3.5-Hour Sunset Dinner Cruise

Kauai: Napali Sunset Dinner Cruise runs through Holo Holo Charters. Rated 4.7 across 104 reviews. Runs 3.5 hours. From $247.32.

Check park access before you go. Stops inside state parks (Waimea Canyon, Koke'e, Wailua River and Secret Falls) follow current DLNR notices and can be closed. Check the booking page for which stops are running on your date.

Overview

This evening trip puts you on a 65-foot catamaran built on Kauai for local waters, run by Holo Holo Charters out of Eleele. The boat heads up the Napali Coast while there is still daylight, so the cliffs, valleys, waterfalls and sea caves are the main sightseeing before the sun goes down. Getting close to the coastline, and into any caves, depends on the conditions on the day.

Wildlife watching is part of the ride. The listing highlights the chance to spot manta rays, dolphins, turtles, seals and, when in season, whales, and the tour covers the local history and legends of the coast. Dinner is a hot Kauai-inspired meal served on board, with mai tais, beer, wine, juices and soft drinks included, and a champagne toast as the sun drops behind the cliffs.

The tour runs 3.5 hours. It does not suit expectant mothers, children under 5, or anyone with serious back problems or severe motion sickness, since the crossing can be rough and no refunds are given for seasickness.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Check in at EleeleMeet at Holo Holo Charters, 4353 Waialo Rd Suite 5A, Eleele. Bring photo ID for age verification.
2. Board the catamaranClimb aboard a 65-foot catamaran designed and built on Kauai for its waters. The captain decides the day's route based on ocean conditions, sometimes at check-in.
3. Cruise the Napali CoastSightsee along the coast, passing sea caves, waterfalls and beaches, with close approaches to the cliffs when weather permits. Keep watch for dolphins, turtles, manta rays, seals and seasonal whales.
4. Dinner on boardA hot Hawaiian-style dinner is served during the cruise, along with mai tais, beer, wine, juice and soft drinks.
5. Sunset and champagnePhotograph backdrops such as the cathedral cliffs of Kalalau Valley, then toast the sunset with a glass of champagne.
6. Return to portCruise back to the Eleele dock, roughly 3.5 hours after departure.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will shape how this trip goes for you.

• Bring ID and a jacket. The listing asks for a passport or ID card, since IDs are required for age verification and alcohol service. A jacket is also on the bring list.
• Plan for spray. One reviewer warned that you will get wet up front. Wear clothes that can handle splash and consider protection for phones and cameras.
• Rough water is normal. One traveller who gets seasick recommends taking something like Dramamine beforehand.
• Route depends on weather. All routes depend on ocean and weather conditions, which can change quickly around Kauai. When waters are calm, reviewers said the boat was able to enter some of the sea caves.
• Food and drink flow. Dinner is hot and Kauai-inspired, and reviewers called the food and drinks good. Mai tais, beer, wine, juice and soft drinks are included, plus a champagne toast at sunset.
• No hotel pickup. Transportation to the Eleele meeting point is not included, so you arrange your own way there. Gratuities for the crew are also not included in the price.

Common issues. The honest catch is the ocean itself. Several reviewers described the ride to and from Napali as rough, and one traveller spent most of the trip sick despite praising the crew's care, so anyone prone to motion sickness should medicate beforehand, knowing no refunds are given for seasickness. Routes are weather-dependent and can change as late as check-in. The tour excludes expectant mothers, children under 5, and mobility aids such as canes, walkers and wheelchairs, and it is not recommended for people with back problems or recent surgery. Gratuities and hotel transport cost extra.

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