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    Ocean Joy Cruises

    4.5 (254 reviews)
    Closed 6:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

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    Claudia D.

    I would have to say I was very disappointed. It was supposed to be a dolphin and snorkeling cruise. While I do know they can't guarantee dolphins I feel they just sailed out stopped for a bit then sailed back to the snorkel area. Then the life vests were the inflate yourself while another cruise line across had the standard life vests. Again went snorkeling and didn't see any sea life. The food was good and they had plenty for everyone to have second and thirds and the staff were great. Adam was on point in getting a lot of shots.

    Snoring noon
    Imre A.

    Nice cruise to snorkel spot, on the way saw some dolphins they stick around for a while. We have some clouds which made sitting on the deck cool and island views pretty. Lots of little fish. Water is not as clear as the Caribbean but pretty. The crew was friendly, helpful photographer took pics on boat and in water pictures. No pressure sales. Food was good pulled pork and bbq pork, rice, purple bread, salad. Drinks pop in big cooler great array of stuff, booze after water fun and was island array of booze. Was lots of fun- people mix old folks, families and couples. Not every one got in water. Aloha time :)

    Beautiful scenery
    Ilka P.

    We have been on many excursions and this one by far was the best. They are so pleasant and attentive to everyone's needs. They were so knowledgeable and went above and beyond to make sure everyone was ok. We saw so many dolphins and had a great snorkeling adventure beautiful fish and saw manta rays. The food was amazing and we loved the crew. We recommend this for anyone wanting to experience dolphins, turtles, and great snorkeling. They had good gear too.

    GREG S.

    We have done many snorkel treks in Hawaii and our Ocean Joy Morning snorkel sail from the Ko Olina resort (April 2024) was one of the best. Catamaran was in great shape, tasty morning snack (poi bread pudding), excellent lunch buffet (kalua pig, teriyaki chicken, salad, fruit, rolls), plenty of beverages, friendly and helpful crew. Our one hour snorkeling offshore from the Hawaiian Electric Kahe Power Plant didn't have a lot of fish on our day, but we saw two large sea turtles. Its a bit pricey like the others, but we would highly recommend and would do this again.

    Cynthia W.

    BEST Snorkel Cruise we have taken on Oahu so far! Awesome soft deck! Beautiful Bar! Amazing Gourmet Hawaiian Food for lunch! I'm talking Terriyaki Chicken, pulled pork and rice people! My husband and I both felt it tasted better than some luaus we have been to! The snorkel time in the water was amazing! The fish are beautiful! We saw a sea turtle and thanks to our amazing photographer Mani, we were able to capture the whole experience forever without any worry! Captain Jerry and his whole crew were so kind and friendly, it felt like stepping aboard a friend's boat.... Amazing experience! I highly recommend!

    This was an amazing cruise. We took the sunset dinner cruise plus snorkeling. Tuesday October 29th 2024. Patrick, the captain and his crew were all amazing. Making sure that everyone was comfortable and had a great time. Snorkeling was fun and saw lots of great colorful fish and sea turtles. The dinner food was great with pulled pork barbecue and chicken. Drinks were fantastic. Best of all the sunset was beautiful and it was a great way to end our vacation. Highly recommend this boat cruise. For all ages. Very much worth the cost. The photographer does a fantastic job too. This trip is forever in our memory banks.

    Mother & baby dolphin following our catamaran

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    Great experience! Super friendly and helpful staff. Recommend the photo package! Kid friendly.

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    Review Highlights - Ocean Joy Cruises

    On Saturday 12/3/22, we embarked on the Oahu Catamaran Cruise Wildlife, Snorkeling and a Hawaiian Meal cruise.

    Mentioned in 45 reviews

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    MANA Cruises & Charters - Jump in to Hawaiian Waters!

    MANA Cruises & Charters

    (120 reviews)

    MANA sunset cruise from Ko Olina - the absolute highlight of our trip!!!…read more We are no strangers to Catamaran excursions - trips in the British Virgin Islands, Greece, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. By far, Captain Travis and First Mate Taylor were exceptional, leaving no detail to chance. We were warmly greeted with a drink and were given a very thorough safety briefing. Both were meticulous in their duties to their craft as well as to their guests. The catamaran was immaculate, an outstanding demonstration of the care and maintenance it receives - impressive for a 2008 Cat. Thanks MANA and crews for your care and concern. We had only 5 of us aboard ( they allow a maximum of only 6) which really enhanced the experience. As we got underway drinks were served and then came what I thought was going to be a sampling of local snacks. No, it was a full dinner made by Taylor that was some of the freshest, best food we have had on the Island, followed by a dessert second to none. The other guests dietary restrictions were taken into consideration and we sailed (and for a portion of the trip we were under full sail & not motoring) around with soft Hawaiian reggae playing. The two hours flew by.... We were regaled with stories of the Islands and some very interesting facts. Sure there are less expensive, far more crowded sunset tours... but NOTHING compares to this one. It was worth every cent. When we return we will have already booked this trip before we board our again! Do yourself a favor, splurge on a really personal Hawaiian experience and book this trip. You will be richly rewarded & have memories for years to come! There may be no traffic jams on the extra mile... but you will find on this excursion, Captain Travis & First Mate Taylor are on the extra mile & demonstrate what the extra mile should look like! A very important note - we recommend if you are coming from the Waikīkī area that you plan on leaving early and planning a light lunch at Ko Olina - the Monkeypod, or one of the restaurants in the hotels. The traffic leaving Waikiki in the afternoon is horrible in the afternoon and could take several hours to navigate to Ko Olina.

    Wow!!!! What an amazing experience! Captain Travis and Andie treated us to an amazing sunset…read morecruise. It has been the highlight of our trip. We were able to see giant turtles and flying fish, they kept great drinks coming and treated us to a delicious dinner. We had our 7 year old daughter and 4 adults, and they were sure to treat her with thoughtfulness - her dinner was catered to her as well as a selection of juices and chips. Well with the money.

    Captain Bruce - Complimentary Snacks

    Captain Bruce

    (107 reviews)

    We had a hiccup with the third party that we booked through but Karen who works at Captain Bruce…read morewas AMAZING. she made sure that we were taken care of and received what we originally booked. It was hectic given we had to board right away but she was so helpful and kind when I was feeling under pressure. I really wish I can give more than 5 stars just for her service itself. As for the rest of the trip, everything was SMOOTH sailing. Casey, Jared and Mahiki were WONDERFUL as well. I highly recommend this to everyone wanting a great experience. To note, we had 4 kids with us too!

    We booked this Kaneohe Sandbar snorkeling tour after seeing many reviews describe it as…read morebeginner-friendly. As first-time snorkelers traveling with a child, our experience did not align with those expectations. Equipment distribution was poorly handled. Masks were handed out with little to no instruction, and basic questions were met with a rude and dismissive attitude. Overall communication and service were lacking. Once in the water, guidance was minimal and inconsistent. The experience felt rushed and disorganized, with limited support for guests who were new to snorkeling. The tone and treatment we received also made us uncomfortable as Asian guests. After sharing feedback, the company clarified in writing that they do NOT advertise or position this as a beginner-friendly snorkeling tour. Based on both that clarification and our experience, I would strongly recommend that beginners or families looking for clear instruction and attentive guidance consider other operators. Sharing this to help future guests set accurate expectations before booking.

    Ko Olina Marina

    Ko Olina Marina

    (11 reviews)

    The Sunset cruise was pleasant. The weather was nice with a moderate breeze. All staff on deck were…read morevery social. A couple of them happened to be from California. The vibes seemed more party like than a mellow cruise. Nonetheless, it was an awesome experience. Great music, strong drinks, small bites. To sit and watch the sunset was nothing short of stunning. It was so beautiful to catch it moment by moment. Mother Nature at work. The cruise was about two hours.

    An Anti-Boating, Mediocre, Overpriced Marina With Attitude. They DO NOT want your business…read more I've used this marina several times over the years when visiting the west side of the island by boat. It's never been a cheap overnight visit because their prices have always been very high. But as a visiting boater it's always nice to pull in to a friendly marina for the night and have a nice meal out at the nearby restaurants from time to time. Historically, in the world of marinas and boating and boaters and marina staff, this symbiosis of objectives has served everyone well, world-wide. A number of years ago, Ko Olina essentially doubled the slip fee on all of their long-term monthly slip-rental clients. This emptied the marina occupancy by roughly half, so that now the marina was suddenly managing about half the boats for the original income. A shark move that Satan or a Trump family member would approve of, especially considering the limited slip availability throughout all of Hawaii. It was as though the cruelty was at least half the point. But I digress. At some point after all that, someone there decided that it's just too much bother for a marina to rent a slip for less than a month. This is a giant Fcuk You!! to the entire Hawaii and visiting boating community. They will not rent you a slip for even a night, even though they currently have several slips to rent. Even knowing that there are extremely limited moorage options throughout the islands and particularly on that section of Oahu. This coast features one ramshackle state-run marina with little to no space available, a few open roadsteads, which are highly surf and wind dependent, a total of ONE tiny ~3-4 boat capacity protected anchorage, and then there is Ko Olina Marina, previously a nice marina with some amazing (if expensive) aloha, now with their new attitude that they've somehow picked up along the way: "Fkuc You, we're a marina and we have slips and all, but pi$$ off, OK? We can't be bothered with your perfectly normal request for a slip for a night. A$$hole Awards, all around, you guys. Mahalo for nothing.

    Dolphin Excursions Hawaii - Our boat allows close up views of wildlife

    Dolphin Excursions Hawaii

    (798 reviews)

    We had such an incredible experience with Dolphin Excursions in O'ahu! From start to finish, the…read moreentire crew was friendly, professional, and clearly passionate about what they do. They made everyone feel comfortable and excited before we even got in the water. Seeing dolphins in their natural habitat was absolutely unforgettable. The guides were knowledgeable and respectful of the animals, which made the experience feel even more special and responsible. We never felt rushed, and they made sure everyone had a chance to enjoy the moment. The boat was clean, well-organized, and the overall vibe was fun and relaxed. They also pointed out other marine life along the way, which was such a bonus. If you're visiting O'ahu, this is a must-do experience. It was easily one of the highlights of our trip, and we would do it again in a heartbeat!

    I highly recommend Dolphin Excursions Hawaii because the team who operates it are highly organized,…read morethoughtful, experienced, intelligent, friendly, and helpful. They do their utmost best to address any needs and answer questions during the entire time. Plus, with their knowledge of the area, we spotted dolphins, a whale, a rare Hawaiian Monk Seal (who actually surfaced to watch us). During our two dives, we even swam near beautiful turtles. Our guide, Morgan, was especially fabulous! Big gratitude to him and to the rest of the crew who help make such a positively memorable experience!

    Ko Olina Glass Bottom Boats

    Ko Olina Glass Bottom Boats

    (18 reviews)

    Aloha! This morning, my daughter and I did a spontaneous boat ride on the Ko'olina Glass Bottom…read moreBoat. Captain Kai and Tristan were extremely knowledgeable and personable. We prefer to support not only local, but Kānaka as well. Checked off those boxes, as well as having a much needed peaceful time out on the ocean. We saw some nai'a and honu. The Wai'anae mountains ranges were so majestic and lush today too. Will go again soon in the hopes of seeing whales next time. Keiki and kūpuna friendly.

    I went out today on a one and a half hour whale watching tour from Ko Olina harbor, and it ended up…read morebeing way better than I expected. The crew took us out on a small glass bottom boat and once we got moving it felt like we were heading straight into our own ocean show. The weather was spot on with bright sun, calm water, and a comfortable breeze that made the whole ride easy and really enjoyable. Before we left, the captain and his assistant very politely warned us that we might not see whales because it is still the early part of the season. They gave us the choice to go anyway, and thank goodness we did because these whales clearly had no interest in hiding. We saw several of them breach like they were trying to win style points, splash around like they were in a water park, and show off just enough to make every single person on the boat start cheering. Ian and Kai were our guides and both deserve a medal for top tier ocean adventure hosting. They explained what to watch for, gave some fun knowledge about the island, tossed in whale facts that made us feel like instant marine biologists, and most importantly they actually found the whales. They kept the whole thing fun, relaxed, and full of moments that made this our first Hawaiian whale watching cruise and one we will never forget. I would absolutely do this tour again. Highly recommend it to anyone staying in Ko Olina. The short walking distance to Aulani is the cherry on top.

    Captain Max Boat Tours - Turtle Canyon Snorkel Tour with Captain Max Boat Tours

    Captain Max Boat Tours

    (146 reviews)

    We love seeing and snorkeling near turtles in Hawaii and for an upcoming trip to Oahu we weren't…read moresure we were going to be able to see them. I read about the excursions off Waikiki that all but promised seeing Honu. I did some research and chose to book with Captain Max Boat Tours and their Turtle Canyon Snorkel. I read reviews and what really attracted me to this outfitter was the fact they ran semi-private boat tours with only 6 guests. Correspondence (email) leading up to the excursion was clear and helpful. We arrived a few minutes early and visited their small shop while checking in. We waited just a few minutes and then were walked over to their boat dock, meeting both the guide, Sophia and the boat captain, Stephanie. They gave us safety information and prepared us for the short boat ride out to "Turtle Canyon". Our craft was a zodiac type inflatable raft with a mounted seats and a windscreen for the captain. We glided out to the snorkel zone with Waikiki beach before us, a grand ocean view of this famous beach. Sophie helped the other guests get their snorkel gear (included in the price) except for us - we bring our own snorkel equipment. We put in the water and after all guests were in, Sophia called in the direction she was leading us. On the way over we swam through schools of fish. This was an awesome experience we did not expect - we snorkel a lot and love seeing the marine life. We learned that some outfitters feed the fish out here and so they stick around instead of swim away, which we're used to experiencing. In about 20 feet of water our guide pointed out several turtles on the bottom. Lucky for us, one of them swap up for air - and stayed near the and stayed near the surface for quite a few minutes (longer than we usually see) which allowed us to get a great view of this beautiful creature (all the while, maintaining a safe distance to protect the turtle). Sophia led us to two other spots nearby, seeing fish on the reef below and several more turtles. Once again we were fortunate to have another turtle swim up to the surface for a few breaths. I'm very glad we chose Captain Max as some of the other outfitters that bring larger groups would have been a very different experience with a group clamoring for views of the few turtles that were out there. Our guide was knowledgeable, approachable, and friendly - and ensured we were all safe (and the marine life were also protected). On our way back to shore we were treated to another great view of Oahu, with Waikiki and Honolulu in the foreground and the mountains behind. Thanks Sophie and Captain Stephanie for a memorable excursion! NOTE: We know that early in the morning is generally the best time to snorkel as the water tends to be calmer, visibility better and fish ore active. We had a 930 start but next time would be the early time (730) as I learned there are even fewer other outfitters out on the water at that time.

    We had the most awesome experience snorkeling with the turtles and all the beautiful fish. From…read moregetting on the boat with Stephanie & Sophia playing awesome tunes to the snorkeling and all the information they shared with us. it was a great day and highly recommend Captan Max Boat Tours. Thank you Debbie, Jeff & Karen

    Ocean Joy Cruises - tours - Updated May 2026

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