Honolulu: Sunset Dinner Cruise & Live Show with Buffet

4.53

(590 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed was the sound — that low hum of people settling in, glasses clinking, and then someone laughing somewhere behind us. We’d just stepped onto the Star of Honolulu at Pier 8, right by the Aloha Tower Marketplace. The air was thick with that salty Hawaii smell (a little coconut sunscreen too), and honestly, I was more excited than I expected. Our table had its own view out over the water — not bad for a “dinner with a show,” you know?

Our guide, Malia, greeted us with a smile and a Mai Tai — she said it’s their signature drink. I’m not usually into sweet cocktails but this one hit different after a long day. The Pacific Rim dinner buffet had roast beef with this pink Hawaiian salt crust (I still think about that), white fish in coconut curry sauce, and misoyaki BBQ chicken. I probably went back for seconds on the fish… no shame. There were families celebrating birthdays near us; one auntie even offered us some of her homemade mochi for dessert. That’s just how people are here.

Live music started up as we pulled away from shore — not too loud, just enough to set the mood. The ship’s big but surprisingly steady; Malia mentioned they use special stabilizers so even my friend who gets seasick was fine. We drifted past Diamond Head and along the Kahala Gold Coast while the sky turned all kinds of orange and purple. Someone started dancing in one of the other dining rooms (I think there are six total?), and for a second it felt like everyone forgot about their phones.

If you book on Friday, they keep sailing for an extra hour — wish we’d known that before! Still, two hours felt just right. On deck later, I leaned against the rail listening to waves slap against the hull and tried to memorize that warm breeze on my face. It’s weird what sticks with you after these things.