All Reviews for Marine Wildlife Encounters

Very professional. Informative commentary and a great underwater experience.

My family had a great time and service was excellent and workers are very friendly.

Very informative. Enjoyed our trip. Great weather.

This was a great experience. It was wonderful to be educated about all the ocean conservation and the coral life that is being done. Was also nice at the time, it was not too crowded - which did make this trip worth the price.

Everything was on point. Staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. The day was gorgeous and the sunset was incredible too. Manta-rays we’re a real show!!! They looked so beautiful and out of this word, like dancing in the water and playing with us. Definitely a must at the Big Island.

This was a great sunset cruise along the coast of Maui. There was unlimited drinks on board and the staff was very attentive with getting you refills. I believe the food on board was catered from Joey's Kitchen and we had some pulled pork sliders, brussel sprouts, and chicken wings - they all tasted great. I would highly recommend this sunset cruise but make sure to book early because it sells out quick.

Private whale watch was well worth the trip premium. Professional team met our needs and delivered on multiple whale sightings even though it is late in the season. Saw wonderful beaches and learned so much about the Kona coast from knowledgeable staff. I highly recommend.

Me and my husband are on our honeymoon and only wanted to make sure we got to see whales!!

Very professional, friendly and accommodating. Would highly recommended plus the smaller group size makes the trip that much more enjoyable.

Loved the catamaran, as we got to sit on the sturdy netting and relax during our ride. We saw a mother and newborn calf and hung out with them for the duration of the trip. Adorable. The crew was entertaining, kind, and resourceful.

We were three adults, but we saw several families with children of a variety of ages enjoy the activity as well. It was winter when we did it and it was super warm. They provide sunscreen, but if you are particular about brands, bring your own. Also if you are sensitive to the sun, bring a hat that is able to withstand the wind. Two additional notes: bring shoes you are ok with being locked up as this is a shoeless cruise. And you get two drink tickets with a very serviceable bar and local draught brews.

I learned so much, the Captain and Crew were very knowledgeable and their love for the whales was contagious. We even got to hear the male whales singing.

The boat was nice. The nature expert was very informative and had tons of bad dad jokes. We looked for over an hour before we finally caught sight of the whales. We were pretty far away so we couldn't see them too close. We only stayed for about 10 minutes before heading back, since we were already running late. I'm just glad the trip wasn't for naught.

There are many breathtaking attractions and stunning tours on Waikiki. NOTHING is better than experiencing the beauty of Hawaii and it's wildlife than from the water - and the Star of Honolulu does it, like no other! Of course, the hope and draw of seeing whales is what brought us to this tour; however, truly, what makes this journey unforgettable is, in fact, the journey!

The boat ride, itself, is nothing short of magical. From the enchantment of rolling out of peer to the unreal experience of being on the ocean, looking towards our hotel from the perception of the sea is nothing we will soon forget! The crew were exceptional at being clear on instructions and protocols, which is appreciated - but truly what dazzled us impressed was how genuinely friendly and eager to help the crew was! I am disabled; the crew did an incredible job helping me and making sure I was alright!

The naturalist on board was great too! He was personable, knowledgeable, and open to questions, without being pushy. He enhanced the trip so much, and ticked our funny bone with his hilarious whale dad jokes!

Finally, seeing whales and dolphins in their own world took everyone's breath away! This was, without a doubt, the icing on the cake! We can honestly say, going on this adventure with the Star of Honolulu was the best and most memorable part of our honeymoon! Four of our biggest thumbs up for this amazing life experience; our biggest thanks to the Star of Honolulu!

My husband and I did the 2 hour Calypso whale watching on Feb 22nd and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The guide was very informative and told a lot of fun facts about mother and baby whales. We saw many whales as this is the time when mother whales come down to Hawaii waters to give birth and to train their babies.
The boat was big with comfortable seating and was clean. The bartenders were great too and made some amazing drinks for very fair prices.

Overall it's an must do cruise to go out on the ocean on a Catamaran near the Waikoloa area.

We saw whales from far off as it was afternoon and the bigger ship is not attractive to the whales.

We would do the morning trip on the powerboat with fewer people or go for the sunset cruise.There is not much info provided during the cruise so it's lacking the fun in whale watching as it can be boring if nothing happens.

It would also be better if there was a spotter pointing to the breaches as it happens very quickly and multiple people spotting can be confusing.

After you get on board you are mostly left on your own and the boat only goes less than half a mile out.

We saw more whales from the shore than on the boat but it was good to get out on the ocean with this cruise.

The crew was super efficient and friendly. We were seated at a socially distanced table and served cocktails as soon as we left the harbor. The vegetarian meal was creative and delicious and better than some restaurant meals we've had. The skipper made sure we saw some whales who were especially active. All in all, a great experience.

Can't wait to do this again next year!! This was an amazing experience for my family and I.

Thoroughly enjoyed that experience and will definitely do it again. Have told everyone that they have to give it a try. Your crew was very good and pleasant and the young man talking with us was very entertaining. This is the second time I have been on an Atlantis sub the other was in the Caymans, which I also enjoyed but this one was the best.

We went on a morning whale watching cruise! Enjoyed our morning mai tai! We have gone on this several times… Always enjoy the Star of Honolulu whale watching cruise! The staff is very informative! Would recommend to anyone!

Loved the dialogue on whales throughout the trip. Saw lots of whale activity. Crew very attentive to our needs.

The whales get so close to your raft! The raft experience was surreal and it is a tour I would do everytime.

Very far away sightings. Not close enough to see whales good. Ok but there are cheaper boats for same quality.

This was a wonderful trip. The captain took us far out into the bay and we got into an area where there were many whales. He obviously knew where he was going. It was actually one of the best whale watches I've ever been on. I love the Calypso. The crew was friendly, the drinks great and even the naturalist was informative, if a bit chatty. Anyway, great time in whale soup.

Our family’s first experience whale watching was truly impressive. The crew was professional with information and safety. They did not leave out the fun and had a nice variety of refreshments. We did take the 1:30 pm tour and saw many whales.
The confirmation email as to directions to find them was not so great. They are not in front of the Lava Lava restaurant ( which kept us circling for 10 mins) they are to the right of iLava Lava down along the beach 100 yards aprox, is 2 palm trees on the beach w/ small orange sign to check in. You should notice the platoon boat and catamaran out in the water awaiting for you.
Have extra cash available for tip they are worth it.

Twenty minutes after leaving Waianae harbor, my husband spotted a whale spout first. After that several pairs of whales were spotted during the 2 hour tour.
We were so excited when one appeared at a distance of about 20 yards (whale came up to the boat) Also we watched a whale with a baby, and the baby appeared to wave to us hitting the surface of the water several times with a pectoral fin awhile looking at us.
The waves weren't so strong on that day, so even I, who get seasick, could spend the day out to sea without any problems. I was relieved that there is a restroom on board.
We relaxed sitting back enjoyed the whales and good drinks with snacks . We really had a great time.
The captain and the three staff members always took care to make us feel comfortable. The boat appears and sounds to be in good working order. We felt safe on it.
Thank you, CPT Dave, Quin, Aaron, and braeden!

My husband and I booked this at the last minute, so we weren't sure what to expect. We were very positively impressed. The boat was ready on time, clean and in very good shape. The crew were friendly as well as professional, answering any questions, patiently waiting and following signs of whales, and even taking pictures for passengers. It took a bit of patience on the passengers' part, but the crew knew where to go. We saw several pairs of mother whales with their young. At one point there were spouts going up in three different spots around us. And, really, seeing whales never gets old! The slow roll as they surface then the tail flip as they go back under is so peaceful, but thrilling at the same time. Although the crew were all younger folks, the music they played was at first a nice mix of standard pop songs that appealed to all ages. But the best was when they started playing all Hawaiian artists. (The captain joked that the whales like the Hawaiian music best). That music just seems to naturally go along with the sun and swell of the waves. We would definitely recommend this tour (and we already did).

We had attempted two times previously 9 years ago to see the Mantas and were unsuccessful. We warned our group this time that we may be bad luck. Our experience was over the top, well over 10 Mantas and Justin and Connor were great at sharing their knowledge of these fascinating creatures. We would definitely recommend to anyone wondering about this novel opportunity.

Very good. The lady instrucror was very good n friendly. I am African n we use alot of proverbs i like the fact she spoke in a lot of proverbs which makes me remember home. Loves the artifical ruins for the fishes. Welldone the crew very professional

Lovely experience. Staff were on time and took cautions. Gave the rules and were professional. Saw so many sharks. Overall, it was a good experience. My children loved it

We had such a great time on the whale watching cruise and saw two whales multiple times! The crew was great and very informative! This was an awesome experience and we highly recommend it!