Makani Catamaran Waikiki Sunset Cocktail Cruise with Drinks & Transportation
Overall Rating
4.64
Nice Way to End Our Trip
Reviewed by: K&R, 2019/12/05We booked as the ending of our trip in Honolulu. It was very relaxing. Food was ok and the drinks a bit weak for the price and the pricing was not clear. But the sailing was smooth, the crew was friendly, and the view was spectacular.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2019/12/04 |
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An amazing way to experience the beauty of Waikiki from a breathtaking perspective
Reviewed by: Dionne, 2018/09/24The sailing vessel was very impressive and incredibly well maintained and professionally operated. I am a sailing enthusiast and this catamaran was extremely smooth and well built to service a delightful dinner event. The crew was attentive, while also allowing the guests to enjoy their cruise and take in the beauty of Waikiki. The cruise had a personal ambience to it while accommodating the 25 to 30 guests that were on our specific sailing. We did not feel crowded at all, and it was nice to not feel like a “herd” of guests on those double decker party cruises. The food was tasty and filling. We did get to enjoy actually sailing on the main and the jib, and we only motored for a very short time. There is something magestic and almost spiritual about sailing on the sea. The cobalt blue water beneath, and the gentle trade winds so effortlessly powering the huge sails is an experience to treasure.
The only encouragement that I would make to the Makani experience is to provide some gentle Hawaiian music on top where the forward trampoline is. Most guests enjoyed staying forward on the trampoline, and the music only played below in the bar/covered seating area.
We chose to have the Makani pick us up from our hotel and the driver and vehicle were very professional. We recommend this option as it made the entire experience effortless. I would definitely do this activity again. It was worth the time and was a good value.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2018/09/22 |
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For a totally different view of the sunset this cruise is one to experience! Great vibes on the ride! Smooth sailing!!!!!!!!!! I think everyone had the aloha vibe and we all had a great time chatting with each other about beautiful Oahu!
Reviewed by: KCSN, 2018/07/11We had a great time. It was definitely a perfect opportunity to get away from it all. With that said it’s worth the cost! The dock was easy to find. They are the first booth as you enter the lot. Check in was easy at 1700 and sailed promptly at 530 pm. It was nice to unwind with a friendly crowd from all walks of life while “chasing” the sunset. The crew were super chill and attentive. The food was okay. That night they had tofu rolls, egg rolls, white rice, glazed chicken, and ginger beef with veggies buffet style/self serve. Then had chocolate chip cookie after served by crew member. The bar was rolling so I take it everyone was enjoying their drinks. The package came with one drink, it can be used towards juice or soft drink or with spirits. The part I enjoyed the most was having the moment to sit back, relaxing and enjoying the “waves”. But for the most part, I did enjoy socializing with other people on the cruise. That night was filled only with good vibes. We did the cruise on mid part of our stay here in Oahu and it couldn’t have been more perfect. We were busy running around “chasing” for the best of the best and the 2+ hr sail finally gave me the chance to “breathe” if you will. We had plenty’s of time to take pictures and a crew member was more than happy to assist as well. He gave us the heads up as far as what to expect and he was right on. No surprises on board! Just how I like it! You can sit in the enclosed area which I do not recommend if you get sea sick or you can stay standing, do your Kate and Leo’s pose, sit and relax by the nets. Ladies it does get windy so unless you also want to be Marilyn Monroe, wear shorts or pants! There’s a parking lot directly by the dock for $1/hr. It was a smooth sail (take it from me..I am one to guaranteed to get nauseous just from standing on the beach). There were no children on board. I didn’t travel with my children this time so I am not sure if that is stated on the description site..
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2018/07/07 |
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It was great and relaxing cruise
Reviewed by: Jennielynn, 2018/03/22The cruise was great and relaxing! The crew was very friendly and helpful. We enjoyed how the trip brought us to see a scenic view of the island. Food was ok. Drinks were better! Would have been better on a less cloudy day but really no complaints.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2018/03/21 |
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Makani Sunset Dinner Cruise
Reviewed by: Elisa Stern, 2017/09/13We attended the dinner sunset cruise on Sunday September 10, 2017. Transportation is included at no additional cost. Our assigned time to ba at the pick up location was 3:40 for a 3:50 pick up. We were told to look for a black or silver Mercedes Sprinter Van. Many passed by with out stopping. As the time got later every van that flew past us just made us that more concerned that we may not get picked up. We were unstructured to call the Makani if there was any delay in transportation. When I called the recording said I was the third caller. When it finally said I was next and someone would be with me shortly, five minutes later it said they were experiencing high call volume and leave a message. I tried this a couple of times with no luck. Found out after the fact that they don't answer calls after hours so it does no good giving a number to customers. Around 4:10 a van came by. They had a small sign in the front window for Makani. The driver said he was just from a transportation company who gets called sometimes to pick up Makani guests. He received the call late which meant all the remaining guests would be that much later. We mad four stops on the way to the boat to pick up additional passengers and each was more upset than the previous. Makani should contact passenger and let them know that the transportation is running late or have someone answering the phone.
The weather was a little rainy but it was still. Ice to get out on the water. We still had a nice time and the sunset pics were okay. You can't control the weather. The food served was actually really good. Teriyaki chicken, rice, egg rolls, veggies, etc. cookies for dessert. Beers were $6. Other boats included alcohol for around the same price fare but didn't have availability last minute. When we saw the boats that we called which didn't have availability they looked over full. All in all it was a good experience.
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| Attended as: | Friends |
| Activity Date: | 2017/09/10 |
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Sunset Dinner cruise
Reviewed by: Ben, 2017/08/20My wife and I enjoyed a very nice sunset dinner cruise the other night in the Makani catamaran. The night started off with a friendly driver picking us up at our hotel and bringing us to the boat. The only criticism of the whole night (very minor) is that we arrived at the boat around 4:40 but we're not able to "Check in" until 5 even though the girl was sitting in the booth waiting until 5. So rather than checking in as people arrived we now had an awkward line waiting to check in. Then we waited another 15-20 minutes to board the boat. Like I said, minor but the timing could have been better. Once aboard, the crew was great and got us quickly out of the harbor to enjoy the amazing views of the city and mountains. The food was as expected, a decent buffet. The drinks were good and reasonably priced.
What you are paying for is the views and that sunset! That was worth every penny on our trip. The catamaran boat let you enjoy the experience a lot more as you are free to move around and sit on the front netting.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2017/08/17 |
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Overall good time
Reviewed by: Thao, 2016/08/08Nice boat and sail. City lights and sunset beautiful. Got to see fireworks. Dinner Buffet very average. Best thing was the cookie for dessert. Some live entertainment would be nice.
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| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Activity Date: | 2016/08/05 |
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Unforgettable!
Reviewed by: Yuan, 2016/02/06The scene of the sunset is marvelous! The beauty is beyond words and I can never get bored looking at the pictures taken during the cruise. It's an unforgettable Hawaii-only experience that I'll strongly recommend to all friends who will visit Oahu Island.
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| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Activity Date: | 2016/01/28 |
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Great Sunset Dinner Experience!
Reviewed by: Shannen15, 2015/12/01I have always wanted to take a cruise in Hawaii and came across the Makani Sunset Dinner cruise and it seem like a great deal so I instanty booked it. They also offer shuttle service from Wakkiki which I took advantage of. I received a detail confirmation on the cruise, as well as a phone call confirmation. This felt very professional of the company. The cruise ship captain and crew was also very friendly, professional and made sure we were all having a great time! The weather was great and overall great experience. The food was buffet style, the offering was simple but the food was good. You get 2 drink tickets and it's good for any drinks. You can purchase additional drinks afterwards but the cost is very reasonable. I had fun and would recommend for anyone that wants a short cruise to see the island from the ocean. Thank you for great experience!
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2015/11/28 |
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The sail that was a breath of fresh air..
Reviewed by: Craig Stempowicz, 2015/04/29The evening before the sail, the weather was nice, not too hot and no chill in the air. We chatted a little with the Bartender and the First mate before the sailing. There were a few clouds in the sky, but nothing to worry about. We boarded the vessel with excitement and anticipation. This was my first time on a Catamaran boat, so I was interested in front of the boat, where they had the mesh/strapping on the floor.
We started out into the sea, and for me this was the first time venturing on a boat onto the sea. We moved away from the shores, and stared out to the open waters. The wind blowing against my face in the open waters gave me a sense of relaxation and peace. I was eager to try sitting on the mesh netting, to feel the spray of the ocean against my legs. That too had a sense of peace, just relaxing on the mesh. But to my surprise, from the boat hitting against the waves, a blast of ocean water just covered my body.
Sailing along the ocean waters, I was able to get a better view of the mainland of the Island. The mountains in the background were priceless to see. What was even more interesting is to see how the clouds just kept hovering over the mountains. As we sailed, the aura of just standing on the deck, the fresh air that took place made the voyage a pleasant one. The dinner was hot buffet, with enough food categories to make it easily appetizing for every individual. I am sucker for chocolate chip cookies, so I engaged a little more into those.
As sunset was coming upon us and the view all around us just magnificent, I took advantage of the opportunity. I used the scenery and different parts of the boat to give the image of a picturesque life of being free. Now there were clouds in the sky at this time, but I was able to use the scenery of the sunset to my advantage, standing on the furthest point of the boat, looking out into the sunset.
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| Attended as: | Friends |
| Activity Date: | 2015/04/25 |
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A relaxing ride with a yummy, Asian style buffet.
Reviewed by: Aidan, 2015/03/23Being on a quiet catamaran sailboat is a unique experience in comparison to a noisy motorboat. The buffet dish I like the most was the BBQ teriyaki chicken. The staff were experienced and friendly, starting off with a comical safety briefing and ending off with a friendly goodbye. The bartender was very knowledgeable about dealing with seasickness and different types of liqueurs. The drink special was a delicious tropical blend that fits perfectly with the environment. It was smooth sailing going out and back in, and we saw multiple whale spoutings in the distance. Listening to the relaxing music with the rhythmic movements of the ocean made a relaxing trip.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2015/03/22 |
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Aloha and Mahalo for taking the time to share your Sail Makani experience with us. So glad to hear you got to relax and enjoy the beautiful Hawaiian Sunset.