Whale Watch Cocktail Cruise

Kauai: Whale Watch Cocktail Tour aboard 'Imiloa runs through Kauai Sea Tours. Rated 4.7 across 422 reviews. Runs 2 hours (approx.). From $135.9.

Overview

This two hour cruise out of Port Allen puts you on the open water in search of whales, with a crew whose main job is finding them and getting the boat into a good position to watch. The vessel, Imiloa, is a USCG inspected commercial passenger boat carrying a maximum of 36 travellers, run by a US Coast Guard licensed captain and a crew trained in CPR, first aid and water safety.

The trip works as a casual outing rather than a formal tour. Juice, soda and water are available, adults over 21 with ID can get beer and mai tais, and light snacks such as chips and cookies are handed out. Reviewers frequently mention a friendly, knowledgeable crew, and sightings vary, from breaching and tail slapping shows to brief surface intervals. Spinner dolphins and sea turtles also appear on some trips.

It suits travellers with moderate fitness who are comfortable on a boat that sometimes moves fast. It does not suit pregnant women, people with back problems or recent surgeries, or anyone with mobility issues, and there is no hotel pickup, so you make your own way to the marina.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Check in at Port AllenArrive at Kauai Sea Tours, 4353 Waialo Rd #2B, Eleele, in the Port Allen Marina Center. From Highway 50 turn left at McDonald's onto Waialo Road and continue to the office to check in. Note the tour length of 2 hours runs from departure time, not check in time.
2. Walk down to the vesselThere is no shuttle to the boat, so guests walk a short downhill stretch from the office to the dock. One reviewer with limited mobility found this walk difficult, so factor it in.
3. Cruise and whale watchThe trip runs 2 hours (approx.) on the open sea along Kauai's coast while the captain locates whales and other wildlife such as dolphins and sea turtles.
4. Drinks and snacks on boardJuice, soda, water and light snacks are served during the cruise. Beer and mai tais are included for adults over 21 with ID.
5. Return to Port AllenThe boat heads back toward the marina, sometimes passing Spouting Horn for a look on the return, as one reviewer described. The activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will help you decide whether this cruise fits and how to prepare for it.

• Getting there. Hotel pickup and drop off are not included, so you drive yourself to the Port Allen Marina Center in Eleele. The listing gives detailed directions from Highway 50. Allow time to check in at the office before the walk down to the boat.
• Bring your own. The listing does not specify a packing list, but reviewers recommend binoculars for closer whale viewing and sunscreen applied before boarding.
• Ride comfort. The boat can move at high speed, and one reviewer found the slamming on waves painful. The listing excludes travellers with back problems, recent surgeries, pregnancies or mobility issues, and requires moderate physical fitness.
• Group feel. Up to 36 travellers share the boat. Reviewers consistently praise the crew as friendly, knowledgeable and attentive, and several mention drinks being passed around during the trip.
• Food and drink. Juice, soda, water, beer and mai tais are all part of the package, and one reviewer described the drinks as generous. Snacks are bagged chips, cookies and similar, so do not expect a meal.
• Wildlife luck. Whale sightings are never guaranteed, and reviewers describe everything from multiple breaches and tail slaps to days with only a few brief sightings. Dolphins and sea turtles are sometimes spotted as well. One reviewer noted the captain tried hard to find whales when they were scarce.

Common issues. Sightings depend entirely on the whales, and some reviewers saw only a couple despite the crew's efforts. One reviewer reported a rough, fast ride that was hard on the back, which matches the listing's ban on passengers with back problems, recent surgeries, pregnancies or mobility issues. The boat is not wheelchair accessible, and the downhill walk to the dock posed a problem for one reviewer with limited mobility. Children under 3 are not allowed, and the operator can cancel for weather or if a minimum number of travellers is not met, in which case a different date or a full refund is offered. Gratuities are not included, and there is no hotel transport.

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