7 Best Waikiki Catamaran Cruises Worth Booking (2025)

1. Turtle Canyon Catamaran Snorkel Cruise from Waikiki

⭐️ RATING: 4.5 out of 5 Stars (read more reviews) | TOUR LENGTH: 2-3 hours | ⛵️ Book it now!

Many Waikiki catamaran cruises are focused only on the sightseeing aspect. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but this cruise takes it a step further: you get to snorkel with green sea turtles!

When booking, you can choose from a 2-hour morning tour or a 3-hour midday tour. On the day of your cruise, you’ll either meet at the designated spot or be picked up at your hotel by a shuttle (depending on which option you choose).

Then, you’ll board a power catamaran and sail along the Oahu coast towards Turtle Canyon, the best place to spot the magnificent green sea turtles. This is truly an Oahu bucket list experience!

Once there, you’ll have the opportunity to snorkel with the residents of Turtle Canyon. Not an experienced snorkeler? No worries – this tour is fit for beginners!

“We loved this adventure and the crew. I enjoyed snorkeling way more than I thought I would. A sea turtle popped up right beside me while I was snorkeling. I can’t say enough good things! Thank you for this great experience. Aloha!” – Valerie C. (Read more reviews)

You’ll also get to enjoy a lunch (with the midday tour – snacks are provided on the morning tour), 2 alcoholic drinks (and unlimited non-alcoholic ones), and sightseeing opportunities.

You’ll also have the chance to see other marine life, like dolphins and whales, as you sail out to Turtle Canyon. Plus, the views of the Waikiki coastline can’t be beat!

The best part of this tour? Seeing the turtles is a guarantee – if none are spotted, you’ll get a complimentary second tour!

Between the guarantee of turtle spotting, snorkeling that’s fun for both beginners and experienced snorkelers, the sightseeing opportunities, and nearly 1500 5-star reviews, this is my pick for the best overall Waikiki catamaran cruise!

2. Moana’s Sunset Cocktail Sail along Oahu’s Waikiki Coast

⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars (read more reviews) | TOUR LENGTH: 2 hours | ⛵️ Book it now!

Hawaii is famous for its incredible sunsets, and one of the best ways to experience the sunset for yourself is by taking an evening catamaran cruise off the coast of Waikiki Beach!

Upon arrival at the central meeting point, you’ll board the catamaran for a barefoot sail.

The cruise starts at 5:00 PM, which is the perfect time for getting out on the water to watch the sky change colors as the sun begins to set.

As you make your way out to sea, you’ll get incredible views of the Honolulu skyline, the Pacific Ocean, and Diamond Head (which is also one of Oahu’s best hiking trails).

Another highlight of this cruise is the opportunity to spot dolphins and, from December to May, humpback whales. Seeing these majestic creatures in their natural habitat is an incredible experience!

You’ll also be rewarded with unparalleled views of the sun setting below the horizon, which makes for a great photo opportunity.

And this cruise includes some drinks – enjoying a drink or two while admiring the scenery is a great way to celebrate during your Oahu vacation!

Book the trip! It was so much fun. The vibes and music were great. The drinks were great quality and reasonable in price after your complimentary drink. Captain Chris and the crew were so sweet and lovely. – Danielle C. (Read more reviews)

There are a lot of great sunset cruises to choose from, but I think this is the best Waikiki sunset catamaran cruise. With more than 600 5-star reviews, it seems that many other Oahu travelers agree!

4. Private Catamaran Cruise and Snorkeling Tour in Honolulu

⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars (read more reviews) | TOUR LENGTH: 2-4 hours | ⛵️ Book it now!

Looking for a more intimate Oahu catamaran cruise experience? Consider booking this private catamaran cruise and snorkeling tour!

On this cruise, you will work with the Captains to design the best catamaran cruise for you and your group (up to 6 participants). You can choose from a 2-hour cruise or a 4-hour cruise.

After boarding the catamaran for your private cruise, you’ll sail along the Waikiki coastline towards Diamond Head, stopping for sightseeing opportunities and wildlife spotting.

You’ll even have the opportunity to jump off the boat for swimming and snorkeling!

Since this is a private cruise, you’ll only be on board with your group and the Captains.

Our private catamaran tour and snorkeling was amazing – we should have booked the 4 hour tour! Francisco and Nick made the entire trip feel personalized just for us. I couldn’t imagine going on one of the big snorkel boats after this experience. They made sure we were comfortable and got to see all the things snorkeling. – Kirsten L. (Read more reviews)

While the price is higher than booking individual public cruises, it’s very reasonable when splitting amongst a group of 6.

Booking a private catamaran cruise is the perfect way to celebrate if you’re visiting Oahu for a special occasion, like a 21st birthday, a bachelor or bachelorette party, or a special family vacation!

5. Friday Night Waikiki Fireworks Catamaran Cruise

⭐️ RATING: 4.5 out of 5 Stars (read more reviews) | TOUR LENGTH: 2 hours | ⛵️ Book it now!

Looking for a party-focused Waikiki catamaran cruise? Look no further than this Friday Night Waikiki Fireworks cruise!

Every Friday night, a spectacular fireworks show lights up the Oahu sky from the Hilton Hawaiian Village. And there’s no better way to enjoy the fireworks than from a catamaran cruise!

Aboard the catamaran, you’ll enjoy music and drinks with your fellow travelers before enjoying the fireworks from the water.

One downside to this cruise is that drinks aren’t included in the ticket price. There is a cash bar on board though that serves reasonably priced drinks.

This was the best sail I’ve been. They played music that actually fit the vibe. There was a bathroom available on the catamaran. The drinks were NOT overpriced and the crew was extremely kind. I would definitely go with this same sail again. – Jessica T. (Read more reviews)

Grab your friends, family, or your significant other, and start your Oahu weekend with a bang aboard this catamaran cruise!

Since the fireworks are only held once a week, there’s a very limited number of spots available. Make sure to book your cruise in advance so you don’t miss out!

6. Oahu Whale Watching Excursion

⭐️ RATING: 4.5 out of 5 Stars (read more reviews) | TOUR LENGTH: 2 hours | ⛵️ Book it now!

From December to May, the waters off the coast of Oahu are home to one of the most incredible things you can see in Oahu: the migration of humpback whales.

And what better way to see these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat than from a whale-watching cruise?

On this cruise, you’ll board a catamaran (or monohull) from Waikiki for a 2-hour whale spotting cruise.

Whale sightings are guaranteed – if none are spotted, you’ll even get to tour again for free.

As you sail through the waters, you’ll have the incredible opportunity to see humpback whales as they swim, breach, feed, and play around the boat.

Snacks and drinks are even included in the cruise ticket. And the expert guide on board will teach you more about the whales and their migration pattern.

We were so excited and hoped to see at least one whale. We saw so much more! We saw a baby and mama whale, some breaching and tail flipping, a school of dolphins, a double rainbow most of the day, parasailers, surfers, and heard so much interesting information about whales! – Angela O. (Read more reviews)

7. Waikiki 5 in 1 Deluxe Turtle Snorkeling + Activity Catamaran

⭐️ RATING: 4.5 out of 5 Stars (read more reviews) | TOUR LENGTH: 3 hours | ⛵️ Book it now!

Looking for an adrenaline-packed Waikiki catamaran cruise? If so, this snorkeling + activity cruise is for you!

Not only does this cruise include sightseeing off the coast of Waikiki, but it also provides snorkeling and water sports, including a water trampoline, stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, a waterslide, and a 30-foot platform for diving into the water from the boat!

All equipment is included in the price of the cruise, including life vests. Plus, snacks and non-alcoholic drinks are included, and you can also bring your own food and drinks if you wish.

You can choose to meet at the pickup spot at Kewalo Basin Harbor or request a pickup from your Waikiki area hotel.

In addition to the fun activities, you can also watch for marine life and enjoy the panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and Hawaiian coastline.

We all had a great time. We enjoyed the slide and jump and dive platform the most. We saw fish, turtles, and dolphins on the trip. – Julie B. (Read more reviews)