All Reviews for Cruise Ship Shore Excursions

My girlfriend and I decided to attend this luau because we were told that it is more privatized, less populated, and more personal. Indeed it was. Chiefs Luau has got be one of the most entertaining luau I have been to so far. Chief Sielu is a natural entertainer, with a real good sense of humor. The best part was Chief Sielu hand selected Ali'is to be used for demonstrations and entertainment. I believe the ali'is that he has chosen for the evening will never forget how to hold their wives, and throw them away. Overall this was the most funniest luau and great food.

Would recommend Chief's Luau to anyone looking for some wonderful entertainment. It was very well run and great value for money. We had a terrific time.

The entertainers were so personable. I felt like I was amongst family.
Activities, food& entertainment. The drinks were very strong

天気も良く、ホエールウォッチング日和でした。
本当にクジラが見れるのか心配でしたが、何頭ものクジラが見れて興奮と感動でした。
食事は、それなりに美味しかったです。
船の中では、自由行動だったので過ごしやすかったです。
お勧めです。

The trip was the best. The staff were very nice and helpful. They were eager to answer questions, and always tried to make the trip as pleasant as possible for every passengers. We were able to see corals, fishes, and ship wrecks. The introduction was very informational, and the best is that it had multiple languages choices.

I signed up for this experience because my companion, who was visiting Hawaii for the first time, wanted to go on a boat, see whales, and dance the hula—all in one package. Although the wind was strong, the boat was large enough that I felt comfortable. We saw the whales' tails twice. The activities were divided into three parts: hula, ukulele, and lei-making. My friend was thrilled to finally dance as she had always wanted. The staff was also very friendly. Next time, I want to go when the whales are more active.

ハワイが初めての同行者が希望した、船に乗りたい・クジラを見たい・フラダンスを踊りたいがまとめて叶うので、申し込みました。風が強かったですが、船が大きいので、弱い私も大丈夫でした。クジラは尾だけ２回見られました。フラとウクレレとレイ作りの３つに分かれて教えてくれました。友人は念願かなって楽しそうに踊っていました。スタッフも親切でした。今度はクジラが活発な時期に行ってみたいです。

The performances were so-so. The seating was not good even though
it was Royal seating. We didn't get our lei as promised. The food
was not very good for the price. The one saving grace was that the
staff was very nice. The young people who delivered the food was
thoughtful and polite and returned to see if we wanted more food.
The mixed drinks were no more than sugar water. I attended the
Sea Life Luau about 5 years ago and it was excellent.

I saw a whale. However, I couldn't take a good photo. I also saw a dolphin, maybe? It would have been better if the whale had made bolder movements.

クジラが、見えました。　でも、写真がうまく撮れませんでした。　イルカ？　かなー？もみれましたよ。もう少し、クジラさんの大胆な動きがあったら、よかったです。

It was the last chance day. I finally got to see the whales that I had wanted to see for a long time. Thank you very much. Next time, I might be okay without a meal... because there were only a few options for food...

最後のチャンス日でした。以前から見たかったクジラさん達。今回のオプショナルツアーでやっと叶うことができました。ありがとうございました。次回は食事なしでもいいかな。。。と思いました。食事の種類がわずかだったので・・・。

It was very fun watching the whales and having excellent drinks! Very awesome experience!

This was my second time participating. I invited my mother and a friend to join as well. Since it was a total lunar eclipse, the mountaintop was crowded. After that, we were suddenly hit by winds as strong as a typhoon, which made me realize the wonders of nature. However, the stories and support from the mountain guide warmed our hearts, and all the participants were very satisfied!!! Next time, I want to experience a starry sky at 3,500 meters. I was also given recommendations for delicious food, souvenirs, and restaurants, making it a fun trip to Maui.

今回で2度目の参加。母とお友達も誘い参加しました。
皆既月食という事もあり山頂は混んでいました。
その後、いきなり襲われたのは台風並みの強風
大自然の驚異を実感しました。
しかし山ぴーさんのお話と対応で心温まり
参加者みんなが大満足でした！！！
また次は満点の星空を3500メートルで体験したいです。
美味しい食べ物やおみやげ、そしてレストランまで教えてもらい
楽しいマウイの旅でした。

From March 24, 2014, for one week, my family took our first trip to Hawaii (Maui). Since we weren't interested in package tours, I researched and chose one of the option tours myself. I was skeptical about whether we could really see whales so close to the port, but... it seemed like three whales were swimming together, possibly a mother and her calf? To my great fortune, one of the whales jumped out of the water! I couldn't help but let out a joyful shout. The boat searched around for spots where the whales might surface. Nearby, small boats seemed to gather, perhaps aware of the sonar capabilities of the Star of Honolulu. At the end of the enjoyable cruise, we were also able to see a pod of about ten dolphins, making it a truly satisfying whale watching experience.

２０１４年３月２４日から１週間、家族で初めてのハワイ（マウイ島）旅行でした。パッケージツアーに興味がないので、自分であれこれ調べてオプションツアーの一つとしてチョイスしました。港からそんなに遠くない範囲で本当にクジラを見ることができるのか半信半疑だったのですが・・・３頭が一緒に回遊していたようですが、親子でしょうか？なんと幸運にもそのうちの１頭のクジラが海中からジャンプしたのです。歓喜の叫び声が思わず漏れてしまいました。船はクジラ達が海面に出てきそうな場所を探して探し回ります。近くにはスターオブホノルル号のおそらくソナーの性能を知ってか小さなボートも群がってきますね。楽しいクルーズの最後には１０数頭の群れをなすイルカも見ることができて本当に満足のいくホエールウォッチングになりました。

I wanted to show my 5-year-old child a whale, but they got bored staring at the ocean for too long and were in a bit of a mood. However, they seemed to enjoy the buffet and ate a lot. We also had a great time making leis after the meal!

5歳の子供にクジラを見せてあげたかったのですが、ずっと海を眺めているのに退屈してしまい、ご機嫌ナナメ。でも、ビュッフェは楽しかったようで、モリモリ食べてくれました。また、食後のレイ作りも楽しかったです！

I participated because I wanted to see whales that are unique to this season. I didn't have high expectations since I heard mixed reviews about whether people saw them or not, but luckily, the weather was clear and hot that day, and I was able to see 5 to 6 breaches! I think I was very lucky. Since photos capture moments, it might be better to use video instead. Also, I opted for the breakfast option, but if you take your time eating, you might miss the moments, so it might not have been necessary. Sorry to the tour staff.

この時期ならではのホエールを見たくて参加。クチコミはあまり見れなかったとか見れたとか色々で運不運もあるかと期待しなかったのですが、この日は晴天で暑かったことも幸いしてか、5～6回の背うちが見れました！とてもラッキーだったと思います。写真は瞬間なので難しいのでムービーかビデオがいいかもしれません。それと朝食付きにしたのですが、ゆっくり食べていると瞬間見逃す場合もあるので無くてもよかったかもしれません。ツアーの方すみません。

I had such a wonderful time on the Star of Honolulu Independence Day Fireworks Cruise on the 4th. Everyone on the ship was very professional, nice, friendly and did everything to make sure your night and experience was a good one! The food was very good also, you never know until you try it, but it was great. The entertainment was great and I was on the first floor and staff entertained us very well with good food. The fireworks was the highlight of the evening and the 15 minutes of fireworks was sooooo nice and great to see with other ship mates. I definitely recommend the Star of Honolulu for any night or occasion while visiting the city. Lots of good memories from my last night in town while on the Star of Honolulu!

I signed up because I wanted to take pictures of whales. Since it was the end of the season on April 13, and someone who went in January said they "didn't see any," I participated without much expectation... But, wonderfully, the whales showed up! In fact, they appeared 4 to 5 times (their heads?). I couldn't hear the captain's (or guide's?) announcements about whale sightings well in English, but I followed the dash of the foreign children, and somehow managed to take some pictures. It would have been perfect if I could have taken photos a bit closer, but seeing this much is enough, right!? I signed up without lunch this time, and it was the right choice because if I wanted to keep taking pictures, there wouldn't have been time to eat.

クジラの写真を撮りたくて申し込みました。
4/13ということでシーズン終わりで、1月に行った人が「見れなかった」と言っていたので、期待せず参加しましたが・・・。
見事、クジラさん出てくれました！それも4～5回（頭？）も！
船長（？）によるクジラ発見案内は英語でよく聞き取れなかったのですが、外国の子供たちの歓声とともにダッシュする後をついて行って、写真を何とか撮ることが出来ました。
もう少し近くで撮影することができれば最高ですが、これだけ見れれば十分でしょう！？
今回ランチなしで申し込みましたが、常に写真を撮りたかったら食事している暇はなかったので正解でした。

I had a wonderful experience.

The chief host was truly entertaining, and I was laughing from start to finish. I laughed so much that my stomach hurt. I even forgot to eat at the buffet and could only manage one plate.

I enjoyed the Polynesian dance and music, but I think the highlight of the show was the chief's comedic talk. It was filled with warm and witty comments, fun jokes, and stories that resonated with the heart amidst all the laughter.

However, most of the chief's jokes are geared towards adults. There were many small children present, and there were moments when they could participate in the show, but overall, I believe it is primarily an adult-oriented show.

I went with my daughter, but I highly recommend it for couples celebrating anniversaries. The chief will celebrate with you.

When I go to Hawaii again, I would love to attend this show once more.

素晴らしい思い出ができました。

司会のチーフの方が、本当におもしろくて最初から最後まで笑いっぱなしでした。
笑いすぎてお腹が痛くなりました。ビュッフェなのに食べるのを忘れて一皿しか食べられないほどでした。

ポリネシアンダンスや音楽も楽しめましたが、このショーの一番の売りはコメディアンでもあるチーフのトークだと思います。暖かく機転のきいたコメント、楽しい冗談、笑いの中にも心に響くお話と盛りだくさんでした。

ただ、チーフのジョークの内容はほとんどが大人向きです。小さいお子様たちも多くいらしていて、ショーに参加できる場面もありましたが、基本は大人のためのショーだと思います。

私は娘と行きましたが、カップルで記念日の参加はおすすめです。チーフにお祝いしてもらえます。

ハワイに行った時は、また行きたいと思います。

I had heard that it was the season to see a lot of whales, so I was a bit anxious about whether we would see any... but I was very satisfied because we saw plenty. The boat was also large, so I was glad I didn't get seasick. It was great that it was a morning tour, allowing us to return to the hotel around noon, so we could enjoy plenty of activities in the afternoon.

クジラが多く見れる時期と聞いていたので、見れるのかなぁ...と不安でしたが、いっぱい見れて満足でした。
船も大きかったので、船酔いしなくて良かったです。
朝からのツアーで、お昼頃にはホテルに帰ってこれるので、午後にたっぷり遊べるのも良かったです。

The submarine tour is really amazing. How often can you say that you were in an actual submarine. The sub is air conditioned and really very spacious and comfortable. There is never a dull moment. Fish, coral eels and ship wrecks. Plenty to see and experience.

I am truly grateful to nature.
I am thankful to Mr. Yamauchi.
No matter how many times I tried, I participated with a flutter of excitement in the face of bad weather posts.
It seems that Haleakalā accepted us, as the sunset sky transformed into a beautiful gradient.
Under the new moon, the stars scattered across the night sky looked like unspoken diamonds.
It’s a perspective on life that makes me feel like I need nothing! I proudly shared that I received a treasure with everyone.
Thank you very much.
In the end, it’s all about the fresh sashimi with lemon salt flavor.

本当に心から自然界に感謝
山内さんに感謝
なんかいトライしても、なかなか悪天候の投稿に、ドキドキしながらの参加、
ハレアカラが受け入れてくれたのか、グラデーションに変わっていくサンセットの空模様
新月の中、ことばにならないダイヤモンドを、夜空にちらばしたような満点の星
（なにもいらねえ)って思える人生観！宝物もらったことを、みんなに自慢しました。
ありがとうございました。
やっぱ、最後は生げそのにぎりで、レモン塩味ですね。

I'm glad I got to see wild whales for the first time, but they didn't jump or anything, so I didn't feel much excitement. But I guess that's just how whales are (laughs). They seemed to swim alongside us for a long time, occasionally blowing air and showing their backs. The staff were all very nice, and you could tell they wanted to make it enjoyable for everyone. It's a big boat, so it's less likely to make you seasick, but it's still a good idea to take some motion sickness medication just in case.

野生のクジラを初めて見れてよかったですが、ジャンプなどしてくれるわけでなかったので迫力は感じられませんでした。でもこれはクジラの気分なのでしょうがないです（笑）
ずっと横には泳いでいたようなのですが、時々潮を吹いて背中が見えるくらい。
スタッフはみなさん感じがよく、楽しませようという感じが伝わってきました。
大きい船なので酔いにくいですが、酔い止め薬を飲んでおいた方が安心です。

We had a great time! The food was good and we loved the view of the ocean. When we first arrived they took a family picture of us. It was nice to have a group picture. :) Even though it was windy that day we still saw some whales. It was amazing to see whales!!! It was too bad that it didn't jump high, but it was still exciting to see their backs and tails. The leis and ukulele class were on at the same time. It did go by fast so we didn't get to join both classes. However, we loved making leis with real flowers!! We had a wonderful experience.

I was looking for a tour to swim with dolphins on the Big Island and narrowed it down to two options: ① a small boat tour with about six people (no restroom, no shower, some snacks provided, possibly swimming close to dolphins) or ② a large boat (with restroom, shower, breakfast and lunch included, able to see dolphins but not swim with them). When I asked my kids, they preferred the large boat with a slide (more interested in that than the dolphins... haha), and considering my wife's health, I thought it would be better to choose the tour with the restroom, so I went with option ②.

In fact, two years ago, when I participated in a tour with Quicksilver in Cairns, Australia, the large boat had a buffet for lunch and was equipped with restrooms and changing rooms, making it very comfortable, so I chose a similar type this time as well. The departure location was a bit far from the office and unclear, but when I first went to the departure point and asked a crew member near the boat, they kindly guided me, allowing me to find the office and park the car successfully.

When I got close to the boat, the check-in was smooth, and we boarded. The boat was not as large as the one from Quicksilver in Australia, with six booth-style seats like those in a family restaurant, and there were bench seats back-to-back in the central area on the second floor, which had a roof, while the outer bench seats were exposed to the sun. By the way, for those prone to seasickness, the first-floor seats are recommended as they experience less rocking.

Since we had an early morning meeting, there was a simple breakfast buffet where we could eat as much as we wanted, including fruit. Also, I had accidentally submerged my waterproof camera the day before, so I rented a digital camera (GoPro) for about $30 with an 8GB SD card and chip. I think it’s much better than the waterproof disposable camera... I tried both, but the photos included here are from the GoPro.

Unlike the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, we didn’t go out far into the ocean but progressed along the coast. Therefore, we were on the boat for about 30 to 40 minutes. When we arrived, the staff distributed snorkeling masks, and the fins were located under the seats on the first floor, so we were told to choose ones that fit our foot size. The water was deep enough for diving, so I borrowed a life jacket (the staff will lend it to you if you ask; you can just gesture to indicate what you need... haha).

When I went to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia around the same time, the seawater was a bit cold, and I borrowed a wetsuit (to prevent jellyfish stings), but this time it wasn’t necessary (there were no jellyfish). The visibility was incredible, and I could see all the way down. It was beautiful.

We swam freely around the boat and slid down the slide from the second floor (the slide ends around the first floor, and you drop into the water from about one floor high). My third-grade son enjoyed it. The adults also had fun. Even without the slide, you could jump in from the second floor where there were no railings.

Around lunchtime, they started a BBQ on the deck, and we had a buffet-style meal centered around hamburgers. During this time, we had free time to eat or play until the departure time.

On the way back, we encountered a pod of dolphins that swam alongside the boat and jumped around. I think we were very fortunate with the weather. I did feel a bit seasick during the trip, but since it was a large boat, I could lie down in my seat the whole time, so I was glad it wasn’t a small boat.

By the way, we were the only Japanese on this tour. Even though we came all the way to Hawaii, it felt a bit lonely to be surrounded by only Japanese people, so I chose this tour, but thanks to that, I was able to make friends with an American who came from Los Angeles.

Since I got seasick this time, I rated it four stars, but the tour itself was great.

ハワイ島でイルカと一緒に泳ぐツアーに参加しようと探していたところ、2つに絞られ、①6名程度の小型ボート（トイレなし、シャワーなし、スナック程度付、イルカの近くで泳げるかも）でのツアーか、②大型船（トイレ、シャワーあり、朝食・昼食付、イルカを見れるけど一緒には泳げない）になりました。
子どもたちに尋ねたところ船にスライダーがついている②大型船を希望し（イルカよりもそっちか…笑）、妻の体調のことも考えるとトイレが完備されているツアーの方がいいかと思い、②を選びました。
実際、2年前にオーストラリアのケアンズでクイックシルバー社のツアーに参加した時、大型船で昼食にビュッフェがあったり、トイレ・更衣室等完備されていたので、大変快適だったので、今回もそのようなタイプを選びました。
出発場所から若干事務所が離れていてよくわからなく、最初に出発場所に行って船の近くにいるクルーに尋ねたら親切に教えてくれたので、事務所を無事に見つけ、車を駐車することができました。
船の近くに行くと受付が行われていて、スムーズに済み、乗船。
オーストラリアのクイックシルバー社の船ほどの大きさはなく、ファミレスのボックスシートのような席が6か所、あとは二階席で中央側にベンチシートが背中合わせであり、そこには屋根があり、外側のベンチシートは日が当たるような状態でした。ちなみに船酔いしやすい人は1階席の方が揺れが少ないのでお勧めです。
朝早くの集合のため、簡単な朝食バイキングがあり、フルーツを含め好きなだけ食べることができました。また前日に防水カメラの内部に浸水させて故障させてしまったので、デジタルカメラ（GoPro）を借りました（8GBのSDカードとチップを入れて30ドル程度だったかな。防水タイプの写るんですよりは全然いいかと思います…両方試してみましたが。今回掲載している写真は、GoProのものです）
オーストラリアのグレートバリアリーフとは違い沖に出ず、岸に沿って進んでいきます。そのため30分か40分程度船に乗るくらいです。
到着する頃になると、スタッフがシュノーケルのマスクを配ってくれ、フィンは1階のシート下にあるので、自分の足のサイズに合うものを選んで使ってくれということでした。ダイビングもできるくらいの深さのところなので、ライフジャケットを借り（スタッフに言えば貸してくれます。というか、置いてあるものを手で持って、ジェスチャーで示すだけでもわかってもらえます…笑）
オーストラリアのグレートバリアリーフに同じ時期に行った時は、海水がやや冷たく、ウェットスーツを借りましたが（クラゲ防止も含めて）、今回は不要でした（クラゲもおらず）。
透明度がすごくて、思いっきり下まで見えました。綺麗です。
船の周辺を好き勝手に泳いだり、2階からスライダーで滑り下りて（1階くらいでスライダーがなくなり、残り1階分くらいの高さから）、水中に落ちる。小3の息子は楽しんでいました。外国人は大人も楽しんでいました。スライダーでなくても2階の手すりのないところから飛びこむこともできます。
昼食頃になるとデッキでBBQをやり始め、ハンバーガーを中心としたバイキング形式の食事になります。
この辺りは食べようが遊ぼうが出発時間までは自由時間です。
帰り道でイルカの群れに遭遇し、船と並走して、ジャンプしたりしてくれました。
天気にも恵まれて大変よかったと思います。
途中船酔い状態になりましたが、やはり大型船だったため、ずっとシートで横になっていることができたので、小型ボートでなくてよかったと思いました。
ちなみにこのツアーですが日本人はうちだけでした。せっかくハワイまで来たのに、周りが日本人ばかりというのもちょっと寂しいので、そのようなツアーにしましたが、お陰でロスから来られたアメリカ人の方と仲良くすることができました。
今回酔ってしまったので、星4つとしましたが、ツアー自体はいいものです。

My friend was visiting Oahu for the first time, so I chose this experience thinking we could enjoy various aspects of Hawaiian culture on board. We made leis, danced hula, and played the ukulele. Since it was a weekday, there were no group tours, so we didn't have to wait in long lines for the buffet. Depending on where you sit, it seems you could also see dolphins and whales. It might be worth a visit.

お友達が、オアフ島への訪問が初めてだったので・・船内でハワイの文化を色々体験できると思い選びました。レイを作ったり、フラダンスを踊ったり、ウクレレを弾いたり、平日だった為か団体ツアーが入っておらずバイキングでも長蛇の列を並ぶ必要はありませんでした。座る場所次第でイルカやクジラも見えた様です。行ってみても良いかも。

Everything was well managed even from the purchase on line of tickets. Pickup was on time in topscale bus. Staff was dressed in 1st class attire. Greeting by staff at dock was nice. Seating was fine with exception of sun shining directly in my husband eyes . it was a little distracting. Dinner and the drinks was great, along with the service. The entertainment after dinner was fantastic. Truly, truly mesmerizing.
Would recommend without hesitation.

Our cruise was a lot of fun for us all. My son asked to go do it again so we could see more whales. I would definetly do one of these cruises again.

We had a great time on the Star of Honolulu. The ship was comfortable and clean. The rails offered a great platform for picture taking and whale watching. Only minutes out of Honolulu harbor the first whales were sighted. We followed along with them for about 1/2 hour. They would surface every 5 minutes or so. On the way back up to Diamondhead we encountered another pod. After watching them for awhile, it was time for the morning trip to end. All in all... this was one of many highlights for our visit to Oahu.

The price for breakfast included for a family of four is cheap, and all the crew members were kind and friendly, which made the children happy. It was a bit disappointing that we were able to see whales a few times and were satisfied, but I think it would have been even better if we could have seen them up close.

家族４人で朝食付きでこの値段は安い、クルーのみんなも優しく親切で子供たちも喜んでいました。ちょっと残念だったのは、クジラは何度か見ることができて満足できたのですが、もっと間近で見れれば最高だと思います。ぬ

awesome. great activities. excellent food and overall memorable experience. Must see attraction.

great entertainment and food. it was very enjoyable. the kids loved it.