Hello all,

I was under the impression that the na pali coast boat tour could be rough rides during winter season. But after reading many threads on this site, I see many people encounter rough condition even during summer, especially on the "return" part of the trip, is the ride almost always rough regardless the season?

Thank you!

it's rough all year round and being a boat owner and thinking i'm pretty hearty in the sea sickness arena, its bad and for $150-$200 per person for bad drinks, bad food and spending your most of your time heaving overboard and not enjoying the gorgeous beauty of the Na Pali coastline, is sad.
Do check out patches and other sea worthy devices so you can enjoy and always look to the horizon and don't go below..
Kauai is stunning!

Which tour are you considering? I've done one with Na Pali Catamaran and a raft expedition with Captain Andy's (the kind where you have to hold on the entire time, sit on the edge of the raft, etc.). I absolutely wouldn't recommend the raft expedition if you don't want rough, but I didn't find the Na Pali Catamaran rough at all on the way out. There were frequent stops or slowdowns for picture-taking, and I don't recall anything unexpectedly rough. (True, the food was nothing much, but I didn't go for the food.) They do go much faster on the return trip, but I imagine it's similar to a speed boat ride, not the kind of rough that typically causes seasickness. Because they go fast on the way back, be sure to take all your pictures before you turn around and head back, and try to sit on the appropriate side of the boat for doing that.

However, for full disclosure, I did use a patch for both trips (I'm prone to seasickness so always play it safe). I never felt a twinge of anything approaching seasickness on the boat tour, but did have the beginnings of queasiness on the raft. But, yes, be sure to take medicine or use a patch if you typically experience motion sickness. Took the boat tour in late May, and conditions seemed great to me. If you can, I highly recommend taking a tour that leaves from the North Shore, I enjoyed the whole trip much more than having to go around the west side of the island. Fun to see that area once, but better to see beautiful Na Pali coast the entire trip!

It's really spectacular to see the coast from the water (I've done helicopter tours as well), and I highly recommend a tour like Na Pali Catamaran -- well worth the expense and time, in my opinion. Have fun!

Meant to add, seems like perhaps ksucat was on one of the larger sailing catamarans -- there was certainly no "below" on the 15-person or so boat I was on. Now that I think about it, I have heard more stories of people being sick on the larger boats. No one on either trip I took got sick, and I'm usually the first one to be affected! So maybe the smaller, powered boat would be better for you than a larger sailing vessel (that motion usually makes me feel much sicker much faster than a powered boat). Both trips had picnic lunches and stopped for snorkeling, though don't go expecting good snorkeling. In my experience, shore snorkeling far surpassed anything from the boats.

Website for Na Pali Catamaran: http://www.napalicatamaran.com/

we went on Napali Seabreeze in September. It was extremely calm on the way out. On the way back it was rough enough that they wouldn't let us stand up on the bow on the way back. When we pulled into shore after we returned, the skipper was talking to the boat owner who was helping us tie up and said " Not one case of seasickness today!" "Well, that's a bonus!" replied the owner. So I guess a relatively calm ride that time of year was unexpected.

It really wasn't bad. I'm not terribly prone to seasickness, but I can get a bit queasy if it bounces a lot, and I was fine. I do use wristbands, and find they help a bit.

The snorkeling was just okay. But the view was stunning, and I wouldn't have missed it for anything.

I went out of Hanalei last May and it wasn't bad. It was the second day of the season. I was told that the afternoon trip are a little rougher.

Only one experience to comment on: HoloHolo Charters, took their afternoon cruise. Went fast on the first part of the trip, only stopping to play with some spinner dolphins. On the way back, we went slowly, venturing close to some caves, lots of commentary (somewhat hard to hear over the PA system), and photo stops.No one on the boat had any problems with seasickness, and this was late May. Good attentive mates on the boat, kept your glasses full, took pictures for you, etc. The snacks were better than I expected; wraps, salads, plenty of fresh fruit.

That very morning we had helicoptered over the NaPali, and then to see it from sea level, what a wonderful experience. Next time would like to do the snorkeling trip. We have a picture of the two of us with the sunset in the background over the water, we are grinning like banshees. Great memory.

http://www.holoholokauaiboattours.com/

we've taken several of the big operators with the big tri cats.
always best to go in the morning for less wind waves.
views are stunning but protect yourself with patches so you can enjoy it.
aloha

didn't Capt Andy use to be Capt Zodiac?

We took a "private" boat tour once on the north shore of Kauai, and it was not enjoyable at all. It was not worth it and I would not do it again. Our young daughter was almost bumped out of the boat and if I hadn't been holding onto to her for dear life I hate to think what would have happened.
Make sure you wear life jackets.

Dear all,

Thank you so much for your reply. We plan to be in Kauai during the last week in April...we will definitely look for a boat dearpting from the north shore.

One more queston, do all the morning tours include snorking? We definitley want to take the morning tour for calmer current but I see all morning tours last 5-6 hours including over an hour time snorking...we have done enough snorking all over and are not particular interested in doing it on this tour...

Thank you again!

As I recall, all the north shore tours do the snorkel trips. It's not a great snorkel location but the boat ride is worth it. Please remember, that the tour operations often (especially in the early season) cancel trips because of whether. So don't plan your trip for your last day. BTW we took the Na Pali Cat trip and enjoyed it. They are usually the first out of the harbor in the morning.

Enjoy

All the north shore boats that I looked at do snorkel trips. (and I think there are only 3 catamaran types from the North shore: Napali Seabreeze, Napali Catamaran and Captain Sundown) Ours stopped twice for snorkeling, but my husband skipped the second swim and just stayed on board. I don't think you have to get in the water if you don't want to, you can just relax, have lunch, and enjoy the view. As wbpiii says, the snorkeling is definitely not great compared to say, Tunnels.

Some people get seasick with gentle rolls (me) but rough rides don't bother them at all.

I'm 60 and love the Zodiac boats.