With stunning beaches, fun nightlife, and iconic views of Diamond Head, it’s no surprise that Waikiki is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Honolulu. While there are plenty of activities to enjoy on the water, you’d be remiss to skip taking a sunset cruise tour.

Whether you’re looking to celebrate a special occasion or simply want to unwind in quite possibly the most serene environment possible, look no further. I’ve gone ahead and detailed the 7 top Waikiki sunset cruises out there today, that are well worth your time and money. Let’s jump right in!

Best Sunset Cruises in Waikiki

	Oahu: Diamond Head Cruise with Drinks & Appetizers	Private Sunset Catamaran Cruise in Waikiki	Moana’s Sunset Cocktail Sail Along Oahu's Waikiki Coast
Location:	1009 Ala Moana Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96813	1125 Ala Moana Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96814	1125 Ala Moana Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96814
Start:	5:00 PM	Between 4:15 and 5:30 PM	5:00 PM
Duration:	1.5 hours	2 hours	2 hours
Includes:	Round-trip sailing cruise, captain, crew, unlimited non-alcoholic beverages, 2 free bar drinks per adult, food	Use of Snorkeling equipment, Bluetooth Sound System, Bottled water, Cooler, Restroom on board	Sunset sailing excursion with experienced captain and crew, restroom on board, alcoholic beverages
	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking

Quick Answer: The 7 Best Rated Waikiki Sunset Cruises For 2024

1. Oahu: Diamond Head Cruise with Drinks & Appetizers
2. Private Sunset Catamaran Cruise in Waikiki
3. Moana’s Sunset Cocktail Sail Along Oahu’s Waikiki Coast
4. Oahu: Waikiki Glass Bottom Boat Sunset Cruise
5. Waikiki Sunset Cocktail Sail with Open Bar
6. Oahu: Premium Waikiki Sunset Party Cruise with Live DJ
7. Oahu: Waikiki Sunset and Cocktail Cruise

Waikiki Sunset Cruise Reviews

1. Oahu: Diamond Head Cruise with Drinks & Appetizers

When I think of Hawaii, I think of impeccable beaches, turquoise waters, and a soft breeze blowing through my hair while sipping on a tropical cocktail. Maybe that’s a bit of a cliche, but it’s certainly not an underrated one – and one that you’ll certainly experience on the Oahu: Diamond Head Cruise with Drinks & Appetizers cruise!

While that alone would have me hooked, they even include a delicious bento-style dinner to top it off! Lasting just 1.5 hours, it’s the perfect way to take you from day to night, following it up with a relaxing evening strolling along the beach or evening a night out on the town!

It’s super easy to fit into a packed schedule and just the right length of time where you get to soak it all in without feeling like things are dragging on. However, with the strong drinks and amazing views, I highly doubt that could even be possible!

Our eco-certified, 65-foot catamaran was spacious and smooth, with friendly staff there to welcome us onboard and help us with anything we needed. As we sailed out, we enjoyed unlimited non-alcoholic drinks, and our tickets also included 2 alcoholic drinks at no additional cost.

I had a Mai Tai that I absolutely loved, though like I mentioned, be prepared because they are a bit on the strong side! The landscape was indescribable, with the golds and reds washing over the paradise laid out in front of us.

The views of the Diamond Head volcanic cone were amazing, and I enjoyed our dinner as we watched the sun dip down below the horizon. Combine the serene environment with professional staff there to take care of everything, you’ll be able to let your worries wash away!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

2. Private Sunset Catamaran Cruise in Waikiki

This next tour is just a bit longer than the first one, but is a completely different vibe! Clocking in at 2 hours, this tour is ideal if you’ve ever wanted to head out with that special someone, your group of friends, or the entire family, on a private cruise into paradise.

The Private Sunset Catamaran Cruise in Waikiki checks all those boxes, offering a completely personalized tour designed for just you and your party! While it’s not a rule, there are certainly quite a few sunset cruises in Waikiki that get super crowded full of visitors.

The meetup point was super close to our hotel, and we decided to take an earlier tour time to take advantage of the day. Upon arrival, we met Captain Francesco and Jake who warmly welcomed us on board and were there to answer any and all of our questions.

They asked us about our specific interests in order to tailor the cruise to our desires, including rafts, a Bluetooth sound system to play our music, and snorkeling gear so we could have fun in the water!

One of the crew members pointed our some turtles and fish to us, and I saw incredible views of them as I splashed through the water! They were so kind that they even took photos and videos for us, got drinks for us, and even helped a couple people from my group learn how to snorkel!

No matter if you’re an adrenaline junkie or would simply like to sit back and relax while enjoying the beautiful 360 views, there’s something here for you. Enjoy the golden sunset as you wish, sipping on some refreshing drinks in the midst of amazing company with great music playing the soundtrack.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

3. Moana’s Sunset Cocktail Sail Along Oahu’s Waikiki Coast

Oahu is one of the most captivating places in the world – particularly the Waikiki Coast. If you would like a unique perspective on the island’s breathtaking coastline, this next tour is a great choice for relaxing and appreciating the natural scenery.

The Moana’s Sunset Cocktail Sail Along Oahu’s Waikiki Coast is a 2-hour excursion with friendly staff and experts there to ensure you have a fabulous time! The central meeting point was very convenient for us, and was nice and close to the hotels so we could actually walk up to it!

I’d say that this cruise is the perfect activity before you go out to dinner, having a few cocktails and enjoying the postcard-esque backdrop. If you’re lucky, you may even be able to spot some humpback whales, dolphins, rays, and more!

Your vessel for the evening is the Moana Catamaran – which was smooth, steady, and just a pleasure to sail on. The staff was very helpful, making sure everyone was completely happy and feeling great throughout our time onboard.

With a great sense of humor, laidback vibes, and some educational commentary along the way, it was a great way to enjoy the sunset. While sipping on our drinks, we had front-row views of the changing electric red and gold shades in the sky, taking over the water, with the silhouette of Diamond Head contrasting against it.

With nice Hawaiian music playing in the background, it really set the mood for a wonderful evening with great company. Not to mention, the photos and videos I was able to capture on this cruise looked unreal!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

4. Oahu: Waikiki Glass Bottom Boat Sunset Cruise

I don’t know about you, but I’m definitely interested in just about anything that involves a fun history lesson and amazing views. You’ll get all that and more on the Oahu: Waikiki Glass Bottom Boat Sunset Cruise! Whether it’s your first time in Hawaii or your 50th, you’re sure to learn something new and gain even more appreciation for this beautiful place.

Lasting 1.5 hours, this tour is a great opportunity to get out and appreciate Mother Nature without impeding on other plans you may have. There are a ton of different Waikiki cruise tours out there, and many of them have more of a party vibe or focus more on drinks.

However, this tour only provides bottled water and focuses more on the educational aspect, which I really appreciated. The Haleiwa Queen was our vessel for the evening – a 50-foot catamaran with 49 seats that offers plenty of room for you to move around at your leisure.

Not only that, but it comes with clean onboard restrooms and a shaded deck if you want to escape the sun’s rays. While they don’t offer any food or beverages aside from water onboard, feel free to bring your own food and drink of choice.

As we cruised along and soaked in the breathtaking sunset over the crystal-clear waters, the crew shared all kinds of fascinating commentary with us. From the local culture and geography (especially about the volcanic tuff cone, Diamond Head) to the farming and royal background, you’re sure to see this area in a different light! When I’m back in Hawaii, I’ll be sure to take this cruise again!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

5. Waikiki Sunset Cocktail Sail with Open Bar

Do these tours all sound fun to you but you’re in the market for something a bit more affordable? Without compromising quality at all, the Waikiki Sunset Cocktail Sail with Open Bar is right on the mark.

It’s also perfect for you if you’re looking for a fun time – with other cruisegoers who want to dance, listen to some upbeat music, and enjoy some drinks in paradise! While this cruise is for all ages, it’s important to note that the Friday sunset sail is only reserved for participants 21 and up (though if you are, this is a great night to go).

Our sailboat was rather compact and perfect for smaller groups, though I loved the fact that they provided everyone with complimentary motion sickness medicine just in case. However, it was more than spacious enough to move around and get comfy, so no problems there.

I’d say this is one of the easiest ways to make friends on the island, with plenty of wine, champagne, and local beers from Maui Brewing, to help you relax! I had to try their famous, in-house cocktail: the “Holokai Hooch”, which was delicious and a little strong!

You’ll have plenty of opportunities to take amazing photos and videos and chat with the captain and crew, making it feel like you’re just hanging out with close friends.

The staff and crew were all very nice and cared about our comfort, and even though the water ended up getting quite a bit rough at one point, we still had a great time!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

6. Oahu: Premium Waikiki Sunset Party Cruise with Live DJ

While the name probably gives it away, the Oahu: Premium Waikiki Sunset Party Cruise with Live DJ is the right choice for you if you want to get your groove on with a picturesque backdrop. Lasting 2 hours, it’s a great way to wrap up a day of exploring with a ton of fun and incomparable views as day turns into night.

I highly recommend this cruise for friend groups and those looking to celebrate a special occasion with some great music and dancing! There are plenty of cruises out there that offer music, but very few come with live DJs onboard and full dance floors dedicated to the purpose!

Live DJs go off of the crowd’s vibe, making sure all of you have a wonderful time! With high-quality surround-sound speakers and top-notch lighting, it almost feels like you’re in a nightclub in the middle of the ocean, as the electric sunset envelops the water and island.

The meetup point was very easy to access, located at the Kewalo Basin Harbor. Our boat for the evening was the perfect size, complete with 2 decks, wraparound seating, and a Titanic-style front bow that jets out over the water.

This makes you feel almost like you’re flying and makes for some fantastic photo ops! There is a bar onboard and 1 free drink ticket is included – however, you can always choose to purchase more if you wish.

We had a group toast as the sun went down over Diamond Head, and we were so lucky that we even got to see some dolphins playing in the distance! It was a truly unforgettable experience that I’d recommend to anyone!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

7. Oahu: Waikiki Sunset and Cocktail Cruise

Last but certainly not least is the Oahu: Waikiki Sunset and Cocktail Cruise, which is a slightly more upscale experience than most cruises of its kind. If you want to see the Honolulu coastline in all its splendor and take the entire family with you, I highly recommend this option.

This cruise is one of the most comfortable I’ve been on in Hawaii, and if you’re bringing kids along, this is one of the best options. Located right next to the Prince Kuhio Federal Building, this cruise was super easy for us to get to without having to book separate transportation.

Once we arrived, we were warmly greeted by staff and escorted onboard our beautiful boat for the evening. We even received a welcome drink while we soaked in the views and got to explore the vessel for a bit, which comes with an open-air top deck and an air-conditioned lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows below.

While the welcome drink is included, you can also opt to purchase additional drinks and even some tasty snacks from the bar onboard, if you’d like. There are also plenty of soft drinks available for younger guests.

We cruised along the coastline heading to Diamond Head, watching as the sun set down under the horizon, creating an image that almost felt too beautiful to be real.

The live music was a nice touch, and they even had an onboard photographer to take snapshots for you to treasure long after the cruise. For a truly memorable event, try taking this cruise on the first or last day of your trip!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience