★★★★★
The morning snorkel and sail
Whales, dolphins and seals as well as the coast itself, with good food and drinks the whole way.
Sean K. · April 2026
Kauai Sailing Tour Reviews
What travellers wrote after a morning snorkel sail, a Na Pali sunset dinner cruise or 90 minutes on Nawiliwili Bay. Comparing Kauai catamaran tours before you book? The operators' own ratings and fares sit side by side below.
What travellers said afterwards
These are travellers' own accounts, paraphrased, each tagged with the trip it belongs to. Most reviews on the operators' pages are five stars, so the useful detail is in the lower scores and the asides: a rough ride and a boat full of seasick passengers, a snorkel called off, a mechanical cancellation at dawn, a sunset cruise longer than someone expected.
★★★★★
The morning snorkel and sail
Breakfast and lunch were outstanding. The boat is smaller than some catamarans and carries fewer people, which suited them better than the larger tours they had tried.
Kevin M. · March 2026
★★★★★
The morning snorkel and sail
The captain explained at the start that the snorkel would depend on conditions, and the crew made time to talk with everyone aboard.
Suzanne S. · September 2025
★★★★★
The morning snorkel and sail
Colourful fish at the snorkel stop, but the high point was lying at the front of the boat as two or three dozen dolphins swam alongside.
Wendy P. · January 2026
★★★★★
The morning snorkel and sail
Close to cancelling over the weather and glad they did not: the crew handled the wind and waves, though poor visibility ruled out the snorkel.
Donnel S. · January 2026
★★★★★
The morning snorkel and sail
A bumpy ride rather than a calm one, and a few people were seasick, but a real adventure with a good snorkel spot.
Dana H. · July 2026
★★★★★
The morning snorkel and sail
A birthday trip where a four-year-old could not board: the minimum age of 5 had not been clear when they booked.
Pierre H. · August 2026
★★★☆☆
The morning snorkel and sail
A beautiful coast, but an engine problem cut into the time and the snorkel was cancelled. A partial refund followed.
Shorlyn D. · August 2025
★★★☆☆
The morning snorkel and sail
A long ride on choppy water from a harbour far from the best of the coast, with a good number of passengers seasick on the way.
Krista D. · May 2025
★★★★★
The morning snorkel and sail
Breakfast and lunch in the fare, a snorkel, the coast, and the crew even raised the sails.
Michele · June 2026
★★★★★
The morning snorkel and sail
Lots of dolphins and three whales, and both meals were very good.
Karolane · April 2026
★★★★★
The morning snorkel and sail
Home-made food and plenty to drink. Only the snorkel disappointed, with cloudy water and few fish. It is a barefoot boat.
Thomas · September 2025
★★★★★
The morning snorkel and sail
A first time snorkelling, and the crew's tips made it feel easy. The waves were very rough that day, and the crew kept safety first and looked after everyone who was seasick.
Emily · November 2024
★★★★★
The morning snorkel and sail
Fish, a few turtles and a monk seal at the snorkel stop. Everything depends on the weather, and that day it was right.
Lukas · May 2026
★★★★★
The morning snorkel cruise, Lucky Lady
More of a cruise than a snorkelling adventure, with the other boats at the same spot, but good service and guidance from the crew.
Douglas H. · August 2026
★★★★★
The morning snorkel cruise, Lucky Lady
Seasick on the way, and the crew were helpful and attentive throughout. Dolphins on the way out and a good snorkel.
Kassandra C. · August 2026
★★★★★
The morning snorkel cruise, Lucky Lady
Enough time to swim, a comfortable boat and good food: just as described.
Rudy K. · August 2026
★★★★☆
The morning snorkel cruise, Lucky Lady
A sea turtle and plenty of dolphins. As a non-swimmer, though, snorkelling was off limits even in a life vest.
Cindy C. · July 2026
★★★★★
The morning snorkel cruise, Lucky Lady
Great weather, good food and two kinds of dolphins. The sea was choppy and several people were seasick, so taking something beforehand was a wise move. When the speaker was hard to hear, a guide came over to share the commentary.
Lori K. · September 2026
★★★★★
The morning snorkel cruise, Lucky Lady
Worth the price, with views that stay with you. The crew were kind and made everyone feel welcome, and the whole party of friends enjoyed every minute.
Anastasiia G. · July 2026
★★★★☆
The morning snorkel cruise, Lucky Lady
Lots of dolphins on the way to the snorkel spot, but not many fish there and no turtles.
Kevin R. · September 2026
★★★☆☆
The morning snorkel cruise, Lucky Lady
The roughest catamaran ride they had known, with about a third of the passengers sick.
Emma O. · September 2026
★☆☆☆☆
The morning snorkel cruise, Lucky Lady
Told at the 6:45 a.m. check-in that a mechanical problem had cancelled the trip. The refund was prompt, but no warning came before the early drive.
Lin P. · July 2026
★★★★★
The sunset dinner cruise, Lucky Lady
You will get wet, so wear swimwear or quick-dry clothes and leave behind any bag you need dry. A sunset, dinner on board, and beer, wine and mai tais.
Shari S. · June 2026
★★★★★
The sunset dinner cruise, Lucky Lady
Shoes come off before boarding, and the top deck is rough underfoot; the lower deck has a softer, cushioned floor.
Scott W. · June 2026
★★★★★
The sunset dinner cruise, Lucky Lady
Seasick for the last two hours, and well looked after by the crew.
Cheryl T. · June 2026
★★★★★
The sunset dinner cruise, Lucky Lady
Every crew member made time to check on their son through the evening.
Tracy N. · September 2025
★★★★★
The sunset dinner cruise, Lucky Lady
Bring a dry bag for towels and spare clothes. Parking is limited and not right at the check-in address.
LaNita B. · May 2026
★★★★★
The sunset dinner cruise, Lucky Lady
Still amazed, even on a second trip. The staff were great and friendly.
AerielGrace D. · May 2026
★★☆☆☆
The sunset dinner cruise, Lucky Lady
Expected a dinner cruise of a couple of hours and found a long boat trip along the coast, more adventure than dinner.
Andrew D. · May 2026
★★★★★
The sunset dinner sail, Leila
An exciting ride with the wind. Everyone up front got drenched by choice, and the crew told great stories.
Susan G. · July 2026
★★★★★
The sunset dinner sail, Leila
A mother whale with its calf, good food and a great crew.
Sherry S. · April 2026
★★★★☆
The sunset dinner sail, Leila
A very attentive crew, but a spouse with limited mobility could not use the boat's toilet.
Christiana H. · June 2026
★★★☆☆
The sunset dinner sail, Leila
Good views, food and service, but the ride out was so fast that everyone at the front was soaked again and again. The ride back, over dinner, was slower and pleasant.
Swati S. · July 2026
★★★★★
The sunset dinner sail, Leila
A crew who knew the history of the area, good sailing and good service. It is a barefoot boat, so wear shoes that come off easily.
Julie B. · June 2026
★★★☆☆
The sunset dinner sail, Leila
Most of the trip spent in the cabin, unable to see for the wind and spray. Good food and a kind crew, but not worth the money.
Rachel C. · May 2026
★☆☆☆☆
The sunset dinner sail, Leila
Seasick the whole time, and unable to eat, drink or enjoy any of it.
Jennica L. · June 2026
★★★★★
The sunset dinner sail, Leila
A relaxing sunset tour with dinner and first-rate service.
Marcia · July 2026
★★★★★
The sunset dinner sail, Leila
A bit of swell, and a crew who looked after everyone. The captain stopped several times for whales.
Ralf · January 2026
★★★★★
The sunset dinner sail, Leila
Great views and a beautiful sunset. Wear something that can get wet, and take a towel.
Darren · June 2026
★★★★★
The 90-minute bay sunset cruise
The boat was not the catamaran they pictured, and it motored up the river instead of out to sea. With the seas at six to seven feet, that suited everyone.
Kirsten · May 2026
★★★★★
The 90-minute bay sunset cruise
Great views, the captain's facts about the area, and a friendly bartender.
Aileen · July 2026
★★★★★
The 90-minute bay sunset cruise
Not the open-sea sunset they expected. For more than 45 minutes the boat went up a river through lush green country, with the guide explaining it all, and only then turned into the bay for the sunset.
Renato · September 2025
★★★★★
The 90-minute bay sunset cruise
Booked at the last minute, and it beat every expectation.
Ashley · February 2026
★★★★★
The 90-minute bay sunset cruise
A fun evening that taught them far more than they expected.
Kandy · May 2026
What travellers keep saying
The wildlife makes the day
Dolphins alongside the bow come up again and again, then turtles at the snorkel stop, and whales in winter. The snorkelling itself gets mixed marks: clear water on a calm day, cloudy water and few fish on a rough one.
The sea decides
A windy day means a bumpy, wet ride and, for some, hours of seasickness. Take a remedy before you board, and treat the captain's warning at check-in as real.
You will get wet
Sunset reviewers say it most: the front of the boat is soaked on the way out. Wear swimwear or quick-dry clothes, bring a towel and keep your phone in a dry bag.
Know what you booked
A four-year-old turned away at the dock, a sunset cruise that ran far longer than a dinner, a bay cruise that went up the river: read the age limit, the hours and the route before you pay.
Operator ratings and review counts
These figures are the operators' own, published on their booking pages and shown as they stand. They belong to the operators, not to us.
| Trip | Where it goes | What it is | Rating | Reviews | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kauai: Deluxe Na Pali Snorkel Cruise aboard Lucky Lady | Na Pali from Port Allen | Morning snorkel cruise | 4.7 | 1,640 | From $233 per person |
| Kauai: Deluxe Na Pali Sunset Cruise aboard Lucky Lady | Na Pali from Port Allen | Na Pali sunset dinner cruise | 4.7 | 1,612 | From $222 per person |
| Kauai: Leila Na Pali Sunset Dinner Sail | Na Pali from Port Allen | Na Pali sunset dinner cruise | 4.7 | 609 | From $263 per person |
| Kauai’s Na Pali Coast Snorkel and Sail Tour | Na Pali from Port Allen | Morning snorkel cruise | 4.8 | 582 | From $292 per person |
| Kauai: Napali Coast Sunset Sailboat Tour with Dinner | Na Pali from Port Allen | Na Pali sunset dinner cruise | 4.7 | 234 | From $247 per person |
| Kauai: Napali Coast Sail & Snorkel Tour from Port Allen | Na Pali from Port Allen | Morning snorkel cruise | 4.8 | 106 | From $274 per person |
| Kauai: Catamaran Sunset Cruise | Nawiliwili Bay, not Na Pali | Bay and river sunset cruise | 4.8 | 82 | From $114 per person |
A trip with more than a thousand reviews and one with under a hundred are not a verdict on each other. The gap is mostly how many people each boat carries and how long it has been sold. Holo Holo sells its morning sail and its sunset sail in two places, and each place keeps its own count and its own fare.
Read the practical detail in the visitors guide, check the FAQs, then compare every boat on Kauai Sailing Tours.