Sunset Sail, Buffet Dinner

Kauai: Napali Coast Sunset Sailboat Tour with Dinner runs through Holo Holo Charters. Rated 4.7 across 234 reviews. Runs 4.5 hours. From $247.32.

Overview

This is a 4.5 hour catamaran trip along the Napali Coast run by Holo Holo Charters, timed so that the return leg coincides with the sun dropping toward the horizon. You board a 50 foot vessel with indoor and outdoor seating, restrooms, and open sightlines to the cliffs. The crew talks through the history of the area and its people as you go, and keeps watch for dolphins, turtles, seals, manta rays, and humpback whales when they are in season.

Food is a real part of the outing rather than an afterthought. Appetizers come out during the cruise, followed by a Hawaiian style dinner, with island juices, soft drinks, beer, wine, and mai tais available along the way. A champagne toast marks the sunset before the boat heads back to Port Allen.

It suits travellers who want the Napali Coast with dinner and drinks included, and who are comfortable on the open ocean for an extended stretch. It does not suit expectant mothers, children under 5, or anyone with serious back problems or severe motion sickness.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Check in at EleeleMeet at Holo Holo Charters in Eleele, at Port Allen. Bring a passport or ID card, since IDs are required.
2. Board the catamaranClimb aboard the 50 foot catamaran, which has indoor and outdoor seating plus restrooms.
3. Napali Coast boat cruiseThe cruise runs 4.5 hours along the coast, past cliffs, valleys, waterfalls and secluded beaches, with the crew pointing out marine life and sharing local history. Appetizers, dinner and drinks are served on board.
4. Sunset champagne toastAs the sun nears the horizon, the crew pours champagne before the boat turns back.
5. Return to Port AllenThe catamaran arrives back at Holo Holo Charters to finish the tour.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical details shape how this trip goes, from what to wear to the weather calls the captain makes on the day.

• Getting wet. One reviewer advised wearing something that can get wet and bringing a towel. Board shorts and a quick drying layer are a safer bet than anything you want kept dry.
• Bring a jacket. The listing lists a jacket alongside ID as what to bring. Pack one even if the day feels warm before departure.
• ID required. Bring a passport or ID card. IDs are checked at check in for age verification, and you will need it if you plan to drink.
• Seasickness risk. The listing is blunt that the tour is not recommended for people with severe motion sickness, and no refunds are given for sea sickness. Reviewers who felt fine generally found the crew attentive throughout.
• Crew and food. Several travellers singled out the crew for being attentive and for sharing history and stories of the area, and multiple reviews praised the food and the steady flow of drinks. Expect a crew that circulates and checks in rather than disappearing after boarding.
• Route depends on weather. Ocean conditions around Kauai change fast, so the captain may not decide the day's route until check in. The tour only runs when conditions allow.

Common issues. No hotel pickup or drop-off is included, so you need to make your own way to Eleele. One reviewer felt the return was rushed to catch the sunset, and another was not expecting the tour to run on a catamaran. Children under 5 and expectant mothers cannot come, mobility aids such as wheelchairs and walkers are not allowed on board, and no refunds are given for sea sickness. Tips are not included in the price.

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