Dinner Cruises

Dinner cruises are available most evenings before sunset, with boats departing from Lahaina or Maalaea.  But should you take a dinner cruise, or should you take a daytime cruise and then go to dinner on land?

The advantage of a dinner cruise is that you have beautiful views of Maui and the neighboring islands of Lanai and Molokai from the ship, a lovely sunset, and dinner, all in one neat package.  But in my opinion, the views of Maui and the ocean and the other islands (plus whales in the winter) are all much better in the bright sunshine in the middle of the day.  And I feel that the food at dinner (and certainly the number of food choices for dinner) are much better if you select from one of the many top restaurants recommended on the Restaurants pages of this Maui website, instead of eating your dinner on the ship.

But if you would like to go on a dinner cruise during your Maui vacation, see the comparisons between some of the various available dinner cruise choices below.

Maui Princess   877-500-6284
This 120-foot yacht departs from Lahaina Harbor at 5:30 PM and returns at 8 PM.  There are one choice of salad, three choices of entree (roast chicken, prime rib of beef, vegetarian), one choice of potato and vegetable, and a couple desserts, all included in the dinner cruise price.  You get tableside service, live music, and dancing on the ship.
Maui Princes dinner cruise website

Pride of Maui   877-867-7433
This 65-foot catamaran departs from Maalaea Harbor at 5:30 PM and returns at 7:30 PM.  Food is served from a buffet, not tableside service, but there are tables for you to sit down to eat.  The food choices are ribs, marinated chicken breast, garlic fettuccini, artichoke dip, vegetables, fruit platter and desserts.  There is live music on board.
Pride of Maui sunset cruise website

Pacific Whale Foundation   800-942-5311
The Ocean Discovery catamaran departs from Lahaina Harbor at 6 PM and returns at 8 PM.  The complete dinner includes appetizers, Caesar salad, choice of entree (rib eye or New York steak, teriyaki chicken, vegetarian tofu), rice, pasta, vegetable, and choice of two desserts.  There is live music.  Up-front seating (bow of the boat) costs extra.  Pacific Whale also offers sunset cruises with hors d'oeuvres instead of dinner, both from Maalaea and from Lahaina.
Pacific Whale Foundation dinner and sunset cruises website

Kaulana   877-500-6284
This 70-foot catamaran departs from Lahaina Harbor at 5 PM and returns at 7 PM.  They serve appetizers rather than dinner, but those appetizers are substantial and you can make a dinner out of them.  Choices include teriyaki chicken, barbecue meatballs, vegetable crudites, fruit platter, crackers and cheese, shrimp and imitation crab, chips and salsa, and desserts.  There is live music and a small dance floor.  This is run by the same company as Maui Princess.
Kaulana sunset cruise website

Teralani   808-661-1230
This catamaran offers a more casual sunset cruise that departs from the sands of Kaanapali Beach rather than from one of Maui's  harbors.  The 2 1/2 hour cruise includes an Italian buffet of Caesar salad, grilled vegetable ratatouille, penne pasta, baked chicken in Alfredo sauce, grilled ono (fish) in garlic basil pesto, and desserts.
Teralani Sunset Sail website