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Wailuku, HI

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Alii Nui Sailing Charters

4.9 (853 reviews)
Closed • 8:00 am - 6:00 pm

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Response time

5 days

Response rate

50%

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Recommended Reviews - Alii Nui Sailing Charters

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Jen N.

We had originally booked a different sunset cruise, but that company cancelled our cruise twice (once due to not enough people and once due to weather). It was down to our last night in Maui, so we started frantically looking for another company to see if they were going out that night. We called Alii Nui, and they said they were still planning to go, so we immediately reserved a spot. We took a Lyft to the dock area. I will say their location was a little hard to find based on where we go dropped off. You have to go around to the opposite side, so give yourself a little extra time. It started sprinkling just as we were getting on the boat, but luckily there is a covered area down the stairs that everyone could fit under. They were getting everyone drinks at the bar already. Before taking off, they shared with us that the water was a little rough, and if we easily get sick, they could rebook you for another day. They were feeling confident about the weather, but also warned that if the rain got worse, they might not take the boat out. Well...the captain's instinct was right. There was just a small rain cell right over us, and a few minutes out from the dock, we were past it. The crew immediately started getting all the seating dried off and getting the snacks prepared. They were all amazing! They kept everyone safe and dry and even went around wiping glasses/sunglasses off for everyone. The snacks - jackfruit and pork sliders, along with several yummy dips were the perfect amount to fill us up. The drink selection at the bar was great as well. I figured it would be really cheap well type options, but I was wrong. Good craft beers and wines, as well as lots of good cocktail options. Not long into the ride, the captain spotted whales. We were at the very beginning of whale season, so there weren't as many out yet; however, he kept his eyes peeled, and we got to see a great display with several whales out. I will say this sunset cruise was a little pricier than the others we looked at, but we had the best time. There were a variety of age groups, but I don't feel like anyone felt out of place. Good energy and music without being crazy. Everything was top notch, and I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for a sunset cruise in Maui. I hope I get to go back and do it again some day!

Fantastic excursion. Probably our #1 for our honeymoon. We ate, laughed, swam, the day away with an amazing crew. We saw turtles, dolphins, and the most beautiful fish. Boat was clean and beautiful. Bathrooms on board. The food was also really good! Nice drink selection also. The photographer on the boat was also such a special touch. We loved having someone capture great memories. We felt like celebrities!

Tina A.

We had such an incredible trip. The staff was fun, informative and helpful. The drinks were great and plentiful, as was the taco lunch. I am fearful of the ocean, but I jumped in and was so glad I did. The turtles were amazing underwater, I saw tons of fish, sea urchins and an eel. Would definitely do this again, no hesitation.

Along Maui coast
Jason B.

We went on a beautiful sunset cruise. Smooth sailing, friendly staff, some munchies and open bar. Nice and relaxing, you end up being in the water about 2 hours which is just right.

Underwater view of two whales checking out us and the boat.
Carl T.

Not only were we late getting back to the dock, but we also didn't get to partake in as many delicious drinks and snacks because we were distracted by WHALES COMING UP TO US WITHIN 5 FEET FOR OVER AN HOUR! However we were well compensated by all of Taylor's (photographer) awesome underwater pictures of the curious whales. They were so docile and genuinely curious about us and the boat. A great excursion and fun crew!

Richard S.

Awesome experience from start to finish. The four of us, me, my wife, and 2 sons, went on the 5-hour Molokini Crater snorkeling trip with Aliʻi Nui and had an absolute blast. The entire experience was beginner-friendly, very safe, and extremely well run. The snorkeling site itself was amazing. My sons and I had snorkeled in the Caribbean, Bali, and other parts of Hawaii, and Molokini checked almost all the boxes for local fish sightings. Clear water, vibrant marine life, and great conditions. What really stood out was how well they catered to my wife, who is a beginner snorkeler. The crew took great care of her, made sure she felt comfortable and safe, and kept a close eye on beginner snorkelers throughout the trip. That made a huge difference for us. On top of that: * Top-notch equipment * Excellent food * Very friendly, professional service Overall, an outstanding snorkeling experience. Highly recommended. Especially if you have beginners in your group.

NA drink options
James L.

Probably the best catamaran company on the island. We did the Turtles and Tacos tour and we loved it. Staff were really great and there was even a photographer on board that took pictures of us in the water and on the boat. You pay a single price for all photos she took and it was very reasonably priced. They served chips and salsa right away, good chips but the salsa quality could have been improved, came from a jar. Tacos were darn good and the cocktails poured freely. We saw lots of turtles and fish even through it was pretty windy and the water was a bit murky. 10/10 would recommend.

Molly B.

Loved our experience on the sunset cruise. The boat is amazing, we loved sitting on the bean bags. The staff was exceptional! The cocktails were kind of weak but tasty. I would 100% recommend this company!

Captain giving us the lowdown
Trent O.

Exceeded expectations! A really great captain and crew took care of us during the trip. We went on the turtles and tacos excursion through NCL. The Alii Nui catamaran was a gorgeous craft. Immaculately cared for and clean. We boarded and settled in to our spot for the day, threw our stuff down and grabbed drinks from the open bar. Basically just alternating between margaritas with Grand Mariner floaters and Mai Tais all day. We snorkeled when we got to the off shore reef. The flippers and snorkel provided were all in good repair and sanitary. Didn't see any turtles, but managed to see some cool fish through some very cloudy water. After about 45 minutes we headed back, but not before stopping to see a couple humpback whales swimming nearby. The taco bar was really good with both chicken and vegetarian options. Mango salsa, sour cream, shredded cheese, hot sauces, white rice - all the stuff you would want on a taco bar! Super friendly and professional staff. Throw in for a cash tip at the end. Take this trip. It was a fun half a day on the water in gorgeous Maui.

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Reviews are largely positive. Guests highlight the friendly attentive crew, luxurious clean boats, and memorable wildlife sightings.

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6 days ago

The staff was incredible! Drinks flowing nonstop and a surprise of amazing food too. We had the best time and would love to do it again!

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Excellent experience from beginning to end. Great for families, couples and solo travelers.

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4 months ago

Friendly staff and very fun experience. The food was great! Capt. Josh and the crew lead Johanna were great.

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Ask the Community - Alii Nui Sailing Charters

Is there a restroom on the catamaran?

Yes there are 2

Does the sunset cruise get canceled if it's raining? What is the refund policy of that happens?

Our cruise was cancelled due to a storm and they let us cancel or reschedule. We rescheduled

With a big catamaran, is it less prone to get seasick?

Yes, it is more stable than a single hull boat.

To follow up on my original question..thank you to those who have answered. I have an 18 month old, did anyone see any families with toddlers and if so how did they tolerate it? Thanks again :)

Been on the Alii Nui many times and it's always fun but NOT FOR TODDLERS. Not safe, not set up for children who cannot swim in ocean and climb safely up and down steep steps. I'd personally hate to spend $500. ( couple ) and be subjected to an… 

Would you recommend this for kids? It sounds awesome for my husband and I, but has anyone been on one with kids. Or is this more of a booze cruise?! Thanks ☺️

It's great for kids! There were a couple of families and there was plenty of room for everyone. No one was visibly intoxicated. Really nice safe family atmosphere. Think fairmont esque :)

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Review Highlights - Alii Nui Sailing Charters

“The snorkeling at Molokini was incredible and the onboard photographer helped us capture some incredible moments.”

Mentioned in 75 reviews

Read more highlights

Trilogy Excursions - Professional pictures taken

Trilogy Excursions

(2.4k reviews)

Took the tour to Lanai again. Same great experience. These guys throw in the little extras than…read moremake a huge difference in your experience from start to finish. Never feel like an inconvenience asking by for something...food, drink. Napkin...whatever. Nice sail over, saw lots of dolphins. And the cinnamon rolls and breakfast sandwiches helped pass the time. Snorkel off the beach offered snorkel vest instead of flotation belt to allow free diving. Great spot for sea life. Lunch was exceptional...chicken, noodles, salad, bread, corn, POG and they just kept it coming. Captain said they don't feed you till you are full, they feed you till your jaw is tired from chewing... Serious great time, will sail with them again.

Captain Michael and crew who led our "Discover Lanai" day were awesome! Super attentive, the food…read morewas abundant, the boat was very clean, and I felt safe out snorkeling even with a pretty big swell shift from the Hurricane. The details: Our tour started by meeting at tree at the Sheraton, which sounds awkward but for us was super convenient and it was fun boarding the sailboat from the beach but you will get a little wet! Captain Michael walks you though the day and then you are off for about ~90 minutes to Lanai. During that time you are served (not a buffet) two meals. The cinnamon rolls were great and the breakfast croissants are now something I make at home. There was also a photographer on board so we took advantage and took some family photos (you buy at the end and I found them a whole lot cheaper and less stress than an actual family shoot). Once you get to the Island you can take a golf cart or take a short walk to the beach where they have all the gear you need. After the safety briefing you have about 2 hours to snorkel with the crew serving as lifeguards in the water. It is VERY easy to lose where you are when you've got your head underwater. I appreciated how attentive the crew was to where the four of us were at since there were a few times we needed some gentle guidance out of a harms way (shoreline rocks). The photographer also captures your snorkel sesh. After snorkeling, you're treated to another full meal of noodles and chicken. Followed by anything you might need for a little seasickness to prep for the journey back . My 12 yo son was pretty full at this point and had befriended the captain who let him help get the boat ready for the return trip. That was very cool! The ride home was a bit bumpy (Hurricane Lowell was coming) but Captain Michael did a great job avoiding anything major and even found a pod of dolphins. We also enjoyed the mai tais! Great experience! We will book more tours in the future. I would have booked another snorkeling or sunset tour during this trip but the water quality really deteriorated with the upcoming storm.

Sea Maui - Memorable sunsets

Sea Maui

(1.2k reviews)

Sunset dinner cruise highly recommend. Value for cost very reasonable and the staff are awesome!read more

I'd add that right into the social part--it makes it clear the crowd was fun without making it…read moresound like a booze-cruise-only vibe. We had the BEST time on the Sea Maui Sunset Cocktail Cruise! From the very beginning, the experience was wonderful. We called to book and spoke with Sunshine, who was exactly that -- an absolute ray of sunshine! She was so sweet, incredibly helpful, communicated everything clearly, and genuinely made us even more excited for the experience. When it was time to board, it was immediately clear that the crew knew exactly what they were doing. We visited during "hurricane" season, so the swells were definitely LARGE -- but that didn't stop us from having the time of our lives! Great music, amazing staff, fun fellow cruisers, drinks flowing, delicious food, and the most incredible Maui sunset. The vibes were absolutely immaculate from start to finish. Somewhere along the way, I also became the unofficial, official iPhone-ographer of the boat and ended up taking photos for sooo many people! One of my favorite things about the cruise was the crowd -- it was truly all ages, and ALL ages were awesome and an absolute pleasure to party with. We met so many genuinely nice people, including a group we clicked with so well that we decided to keep the night going afterward and ended up hanging out and doing karaoke together! That probably says everything you need to know about the fun, friendly, social atmosphere Sea Maui creates. We had such a great experience that I'm already excited to hopefully book a private charter with Sea Maui for our wedding welcome party next year! 10/10 experience. Highly recommend. Thank you, Sunshine and the entire Sea Maui crew for such a memorable evening! And enjoy the pics! Sea Maui, hit me up and I'll send you the rest -- I have HUNDREDS. :

Calypso Charters - Shakas all around for our adventure!!!

Calypso Charters

(428 reviews)

We had an incredible experience aboard Calypso for the Molokini snorkel. Our 9-year-old son has a…read morerare progressive disease, is Deaf, and is wheelchair dependent, so we honestly never thought a snorkel excursion like this would be accessible for our family. From the moment we boarded, the crew made us feel not just accommodated, but genuinely welcomed. While transferring our son and his wheelchair onto the boat, I mentioned that he was Deaf and couldn't wear his hearing aids onboard. Without missing a beat, Clifford immediately began signing to him, explaining in ASL how he was going to lift and assist him. He continued using ASL with him throughout the trip. That kind of inclusion meant more to our family than I can put into words. Our son was even able to use the slide to get into the ocean to snorkel! When it was time to get back onboard, Sea Bass came right over to lift him from the water. And because he's 9, of course one trip down the slide wasn't enough. Sea Bass helped him get out of the water again and again, always with a smile and never once making him feel like helping him was a burden. He told us how happy he was to see our son enjoying himself and how much joy it brought him to help give him that experience. As parents of a child with significant disabilities, those words and that attitude stay with you. Another crew member repeatedly helped defog our goggles while we were in the ocean and even let our son rest on his surfboard when he needed a break from snorkeling. We live here on Maui, and this experience completely changed what we thought was possible for our family. We went into it wondering how accessible a snorkel excursion could really be and left already talking about bringing our family when they come to visit. Thank you, Calypso, Clifford, Sea Bass, and the entire crew. You didn't just make accommodations for our son--you made him feel like he belonged there. That made this a truly special experience for our whole family.

I've been on a lot of ecotours, and this was a really exceptional experience…read more STAFF - The staff are really prepared, attentive, and take care of things I never considered, like having multiple kinds of prescription goggles aboard. FOOD - The food was also very good quality. I was pleasantly surprised to get a tempeh wrap for my vegetarian meal; many places just stop at cheese and veggies. WILDLIFE - The reef around Molokini itself is not in great condition due to extensive bleaching, unfortunately, but the variety of marine life, including a few endemic reef fish, is still enjoyable. Highly recommend booking with this company.

PacWhale Eco-Adventures

PacWhale Eco-Adventures

(931 reviews)

What a trip! We returned to Maui this time with…read moregrandchildren and toe. We wanted to take them on some kind of unforgettable boat ride so we had to return to this company. They are fantastic. We found the Dolphin Watch Sail Deluxe which was perfect. And there were dolphins! Literally hundreds of spinner dolphins all over the place just offshore. What a treat. The kids were thrilled. The first thing the captain when he saw them was called all the kids up to the (trampoline) on the front so that they could see the dolphins underneath. The kids were so excited. It was amazing. The boat was spacious for the number of people we had on the tour. Maybe 30? Just a guess. There were lots of seats indoors and outdoors, and people tended to move around quite a bit. The staff were wonderful. They told us about the animals that we saw: spinner, dolphins, green sea turtles, and monk seals. There was also a photographer who took pictures of family groupings. They weren't cheap, $90, but she took so many of our family. It was totally worth it. They served lunch, snacks, and drinks. My only suggestion is that it might be worth a thought for them to eliminate the lunch entirely. There was nothing wrong with it. Pork sandwiches and salad were great, but I just don't see how it's necessary given that the tour left at 1:30. That seemed to keep the staff pretty busy and maybe needlessly? I don't know if it would be worth reducing the price by just a small amount and eliminating that because I'm not sure if it's that much of a draw. It was absolutely perfect. We all loved it! Highest recommendation!

we did the sunset cocktail boat cruise and it was so memorable!! The booking process was so easy…read moreand when you arrive to the location, everything was so organized. The boat also was not overbooked so there was plenty or room to sit and enjoy the views. The boat tour itself was amazing. The boat was clean, the crew were so welcoming, funny, accommodating. Service was great!! Also I did not expect there to be appetizers on the boat, but they were actually so delicious. We had chips and salsa, grilled shrimp, chicken quesadillas, potstickers and more. I just thought we were only getting cocktails, so I was very pleased.

Alii Nui Sailing Charters - tours - Updated October 2026

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