The Lahaina Cruise Company

This company also operates the Molokai Ferry. They should not call it that anymore. It used to be community-​based out of Molokai, 2 sails a day that largely serviced commuters going to and from work on Maui, the local schools and their field trips, Athletics, and the community members who often went for doctor’s visits and the necessity shopping.
Now it should be called «The Day Tour to the native isle». It’s based out of Maui, and only runs 4 times a week. This company is terrible when it comes to paying for your reservations and getting a refund if you need to cancel reasonably, or even if they cancel without notice! Reservationist will inform tour operators when booking a reservation if there is a cancellation, but they will not tell ANYONE if the boat is late, or there may be cancelation due to bad weather.. . They will also NOT inform FIT’s or local inquiries of ANY OF THE ABOVE!
Their saving grace is usually their crews and harbor staff, and the obvious fact that they are the only game in town when it comes to a boat ride to Molokai!

Oh, if I could only give negative stars. This is about the dinner cruise. The staff was great, the food was great — all completely ruined by non-​stop blasting «music» from two huge speakers for the entire experience. We couldn’t talk to each other let alone the couple sharing our table. What a shame to ruin a lovely beautiful place with obnoxious noise. Never again!

Our experience was great. The cruise departed right on time at 730am. The set up was well organized and the stand and dock were just across from Pioneer Inn. The banyan tree is close by and a great photo stop. I booked my whale watch on Viator for about 31 $. This option has no food or drinks included they are available to purchase. The nature guide was very knowledgeable and open to questions. We saw many whales during our morning trip and simply there is nothing like it. I loved the whale watching experience and highly recommend it, its a must do if you’re in maui during whale watching season.

We went end of December 2015, saw a few whales, which were exciting, but a very long wait to get on the boat was disappointing, plus the fumes leaving and dock were killer. They do offer snacks, thank god for the water and lays chips at snacks… It saved me from the heat stroke. But hats off to the crew who did a great job telling us lots of info about the hump backs. He did a great job

Horrible customer service. Family member got sick the day before the trip and this company refused to cancel the reservation. When we called the company to find out if the boat had an AED, since the sick family member had heart issues, the person we spoke to didn’t even know if the boat was equipped with medical devices such as this.

Snorkel trip to lanai had cold cut verse the bbq advertised and didn’t have alcohol on board even though it was stated riders get one free. Tried calling the number on the website but was told they couldn’t help?
It may be worth it to look else where.

Old boat that needs work and dirty! Come on… am I on Maui or some 3^rd world country? We have gone to Mexico a lot… a lot. We love to take boat tours. The boats are top notch… in Mexico!!!
We paid good money for this 4 hour Snorkeling trip to Lanai with promises of a BBQ lunch and fun. The BBQ lunch consisted of frozen hamburger and chicken patties heated on the gas grill on the boat. The set up to get to this grand buffet was on the outside with no overhang with the food getting exposed to the elements. I observed one female crew member making comments to a man about his making 2 hamburgers stating he must be really hungry. The man replied that he was taking a burger back up to his daughter. So what if he was taking an extra burger. Really? What did this girl care?
The «head» broke or possibly was already broken who knows, and it was foul.
The crew had little enthusiasm about the whole thing. Like it was a bother to be at work that day to entertain us tourists. There was not entertainment. There was no life.
Back to the boat. The windows were filthy. They haven’t been wiped down in God knows how long. Paint chipping off of the interior, the floor dirty and it’s obvious it hasn’t been hosed down in a while.
Shocking when at the end the crew held tip buckets. Tips for what? My tip to them is to be respectful and kind to the lowly tourists. You did nothing out of the ordinary, and in fact you all are not very friendly. Tips are earned… not just given… even in Maui.

My husband and I decided to take the Maui Princess dinner tour during our recent trip to Maui. We had a great time! The food was delicious. I had the chicken and my hubby had the prime rib. He loved his dish as well! When boarding, you are given three drink tickets each and once you use those up, drinks will cost between $ 4 – 5. If you are looking for a nice, relaxing evening out on the water then I would recommend this dinner cruise.
The ONLY issue I had is that the tables seat four and if you are only a party of two, they will seat you with strangers. This was not told to us in advance and I feel like it definitely should have been, especially if you are expecting a nice, romantic evening. Seats are pre-​assigned prior to boarding so when we walked to tour table, there was another couple already there… Surprise! We lucked out and the couple we had dinner with was awesome… So, there was an upside!

I loved my experience with this cruise. 8÷18÷15
They have hard working staff. The waiters and waitresses were very attentive and have such good energy. The food was okay, the drinks were strong (good job bartender!) the scenery was a killer. And the captain did his best to avoid the rain (which i loved).
Ben– couldn’t help but notice him. Besides the fact that he’s good looking. I saw that he was great with the kids on board.
Great job guys!

This is our first time in the beautiful island of Maui and snorkeling is a must. Since I was going with the two little one they had a special buy an adult ticket and get a child free. They also provide free continental breakfast and deli sandwich buffet. The staff was AWESOME! We got to see Dolphins on our way and plus he took us to another spot to go snorkeling where we got to swim with turtles. My family had a blast. Highly recommended!

We went on the dinner cruise for our honeymoon. It was so much fun and romantic. The boat crew took our picture together upon arrival, and then led us to our seats. We took off right on time and were given cocktails right away. Best sunset view you could imagine! Food was excellent! We had the prime rib and loved it! The lady captain was knowledgable about all of the sea life and islands surrounding us. I would recommend this dinner cruise to anyone and will come back!

Went on a dinner cruise for our honeymoon and had a wonderful experience. The crew was welcoming and friendly. After we left the harbor we were served drinks immediately and our orders were taken. The food arrived quickly and was absolutely amazing. I highly recommend the prime rib. As we cruised along smoothly the Captain (Christy was her name I believe) told us all about the islands and sea life we may encounter. She was definitely both witty and knowledgeable about Hawaii. We arrived back after a beautiful sunset and a few more drinks. This is a must do when you come to Maui. We will be back.

My husband and I have whale watched off the BC coast, and have chased whales for hours trying to spot a single one.
There were whales everywhere in these waters. You didn’t have to drive the boat in the wind the entire time just to spot one.
The guys on the boat were knowledgable and friendly, and funny, and made the trip fun for the whole family.
They guarantee a sighting or else you go again for free.
Bring a cash tip for them at the end if you enjoyed. They have a ridiculously cheap 2-​for-​1 deal.
Alaska is the kitchen and Maui is the bedroom. ;)

Went on the whale watch with Lahaina Cruise Company in late January. I live on Maui and my job is to book activities such as this. Whales are only here in Maui county during the winter months so there is always limited availability and the boats are usually packed full!
Not so on the Kaulana (the name of our whale watch boat). There was more than enough room for us to crowd the sides, upper and lower, of the boat with our cameras in hand ready to snap great pics!
Gabrielle «Gabby» was our very knowledgeable host Naturalist on the mic and she did an incredible job! I learned SO MUCH more, on this 2hr tour about humpback whales and their time spent courting and breeding, than I have on any other whale watch!!! Very impressive Gabby
We got to see a newborn baby humpback whale (still over 3000 pounds!) and several other male and female humpbacks!
They have snacks and beverages, leaded and un-​leaded, and it won’t kill your budget. I was a bit hungry and $ 1bag of cookies and $ 2 locally made muffins did the trick
My friends and I thank you Gabby and Lahaina Cruise Company for an amazing whale watch experience!

Went on the sunset dinner cruise. Not recommended for anyone under 50. If you are a party of 2 you will sit with another couple. Food was average, mass produced, and not special. Drinks are weak although the table next to ours managed to get smashed and loud. The rocking motion of the boat and the tiny seat/​table size made dinner feel like eating on an airplane. Dark comes quickly and you can see nothing except shore lights.
Music was 80s/​90s power balads performed by a lip syncer with a keytar.
I got home with a migraine.

We had a really great time. The tour guides were super knowledgable and we learned a lot about whales and their behavior. We saw so many whales on our early morning tour. They have lots of options on times to go but I suggest the 7:30am tour. You get a lower price, it’s a little cooler and during the winter you will see lots of whales!

Checked out a pamphlet with whale watching tours starting at $ 18, by Lahaina Cruise Company Dec-​April. When making a reservation, it does not include a mandatory $ 10 fuel surcharge. WTF, fuel prices have been falling for months, and there should be a fuel rebate!
I buy two tickets for $ 24 apiece, but only get that price at 7:30am early bird trips, with all profits benefiting whale research. The trip starts in Lahaina, an hours drive from our Wailea Ekaha resort. We have to wake up at 530 am, robbing my wife of her beauty rest!
I do not eat breakfast, as it has been a long time since I’ve been on a small boat, and don’t want to lose my breakfast. No problem says the wife, as if I throw up over the side of the boat, it will attract fish, and perhaps whales! Nice to have a wife with such confidence in me!
We leave the luxury condominium in the pitch dark at 6am, when the only vehicles on the road in Wailea are tow trucks and cop cars, the main source of revenue in a tourist town at this time in the morning!
At Lahaina at 7am, all on street free parking spots around the giant Bunyan grove in front of the harbor are taken, so we park south of the square in the Kamamaha school area, with free parking for 3 hours, the only free parking lot in touristy downtown old Lahaina.
We get on the boat at 7:15am, ducking the customary guest picture taking– probably of folks manning a harpoon gun! Another way LCC makes money. We go top level near the bow, for the best views, and away from the diesel engine exhaust at the stern.
This early in the season, there are not going to be many humpback whales in the waters off Lahaina. Most of them are still migrating the 8000 miles from the icy Bering seas off Alaska, with numbers peaking around Valentine’s day.
Lahaina was a huge whaling station in the late 1800s. Humpbacks were hunted to the brink of extinction, until they were labeled an endangered species and a moritorium declared in 1966.
The whales cannot afford Hawaii –food is too expensive, so says our guide! In reality, the whales feast on krill and fish in the waters of Alaska, and fatten up, eating up to a ton of food per day. In the winter, the whales migrate to warmer waters, like the shallow water passageway between Lanai and Maui, to give birth. There is not enough food to sustain the whales here, so they fast for a few months, before returning to Alaska in the summer. So by the end of winter the tourists are pigging out in front of the starving whales!
We see a few whales at long distance, visible from the plume of water blowing out of their top, as in the movie Moby Dick. Meanwhile there is a full bar downstairs, with the saying that if you want to see more whales, drink more!
Difficult to take pictures of whales, as they are distant, and move quickly, too quickly to get a steady long distance telephoto camera shot, let alone a smart phone or tablet shot. Me having a queasy stomach from the small boat rocking up and down, makes picture taking even more difficult. The boat captain tries to run parallel to the whales, so that we can get sustained camera shots.
People are seated for the most part, until a whale is sighted. There she blows, and everyone jumps to their feet and runs toward the railings, cameras, smart phones, and tablets clicking picture after picture. One guy sits on the eating table next to the railing the entire trip, blocking the view of others standing behind him.
We get lucky, as toward the ends of the 2 hour boat trip, a young 25 footer steams right toward the boat, making like the whale in Moby Dick, ready to ram! Boasts are not allowed closer than 100 feet of the whales, but this one is coming straight at us, until at the last moment, it dives under the boat! This makes our day and is known in whale watching circles as a Maui mugging!
As we leave the boat, the tour master stands next to the exit ramps, holding a large jar for tips –another Maui mugging!

I took the Molokai Ali’i guided tour which left in the morning from Lahaina, via the Hawaii Ocean Project’s Molokai Princess ferryboat, and arrived at Molokai Harbor 90 minutes later. There was a good wind blowing that day and the waves increased, the farther from the harbor, up to 3 foot high waves which made for an exhilarating ride.
This is a working ferry, transiting to & from Molokai four times a day, and is in pretty good shape considering. The crew was friendly and helpful, as I was getting some of the free coffee a crew member offered to carry the hot coffee back to the table for me, to avoid spilling on someone, of course.
After docking at Molokai, we quickly boarded the waiting tour coach which was nicely furnished, air-​conditioned and driven by a very friendly tour guide named Rudy. His humor and depth of knowledge about the culture and history made this an exceptional trip. Lunch at the Paddler’s Inn was pretty basic but then again we didn’t have a lot of time to waste here; we were burning daylight and had to move along.
As noted by other’s, Purdy’s Macadamia nut farm was interesting, educational and Purdy is definitely a long winded talker. You will be cracking open Macadamia nuts and tasting them, so it’s definitely a hands on tour
The stop at Coffees of Hawaii was really just a coffee stop.
Because I had read the book «Molokai», I was interested in the outlook over the Hansen disease quarantine town, Kalaupapa, and also Father Damien’s churches.
Those were the highlights for me!

Today we had one of the best dinner experience aboard a ship (Maui Princess). Sitting next to my husband with another friendly couple across from us, we soaked in the lovely views of the sunset and the full moon later this evening. Sailing across the bay, we had some classic 80s Rock music as well as great service from the staff.
The chairs & tables were screwed on the floor (at the top deck) and kept us from moving while the boat was sailing. There we’re prob around 70 guests and there were plenty of room to move around. Dancing was encouraged but there wouldn’t be much room to turn, tango or line dance.
The food was great! I had the Mahi Mahi encrusted with macadamia and topped with a creamy white wine sauce (any food dish prepared with wine is guaranteed to taste good). My husband had the prime rib and was cooked to his liking– med rare. Both dishes were paired with glazed baby carrots and herbed red potatoes. The salad was also good. The dessert was cheesecake with raspberry glaze on top which was okay.
Everyone had 3 complimentary alcoholic beverages and unlimited non-​alcoholic drinks. Open bar was also available. We don’t drink alcohol but we were allowed to give our share to the others who wish to have more. We were being generous.
Birthdays, anniversaries & recent weddings and engagements were announced to cheer on the happy couples & guests. They take your picture as you initially board the ship & of course, it costs $ 20 if you’d like to keep it as a souvenir.
There was a cool gentle breeze that carried us through the bay. I didn’t have to bring a jacket. I only had a cardigan and that kept me warm enough. I had to take ½ tab of Dramamine coz I get seasick a lot. This was a 2.5−3 hr cruise and it was mostly smooth sailing but in case we end up in rough waters at least I’m «medicated» and save myself from embarrassment & misery.
We sailed along Kaanapali bay along the shores where Mariott & Hyatt Regency hotels were visible. The views of the sunset & full moon was just spectacular! It’s hard to rate this activity lower than a 4. It’s def worth the $$ and would do it again the next time I return to Maui.

Peeps are TRIPPIN’! What a great experience! The chairs are bolted in the ground which people find an inconvenience, but if the yacht was full — it would get too hectic with movable chairs (They are pretty close together, its just neater that way, though not the most convenient/​comfortable)
The staff and entertainment were awesome! Super friendly and accommodating! The courses came out fast and in an orderly fashion and were GOOD! Drinks were good too. Our table mates were amazing (probably a lot to do with our great experience) and we truly enjoyed the views (Sunset, clouds, rainbow, mountains, dolphins — what else can you want??)
My boyfriend and I had a great time and would definitely go back! The only downfalls were that when we backed back into the «port», the brakes? were loud and it smelled a lot like gas… get that fixed and itll be 5 stars!