Honolulu: Nova Five Star Sunset Dinner Cruise with Live Jazz

The main draw here is dinner with Maine lobster and prime tenderloin while Oahu’s south coast slips past the windows. Add live jazz, Waikiki lights, and a Friday fireworks option, and you get a polished evening rather than a simple boat ride.

I like the private table setup, which lets you focus on dinner instead of juggling a plate in a crowded lounge. I also like the drink package: a welcome Hawaiian Bellini, champagne, and two super premium beverages are included. The catch is scale. The Star of Honolulu can carry a very large number of people, so this is a grand dinner ship, not a quiet little sailboat. If you get seasick, choose another evening plan.

Key points to know before you book

• Maine lobster and beef are served as the signature main courses: The five-course dinner centers on two special-occasion dishes.
• Friday adds an extra hour: Book Friday if you want the best chance to watch Waikiki’s aerial fireworks from the water.
• The cruise begins at Aloha Tower at 5:30 PM: Check in onboard from 4:45 PM, so allow time to reach Pier 8.
• Live jazz gives the evening its mood: You can listen from your table, relax in the lounge, or dance toward the private lanai.
• Hotel-area pickup is optional: Listed pickup points serve several Waikiki hotels, but hotel drop-off is not included.
• The $236 price suits a celebration: It covers dinner, entertainment, champagne, and two premium drinks, but it costs more than a standard sightseeing cruise.

A sunset dinner on Oahu’s south coast

This is a dinner date with a moving view. The Star of Honolulu leaves Aloha Tower Marketplace and heads along Oahu’s southern coast, passing Ala Moana, Waikiki, and Diamond Head as daylight fades.

You are not stopping at each place. These are scenic points along the route, best enjoyed from the ship as the sky changes color and the city lights appear. That makes timing important. You should arrive ready to settle in, since the pleasure comes from the steady flow of dinner, music, and views rather than from a long stop on shore.

The ship checks in from 4:45 PM and departs at 5:30 PM. That gap gives you time to board and find your table, but I would not cut it close. Aloha Tower Marketplace is easy to recognize, yet evening traffic around Honolulu can slow a short ride.

The regular cruise lasts two hours. On Friday, it runs for three hours, giving you an extra hour for the Waikiki aerial fireworks show. Friday is the clear pick if fireworks matter to you. You still get the dinner and jazz, but the longer schedule gives the night a stronger finish.

Boarding at Aloha Tower and getting settled

The meeting point is aboard the Star of Honolulu at Pier 8, Aloha Tower Marketplace. You can make your own way there, or select optional pickup from several Waikiki-area locations.

Pickup times are early. The listed options leave around 4:20 PM from the Prince Waikiki, Romer Waikiki, Ross on Seaside Avenue, and Alohilani Resort. Pickup is around 4:30 PM from the Hyatt Regency, Sheraton Waikiki, and Waikiki Marriott, and 4:40 PM from the Hilton Hawaiian Village Grand Islander Bus Depot.

This is useful if you do not want to arrange transport to the harbor. It is not hotel pickup and drop-off in the broad sense, though. The service uses set meeting points, and return arrangements are not included. If you choose pickup, confirm the exact location and time before the day of the cruise.

Once onboard, you begin with a Hawaiian Bellini welcome drink. It is non-alcoholic, so it works as a bright opening for the evening without starting the alcohol service right away. The package also includes a champagne toast and two super premium beverages of your choice.

The drink inclusion helps explain the price. If you would otherwise buy dinner, champagne, and several drinks separately, the total can rise quickly. If you do not drink much, the value is less compelling, since part of the package is built around beverage service.

What the five-course dinner means in practice

The meal is seasonally inspired, with five courses served at your private table. The signature pairing is Maine lobster and prime tenderloin of beef, with both entrees served tableside.

That combination gives the dinner a special-occasion feel. Lobster brings the seafood side of Hawaii’s ocean setting, while tenderloin offers a familiar choice for someone who prefers beef. You do not have to choose between a seafood-focused cruise and a steak-focused dinner. The menu puts both at the center.

The supplied information does not list every course or provide details about substitutions. If you have allergies, dietary restrictions, or a special request, call the service provider 72 hours ahead. Do not wait until boarding and expect the kitchen to sort it out on the spot.

Your private table matters here. A five-course meal is easier to enjoy when you have a fixed place to sit, rather than moving around with buffet plates. It also gives couples and small parties a clear base for watching the view and listening to the music.

Still, this is dinner entertainment on a ship, not a quiet fine-dining room. The music, movement, and scale of the vessel are part of the package. If you want a silent tasting menu with full attention on each course, this is not the right setting.

Jazz, dancing, and the Waikiki lights

Live jazz carries much of the evening. The music is described as smooth and professional, with room to listen from your table or move toward the private lanai of the Art Deco Super Nova Room.

You can make the night as active or as relaxed as you like. Sit with your dinner and let the city lights do the work, or dance after the meal. That flexibility is useful for a date night, anniversary, birthday, or final evening on Oahu.

The route passes Waikiki and Diamond Head as the sun goes down. Diamond Head is especially useful as a visual marker, while Waikiki becomes more striking once its lights come on. You will want a camera and sunscreen, and a hat is sensible during the brighter part of the cruise.

The views are the reason to book near sunset rather than later in the evening. You get daylight, fading color, and the first glow of Honolulu after dark. Cloud cover can affect the sunset, of course, so do not treat a perfect orange sky as guaranteed.

On Friday, the cruise adds the fireworks show. One confirmed booking described the fireworks view as a highlight and a memorable way to finish an Oahu vacation. That makes Friday the strongest choice for a celebratory evening, though the extra hour also means you will be out later.

How the route unfolds

Ala Moana from the harbor

After leaving Aloha Tower, the ship passes Ala Moana. This part of the route gives you time to settle into the cruise before the main sunset views arrive.

You may see the city and shoreline opening up from the water, but Ala Moana is a pass-by point rather than a shore visit. Keep your camera handy, then return to your table before the next course arrives.

Waikiki as the lights come on

Waikiki is the visual heart of the evening. From the water, you get a broad view of the famous shoreline and hotel lights without dealing with beach traffic or finding a place to sit onshore.

The timing works well for a dinner cruise. You can watch the daylight fade while eating, then see Waikiki take on a different look after dark. On Friday, this is also the area connected with the aerial fireworks show.

Diamond Head at sunset

Diamond Head appears as the ship passes along the south coast. The route gives you a moving view rather than a hike or a lookout stop, so pack expectations accordingly.

If you want to climb Diamond Head or spend time at the crater, do that on another part of your Oahu schedule. Here, the value is seeing the landmark from the water while dinner and music continue around you.

Is $236 a fair price?

At $236 per person, this is a major evening expense. The price makes the most sense when you want several elements in one booking: a five-course dinner, Maine lobster, prime tenderloin, live jazz, a champagne toast, two premium beverages, a private table, and a sunset cruise.

The Friday version has added value if fireworks are important to you. You receive an extra hour on the water, and that longer schedule gives the evening a more complete event feeling.

The price is harder to justify if you mainly want a boat ride or a sunset view. Oahu offers simpler ways to watch the coast, and you can find less costly meals on land. This booking earns its higher cost through the combination of food, entertainment, drinks, and setting.

I would treat it as a celebration purchase, not a casual sightseeing ticket. For an anniversary or the final night of a vacation, the bundled format can save you from planning separate dinner, drinks, music, and a view. For a family trying to control costs, the total can climb quickly.

Who will enjoy this cruise most?

This cruise fits couples and adults planning a polished evening. It also works for anyone marking a birthday, anniversary, honeymoon, or final night on Oahu.

The minimum age is 3, so children under 3 cannot join. The evening includes late-day dining, live entertainment, and a formal-feeling menu, even though the dress code is casual. Short pants are not recommended, so neat casual clothing is the safer choice.

You do not need to dress in formalwear. Comfortable clothes are recommended, but I would choose a collared shirt, dress, or smart casual outfit rather than beachwear. Bring a light layer only if you tend to feel cool in air-conditioned spaces, since no specific temperature guidance is provided.

People prone to seasickness should think twice. The ship moves along the coast for two to three hours, and the combination of dinner and motion may not suit everyone. If you know you are sensitive, a land-based dinner is the safer choice.

The information also gives mixed accessibility guidance. The ship is described as wheelchair accessible, with accessible surfaces, yet the activity is also marked as not suitable for wheelchair users. Call the operator before booking if you use a wheelchair. Strollers are listed as accessible, and service animals are allowed.

Practical details that can make the evening smoother

Plan to arrive before the 4:45 PM check-in time. The ship departs at 5:30 PM, and missing the departure would mean missing the central part of the booking.

Bring your camera, sunscreen, and hat. The open views are most useful before sunset, while the city lights and fireworks are the key reasons to keep watching after dark.

Smoking is not allowed, and pets are not allowed. Service animals are permitted. English is the tour language, and a live guide is included.

The activity can reach a maximum of 999 people. That figure tells you what kind of boat setting to expect: a large dinner ship with many other people onboard, not a small, private charter. Your table is private, but the wider atmosphere will still feel like a major organized event.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if you are still arranging an Oahu schedule. Special requests should be made at least 72 hours ahead.

Should you book the Nova Five Star cruise?

Book it if you want dinner, music, drinks, sunset scenery, and Waikiki lights handled in one evening. The lobster and tenderloin pairing, private table, and live jazz give the night enough substance to feel like more than a sightseeing ride.

Choose Friday if the fireworks are a priority. The extra hour and confirmed fireworks viewing add a clear reason to select that night.

Skip it if you dislike large ships, feel sick on the water, or want a quiet restaurant with no entertainment. At $236, this is not a bargain meal. It is a planned celebration with a moving view, and it works best when you value the full package rather than any single feature.

FAQ

Where does the cruise depart?

The cruise departs from Aloha Tower Marketplace, Pier 8, aboard the Star of Honolulu.

What time should I check in?

Check-in begins at 4:45 PM, and the cruise departs at 5:30 PM.

How long does the cruise last?

The cruise lasts two hours on most days. Friday departures last three hours.

What food is included?

The booking includes a five-course Maine lobster and prime tenderloin of beef dinner.

Are drinks included?

Yes. You receive a non-alcoholic Hawaiian Bellini welcome drink, a champagne toast, and two super premium beverages.

Is live entertainment included?

Yes. Live jazz entertainment is included, with space to dance during the cruise.

Can I watch fireworks?

Friday cruises include an extra hour to view the Waikiki aerial fireworks show.

Is hotel pickup available?

Optional pickup is available from listed meeting points near several Waikiki hotels. Hotel drop-off is not included.

What should I wear?

The dress code is casual, but short pants are not recommended. Comfortable clothes are advised.

Is the cruise wheelchair accessible?

The activity information says the ship and surfaces are wheelchair accessible, but it also says the activity is not suitable for wheelchair users. Contact the service provider before booking to confirm your needs.

Can children join?

Children under 3 are not allowed. The activity information does not give a maximum age for children.

What happens if I need to cancel?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.