Sailboat dinner cruise, 4.5 hours
A 50-foot catamaran sailboat with seating indoors and out. Appetisers, a Hawaiian-style dinner, drinks and a sunset champagne toast are in the fare; hotel pickup is not.
See this sailing's dates ↗
The coast no road reaches
Sea cliffs, valleys and a trail that stops halfway
A shoreline with no road
The Nāpali Coast runs about 16 miles along Kauaʻi's northwest side, from Keʻe Beach in the east to Polihale State Park in the west. Nā pali means "many cliffs" in Hawaiian, and they climb as high as 4,000 feet from the water. No vehicle can reach the shoreline.
Walking in, or sailing past
The only way in on foot is the Kalalau Trail. It starts at the end of Kūhiō Highway, covers 11 miles and crosses five major valleys before it reaches Kalalau Beach. Beyond that beach, as far as Polihale, the coast can be reached only by boat or helicopter, and charter catamarans for this stretch leave from Port Allen and Hanalei Bay.
A park made for one valley
Nā Pali Coast State Park covers 6,175 acres and was set up to protect the Kalalau Valley. The shorter dinner cruise's description names the cathedral cliffs of that valley among its backdrops.
An island five million years old
Kauaʻi is about five million years old, among the oldest of the Hawaiian Islands, and heavy rain has cut deep valleys into its volcanic rock. On the northwest side those valleys finish at the sea in walls of cliff.
The sail, mark by mark
From Port Allen out along the cliffs and back
Six marks on a typical sailing, in the order the operator describes them. The sea sets the exact route on the day.
The itinerary is for reference only. Routes depend on ocean and weather, and your booking shows the check-in time.
- Boarding
Port Allen, with ID in hand
The cruise leaves from Port Allen with Holo Holo Charters, whose office is on Waialo Road in ʻEleʻele. You step onto a 50-foot catamaran with seating indoors and out, and restrooms on board.
- Heading out
Out along the west side
The boat leaves the harbour and follows Kauaʻi's coast toward the Nāpali shore. The captains watch the ocean and the weather, and sometimes hold their decision on the day's route until check-in.
- First cliffs
The first of the sea cliffs
Along the Nāpali shore the land stands up out of the water in ridges. The crew talks through the coast and its people as you pass. Marine life is something to watch for, though no sailing can promise it.
- Valleys
Valleys, waterfalls and quiet beaches
The sail passes valleys, waterfalls and secluded beaches. Appetisers and a Hawaiian-style dinner are served on board, with island juices, soft drinks, beer, wine and mai tais.
- Sunset
Champagne as the sun lowers
A champagne toast is part of the fare, poured as the sun heads for the horizon. The operator describes the coastline changing colour then; what the sky actually does is up to that evening.
- Homeward
Back to Port Allen
The boat turns for Port Allen and the cruise ends where it began. Tips for the crew are not part of the fare.
On board the catamaran
A catamaran, a kitchen and a crew who talk
What you step onto at Port Allen, and what comes with the fare.
The boat
A 50-foot catamaran sailboat with seating inside and out, restrooms and open sightlines to the coast. The shorter dinner cruise sails on a 65-foot catamaran built on Kauaʻi.
Dinner
Appetisers, then a locally made Hawaiian-style dinner, both included. Guests of the shorter sail also mention a small dessert.
Drinks
Mai tais, beer, wine, island juices and soft drinks come with the fare, along with the champagne toast. Bring ID: it is needed to verify age.
The crew
A captain and crew narrate the coast and share its history. Guests in reviews describe a friendly team that keeps checking everyone has enough food and drink.
The ride
Guests of the 3.5-hour cruise describe a lively, faster ride with some spray, depending on where you sit. People who tend to get seasick are advised against both sails.
Barefoot on deck
One guest noticed the boat is barefoot, and the operator replied that it is a standard rule for safety and deck care. Wear something that dries quickly and bring a towel.
Two dinner sails from Port Allen
The sailboat dinner cruise and the shorter dinner cruise
| Sailing | What sets it apart | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Sailboat dinner cruise, 4.5 hours | A 50-foot catamaran sailboat with seating indoors and out. Appetisers, a Hawaiian-style dinner, drinks and a sunset champagne toast are in the fare; hotel pickup is not. | Groups who want the longer sail and an unhurried evening on board. |
| Dinner cruise, 3.5 hours | A 65-foot catamaran built on Kauaʻi, with the same dinner, drinks and champagne toast. Its description mentions sea caves and waterfalls when the weather allows, and guests describe a livelier ride. | Guests with a tighter evening, and anyone happy to get a little wet. |
| On both sailings | Free cancellation up to 7 days ahead. Not for children under 5, pregnant women, wheelchair users, or people with back problems, recent surgery or a tendency to seasickness. | Read this row before you choose a date for the whole party. |
Check dates for the 4.5-hour sailboat cruise on its own listing ↗
Choose your sailing
Two sailings on GetYourGuide
Both dinner sails leave from Port Allen. Open either one to see which dates are free, the starting times and what your group would pay.
Dinner cruise, 3.5 hours
A 65-foot catamaran built on Kauaʻi, with the same dinner, drinks and champagne toast. Its description mentions sea caves and waterfalls when the weather allows, and guests describe a livelier ride.
See this sailing's dates ↗More to book around Kauaʻi
Before you pick a date
What to sort before you book
01
Where you check in
Holo Holo Charters, 4353 Waialo Road, Suite 5A, ʻEleʻele. The sailing leaves from Port Allen and comes back there, and your booking shows the check-in time.
02
What to bring
A passport or photo ID, and a jacket. Pets and smoking are not allowed on board.
03
Who can sail
Children under 5 and pregnant women cannot join. Child rates apply to ages 5 to 12, and adult rates start at 13.
04
Who it is not for
The operator advises against it for people with back problems, recent injuries or surgery, or severe motion sickness, and no refunds are given for seasickness. Wheelchairs, walkers, canes and crutches cannot come aboard.
05
Weather and route
Conditions around Kauaʻi change quickly. The captains keep analysing the ocean and the weather, and may wait until check-in to choose that day's route.
06
What is not in the fare
Tips, and hotel pickup and drop-off on the sailboat cruise. Your ticket is a mobile ticket in the GetYourGuide app right after you book, with nothing to print.
Guides to the coast and the sail
Guides to the coast and the sail
the evening in order
A Nāpali sunset sail, from check-in to the return to Port Allen
How the sailboat dinner cruise runs, mark by mark, in the order the operator describes it.
Open this Nāpali guide → the placeThe Nāpali Coast: sixteen miles of cliff with no road beside it
What the coast is, how people reach it on foot and by sea, and why Kalalau Valley matters.
Open this Nāpali guide → what you pay forDinner, drinks and the champagne toast: what the fare covers
A plain list of what comes with the sailboat dinner cruise and what you pay for separately.
Open this Nāpali guide → choosing a sailingThe 4.5-hour sailboat cruise or the 3.5-hour dinner cruise
Two sailings from the same operator and the same harbour, side by side.
Open this Nāpali guide → rules before you bookWho can sail the Nāpali Coast, and what to bring on board
The age, health and kit rules in one place, so nobody in your party is turned away at the harbour.
Open this Nāpali guide → for partiesBirthdays, anniversaries and family sails on the Nāpali Coast
Planning the evening for a group: dates, ages, the harbour and what is already in the fare.
Open this Nāpali guide →FAQ
Questions before you sail
How long is the Nāpali sunset sail?
The sailboat dinner cruise runs 4.5 hours and the shorter dinner cruise 3.5 hours. Choose a date on GetYourGuide to see the starting times; your booking then shows the check-in time.
What does the fare include?
On the sailboat cruise: the sailing, the crew, appetisers and a Hawaiian-style dinner, a champagne toast at sunset, and mai tais, beer, wine, juice and soft drinks. Tips and hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. The shorter dinner cruise lists the same dinner, drinks and toast, with gratuities extra.
Will we see a sunset?
The sailing is built around sunset and the champagne toast, but no operator can promise the sky. Cloud, haze and the day's route all change what you see, so treat the colours as a bonus.
Will we see dolphins or whales?
Both listings tell guests to keep an eye out for marine life, naming dolphins, turtles and seals, and humpback whales in season. Sightings are never guaranteed.
Who cannot sail?
Children under 5 and pregnant women are not allowed. The sail is not recommended for people with back problems, recent injuries or surgery, or severe motion sickness, and wheelchairs and other mobility aids cannot come on board.
How rough is the ride?
It depends on the ocean that evening. Guests describe a lively ride, and a few mention spray, most often on the shorter cruise. Seasickness is not refunded, so weigh your own tendencies before you choose.
Can I cancel?
GetYourGuide shows free cancellation up to 7 days before the sailing for a full refund. No refunds are given for seasickness.
Which should I pick, the 4.5-hour sail or the 3.5-hour cruise?
Pick the 4.5-hour sailboat cruise for a longer, settled evening on a 50-foot catamaran. Pick the 3.5-hour cruise for a shorter evening on a 65-foot catamaran built on Kauaʻi, whose description mentions sea caves and waterfalls when conditions allow.
A coast with no road beside it, seen from the water as the day winds down.
Reserve the Nāpali sail ↗This is the lowest starting fare per person. Pick a date and party size on the booking page and it totals the price in your own currency before you pay.