Star of Honolulu Whale Watching Cruise with Sightings Guaranteed [Jan-Mar] reviews, Oahu tours & activities, fun things to do in Oahu | HawaiiActivities.com

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Star of Honolulu Whale Watching Cruise with Sightings Guaranteed [Jan-Mar]

Overall Rating

4.49 4.49 / 5

Reviews

123 reviews
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Awesome Activity

Reviewed by: Runnel, 2023/04/06

Lots of fun! Went at the end of March and saw some whale activity which was exciting. Service was FANTASTIC!! Everybody was really warm, friendly and engaging. 10/10 would recommend.

Rating:
Attended as:Families with Young Children
Activity Date:2023/03/30
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Best Day!

Reviewed by: Michelle and Tom, 2023/03/23

The friendliest staff and best boat ride around! Best day ever!!

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2023/03/21
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lovely time!!

Reviewed by: zoe, 2023/03/20

loved the experience, especially with the naturalists!! would recommend to bring sunscreen, it can get hot on the decks. the boat will wander around until a whale is spotted, and stick to that spot for the majority of the time

Rating:
Attended as:Friends
Activity Date:2023/03/17
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Great experience!!

Reviewed by: nagueyari, 2023/01/12

It was very first time to join cruise for us. Unfortunately we could not find whales but we could meet a lot of dolphins swimming. Luckily it was really nice fine day, we had a great experience on the big ship. Hopefully we meet whales at next time. Thank you so much.

Rating:
Attended as:Families
Activity Date:2023/01/02
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Whales!!

Reviewed by: Jen, 2022/03/21

The vessel is more like a ship than a boat like it has 3-4 levels. Very organized and informational! The staff is friendly. Lots of room to walk around. They offer motion pills or some kind of ginger cocktail to prevent motion sickness. They also offered small snakes like chips. There wasn't an option for breakfast.
I went in February and and I saw about 7-10 whales( sprays, tip of their tails). I think 1 or 2 came close to the boat. I enjoyed it. My little one (5yo) was mostly running around...lol.

  • That's the boat/ship and my son!

  • WHALE!!

Rating:
Attended as:Families with Young Children
Activity Date:2022/02/21
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Fantastic tour

Reviewed by: Sam, 2022/03/19

Fantastic ride - great whale sightings. Convenient shuttle.

Rating:
Attended as:Solo Travelers
Activity Date:2022/03/17
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Whale watching

Reviewed by: Rbj, 2022/03/14

Very informative. Enjoyed our trip. Great weather.

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2022/03/12
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We saw the whales!

Reviewed by: HHY, 2022/03/03

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.

Rating:
Attended as:Families
Activity Date:2022/02/28
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The WONDROUS Waters of Waikiki comes ALIVE!!

Reviewed by: M & A Tomlinson , 2022/02/26

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!

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2022/02/24
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Don't hesitate

Reviewed by: Stanley T., 2022/02/21

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

  • Just one of the many great images there is to see.

Rating:
Attended as:Families
Activity Date:2022/02/19
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Love Star of Honolulu!

Reviewed by: Deb, 2022/02/19

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!

  • Saw several whales!

  • Diamond Head from the boat!

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2022/01/25
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Great experience

Reviewed by: Don M, 2022/02/19

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

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2022/01/25
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Awesome Experience

Reviewed by: Lin, 2022/02/14

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!

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2022/02/12
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Whales

Reviewed by: Cassie Benisch, 2022/02/09

We were able to see quite a few whales, and that was very neat and interesting to see. The staff was very knowmedable about the whales. All of the staff were very kind and helpful with asking if we needed anything to snack on or drink, and with helping us get to our bus after the whale watching.

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2022/02/07
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Highly recommend!

Reviewed by: Jordan, 2022/01/26

This little adventure is something you won't want to miss out on. I'm really glad we made it part of our Oahu vacation! Knowing ahead that if there were no sightings you would be able to use your ticket again later is awesome. We loved the pineapple drinks on board and the staff was top notch! It's great for all ages! I only wish they had more options for food or snacks, though that could be covid related, I'm not sure. Do this!

Rating:
Attended as:Families with Young Children
Activity Date:2022/01/24
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Panoramic view not good.

Reviewed by: David Shirk, 2022/01/22

Boat with 360 degree view maybe a platform on top would have added to the experience. The sound system could have been better to include outside watchers.

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2022/01/15
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Whale watching fun!

Reviewed by: Cori, 2020/03/08

Boat was nice and lots of room. Found a mom and baby whale and the captain did a good job of keeping us jn the right spot.

Rating:
Attended as:Families
Activity Date:2020/02/16
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Best Tour we have done!!!!

Reviewed by: Swan1427, 2020/02/15

We did the EarlyBird Breakfast Cruise on Jan. 22, 2020. It was wonderful. Easy to arrive and enjoy some breakfast before leaving. Food and drinks were well worth the price.
Shortly after leaving we saw the whale breaching amd we were all amazed.
Capt. Mike and crew did an amazing job.
Highly recommend!!!

Rating:
Attended as:Families with Young Children
Activity Date:2020/01/22
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Passeio foi legal

Reviewed by: Felipe, 2020/02/06

Passeio cumpriu com o prometido, porem a vista da baleia pode ser de longe, já que é um grande barco e chegar mais próximo poderia incomodar. Tripulação bem atenciosa. O café do buffet é ok, talvez compense ir em outro local para tomar café melhor pelo mesmo valor.

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2020/02/02
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So so

Reviewed by: Lori, 2020/02/04

When we actually started to see a little bit of activity. They turned back to port. Only saw a few blows and a little bit of the side of a whale. A big disappointment!! That should of been considered a no show and whale watch guarantee should have been applied

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2020/02/01
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Great for families or if you would like to see whales from above on the top-deck of a boat

Reviewed by: Jacky Daniels, 2020/01/29

I really liked how this whale watch cruise kept you entertained the whole time. Unfortunately we didn't spot too many whales on the day I went, but the cruise experience itself was still really nice. The lunch buffet was good and fresh. Then they offered activities to do while on board, like hula lessons, lei making, and ukulele lessons, which makes this the perfect cruise for families with little ones. These activities weren't just for kids though, many of the adults were participating too. It was great to be able to roam around the entire boat and getting to see the whales from the top deck, which is a lot higher than any of the other whale watch cruises!

Rating:
Attended as:Friends
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Very Entertaining from Beginning to End

Reviewed by: a-chan, 2020/01/29

When I got onto the boat the weather didn't seem so nice and I thought it was going to be gloomy but as the boat departed the weather started to clear up and it was blue skies! The view from the boat was amazing. The island looked so beautiful from a far. I've been living here my whole life and I never realized how beautiful it was. The food they provided on the boat was very delicious. If I wasn't so full I would have definitely gone back for more. Sadly, I was not lucky enough to have spotted any whales, however, I did get to see spout a couple of times. Even though I wasn't lucky enough to spot any whales I was still very entertained. The music and activities they provided on the boat was so much fun. I got out of my comfort zone to participate in hula dancing. I was super embarrassed but I still had a lot of fun. I would definitely want to go back again and bring my family on this tour.

Rating:
Attended as:Friends
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That was too hard for my family...

Reviewed by: Japanese family, 2020/01/15

The ship was heaving too much. My family got seasick. But I could watch whales.

Rating:
Attended as:Families with Young Children
Activity Date:2020/01/12
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Great Whale Watching Experience

Reviewed by: Chief, 2020/01/05

We had the perfect day to Watch Whales and go to see several in the bay. Great Cruise and Crew and the Buffet Lunch was pretty tasty.

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2020/01/02
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wonderful day

Reviewed by: Carrie, 2019/03/21

I had a wonderful time on the cruise ship. Crab and steak are my favorite foods, but my most memorable experience was with my tour bus driver, Lola Tripp. She was an amazing woman, and her lively personality and insight into oahu made my trip worthwhile. I definitely recommend anyone who wants a good experience to apply for the Lola bus! Give five stars.

Rating:
Attended as:Friends
Activity Date:2019/02/22
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Great Trip

Reviewed by: Keb, 2019/03/20

Very nice time on the ship. Plenty of room to move around to see whales. Saw 8 whales on our trip. Lots of blows and flukes. I recommend this trip to anyone looking for a whale sighting. The boat was professionally staffed and the buffet was good.

Rating:
Attended as:Friends
Activity Date:2019/03/16
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Great time whale watching!

Reviewed by: Mike, 2019/02/22

Great choice for a whale watch especially if you have children or people in your group who are more sensitive to motion sickness. The thing that sets this whale watch apart from all the others is size and stability of the boat and all of the activities available on board while heading out to look for whales. This could almost be described as a fun Hawaiian tropical lunch cruise with whales. In addition to a delicious lunch buffet and frequent whale sightings there is also hula lessons, lei making and ukulele lessons. The captain and crew are always on the look out for whales, so while you are doing the activities the captain will announce which side of the boat the whales are on so you do not miss any of the whale action while eating or participating in the activities. With whales being wild animals and not always predictable in where they will be, having activities to keep the kids occupied makes this a great option for families

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Attended as:Friends
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We didn't see any

Reviewed by: Mira, 2019/02/15

The ship was fine, but the trip was disappointing, since we didn't see any whales. We did the trip in the second half of January in 2018.

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2018/01/19
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Great day for whale watching!

Reviewed by: Dianna, 2019/01/31

We were very lucky to see whales throughout most of the tour. At least 10 sightings, usually with 2 whales at a time.

Food was delicious but it was hard to sit and enjoy your meal when you are looking for whales too. Every time someone shouted "WHALE!", everyone dropped everything but their cameras and ran towards the edge of the deck.

Luckily, there were a lot of whales out that day so I got to finish my food and saw plenty of whales.

Photos don't do justice for whale watch tours, it's better to watch with your own eyes. You don't want to be fussing over your camera because next thing you know, the whales have disappeared back underwater.

Wonderful experience, would love to go again!

  • Cloudy but still a nice day for whale watching.

  • 2 whales in the distance.

  • They're so fast, it's hard to take good photos.

Rating:
Attended as:Friends
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Look for the turquoise color in the water!

Reviewed by: Pigalicious, 2019/01/31

The skies were grey and even with light drizzle the humpback whales were there along with the warm crew of the Star of Honolulu to greet us in Hawaii! I've never seen so many whales on one whale watch and it was my first time to see a turquoise color right next to the whale. Their white pectoral fins turns changes color underwater so it was easier to spot them this time around. The lunch on board was delicious...... The roast beef and those macadamia nut cookies keeps you going back for more. Thank you Star of Honolulu for a very stable ride and wonderful experience to see these enormous animals up so close!

Rating:
Attended as:Friends
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