Avoid this business if you value honesty and customer service. My reservation was canceled by the business--not by me. I was assured in the cancellation notice that I would receive a full refund, but those promises have not been kept. Despite multiple efforts, I still have not received my money back (~$650). It has been 49 days and counting. What is most frustrating isn't even the cancellation--things happen. It's the complete lack of accountability afterward. Multiple attempts to contact the business have been made. Emails have not been responded to and three voicemails have been left with no follow-up. I've even attempted contacted via their Instagram direct messages; no response has been given. Meanwhile they go about posting their luxury experience 'reels'. Failing to issue a refund is unacceptable and has left me questioning whether this business stands behind its commitments at all. Customers should not have to chase a business for money they are rightfully owed. Until this issue is resolved, I cannot recommend this business to anyone. Based on my experience, be prepared for poor communication, broken promises, and the possibility of having to fight to get your refund. read more

Vida Mia - Boat Charters Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

In May we paid $238 for two people for the coffee cruise. Shortly after we received an email from Vida Mia saying it was cancelled and our money was refunded. It was never refunded. We have tried repeatedly but they refuse to refund our money. We have disputed the charge with our credit card company but Vida Mia says we took the cruise! read more

Vida Mia - Cancellation notice saying they have refunded our money. - Boat Charters Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Had the best time on this beautiful yacht! From the moment I stepped foot on here, I knew it was worth every dime. The crew was professional & down to earth, which makes a huge difference in hospitality. They have coffee cruises in the morning and sunset cruises in the evening. Coffee is my thing so I went in the am. This boat is not big, so there were few people around which made the experience more intimate. Great job guys! read more

Vida Mia - Enjoying my morning coffee cruise - Boat Charters Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Honestly couldn't have been better. Our 3rd time on the boat (we live in Oahu), and the best time yet. We lucked out a bit. We (wife and I) were the only 2 on the boat. The captain, Ricky and crew member, Phillip, were MAGNIFICENT. They went above and beyond for us. Great conversation and very thoughtful and catering. Food was incredible as always. We were lucky enough to find a mother humpback with her new baby right outside the harbor and we got to follow them around (respectfully) for a bit. Tremendous experience. read more

Vida Mia - Outside of the harbor towards Diamond Head. - Boat Charters Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

We took a leisurely Saturday morning Coffee Cruise aboard this vintage and classic yacht. It reminded me of the show Gilligan's Island, when the Boat-Minnow left the same Hawaiian small boat harbor where the Vida Mia calls home. All is good. Unlike the show, we didn't end up on a deserted island and we returned safely back to where we started. Captain Morgan (I mean Captain Rick), came out, greeted us and welcomed us like Family. He and the crew were friendly, courteous and showed us the Aloha spirit. The offshore views were beautiful, the service great, and the experience memorable. Kamaaina, Visitors, and Military personnel, add this on your "to do" list. read more

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10/10 would do this every time I visit Oahu. We did the 7am coffee cruise and somehow on the day we showed up, there were only two other passengers on the cruise with us! It felt so private as if we had the boat all to ourselves. All staff were very friendly and offered us all of the breakfast snacks, drinks and even offered to take our photos offering pose ideas, it was the perfect experience! read more

Vida Mia - Boat Charters Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I wanted to reply to owner Brynn's response to my post from 2 days ago. We understand that emergencies occur. However, we have read prior reviews on Yelp where other customers were not informed that their booked and paid cruises were canceled. You posted on your Instagram site a few days earlier showing your boat in dry dock. And your neighbor a few slips over said the boat had been in dry dock for a few days. For us standing on the dock waiting, I would like to know what steps you are taking to ensure that this does not occur if we should book with you again. You seem to have had more than a few days to inform us of the cancellation. And you've taken nearly a week to reply to the comments made by your disgruntled customers. Were you on vacation? Apologizing for not being able to inform a few of us is not an acceptable way to do business. In the future, it should be one of your first priorities to inform ALL of your booked guests of any cancellations! read more

I bought six tickets for my family to go on the Vida Mia coffee cruise to celebrate my dad's 70th birthday. We arrived at the dock before 7 am, as instructed by the confirmation email I received several days prior to the cruise. There were a few groups of people also waiting for the Vida Mia. However, the boat was not there when we arrived, and there were no crew members or employees at the dock. In fact, no one ever came. Other boat owners at the harbor saw us standing there and came over to tell us they didn't think the Vida Mia was going to show up. I never received any communication from the company advising that the cruise was not going to go forward. And, despite trying to contact them several times by text, call, and email (both the morning of the cruise and in the day following), I have still not heard a single thing from anyone--no explanation, apology, or refund. So not only did we not get the cruise we paid for, they have also been completely silent on refunding me the $750 I spent on the tickets. I was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt at first, thinking that there might have been some emergency. But the more time that goes by without a response and the more that I see others posting about having similar experiences (including a couple whose wedding plans were affected), the more I feel compelled to warn others not to trust this company. Plus, I've seen that the Instagram account has been active since I tried to make contact, so the total lack of communication can't be because they are completely unavailable. It seems like they are just deliberately ignoring their customers. If, for some unanticipated reason, the boat and/or crew were not available that morning, fine. But the failure to communicate and withholding of a refund are really unacceptable. This was an extremely disappointing experience and I am honestly surprised by the lack of professionalism from what I previously thought was a reputable boat charter company. read more

Vida Mia - 7:12 am: no boat, no crew members or employees - Boat Charters Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I can't say how much grateful I am to Captain Ricky, Lorie (sorry if i misspelled) and Valentino for such a wonderful experience. Such nice people! I can't thank you enough but I'll make sure to recommend Vida Mia to friends. We booked a 7am coffee cruise and happen to have the whole yacht to ourselves. My sister and I very much enjoyed our time onboard. The water was nice and calm, overall a great day. I love the pastries too! Everything was worth it. Thank you again! read more

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Relaxing start to our vacation in paradise. The food was plentiful and almost as beautiful as the views of Waikiki. Captain Ricky and crew were fantastic. Relaxing, tranquil, serene all words that begin to capture our 7:00 am coffee cruise but none of those words can really do it justice. A short walk from our hotel on Waikiki, the Vida Mia is an almost 100 year old yacht is in pristine condition. Take some time above and below deck to appreciate this vessel. Mother Nature shared several rainbows with us and I cannot imagine a better start to our day, or our entire vacation for that matter. read more

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OMG, I can't say enough amazing things. If I could give them 10 stars, I would!!!! So many things I could compliment them on, food, drinks, service..... First... possibility of our trip being cancelled because of high wind event (absolutely acceptable - safety first!) Megan noticed it was my daughter's bday, so she called the Captain. He said it's a "Go" we'll stay in the harbor, but "maybe" if winds cooperate, we can go in the channel. **Winds cooperated... we had an awesome trip!!!!!** Second.... my daughter is vegan.... The Captain went "all over town" to find a bakery that made vegan cupcakes for her birthday!!!!!!!!!!!! I almost cried. The love, attention to detail, and kindness were amazing. Mahalo Nui loa!!!!!! read more

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My family booked this charter for an ash scattering ceremony in honor of our beloved aunty. My entire family flew into Hawaii specifically for this meaningful event. Less than 24 hours before our scheduled departure they canceled citing that the boat repairs had not been cleared by the Coast Guard. We had to scramble last minute to try and find a new boat for the memorial which was incredibly stressful. On top of that, they have yet to refund us. For something so meaningful, the way this was handled felt really careless and disrespectful. This wasn't a leisure cruise--it was a memorial. The lack of empathy, communication, and basic accountability has been incredibly frustrating. Very disappointing as they were recommended by other locals in the boating industry but I would definitely would not recommend them. read more

everything except the boat itself. The food was horrible, the drinks were horrible. Its a bait and switch.

I don't write this review lightly. Our booking with Vida Mia was not a casual charter, but a memorial ash-scattering for my late mother, planned months in advance and coordinated around family traveling from across the country. I urge anyone reading this to consider the below experience carefully before entrusting this company with an irreplaceable occasion. We made the booking with Vida Mia in September for a December 20, 2025 ash scattering and paid in full (over $6,000). Communication with the owner, Brynn, was smooth and responsive leading up to her taking payment. After full payment was received, that communication deteriorated significantly. We were never connected to the musicians as promised, allergy details regarding the menu were not confirmed, and there was no outreach at all in the months, weeks, or days leading up to the memorial sail. On December 12, eight days before the scheduled ceremony, I emailed the owner to confirm details. After receiving no response, I followed up again on December 15. Only then did she respond by email to state that Vida Mia was undergoing "necessary repair work" and might not be operational by December 20, with reference made to the United States Coast Guard needing to approve said repairs. While I understand that USCG-certified vessels are subject to inspection requirements and approvals, that reality makes proactive, transparent communication even more critical. When a vessel is regulated at this level, operators should anticipate potential delays and communicate risks well in advance. The owner proposed an alternate vessel and later inquired about other sail dates. I explained the significance of December 20, as it would have been my mother's birthday, yet still remained accommodating and open to alternate arrangements given concerns about rain and USCG approval, despite there having been no prior indication that delays were even a possibility. However, once I approved the alternate vessel, that option--along with other suggested alternatives--also became uncertain and in flux. Over the following days, promised updates repeatedly failed to materialize, timelines shifted, and basic questions remained unanswered. The owner did not answer calls, and her voicemail inbox was full. With less than 48 hours before the scheduled ceremony, there was still no confirmed vessel or executable alternative plan. After speaking with other vendors, it became apparent that the owner also did not have a clear or accurate understanding of weather projections. At one point, she wrote, "I wish I had a magic wand in this situation," which came across as defensive and tone-deaf. I wish I had a magic wand to bring my mother back. Given that this was a memorial and all of us were, and still are grieving, the lack of communication, transparency, and basic human decency was deeply distressing. No family should be left in limbo like this days before honoring their loved one. I canceled the charter on December 18 due to the ongoing uncertainty and lack of communication. Had I not reached out when I did, I would have had no viable alternatives given the short timeline I was cornered into. The cancellation was acknowledged (the first time the owner called me and left a voicemail), and we were told a full refund would be processed within 5-7 business days. That refund was not processed within the promised window. A follow-up email went unanswered. A week later, the owner wrote that USCG-required repairs and compliance issues had left her severely short-staffed and that this had also delayed refund processing, with a new projected refund window weeks later--demonstrating a serious lack of professional responsibility during a time that demanded care and accountability. She also asked that we not initiate a chargeback or leave a negative review, stating that doing so would add significant strain as they worked to resume service. Unfortunately, due to the USCG, I was unable to observe those requests. I looked more closely at customer feedback and found multiple similar accounts involving last-minute cancellations, radio silence, and significantly delayed refunds--several of which involved milestone events and ash scatterings. This suggests a pattern, not an isolated incident. Based on this experience and the documented pattern reflected in other reviews, I strongly caution against considering this company, particularly for a memorial, large gathering, or other time-sensitive event. Reliability, integrity in practice, and timely refunds are not optional in moments like these, and they were grossly lacking here. When we spread my mother's ashes on December 20th, we witnessed a monk seal and a shark fin break the surface, both sacred and meaningful sightings in Hawaiian culture. Small sharks are often regarded as guardians and protectors of families. I take comfort knowing my mother's spirit now resides in the waters off Waikiki--because she took no crap in life, and she sure won't in death. read more

This was one of the worst charter experiences I've ever been apart of . My brother and future SIL booked the dream vida Mia for their rehearsal dinner. Two days prior the bride received an email (no call) from Brynn explaining that the boat was unavailable and switched them to a snorkel boat. This wasn't okay, Brynn and team were unreachable (and still are) and we sourced our own back up. The caterer and lei service they work with are great, but the alcohol for the cocktail service, nor Brynn and team never showed up to "make sure every detail went over correctly". If I didn't see the other reviews and social media, I would think this company is a complete scam. After dozens of calls/texts, we still have not heard from the company and just want a full refund minus the lei service and catering. I realize they might be in despair from the boat repairs, but no communication for a bride's rehearsal dinner...insane. I do not recommend. If I could give a 0 star review I would. Do not book! Buyer beware read more

The absolute best crew and experience. We had the pleasure riding the Vida Mia when my family and I came to visit our family in Hawaii. We had the best time during the coffee tour. Vida Mia is a beautiful boat. Breakfast we served with our tour and it was absolutely delicious. Would definitely recommend to anyone visiting or even locals for a fun time. read more

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Captain Rick was absolutely wonderful. Our son was dropped off at a good distance by an Uber from the boat and Captain Rick went and picked him up in his vehicle. Wow!!!! Now that's service. The boat was gorgeous, clean and nostalgic. Brad made sure we had plenty of coffee and pastries for our morning coffee cruise. The crew was extremely attentive to our needs and made sure we had a wonderful experience. I highly recommend this outfit. read more

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Picture/feel this --- Wind in your hair. Sun on your face. Sounds of the waves around you. Food and drinks at your fingertips. Open ocean ahead. Views of Honolulu. If you're looking for something fun to do with family and friends, book yourself a short cruise on the Vida Mia, a 61-foot wooden yacht. Vida Mia offers coffee cruises, sunset cruises, and private charters. Their sunset dinner cruise includes food, cocktails, and live music. Their "Fresh Catch" Fireworks cruise is a local favorite and is offered every Friday. Whale-watching tours are seasonal and offered from November through March. All of their cruises offer beautiful views of Diamond Head and the Honolulu coastline. Great for intimate weddings, vow renewals, family gatherings, birthday celebrations, client appreciation events, etc. The yacht can accommodate large groups of up to 36 guests. I had the honor of embarking on the Vida Mia experience twice, once with other patrons on a coffee cruise and once for a private event. Both adventures were scheduled in the morning (7a-8:30a and 10a-12p) and offered a wonderful breakfast presented beautifully in buffet style. The menu included an assortment of sweet and savory pastries, bagels with lox and cream cheese (toaster available on boat), and locally sourced fruits prepared fresh every morning. For beverages, they offered decaf coffee, regular coffee, and tap water. For the private charter event, mimosas were provided in addition to the coffee and water. There's ample space to move around onboard. I'd recommend wearing slippers/flats for ease of getting around. Enjoy the views, breeze, and sun up on deck, or get cozy below deck. On deck, there's lots of room to move about or sit and relax. There's a bench that can sit two at front, a table and bench seating in the mid back, and two chairs at the back. Although there's limited seats, you can sit/lay down anywhere. Below deck offers three separate areas, which include a total of three beds available if you want to rest out of the sun, two restrooms and a table for eating (or playing games, if you have any). During the cruises, I was lucky to spot a turtle and a group of dolphins. It was truly a great way to start the morning. The captain and crew were attentive and friendly. The captain even allowed us to test our hand at steering the boat if we wanted. It was so much fun. Looking forward to booking a sunset cruise in the future. read more

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The highlight of our trip. Great food, even better service, wonderful captain and crew, and the views were epic. We will be back, and for sure will be highlighting on YouTube too. Thank you! read more

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Our dinner cruise on the Vida Mia was nothing short of amazing. Being a big fan of White Lotus, it was fun to be on the same boat featured in the show. The whole experience exceeded our expectations--from the stunning views of Oahu to the delicious dinner and unlimited drinks. The atmosphere was perfect, and the price for everything was more than worth it. This is definitely something we'll be booking every time we visit Oahu. Highly recommended! read more

Vida Mia - Boat Charters Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

They are in dry dock. Do not book with this company!! We booked and the boat never showed up.

Great food! Great service! Great music! Great views off of Waikiki Beach! Highly recommend! read more

Vida Mia - Diamondhead in the background - Boat Charters Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Best money ever spent! Captain Rick and his Ohana were very welcoming and informative. Continuously checked in on his guests, called everyone by their first name which only shows how much he truly cares about his guests. We got some gorgeous views. Did the coffee tour, coffee was delicious and so were the pastries! The best part, seeing the dolphins next to us riding along. This will be a repetitive adventure for sure! read more

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We had the best experience possible. The Captain and crew were so friendly and considerate. We had a very nice assortment of fruit, pastries and drinks. I enjoyed seeing the beautiful wood work and the below the deck compartments. There is so much history this ship has gone thru. We saw some turtles and even the fin of a small shark not far from the harbor. The ride on the waves was a bit rough so out of consideration for the passengers, the captain made the wise decision to return to the port so as not to cause people to have to suffer thru the rest of the day recovering, if they have a tendency to be sensitive to bigger waves. If you have ever been boating through the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge area, you know what I am talking about. My husband certainly appreciated the decision and I thought we had plenty of time to enjoy the excursion on this wonderful ship. read more

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Our extended family traveled to Honolulu for a memorial. My mother-in-laws last wish was to have her ashes scattered off Diamond Head, so my sister in law booked the Vida Mia. The day before the memorial (July 1, 2025) we were told that our charter was cancelled because of repairs. My sister in law, as well as our local family members had to scramble to get a new booking in time. THIRTEEN people had come from all over the country for this important moment. I understand that sometimes, repairs need to happen so at the time, we were primarily concerned about getting a new booking in time for the memorial. (We did!) The reason I'm writing this review? My sister in law STILL has not been reimbursed and it's been two weeks since the cancellation. The owner isn't returning calls and has not refunded the considerable sum for this charter. NO SERVICES were rendered...where is the refund? I've now read other reviews here, and it seems like this is not an isolated incident....this company has a habit of canceling and ghosting. Avoid at all costs, especially for something important! read more

We paid for a sunset cocktail cruise, then in less than 48 hrs prior to the sail were automatically upgraded to a live band/dinner cruise that added $75 more...that we never agreed to. We showed up, no band, the pupus were literally swarming with flies that looked like a combo of Costco and Safeway snacks. We have lived here 7 years, been coming to Hawaii over 25 years...the worst boat for the most money we ever spent. I would never go again. read more

What a unique experience!! We hiiiighly recommend taking one of their cruises! The scenery, photo opportunities, breakfast/coffee, everything was amazing!! Captain Ricky and crew made it even morrre enjoyable :). If we have a chance to come back, definitely going to take a sunset cruise! ~Mahalo~ PS - Bring cash, you're going to want to leave a nice tip ;). read more

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I had pre wedding party on Vida Mia. To be honest it was My favorite part of my wedding weekend. If you are thinking about booking a charter on Vida Mia you are going to be thrilled. We had the boat cater the food and provide music. It was honestly the greatest night ever. Everyone had a terrific time the staff was incredible the food was great the music was outstanding. And lucky for us we had beautiful Waikiki on a sunny day. Thank you Vida Mia for making this such a special day for me and my family Mahalo read more

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3 months later and still no reply from the owners/management, but thank you to everyone who read and liked the review. Beware, once you pay you have no recourse nor are they interested to hear about your bad experience. On vacation, people trust social media, and hope the website gives what is promised, People expect what is listed/pictured on social media, not something much less. We will be back in Oahu in May and will be revisiting all the charters, just not Vida Mia. read more

Excellent time on a beautiful morning with wonderful people. Beautiful yacht with my favorite coffee. Dolphins were following and doing tricks. Can't wait to come back for locals Thursday. read more

Vida Mia - Boat Charters Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Extremely disappointing and unprofessional experience. We booked a charter with Vida Mia and were left completely stranded. The boat never showed up, and we received no communication whatsoever--no call, no text, no email. All of the passengers waited at the harbor for over an hour with no update or explanation. We tried reaching out multiple times by phone, text, and email, but no one responded. This was not just frustrating, but incredibly inconsiderate, especially given the time and effort it took to coordinate everyone's schedule. We understand that things can go wrong sometimes, but basic professionalism means informing your customers and answering when they reach out. The total lack of accountability or communication is unacceptable. I would strongly caution others against booking with Vida Mia. read more

"Let's go on a coffee cruise!" said my friend. Sure, I said...... little did I know that I'd have to be there at 6:45am and it rained heavily the entire previous night. We're nothing if not intrepid, so I set my alarm super early and off we went. I had a little difficulty finding the boat (yacht? It was a beautiful large boat/yacht). I felt just slightly unsteady because it was raining, dark, early, and I hadn't had my coffee yet...... Soon we found the boat (yacht?) and were met with a warm welcome. The 90 minute cruise was sponsored by the Honolulu Coffee Company on the private yacht, the Vida Mia, and we were offered several delicious pastries, unlimited coffee, water, and juices as well as fresh local fruits. As we left the small boat harbor, I enjoyed immensely my first cup of steaming hot coffee and settled down to enjoy the view. We saw so many surfers in the water which was surprising to me, since we had such a rainy December and I was freezing. The view was breathtaking. We were able to chat with a couple of tourists who'd also joined this tour, and I enjoyed seeing the beautiful views of the hotels and shoreline that I never get to see from aboard a boat. Before I knew it, we were pulling back into the dock. This was a relaxing, gorgeous boat tour. I highly recommend it if you have a visiting mainland friend, or if you want to go on a new adventure. read more

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Went on an evening ride to mingle before my friends wedding. Aside from meeting wonderful friends and family, we sipped on some mai tais, got to listen to a live group and watch the sunset. The bonus were the dolphins that decided to ride alongside us. We also got a wave from a whale ! Safety tips: *Make sure you don't gather on one part of the boat. Distribute your weight as evenly as possible by spreading out and mingling (there's plenty of places to spread out, lounge and stand). *Don't block the helmsman's view by standing on the front deck (you can walk on it or sit) *Use handles and handrails (some may be above your head) read more

Vida Mia - Boat Charters Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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As another reviewer also experienced, we made reservations for the 7am coffee cruise on 6/29 and the boat never showed up! No communications were sent to customers informing them, no one picked up the phone or answered texts when we tried to figure out what was going on. Still waiting for someone to respond to us so we can discuss getting a refund. It's just terrible that we all got up early and planned our day around the cruise, only for it to be a scam. This would've been our second time on the boat (we live on Oahu) so it's disappointing to have something like this happen. What a shame. I would definitely think twice before booking because you just can't guarantee the boat will show up. read more

We throughly enjoyed our coffee cruise with the amazing crew-Capt. Ricky and Bradford. Beautiful views of the Waikiki coast, great breakfast! Such an enjoyable time! Highly recommend! read more

We enjoyed an amazing experience worth your time. The staff were the best. I would definitely do.

What a relaxing and fun way to start the day! I've lived in Honolulu for ten years and have been on a lot of boats, but I've never been on a morning coffee/pastry cruise until now. The Vida Mia is a gorgeous 1920s wooden boat, and I'm so glad it's been restored and made available for cruises. Captain Moose and the rest of the team were so friendly and kept the pastries/fruit/drink flowing. My girlfriend and I went out the other day before work started (we live nearby and walked over). It was during whale season, and we saw a lot of wildlife, including also honu (giant turtles) and monkseals. I'm used to seeing the skyline and Diamond Head at dusk/sunset, but this was a new pleasure seeing it all shimmer at sunrise. The ride was really smooth, and I'm thinking of bringing my mom on this when she visits. They mentioned they're also available for charters... I might consider it for when we have a lot of people in town. Note: The boat is located just a few ships out from the entrance to the Duke Kahanamoku (Hilton) Lagoon (right at the break in the fence). For parking, there are usually a lot of free public spaces available in the early morning nearby, along the chain-link fence facing the Lagoon. But be careful, as the spaces across the driveway closer to the boats (in the "lot") are paid and/or permit parking only! read more

Vida Mia - Boat Charters Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Captain was too hung over to take us on the boat haha. No phone call, just a bunch of people waiting. Didn't even alert the other passengers! Boat looked cool though. read more

Absolutely incredible. We took our parents who were in town, and we had the best time. The boat has an upscale, magical atmosphere. The staff are incredible and the food and drink were fantastic. Musicians were amazing. Can't wait to go back!!! read more

Vida Mia - Boat - Boat Charters Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Stepping aboard the Vida Mia, I felt like I was transported to a romantic, charming time where a slower pace was the norm. The captain and crew were all extremely knowledgeable, accommodating, and personable. We chose the coffee cruise. The spread on the food table did not disappoint! We were offered delicious pastries, an array of bagels with spreads, and other various goodies. The crew offered coffee, juices, mimosas, etc. A lot of activities are offered on the island to choose from. I am so happy that we added this to our list of things to do! Pictures do not do this boat justice! read more

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