All Reviews for Cruise Ship Shore Excursions

I boarded the Star of Honolulu and participated in a whale watch. Unfortunately, we didn't see any whales that day. We gathered at 8:45, but we left the hotel early and took an Uber because my wife doesn't like getting seasick, so we chose the Star of Honolulu.

We were warmly welcomed by the crew and the captain as we boarded the ship. The crew provided us with drinks and banana cake, along with explanations about the enjoyment of whale watching and the ecology of whales before we set sail.

We each went to the third deck and the rooftop deck, ready for the whale watch. Squinting our eyes and listening to the announcements over the ship's intercom, we soaked up the sun while looking at the streets of Waikiki and Diamond Head, but the whales didn't appear for quite a while. After turning back, we ended up spending over two hours on board without seeing any whales this time. However, it was a fun time. On the way back, we received tickets to board again, and I'm looking forward to the next time!

スターオブホノルルに乗船してホエールウォッチ参加しました　残念ながら当日は見れませんでした。8:45集合でしたがホテルを早めに出てUberで　妻が船酔いが嫌なのでスターオブホノルルにしました
クルーや船長の暖かい出迎えで船内に　
クルーからの説明でドリンクとバナナケーキを。ホエールウォッチの楽しみやホエールの生態などの説明があり出航　
3階デッキや屋上デッキに各々行きいざホエールウォッチ　眼を細めて　また艦内放送からのお知らせを聞きながら日光にあたりワイキキの街やダイヤモンドヘッドをみながら、なかなか現れないホエール　折り返してから結局２時間あまりの乗船で今回は見れませんでした。でも楽しいひと時でした。帰りにまた乗船出来るチケットをもらい次回を楽しみにしてます

Thank you, Mr. Tamura from Bon Voyage Kobe. I entrusted you with the local options, and thanks to you, I was able to see whales, which was wonderful. I look forward to working with you again if the opportunity arises.

ボン・ヴォヤージュ神戸田村さん　ありがとうございました　現地のオプションもおまかせとの事で依頼しました。おかげさまでクジラも見れてよかったです。また機会があればよろしくお願いします

The day before, there was a heavy rain warning and the weather was bad, but on the day itself, it was sunny with gentle winds, making it perfect for whale watching. As we went up to the deck and waited, we received a message from the captain! Looking in that direction, we saw a cute tail 😍😍😍—there was a baby whale! After a while, many boats gathered, and everyone started watching! I wanted to take photos, but they quickly went underwater, so I hope you can burn the memory into your mind. You could see the whale's spout even from a distance, and it moved in that direction. Although it was a short time, we were able to see a lot. Also, the view of Waikiki and Diamond Head from the boat was amazing! I want to go again.

前日は大雨警報が天気が悪かったのですが、当日は晴れて風も穏やかで、絶好の鯨ウォッチング日和でした。デッキに上がって待っていると船長からのメッセージ！そちらの方向を見ていると可愛い尻尾が😍😍😍ベビー鯨がいました。しばらくするとたくさんの船が集まってきてみんなでウォッチング！写真！をと思っているとすぐに水中に入ってしまうので是非目に焼き付けて欲しいです。🐳の潮吹きが遠目でもよく見えてそちらの方向へ移動してくださいます。短い時間でしたがたくさん見る事ができました。また、船からのワイキキ、ダイヤモンドヘッドの景色も最高！また行きたいです。

We saw whales several times and were able to see them in various forms. Thank you for the precious experience. Also, the bread and Kona coffee included in the tour were delicious, and we had a great time.

数回くじらが出現しており、いろいろな姿が見れました。貴重な体験をありがとうございました。
また、ツアーに付属しているパン、コナコーヒーも美味しくいい時間を過ごせました。

Lots to see and taste, really good evening of Hawaiian culture!

For a hotel luau they sure put on a show, very talented group!

Our favorite way to end of trip in Hawaii is at Mauka Luau, I love the new location!

Perfect timing of the tour, and a great way to get to stargaze on Hawaii

Short and sweet while you get a preset ticket to Arizona which is awesome.

Convenient, and the driver was a good chat on the island.

Really wonderful to upgrade to this awesome dinner schedule

Not only do you get a great show you get a great laugh throughout - perfect balance!

The dancers and team are so talented, what an amazing show they pull off!

My kids loved all the pre-show fun they have included, and the food was actually pretty stinking good!

Sunset views from the deck were absolutely stunning, and the buffet had a great variety of delish foods!

Overall a fun night out with great food, beautiful scenery, and an unforgettable show.

Wonderful evening!
Delicious dinner, polite efficient staff

Unfortunately, we couldn't see any whales, but the view from off the coast of Waikiki was amazing. On the way back to the harbor, a pod of dolphins approached the boat and entertained us. If you're traveling during that season, they give you a ticket to board again, so I think it's a good idea to make a reservation for an early travel date.

残念ながらクジラは見れませんでしたがワイキキ沖から眺める景色は最高です。帰港途中にドルフィンの群れが船に近づいて楽しませてくれました。
そのシーズン中ならもう一度乗船出来るチケットをくれるので渡航日程の早い日に予約されると良いと思います。

I signed up for this thinking it would be enjoyable with a baby. Since it’s a large boat, the swaying is less intense, strollers are allowed, and light snacks are included, I chose this whale watching tour among many options.

I opted out of the shuttle service, so I took a taxi from the hotel to the location. It took about 20 minutes to arrive from the center of Waikiki. The rush hour traffic wasn't too bad, so we arrived smoothly.

The passengers were mostly from Europe and America, and everyone was cheerful. There were many families with babies and children, and they even set up a coloring corner for kids, which was a great way to keep them entertained.

The boat swayed more than I expected, so I was glad I took motion sickness medication just in case. We were able to see whales a few times from a distance, which was very satisfying. My child was also delighted.

Additionally, the view of Waikiki and Diamond Head from the sea was beautiful, making it a great experience in terms of enjoying the scenery from the water.

ベビー連れで楽しめるコンテンツと思い、申し込みました。
大型船なので揺れがマシ、ベビーカーOK、軽食付きということで数多あるホエールウォッチングツアーの中からこちらをセレクト。
送迎無しにしたので、現地まではホテルに頼んでタクシーで移動。ワイキキ中心部から20分ほどで到着。通勤ラッシュもさほどひどくなかったのでスムーズに到着できました。

乗船客は欧米人が多い印象で、皆さん陽気でした。ベビー連れや子連れも多く、子供向けに色塗りコーナーなども作ってくれていて、飽きない工夫満載です。

船は想像以上に揺れたので、念の為酔い止めを飲んでいて正解でした。
クジラは遠目からですが何度か見ることができ、大満足です。
子どもも喜んでいました。

また、海から眺めるワイキキやダイヤモンドヘッドも綺麗で、海からの眺めを楽しむという意味でもいい経験になりました。

The entertainment was top-notch and the food was delicious. I loved the different portions of entertainment that were designed around the various cultures that came together through history to make Hawaii what it is today. It was exactly the kind of experience and education I was hoping for.

Our tour bus did get stuck in some traffic and was slower due to picking up guests from multiple locations, and while I felt like that luau did their best to hold off on the main event (dinner and show) until we arrived (which I greatly appreciated), we did miss out on getting the full experience listed on the events description (i.e. "Interact up close and personal with your Pacific Island hosts with Hawaiian crafts, hula lessons, coconut husking, fire making, weaving, tattooing, and more. ") So if those activities are important to you, you might want to consider booking private transportation to the luau instead of taking the group shuttle option to make sure you arrive in plenty of time to get the full experience.

The day of our participation had bad weather, but we set sail as usual. Since it was a large ship, there was no rocking, which was reassuring. For a while, we spent time in the first-floor cabin enjoying coffee and pineapple bread, but then there was an announcement in English about a whale sighting, so we hurried up to the upper deck. At first, we could only see a blow in the distance, but before we knew it, the whales were right next to the ship, appearing with a loud blow. Four of them swam slowly right in front of us, and I was lucky to capture many photos of the blows, backs, and tails with my smartphone. Although we didn't see any jumps, the whale watching experience was more thrilling than I had expected.

参加日は悪天候でしたが、普通に出航。大きな船なので揺れはなくそこは安心でした。しばらくは１階船室でコーヒーやパイナップルブレッドを食べて過ごしていましたが、英語でクジラ発見のアナウンスがあり、急いで上の階へ移動しました。初めは離れた海面にブローが見えるだけでしたが、気が付くと船のすぐ近くに来ていて大きなブローの音と共に姿を現しました。４頭がすぐ目の前を一緒にゆっくり泳いでいたので、ブロー、背中や尻尾をスマホでたくさん撮影出来てラッキーでした。ジャンプは見られませんでしたが、期待以上に迫力あるホエールウォッチングでした。

You need to do something about large groups that get very drunk, are disrespectful towards the event and its participants. Loved the show but it was a distraction and didn’t allow us to enjoy the whole show experience.

I participated in this tour with my parents in November 2025. On the same day, there was an American couple who joined us, and our guide, Mr. Yamauchi, provided thorough explanations in both English and Japanese. He shared various sightseeing information about Maui, and we visited some recommended restaurants during our stay afterward. The views and the food were both very delicious, and we were quite satisfied. It was helpful to hear so much information!

We stopped at a supermarket to buy dinner, and the poke there was incredibly tasty. I definitely recommend purchasing it as Mr. Yamauchi suggested. You won't be disappointed.

And then there was Haleakalā. I was completely overwhelmed by the breathtaking nature. From above the clouds, overlooking all of Maui, I was enveloped in emotion as I watched the beautiful sunset, the island gradually fading into twilight, and the sparkling lights of the town. Unfortunately, the starry sky was obscured by thin clouds, so I couldn't see it clearly, but I did get to look at various planets through an impressive telescope. I could see Saturn quite well.

I have an iPhone 11, and its camera isn't very good, but Mr. Yamauchi took photos with his high-performance phone and shared them with me via AirDrop. He took many other pictures as well, allowing us to capture wonderful family memories. I was truly happy about that.

On the way back, we got excited talking about Southern music, and he played some Southern music in the car, which made both of my parents very happy. I really appreciated his thoughtfulness. When we talked about hula, he showed us various videos, which made me happy.

Overall, it was a tour with no complaints. I'm glad I participated in the tour. It was a lot of fun, and I was very, very happy to see my parents' joyful faces.

2025年11月にこちらのツアーで両親と三人で参加しました。同日、アメリカ人のカップルが一緒に参加されていましたが、ガイドの山内さんは英語と日本語両方でしっかりとご説明くださいました。マウイ島の観光情報について色々と教えてくださり、翌日以降の滞在でおすすめのレストランに行ったのですが、ヴューもご飯もとても美味しく満足でした。いろんな情報が聞けて助かりました！
途中寄ったスーパーで夕食を購入したのですが、そこのスーパーのPokeがとても美味しかったです。ぜひ山内さんのおすすめ通りに購入してみてください。外れません。
そしてハレアカラ。言わずもがなの自然に圧倒されっぱなしでした。マウイ島を一望できる雲海の上で、美しい夕日とと夕闇に染まりゆく島、そして街の煌びやかな明かりを目にして、じわりと感動に包まれました。星空は残念ながら薄雲がかかって綺麗に見ることはできなかったのですが、いかにも凄そうな望遠鏡でいろんな惑星を見ました。土星もしっかり見えました。
私の携帯はiPhone11でカメラ機能はあまり良くはないのですが、山内さんご自身の高性能の携帯カメラで撮ってくださり、それをAirDropで共有してくださいました。他にも写真をいっぱい撮ってくれて、素敵な家族写真を思い出に残すことができました。ほんとうに嬉しかったです。
帰りにはサザンの話で両親と盛り上がって、車内ではサザンの音楽をかけてくださって、二人ともとても大喜びでした。お気遣いをほんとうにありがとうございました。フラの話をした時には、いろんな動画を見せてくださって、嬉しかったです。
全体として文句のつけどころがないツアーでした。ツアーに参加して良かったです。とても楽しかったですし、両親の喜ぶ顔が見られてとてもとてもうれしかったです。

We started boarding at 8:45 and went to get coffee, tea, water, and pineapple banana bread on our own. The banana bread was fluffy and delicious.

After receiving some safety instructions and a brief explanation about whales, we were allowed to go out to any deck from the first to the fourth floor. Since the boat passes by where you can see Diamond Head from Waikiki Beach, we were able to take photos of the beach and Diamond Head from the sea. The air conditioning inside the boat was quite strong, and the deck was windy, so I think it's better to bring a jacket. The boat is large, so we hardly felt any rocking.

Unfortunately, we didn't encounter any marine life that day, and the cruise ended without any sightings. Before disembarking, we received a ticket to participate in whale watching for free again this season.

Since we had no plans for the next day, we called the number listed on the ticket after disembarking and were able to make a reservation for the cruise the following day. They provided assistance in Japanese.

The next day, the wind was even stronger and the waves were slightly higher, but we were able to see a whale spouting just off the coast of Diamond Head. It seemed there were about three whales. The crew moved the boat to follow the direction of the whales, allowing us to see them come to the surface multiple times.

8:45に乗船開始で、コーヒー・紅茶・水、パイナップルバナナブレッドをセルフで取りに行きました。バナナブレッドはふんわりしていておいしかったです。
船での注意事項やクジラに関する簡単な説明を受けた後、1階から4階まで好きなデッキに出ることができます。
ワイキキビーチからダイヤモンドヘッドが見えるところを通るので、海からビーチやダイヤモンドヘッドの写真を撮ることができました。船内はクーラーがかなりきいているのと、デッキは風が強いので、上着を持っていった方が良いと思います。船が大きいので揺れはほとんど感じませんでした。
この日は生き物に全く会うことがなくクルーズは終わってしまいました。
下船の前に今シーズンでもう一度ホエールウォッチングに無料で参加できるチケットを受け取りました。
私たちは次の日の予定が無かったので、下船後にチケットに記載されている電話番号に電話し翌日のクルーズの予約を取ることができました。日本語で対応してくれます。
翌日はさらに風が強くやや波が高かったのですが、ちょうどダイヤモンドヘッドの沖の所でクジラが潮を吹くところを見ることができました。3頭ほどいたようです。クジラの進行方向に合わせて船を移動してくれるので、クジラが海面に来るところを何度も見ることができました。

It was a large ship 🚢, so I didn't feel any rocking. My friend is prone to seasickness, so they seemed a bit dizzy.

During the first trip, no whales appeared, and we only enjoyed the view of Waikiki Beach.

We received the reboarding tickets just before disembarking, but instead of rebooking on the spot, we had to call the company directly. I asked someone at the hotel who spoke Japanese to make the call for us. The transportation fee was settled by credit card.

During the second trip, we couldn't see any breaching, but we did see the tail and pectoral fins.

According to the guide in the return shuttle, whales come closer to the coast near Maui, so they appear larger.

大きな船🚢なので、揺れは気になりませんでした。友達は船酔いしやすいので、頭がふらふらしたようですが。

1度目は鯨は現れず、ワイキキビーチの景色を楽しんだのみ。

再乗船のチケットを下船間際に船内でもらいましたが、その場で予約し直すのでは無く、会社に直接電話をしないといけませんでした。
ホテルの日本語の話せる人に頼んで、電話してもらいました。
送迎代はクレジットカードで決算。

2度目はブリーチングはさすがに見れませんでしたが、尾ビレや胸ビレは見れました。

帰りの送迎車のガイドさんによると、マウイ島の方が海岸近くに来るので、大きく見えるそうです。

We set sail in the rain. I believe the captain did his best to search for whales, but... the weather conditions were poor. There's nothing we can do about that; it was disappointing. Diamond Head and Waikiki Beach were also hazy. However, the wonderful nature of Hawaii is brought by this rain, so I'm grateful. I switched my mindset.

On the way back, I received a ticket for my next trip. The expiration date is until the end of this season, so it feels a bit impossible to use. I would have been really happy if it had been valid until the next season.

雨の中で出航です。キャプテンは一生懸命に鯨を探して下さったと思うのですが。。。
気象条件が悪かったです。これは仕方がないですね、残念でした。そしてダイヤモンドヘッドもワイキキビーチも霞んでいました。でもハワイの素晴らしい自然はこの雨がもたらします、感謝。マインド切り替えました。
帰りに次回乗船チケットいただきました。有効期限は今シーズン終了まででしたので
ちょっと無理かなって感じです。
来シーズンまでの有効期限ならめっちゃ嬉しかったのですが。

I have traveled to Hawaii over 20 times, but this is the first time I've been so impressed by an optional tour. I highly recommend that people in their teens, twenties, thirties, and forties participate and experience this emotion. (As you get older, it becomes harder to see due to presbyopia) *I experienced this too.

【Here are some checkpoints】
■ Scenic Points
They will definitely prepare spots that will truly impress everyone. However, it can be quite cold, so at a minimum, heat-tech clothing for both the upper and lower body is essential. If possible, bringing a thermos with warm drinks might be necessary. *Of course, warm tea is provided.
■ Shopping at the Supermarket
Korean seaweed is highly recommended. *Especially the wasabi flavor is the best.
■ Time
It takes quite a long time, including the round trip. The tour guide is fully proficient in both Japanese and English, so I recommend sitting close to the driver's seat for various educational talks.

I have participated in various optional tours, but I truly recommend this one. As someone who has children and grandchildren, I believe this experience will definitely become a wonderful memory.

The cost is on par with golfing in Waikiki, but the level is different.

It was truly a wonderful experience. Thank you very much.

ハワイを20回以上、旅行していますが、
こんなに感銘を受けたオプショナルは初めてです。
是非、10代、20代、30代、40代の方に参加して、この感動を味わって頂きたいです。
（年齢が過ぎると老眼で見えにくくなります）※私もそうでした

【ここからは、チェックポイント】
■絶景ポイント
　　必ず誰もが本当に感動出来るスポットを用意してもらえます。
　　ただ、やはりかなり寒いです。最低限、上下のヒートテックは必須です。
　　可能であれば水筒持参で温かい水分は必要かもしれません。
　　※もちろん温かいお茶をご用意頂いています
■スーパーマーケットで買い物
　　韓国のりは、おすすめです。※特にワサビ味は最高
■時間
　　結構、往復含め長い時間がかかります。
　　ツアーガイドの方は、日本語／英語がフルスペックなので、
　　色々な勉強になるトークが出来る分、運転席に近い席をお勧めします。

色々なオプショナルに参加していますが、
本当に参加をお勧めします。
子供や孫を持つ一人の人間として、
この体験は必ず素敵な想い出になると思います。

ワイキキのゴルフと同レベルのコストですが、
レベルが違います。

本当に、素敵な体験でした。
有難うございました。

I booked a plan that includes round-trip transportation. Since many Japanese participants were also joining, I felt安心して参加できます (at ease to participate).

Once we arrived at the dock, we boarded the boat and took commemorative photos. After that, while enjoying pineapple banana cake and coffee, we were given information about whales (though it was all in English).

Afterward, we went up to the deck to enjoy the scenery. The captain would let us know when a whale was spotted, but unfortunately, we didn't see any this time. Instead, we enjoyed the view of Waikiki and Diamond Head from the boat. It felt just like a sightseeing cruise.

The day we participated was after a day when Honolulu had strong winds and a warning was issued, so the waves were slightly high, and the boat rocked a bit. However, since it wasn't a small boat, it was quite stable. Still, those who are prone to motion sickness should be cautious.

往復送迎付きのプランを申し込みました。日本人の方も多く参加されていたので安心して参加できます。
船着場に着いたら乗船、記念撮影をした後に、パイナップルバナナケーキとコーヒーをいただきながら、最初にクジラに関する情報を教えてくれます。(ただし全て英語です。)
その後デッキに登って景色を楽しむことができます。クジラが見つかると船長が教えてくれるようですが、この時は残念ながら見えず、船から見えるワイキキの景色とダイヤモンドヘッドを見て帰ってきました。まるで遊覧船ですね。
参加した日はホノルルが強風で警報が出た日の後だったので、波が若干高く、多少揺れました。ただ小型船ではないので揺れには強いですが、乗り物酔いしやすい方は注意したほうがいいです。

I was excited to be on the boat, but unfortunately, the weather was rainy, and we couldn't go whale watching. There was a thorough explanation of whale ecology, but it was all in English, and I managed to understand it with my iPhone's translation feature, although there was a bit of a time lag. It would have been nice to have information about the location of the restrooms as there were some places that were not usable.

テンションアップで船上しましたが、お天気も雨で・・残念ながらホエールウオッチング出来なかったです。鯨の生態等説明が丁寧にありましたが、すべて英語でiPhoneの翻訳機能でなんとか理解できましたが・・時間差がありました。
トイレの場所説明もあったら良かったと・・使えない場所がありました。

The meeting time is set for 8:45, but you won't be able to board the ship until that time, so I don't recommend arriving too early. Once on board, you'll first receive drinks (coffee, tea, water) and banana pineapple cake. The banana pineapple cake was very delicious. It will be taken away about an hour after departure, so it's best to eat it early.

The ship moves slowly, getting closer to spots where you can see Waikiki and Diamond Head well. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't great, and the wind was strong. We were able to see whales about three times. Due to regulations, we couldn't get too close, and they were smaller than I had imagined.

8:45集合になっていますが、8:45にならないと船内に入れないので早めに来すぎるのはおすすめしません。
船内に入り、最初にドリンク（コーヒー、紅茶、水）とバナナパイナップルケーキを頂きます。バナナパイナップルケーキがとても美味しかったです。出発して1時間程で下げられてしまうので早めに食べるのがおすすめです。
ゆっくりと進んでいき、ワイキキやダイヤモンドヘッドがよく見えるところに近づいてくれます。あいにく天気が良くなく、風も強かったです。
クジラは3回程見る事ができました。条例で近付いてはいけないのもあり、想像してたより小さかったです。