Location 3.5: Kewalo Harbor off of Ala Moana Blvd in Honolulu Oahu, Hawaii. This is a few miles to the west of Waikiki beach and not a short walk from there. You can drive, take a taxi, bus or Uber, or the Prince Kuhio staff can arrange pickup and drop off for you at an additional cost. There is plenty of paid parking at the harbor.
Service 5: Super nice and friendly staff, all the way from the reception team to the photographer, the servers, the bartender, the chef and the captain.
Ambiance 5: The enthusiasm of the staff rubs off on the guests. It is a happy gathering with breathtaking views. We took the Friday night dinner-cruise which lasted longer (and was more costly) so that we could enjoy the Hilton Hawaiian Village fireworks.
The ship 3: The Prince Kuhio was first commissioned in 1984 as a passenger ferry. In 2020, she became part of the Prince Kuhio Tours family and was converted for use in scenic dining cruises. It can accommodate up to 138 passengers with plenty of outdoor and indoor space for dining, cocktails, and sightseeing. The upper, open deck where we sat, has 2 person and 4 person tables with all bench seats facing forward. The set up is optimized for sightseeing which is great. Viewing-wise, every seat is a good seat. Accommodation-wise, the setup is simple and not really fine-dining; hard seats with no cushioning, no tablecloths or cloth napkins, no metal silverware and no glassware. There is a bar facing the dining tables which at the time of our visit in August 2025 only served soft drinks and non-alcoholic mixers. For some undisclosed reason no alcohol was being sold on board but guests were encouraged to bring their own, which we did! Not sure if this is a long-term situation or temporary. The alcohol situation is not clearly stated on their website so if you plan to be drinking you might want to inquire ahead of time whether you should bring your own. The lower deck is enclosed and views are limited compared to the upper deck. The admission price for the lower deck is a little less ($115 vs. $132 at the time of our visit). The restrooms are aft on the lower deck. Again pretty basic.
Boarding and seating 3: We got there plenty of time ahead of the scheduled boarding but there was already a long line outside. There was very little supervision. The line was disorganized and people were cutting in and jumping the line. We were greeted cheerfully at the entrance, checked in, and photographed for a separately-sold souvenir photo. Although we had paid for upper deck seating as a family of four, by the time we got there all tables were taken. Again there was no supervision by the staff and it was kind of a "free for all". We had to personally negotiate with the other guests (who had spread out over multiple tables) to secure a 4-seat table. This was a little chaotic and unexpected.
Food 4: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner have different menus. We had taken the Sunset Dinner Cruise. Dinner included a garden salad, an entrée and a dessert (cheesecake). For the entrée, you are limited to Fish (Catch of the Day) or Beef Short Ribs. We all had the fish and it was delicious and nicely plated. Given the amount of people that they feed in as short as a time, I do not know how they do it but it came out really well. We met the chef who was going around and meeting the guests after the dinner was served, and he told us that everything is done fresh and on premises in real time. Hats off to the chef and the staff!
Drinks 3: As mentioned earlier, they only served soft drinks and mixers at the time of our visit in August 2025. No alcohol was sold on board but patrons were encouraged to bring their own. Suggest you check ahead of time with Prince Kuhio Tours whether this is still the situation.
The Last Word 4: The breathtaking views, the friendly crew and the delicious (albeit limited in options) food offerings elevate this experience to a solid 4. I wish they could do better with the boarding process and the seating arrangements. Overall a great experience! read more