Trojanboy

Has anyone ever done one of these? Any thoughts on which ones are worth it? I'm in Waikiki for an extended time and would like to try one. But I've heard some have lousy food and some feature creaky run down boats. Some offer entertainment and some don't and some offer one drink coupon for a free mai tai and some offer two!

Any reviews or suggestions folks?

puddy

I took one last month. Used Atlantis with a coupon from the Entertainment Book. It was $63 for 2 with tax. Got one free drink, dinner, and a two-hour cruise. First off, there is no way I would ever go on it paying full price.

The food was terrible (I was expecting it to be bad). The boat's interior was not that great either. However, the ride was very smooth and there were plenty of places to hang out outside. They had a horrible musical show so you would probably want to stay outside anyway.

I'm making it sound really bad but if you are going mostly for the cruise, it's OK. For $60 for the two of us, it was an OK deal. It went up around Diamond Head and circled back. I wouldn't do it again, but it was OK for a first time visit.

They also have a sit down dinner on the upper deck (5-course I think) for $120 a person (2 for 1 deal also applies). However, I don't think I would recommend that based on the food that was served in the buffet. I can't see it being worth it.

Hope this helps.

islandmom

The nicest boat is the Navetek (spelling?)
Then the Star of Honolulu
Then the one that looks more historic.

I thought the Navetek had good food. And the desing of the boat keeps things steady for your stomach.

Trojanboy

Thanks Puddy. I planned on using entertainment coupon also. Did you have to book in advance when using coupon?

Island Mom- I believe you said you're local. Do you get kama'aina rates or do you just book through tour group like the tourists do?

islandmom

11 years here - kama'aina rates

Trojanboy

Can you tell me what percentage discount it is with kama'aina. Im assuming 20% since that's what most places seem to offer. Also, what foods did they serve? How long did the boat tour last?

puddy

I booked the Atlantis Navatek the day before. No problems.

Sarah

I have never heard anything great about the dinner cruises from friends that live on the island. I am told they are party boats, if you are up for that kind of thing. Unless you get a good recommendation I would take out the striped catameran (sp) in front of the Royal Hawaiian. No Alchohol but cheaper and with the same view!

What I have recently read about at the go-hawaii calendar page is a night boat that takes you out to look at summer constellations. Also there is a boat on the windward side that takes you out I think at the beginning of the month to look at coral life spawning (again a night cruise)and perhaps you were looking to spawn yourself but I thought it looked interesting. Good luck let us know how it turns out for you.

JSRX2

I was at the shopping center (Aloha something) when a dinner cruise boat let out and oh, the smoke. Everybody was smoking like chimneys. I don't know if it's like that on the boat, but I'd sure check if you have a problem with cigarette smoke!

Retired_teacher

Unfortunately, I can't remember the name of the cruise outfit we sailed with this past March, but it operated like the Atlantis one puddy described. The boat was used as a ferry during the day if that helps. It was a real rip off. When you arrived, you were crowded into long tables where they took your "free" drink coupon and you waited for your turn to go up to the buffet. After dinner, we decided to skip the show and went up to the top level where we stood along the rail to watch the scenery along the shore. We could hear some parts of both of the shows as they were going on simultaneously. We weren't sorry that we missed our production for it was quite loud and the sound system wasn't the best. There were probably over a hundred of the eight hundred passengers aboard who decided that standing on the top deck was preferable to sitting through the show below. I'd never repeat the experience.

islandmom

I'm not sure there is a set discount. It probably depends when you call and how business is going. I can't remember the exact foods as it has been awhile. (My husband gets seasick.) I just remember the Navetek being nicer.

applejaxs

Our experience with the Navetek was as described by Retired Teacher. It was hokey, food below medicore, entertainment silly. We would not do it again. I would do as suggested abocve and take the catamaran by RH. That looked fun and probably was a lot less expensive.

kayebert

My husband and I are thinking about doing a New Year's Eve Cruise this coming New Year 2004. We've heard that the Star Of Honolulu does a very nice one. Anyone have any thoughts on this one and are there any other cruise lines that do the New Year's Eve thing--fireworks and etc.?

Trojanboy

Thanks for all your tips. I'm going to take the cruise this weekend.

For the record, the majority of the Dinner Cruise boats dock right by Aloha Tower, which is an oceanside "mall" in front of downtown Honolulu. The downside of this is if you don't get picked up by a hotel shuttle, you have to pay exorbitant parking rates while youre on the boat. I'm thinking of parking in Waikiki and waiting at a hotel but I dont want to risk not getting picked up.

The only dinner cruise I found that isn't at Aloha Tower is the Dream Cruises boat which someone mentioned and that docks a bit farther toward Waikiki where I didn't see any parking available at all! I guess they don't really care about Hawaiians going on these cruises.

They all offer kama'aina rates though...I'll let you know how it goes.