Star of Honolulu 5-Course Dinner Cruise — Full Review
The Star of Honolulu 5-course dinner cruise is the special-occasion pick among Oahu's evening sails: a plated, sit-down dinner that runs from a chilled appetizer through Maine lobster and grilled beef tenderloin, with a glass of sparkling wine on boarding and live Hawaiian music and hula as the boat sails past Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head at sunset. It rates 4.6 stars from 52 reviews, starts at $193 per person, and includes free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Here's exactly what the evening is like, what's on the menu, and who this Honolulu 5-course sunset dinner cruise is really for. (You can also compare all the Honolulu sunset and dinner sails side by side.)
About the Star of Honolulu 5-Course Dinner Cruise
Full refund up to 24 hours before departure
Lock in your date — pay nothing today
Board at dusk, back at the pier after dark
Chilled appetizer, Maine lobster, beef tenderloin, dessert
A hula show plays through dinner service
Sail the south shore as the sky turns gold
Check Live Availability & Prices
Real-time dates and prices for the Star of Honolulu 5-course dinner cruise departing the downtown Honolulu waterfront.
What Makes the Star of Honolulu 5-Course Dinner Cruise Worth It
Plenty of boats off Waikiki call themselves dinner cruises, but most serve a buffet. The Star of Honolulu 5-course dinner cruise is different: it's a plated, sit-down meal with waiter service at a reserved table, closer to a proper restaurant dinner that happens to be moving across the water. That's the reason it's the go-to for anniversaries, birthdays, and proposals rather than a casual night out.
The other draw is the setting. The boat leaves the downtown Honolulu waterfront and sails the sheltered south shore, so you're eating course by course while Waikiki's high-rises and the Diamond Head crater slide past the windows. A glass of sparkling wine comes with boarding, live Hawaiian music and a hula show run through the meal, and the crew times the main course and dessert to bracket the sunset.
At $193 per person it's the priciest dinner sail on the page, and the 4.6-star average from 52 reviews suggests most guests feel it earns the premium.
What's on the Menu and What Happens On Board
The five courses are the heart of the Honolulu 5-course sunset dinner cruise. The exact plates rotate, but the structure stays consistent across sailings:
- A glass of sparkling wine served as you board and find your table
- A chilled appetizer to open the meal
- Maine lobster as the seafood course
- Grilled beef tenderloin for the main
- A warm dessert to close, timed around sunset
- Live Hawaiian music and a hula show playing through dinner service
Seating is at reserved tables with table service rather than a buffet line, so you stay put and the courses come to you. Vegetarian and other dietary requests are usually available if you note them at booking. Higher seat tiers get better window placement and a longer sailing window, which is why GetYourGuide lists the duration as a 2 to 3.5-hour range depending on the ticket you choose.
What's Included — and What's Not
Included
The $193 fare covers the full evening:
- Plated five-course dinner with lobster and beef tenderloin
- A glass of sparkling wine on boarding
- Live Hawaiian music and a hula show through dinner
- Reserved table seating with waiter service
- The ~2.5-hour sunset sail past Waikiki and Diamond Head
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure
Not included
A few things to plan for:
- Hotel pickup — this is a self-drive or rideshare experience from Aloha Tower Marketplace (Pier 8)
- Extra drinks beyond the welcome sparkling wine, which vary by seat tier and may cost extra
- Gratuity for the crew, which is customary and not built into the price
- Onboard photographer prints, usually sold separately at the dock
- A buffet-style meal — if you'd rather graze, the Pacific Star buffet cruise is the alternative
How the Evening Flows
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−0:40
Arrive at Aloha Tower Marketplace
Check in at Pier 8 on the downtown Honolulu waterfront, about 10 minutes from Waikiki. Free and paid parking sit nearby; rideshare is easiest on Friday and Saturday nights. Plan to arrive 30 to 45 minutes before departure.
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0:00
Board and settle at your table
The crew seats you at your reserved table and pours the welcome glass of sparkling wine. Live Hawaiian music starts while the sun is still up.
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0:10
Cast off from the waterfront
The boat eases out past the downtown skyline and turns toward Waikiki. The first courses begin as the coastline opens up.
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0:40
Dinner past Waikiki and Diamond Head
Courses arrive one by one — chilled appetizer, Maine lobster, beef tenderloin — as the boat cruises beneath the Waikiki high-rises and the Diamond Head crater.
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1:30
Sunset, dessert, and the hula show
The captain lines the boat up for the clearest Pacific horizon as the sky turns gold and crimson. Dessert lands around sunset and the hula show plays on deck.
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2:15
Return to the pier
After dark the boat cruises back to Aloha Tower with music still going. You're ashore with the rest of the evening free for downtown Honolulu or Waikiki.
Insider Tips for the Star of Honolulu Dinner Cruise
Small things that make the night go smoother:
- Take rideshare on weekend nights — parking around Aloha Tower Marketplace fills up and a drop-off at Pier 8 saves the hassle
- Note any birthday or anniversary at booking; operators often arrange a window table or a small dessert touch
- Choose a higher seat tier if a window view matters to you — the entry tier can seat you inside, away from the glass
- Dress resort casual: aloha shirts and sundresses fit the room, and heels are awkward on a moving deck
- Bring a light layer — the trade winds cool the open deck once the sun drops, even in summer
- Check your sailing date against sunset time; summer sunsets run past 7:00 PM, so a later departure catches the color at dinner
Where the Star of Honolulu Departs — Aloha Tower Marketplace
Who This Dinner Cruise Is For
The Star of Honolulu 5-course dinner cruise is the pick for couples marking a milestone, guests who want a real sit-down dinner rather than a buffet line, and anyone who'd rather spend the evening at a set table than grazing on deck. It suits a slower, more romantic pace — the kind of night where the meal is the event, not an afterthought to the sail.
- Not suitable for: travelers on a tight budget — at $193 per person this is the most expensive dinner sail on the page; the Pacific Star buffet costs far less
- Not ideal for: big, lively family groups with young kids — the buffet-and-show cruise is a better fit for that energy
- Not suitable for: guests wanting a party atmosphere — this is a quieter, dinner-first evening, not a DJ sail
What to Bring
- Resort-casual clothes — aloha shirt, sundress, or slacks
- A light layer or wrap for the open deck after sunset
- Sunglasses for the first half of the sail
- Your phone or camera for skyline and sunset photos
- Cash or card for crew gratuity at the end
Not Allowed on Board
- Outside food and drinks — dinner and the welcome sparkling wine are served on board
- High heels on deck — flat or non-marking soles are safer on a moving boat
- Large hard camera cases near the windows and rail — spray risk
Star of Honolulu 5-Course Dinner Cruise — FAQ
What are the five courses on the Star of Honolulu dinner cruise?
The plated five-course dinner opens with a glass of sparkling wine on boarding, then moves through a chilled appetizer, a Maine lobster course, grilled beef tenderloin as the main, and a warm dessert timed around sunset. The exact plates rotate by season, and vegetarian or other dietary options are usually available if you note them when you book.
Where does the Star of Honolulu dinner cruise depart from?
It boards at Aloha Tower Marketplace (Pier 8) on the downtown Honolulu waterfront, about a 10-minute drive from Waikiki. There is free and paid parking nearby, but rideshare is the easiest way to arrive on busy Friday and Saturday nights. Plan to check in 30 to 45 minutes before your scheduled departure.
How long is the Star of Honolulu 5-course dinner cruise?
The sail runs about 2.5 hours on the water, though GetYourGuide lists a 2 to 3.5-hour range because the higher seat tiers get a longer sailing window. Add 30 to 45 minutes for check-in and boarding before departure. You'll be back at Aloha Tower shortly after dark.
What should I wear on the Honolulu 5-course sunset dinner cruise?
The dress code is resort casual — aloha shirts, sundresses, and slacks are all appropriate. Skip high heels, since decks can be damp and most boats prefer flat soles. Bring a light layer, as the trade winds feel cool on the open deck once the sun sets, and sunglasses help for the first part of the sail while the sun is still low.
Is the Star of Honolulu dinner cruise good for a special occasion?
Yes — it's the top special-occasion pick among Honolulu dinner cruises. The plated five-course meal, table service, live Hawaiian music, and Diamond Head sunset make it a natural fit for anniversaries, birthdays, and proposals. Note the occasion when you book and most operators will arrange a window table or a small dessert surprise.
What Guests Say About the Star of Honolulu Dinner Cruise
We booked this for our anniversary and it was perfect. The lobster and tenderloin were cooked exactly right, the service never felt rushed, and watching the sun set over Diamond Head from our table is something we'll remember for years.
Worth the splurge. It's a real plated dinner, not a buffet scramble, and the sparkling wine on arrival set the tone. The hula music through dinner was a lovely touch and the sunset over Waikiki was unreal.
The whole evening felt calm and elegant. We had a window table, the courses were beautifully timed with the sunset, and the crew were warm without hovering. Easily the nicest dinner of our Oahu trip.