Oahu Sunset Cruise

You don't have to be in love to enjoy the sunset. If you go to an island like Oahu, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, to enjoy the waves and the sun, the sunset is part of it.

But what if instead of being static in one place you enjoy the splendour of the sunset on a cruise ship? There's no doubt that there are many things to see and do on Oahu, but this is one you shouldn't miss.

Many visitors to Hawaii agree that the most incredible thing about this archipelago is the sun. When it sets in the late afternoon, it's a big reddish orange circle that will make you fall in love with it. Won't you fall in love with it too? Read on to see the best cruise options for you.

When you start looking for and booking sunset cruises on Oahu, one thing comes up time and time again: being on a cruise ship or catamaran while sipping cocktails.

Let's be honest: isn't this a phenomenal plan? So, are you going to miss it? It's the ultimate fulfilment, as you'll simply be on a boat, sipping a delicious cocktail and watching the sky turn orange.

These cruises usually depart from Waikiki in Honolulu about an hour before sunset and last around 90 minutes, but there's a little bit of everything. Note that these cocktail cruise packages tend to be the cheapest and there are several reasons for this.

The main reason is that they usually only include one cocktail, so you'll probably have to pay for all the others. But it's also that their tours are short and they don't travel to many other parts of the island.

That doesn't have to stop you from enjoying the sunset. Just imagine it: you can hold a cocktail in your hand, made with phenomenal Hawaiian fruits like pineapple, and stand on a boat, watching a majestic sun set over the sea.

Whether you're alone, as a couple or as a family, the view alone from a cruise ship is far superior and the cocktail you'll be holding in your hand will make you feel great.

Finally, you should be aware that there may be a number of rules that you should check in advance. If you're looking for things to do on Oahu with children, you should ask if they're allowed on this type of cruise, as well as if the arrival is at the same point of departure, and also what type of boat it is.

Interesting details

• Price: from 70 to 100 €, although it depends on how many people are going.
• Duration: around 90 minutes
• Means of transport: usually included with a shuttle to the port or pier.
• What's included: access to the cruise ship and a cocktail party
• Advantages of this option: better price and a lot of bargains to buy
• Disadvantages of this option: amount of drinks included and little travel on the island.

Cocktails aren't enough for you? How about a dinner in style, watching the sun go down over the Hawaiian day? This plan will fascinate you if you go with your partner or family, because it is much quieter than a disco on the sea and will allow you to contemplate the beauty of the sunset accompanied by a magnificent meal.

Dinner cruises on Oahu work in much the same way, although they can be a little longer. If you arrive in bays such as Kailua or Waikiki, you'll see these boats depart and usually cruise for about two hours.

When you enter, and before the tour begins, waiters will serve you dinner. This can be a traditional Hawaiian meal, such as an authentic Hawaiian poke, or a more common American or international meal.

This can even be included in a food tour of the island. But are you worried that it will be all about the food? Not so fast, as these tours are designed to do both: eat while watching the sunset.

That's the intention of the tour, which is why the small dining tables are usually placed towards the side where the sun will set.

If you choose this option, you should know that it is a little more expensive, because it includes dinner and also lasts a little longer. However, it is a much better plan if you go with your family or on a romantic date. Some companies offer packages for couples or families, so you will surely be able to combine a delicious dinner with a paradisiacal sunset.

Interesting details

• Price: from 90 to 150 €, although it varies depending on the meal.
• Duration: 90 to 120 minutes
• Means of transport: Shuttles to the car parks are common.
• What's included: a fantastic dinner and cruise
• Advantages of this option: dinner and a much more relaxed journey
• Disadvantages of this option: not much of a party and can be quite a bit more expensive.

Got an early flight, need to sleep in, already have plans to enjoy the night on Oahu? Well, that's no problem, because the sunset is not going anywhere and you can enjoy it, even if it's just for a little while.

If an hour and a half cruise is too much for you, then you can arrange a more economical package that lasts about half an hour and is specifically from the time the sun sets.

Although there are many options, the best boats for these short trips are catamarans, as they have a well thought out outside area to look out and see the sun. That's pretty much all you'll be doing, probably with the company of a chair and perhaps a drink.

The only purpose of these short half-hour tours is contemplation, relaxation and, why not, documentation, because you won't be able to resist the urge to take as many pictures as you can of the beautiful orange sun in the Hawaiian paradise.

These trips are even less frequent and almost always depart from Waikiki, so if you know you're short on time, it's best to look around the days before and see which shipping companies are offering this package tour.

Also, while it may be a cheaper trip, your costs may not go down as much, as the demand for these short cruises is much lower.

Interesting details

• Price: from €50 to €100
• Duration: around 30 minutes
• Means of transport: not usually offered to get to the dock
• What's included: only a beautiful view of the sunset
• Advantages of this option: it is done in much shorter time
• Disadvantages of this option: it doesn't usually come with anything extra apart from the trip.

If your problem is that you think a single cocktail while watching one of **Hawaii'**s stunning red sunsets is totally insufficient, fine. But none of that stops you from taking a late afternoon cruise on Oahu.

Even less reason not to if that cruise is an open bar. This is the perfect opportunity to make all kinds of friends, because with a drink in your hand, there's so much more to share.

It's common for these cruises to depart from Waikiki and circle the entire south shore of Oahu for about an hour or an hour and a half. In this case, there is no better infrastructure for watching the sunset, because it is a combination: the idea is to be able to have a drink, talk to friends and acquaintances and have the bar in the background.

The tours are usually not that long and the cruise ship or catamaran usually sets off towards the sun, so you're likely to see the sunset from the front. Occasionally, you'll be able to enjoy a Hawaiian show.

The best thing about this trip is that you'll have an open bar. You will be able to drink as much as you want during the trip, without worrying about extra expenses. This, of course, does not include food and if you want something to eat, you will have to pay for it and check beforehand that they sell it, because many times these catamarans only bring bars.

It is also important to know that the atmosphere on these cruises is much more festive than on other cruises, such as dinner cruises. For that reason, if you want to dance and have fun while you have a drink and watch the sunset, you can't doubt that this is the best option.

Interesting details

• Price: approximately €80
• Duration: about 90 minutes
• Means of transportation: parking is provided at a hotel in Waikiki
• What's included: Open bar throughout the trip
• Advantages of this option: no drinks to pay for.
• Disadvantages of this option: no food included and you are always standing still.

Traveller Tip

Remember that if you drink, you will not be able to drive. For this reason, you should plan in advance who will be driving or whether you will return to the hotel by taxi or bus.

Most sunset cruises on Oahu are catamarans that take a brief tour near Waikiki. I understand if this isn't your thing: Oahu has a lot more to offer than just a few kilometres of coastline.

That's why there are great cruises that take a longer tour, so you can see the Waianae Mountains and other elevations to the east, while to the west you'll have the majestic sun.

Like all the others, these tours usually depart from Waikiki or a bay further east in Honolulu. The idea is to see the sunset from start to finish along the entire west coast of Oahu, one of the least visited parts of the island.

If you're looking for things to do on Oahu's north shore, this is the perfect tour, as it takes in beaches such as Nanakuli, Kahe, Maili, Ulehawa, Makaha, Makua and, at the end, the sublime Yokohama Beach.

This is a journey of contemplation. Some companies offer dinner along with the trip, but it is generally not a party or drinking tour. It's not too common, but it's a service you can book in advance and one that fascinates many photographers and those looking for family plans.

As it's a slightly longer tour, the cruise organisers can also act as tour guides, explaining which are the best beaches on the island in this area and where they'll be passing through.

That way you'll have a wonderful, direct view of the setting sun and a new look at the island of Oahu that will stay with you forever.

Interesting facts

• Price: around €100
• Duration: between 90 and 120 minutes
• Means of transport: Paid parking at a hotel in Honolulu.
• What's included: A tour of the west coast of the island of Oahu.
• Advantages of this option: You get to see a lesser-visited part of the island.
• Disadvantages of this option: food and drink are not usually included, although they can be purchased.

Waikiki is the centre of all the tourist activity in Honolulu and all of Oahu. That's why it's where most of the sunset cruises and catamarans leave from.

But public transport on Oahu is not the best and even less so at night, so what to do? While getting around Oahu may seem like a challenge, the cruise lines that run these cruises offer shuttle services, parking or both. You can even see if it's possible to combine it with a tour bus itinerary.

Shuttle services work by picking you up at a stop and taking you to the pier where you board the ship. This saves fuel, is in keeping with sustainable Hawaiian tourism and makes it easy to get around.

If the cruise you want has this option, you should check whether or not it also includes parking, otherwise you'll have to find your own or arrive and depart by public transport. The final option is a taxi or car sharing app, but if you're using them for the first time, it can be a bit of a hassle.

On the other hand, most of the ferry companies have contracts with hotels that allow them to leave cars. This is a big advantage of Oahu over its neighbouring islands, which have less infrastructure.

That's why these parking services are very convenient as they save a lot of money and are very close to the Waikiki piers from where the cruise ships depart. Before heading out to watch the sunset, plan how you're going to get there and leave with or without your car by following these tips.