸してくれたりします。とても親切でした。
船からの景色は最高です。水平線に夕日がきれいで、太陽が沈むところまでみれました。

The crew were very helpful and nice, and with an open bar and a great dinner it was really a good deal. Beautiful evening to boot! I would definitely recommend this dinner cruise.

It was perfect, the food, the sunset, fireworks and staff, we even met some very nice people aboard as well, the whole experience made our vacation even better

There are various cruises, but I think this one is the best. First of all, it's close to nature! You can feel the waves and the wind while boarding barefoot. It's also great that you can take pictures with the cheerful staff and enjoy free drinks. Soaking in the romantic atmosphere while watching the sunset is the best. It would be even better if I could speak more English.

いろんなクルーズがありますが1番イイと思います。まず何と言っても自然に近い！波や風を感じて裸足で乗船。陽気なスタッフと写真を撮ったり、ドリンクもフリーなのがまた嬉しい。サンセットを見ながらロマンチックな雰囲気に浸るのも最高です。後は英語がもっとできるとなお良い。

My friend and I had a really enjoyable time on the Makani Sunset Dinner Sailing cruise. Used the shuttle service that picked up right at the hotel and was comfortable, convenient and the driver was professional and courteous. The check-in process was simple and easy. The ship itself was in good condition, larger size and the group was manageable, good mix of people and not overcrowded. The Captain was professional yet casual and fun along with the staff including the entertaining bartender. The drinks were fun and good and the food was also good and filling and good mix of options with more than enough for seconds. The cruise itself was a highly enjoyable great experience on the water, view of Waikiki and the Crater. The full moon over the crater was an awesome treat along with the crew keeping the boat in perfect position to watch the Friday night fireworks. They returned the boat right on time and the shuttle back was also convenient. All-in-all, it was a great experience and recommend it to others.

We really enjoyed the Early bird cruise with breakfast - so much so that we did it the next day too! We didn't see whales the first day and only had a few days left of our trip so used the whale check the next day and had just as good a time. The food was fine, the staff knowledgable and there were plenty of great spots to be on the boat. I enjoyed being right up the top - great view, warm from the engine vents and speakers so I could hear the commentary.

Do not skimp on this cruise... The window seating is spacious and the views are breathtaking! And when you arrive back@ the Harbor, you will be allowed off first. No cramped, uncomfortable seating and no waiting for your meal or to exit off. We're not impatient people but when you have small children and want the views this upgrade is worthy.

The deluxe dinner cruise was great! We upgraded to the window seating and that was a fantastic choice for our family. The investment was worthwhile.The children had front views of the water and full moon. The dinner was good but the beef was the highlight. It was so tender like prime rib! So good!
The fireworks were nice and the entertainment was engaging. The entire staff including the Captain were hospitable and welcoming. It was our second cruise with Navatek but our children's first and it's definitely one of our families' favorite excursions.

This was a wonderful ending to our week vacation in Hawaii. The staff on the catamaran were very friendly and helpful and made you feel comfortable and like you were part of their family. The fireworks from this vantage point was a great way to complete our Hawaiian vacation. Would highly recommend this activity.

I was worried about seasickness, but since it was a large boat, I was completely fine, and the view of the hotels in Waikiki and Diamond Head from the sea was wonderful.

In the reviews, it mentioned that whales could only be seen from a distance, so I didn't have high expectations, but when we went out to sea and stopped the boat, a mother and baby whale swam right next to us, and we were able to see them up close. I was so moved when I saw them spouting water and their backs and tails that I couldn't help but cheer.

Since there was a campaign where one child could join for free with each adult, I was able to have this valuable experience at a great price, and I'm glad I participated in this tour.

船酔いが心配でしたが、大きな船だったのてぜんぜん大丈夫で、海側からのワイキキのホテル群やダイヤモンドヘッドの景色も素晴らしかったです。

口コミでは、遠くでしかクジラがみれなかったとあったのであまり期待はしてなかったのですが、沖にでて船を停めてると親子のクジラが船のすぐそばを泳いで行き間近でみれました。
潮を吹いて、背中、尾びれが見えた時は思わず歓声をあげてしまうほど感動しました。

大人一人につき子供一人無料のキャンペーンだったので、お得に貴重な体験をさせてもらいこのツアーに参加してよかったです。

This dinner cruise was very entertaining and relaxed. We came away at the end of the night thoroughly impressed. The staff on board were very nice, they talked to us personally about Hawaii and what to do while we were staying. The dinner was buffet style and the food was very tasty. Be sure to take warm clothing, as it got later into the night there was a cool sea breeze. The fireworks were impressive, however even without the fireworks the dinner cruise would still be just as good. The boat was in lovely condition and fit lots of people easily. The 2 free drinks was an extra bonus! Overall, we had a lovely night out and would highly recommend as a lovely night out on the water in Honolulu.

I participated alone, but I had a great time! I was able to see whales a few times (although they were quite far away (ー_ー)!!). It was a wonderful experience.

一人参加でしたが、とても楽しめました!
クジラも何度か見る事が出来ました（ただ、かなり遠くて(ー_ー)!!）
いい体験でした

I had a wonderful time.
Even though we couldn't communicate with words, everyone is here to have fun, so it's all good.
However, there is only one restroom, so it might be better to limit your beer intake.
The Mai Tai was also quite delicious.

とても素敵な時間を過ごすことができました。
言葉は通じなくても、みんな楽しむために来ているから大丈夫です。
ただし、トイレは一つしかないので、ビールは控えた方がいいかも。
マイタイも十分美味しかったです。

The pickup was smooth without any waiting, and the boat was average. Since it was a no-meal course, my main goal was to see whales, but in the end, I could only see the whales' backs. The locals mentioned that there have been fewer sightings this year, and I didn't see any jumping. It's partly luck, and it's understandable since they are wild animals.

On the way back, I wanted to walk to downtown instead of taking the bus, so I communicated that to the driver, who kindly agreed and even guided me along the way.

ピックアップも待つことなくスムーズで船も普通で食事なしコースだったので鯨を見るだけが狙いでしたが…結局鯨の背中しか見ることができませんでした。今年は少なくジャンプしてる姿は見ていないと地元の方もおっしゃっていました。半分は運ですね。自然の生き物だから仕方ないですね。
帰りもバスに乗らず歩いてダウンタウンに行きたかったからドライバーさんに伝えると気持ちよくOKして道案内までしていただきました。

We didn't get up to Diamond Head as announced as we had to head back to port for a health emergency with one of the crew.
Otherwise food was great and atmosphere fantastic!