Honolulu: Nova Five Star Sunset Dinner Cruise with Live Jazz

A dinner cruise with a real sunset payoff. This Honolulu evening pairs Maine lobster and prime tenderloin with smooth jazz, Waikiki lights, and a polished Art Deco setting aboard the Star of Honolulu. I like the private-table dinner and the Friday fireworks option, which adds a memorable finish.

I also like the easy sightseeing route past Ala Moana, Waikiki, and Diamond Head without asking you to change hotels or squeeze in another daytime tour. The main drawback is the $236 price, plus the cruise can feel too formal or too large for anyone hoping for a small, intimate boat ride.

Key points to know before booking

• Five courses with lobster and beef: The signature meal includes Maine lobster and prime tenderloin of beef served at your table.
• Friday adds fireworks time: Friday sailings last three hours and give you a chance to watch Waikiki’s aerial fireworks from the water.
• Live jazz sets the mood: Music plays throughout the evening, with dancing available in the private lanai of the Art Deco Super Nova Room.
• The cruise leaves from downtown Honolulu: Check in aboard the Star of Honolulu at Aloha Tower Marketplace, Pier 8, by 4:45 PM for a 5:30 PM departure.
• Drinks are part of the package: You receive a non-alcoholic Hawaiian Bellini welcome drink, a champagne toast, and two super premium beverages.
• The ship is large: With capacity for up to 999 people, this is a full-scale dinner ship, not a quiet little sailboat.

A polished sunset on Oahu’s southern coast

This cruise is built for an occasion. You board the Star of Honolulu, settle at your own private table, and watch Honolulu shift from late afternoon to evening while dinner arrives course by course.

The route keeps the scenery simple but rewarding. You pass Ala Moana, Waikiki, and Diamond Head, with the best views coming as the sun drops and the city lights begin to glow. You are not stopping at each place, so think of this as a moving coastal view rather than a sightseeing tour with guided visits.

I like that the evening gives you several experiences in one outing: dinner, music, drinks, sunset views, and dancing. That makes the $236 cost easier to understand, especially if you are marking a birthday, anniversary, honeymoon, or the final night of an Oahu trip.

Still, the value depends on what you want. If you mainly want a boat ride, the price is high. If you would otherwise pay separately for a special dinner, live entertainment, drinks, and a scenic evening, the package has a stronger case.

Checking in at Aloha Tower Marketplace

The main meeting point is Aloha Tower Marketplace at Pier 8. Check-in begins at 4:45 PM, and the ship leaves at 5:30 PM.

Give yourself enough time to reach the pier. The cruise schedule is fixed, and arriving late would be a poor way to begin an expensive evening. You can book without hotel transportation, then make your own way to the pier, or select one of the listed pickup options from Waikiki hotels.

Optional pickup times are around 4:20 to 4:40 PM:

• Prince Waikiki, main entrance, 4:20 PM
• Romer Waikiki, Namahana Street, 4:20 PM
• Ross Dress for Less on Seaside Avenue, 4:20 PM
• ‘Alohilani Resort, front entrance, 4:20 PM
• Hyatt Regency, Koa Avenue under the green awning, 4:30 PM
• Sheraton Waikiki, Aloha Bus Depot, 4:30 PM
• Waikiki Marriott, Paoakalani Avenue bus depot, 4:30 PM
• Hilton Hawaiian Village, Grand Islander Bus Depot, 4:40 PM

The pickup information is useful, but read it carefully. Hotel pickup is optional, not included automatically. If you choose it, confirm the exact meeting spot with the provider before the day of sailing.

Ala Moana, Waikiki, and Diamond Head from the water

The cruise route passes three well-known parts of Honolulu’s southern shore.

Ala Moana gives you an early look at Honolulu’s urban waterfront. This portion is more about getting settled, enjoying the first drink, and watching the shoreline slide past than about dramatic scenery.

Waikiki becomes more interesting as evening approaches. The famous beachfront district takes on a different character from the water, especially once hotel lights begin to appear. You can take photographs here, but keep your camera ready rather than waiting for one single viewing stop. The ship continues moving.

Diamond Head is the scenic landmark of the route. Seeing its volcanic profile near sunset gives the cruise its strongest natural setting. The ship passes by rather than stopping, so you will not hike or explore the crater. That is an advantage if you want a relaxed evening, but a limitation if you are looking for an active excursion.

The route is a good match for someone who has already spent the day walking around Honolulu and would rather see Oahu from a comfortable seat. It is less suited to someone seeking a detailed coastal tour with narration at every point.

The dinner: lobster, tenderloin, and five courses

The centerpiece is a five-course dinner with Maine lobster and prime tenderloin of beef. The main dishes are served tableside, which gives the meal a more formal feel than a buffet or casual harbor cruise.

The menu is described as seasonally inspired, so you should expect the supporting courses to change. The fixed highlights are the lobster and beef. That is helpful if you are booking for a special meal and want something more substantial than light snacks with a view.

I like the choice of two signature entrees. Lobster gives the meal a celebratory seafood element, while tenderloin offers a familiar option for someone who prefers beef. If you have strict dietary needs or special requests, contact the provider at least 72 hours in advance. The available information does not promise specific substitutions.

A private table matters here. You do not have to balance a plate while looking for a seat, and you can focus on conversation, the music, and the changing view. The meal is still part of a large-ship event, so the private table does not mean you will have a secluded dining room.

One published account described the food as incredible and singled out the evening as a memorable way to finish an Oahu vacation. That matches the design of the cruise: it is less about discovering a local hole-in-the-wall restaurant and more about creating a full evening around a special meal.

Drinks that match the occasion

Your evening begins with a Hawaiian Bellini welcome drink. It is non-alcoholic, so it works as a pleasant arrival drink for anyone avoiding alcohol.

The package also includes a champagne toast and two super premium beverages of your choice. Those inclusions make the price more reasonable than it first appears, though you should not treat them as an open bar. The wording specifies two premium drinks, not unlimited service.

The premium beverage selection is served in the comfortable lounge area. You can enjoy a drink between courses, listen to the music, and take in the view without treating dinner as a rushed restaurant meal.

Bring sunscreen and a hat for the early part of the outing. Once the sun lowers, the need changes, but the first portion of the cruise can still be bright. Comfortable clothing is recommended, and short pants are not recommended under the stated dress guidance.

The dress code is casual, but this is still a five-course dinner with a champagne toast and live entertainment. I would choose neat resort clothing rather than beachwear. You do not need formal evening clothes, but wearing something a little sharper will fit the setting better.

Jazz, dancing, and the Art Deco Super Nova Room

Live jazz gives the cruise its personality. The music is meant to carry you through dinner rather than serve as a short performance before the ship returns to port.

After eating, you can dance in the private lanai of the Art Deco Super Nova Room. That detail matters because it gives the evening a second stage. You can stay at the table for conversation or move toward the music and dancing as the mood changes.

This works especially well for couples and small celebrations. You can enjoy a toast, watch the sunset, then decide how active you want the rest of the evening to be. You are not locked into a sightseeing schedule after dinner.

The tradeoff is scale. The Star of Honolulu can accommodate up to 999 people, so the atmosphere may feel more like a major dinner event than an intimate jazz club. The private table provides comfort, but not necessarily silence or solitude.

Friday fireworks add real value

Friday is the strongest night to book if your schedule allows. The Friday cruise lasts three hours instead of two and includes time to view the aerial fireworks show over Waikiki.

That extra hour changes the value calculation. You get a longer evening, a full dinner, live jazz, and a chance to watch fireworks from offshore rather than trying to find a crowded beach viewing spot. A Friday booking can turn a good dinner cruise into a proper final-night event.

Fireworks are not part of the standard promise for other nights, so do not assume you will see them outside Friday. If the show is your main reason for booking, choose the Friday departure and confirm the schedule before you go.

The view from the ship is one of the clearest reasons to select this experience over a standard restaurant. You are already on the water, and the Waikiki lights provide a natural backdrop while the evening continues.

Timing, comfort, and who should skip it

The regular cruise lasts about two hours, while Friday sailings last three hours. The stated activity duration can appear as 150 minutes to three hours, so check the exact departure and duration when you select your date.

Most people can participate, and the ship and surfaces are described as wheelchair accessible. At the same time, the activity information says it is not suitable for wheelchair users. That is an important inconsistency. If you use a wheelchair, contact the provider before paying and confirm whether your particular needs can be met.

The ship is stroller accessible, and service animals are allowed. Pets are not allowed, and smoking is not permitted.

You should also think about motion sickness. This is a cruise on open water, and the experience is specifically not recommended for people prone to seasickness. If that is a concern, the relaxed meal may not feel relaxing at all.

Children under three are not permitted. Older children may be allowed under the general participation rules, but the evening’s late dinner, jazz, and formal tone are likely to appeal more to adults and older children.

Is $236 per person a fair price?

At $236 per person, this is not a budget dinner. You are paying for the ship, a five-course meal, the lobster and tenderloin entrees, a welcome drink, a champagne toast, two premium beverages, live jazz, and the coastal setting.

The cost makes the most sense when you want a special event and would otherwise spend heavily on dinner and drinks. It is also easier to justify on Friday, when the cruise runs an extra hour and includes the fireworks viewing.

The price is harder to defend if you care most about a small boat, a quiet meal, or flexible food choices. A large ship can provide better stability, more room, and more entertainment, but it cannot recreate the feeling of a private sail.

I would compare this with the cost of a high-end Honolulu dinner plus separate entertainment before booking. If the combined price is close, the cruise gives you the added benefit of moving views and a sunset. If you prefer to choose your own restaurant and spend the evening at your own pace, stay on land.

Practical advice for a smoother evening

Book ahead if you are planning this for a birthday, anniversary, or Friday fireworks night. Availability is subject to confirmation, and bookings made within five days of travel may take up to 48 hours to confirm.

Ask about special requests at least 72 hours before sailing. This is especially important for dietary needs, seating concerns, or mobility questions.

Bring a camera, sunscreen, and comfortable clothes. A hat is useful before sunset. Avoid relying on short pants, since they are not recommended under the dress guidance.

The cruise offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Oahu schedule is still shifting.

Should you book the Nova Five Star cruise?

Book it if you want a polished, adult-oriented evening with a real dinner rather than a simple sunset sail. The strongest reasons are the lobster and tenderloin meal, private table, live jazz, premium drinks, and Friday fireworks option.

I would especially recommend it for a couple celebrating something, a final-night treat, or anyone who wants to combine dinner and entertainment without arranging several separate bookings.

Skip it if you dislike large ships, feel uneasy on the ocean, or want a cheap and casual meal. The $236 cost demands that you value the complete evening, not just the food.

For the best version of the experience, choose Friday, arrive early at Pier 8, dress neatly, and keep your camera ready as Diamond Head and Waikiki change from sunset to city lights.

FAQ

Where does the cruise depart from?

The Star of Honolulu departs from Aloha Tower Marketplace, Pier 8, in Honolulu.

What time should I check in?

Check in onboard the Star of Honolulu from 4:45 PM. The cruise departs at 5:30 PM.

How long does the cruise last?

The cruise lasts two hours on regular sailings. Friday departures last three hours because they include time to view the Waikiki fireworks show.

Is hotel pickup included?

Hotel pickup is optional and is not included in the standard cruise. Pickup points are listed at several Waikiki-area hotels and nearby locations, with collection times between 4:20 and 4:40 PM.

What food is served?

The meal is a five-course dinner with Maine lobster and prime tenderloin of beef as the signature entrees. The supporting courses are seasonally inspired.

Are drinks included?

Yes. The package includes a non-alcoholic Hawaiian Bellini welcome drink, a champagne toast, and two super premium beverages of your choice.

Is the cruise wheelchair accessible?

The activity information describes the ship and surfaces as wheelchair accessible, but it also says the experience is not suitable for wheelchair users. Contact the provider before booking to confirm your specific requirements.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Reserve now and pay later is also available.