Tours/Oahu/Premier Whale Watching Cruise from Waikiki
Premier Whale Watching Cruise from Waikiki
4.4(204)Oahu2 hours
VIATOR4.3(143)TRIPADVISOR4.5(61)
+16 photos
At a glance
Duration
2 hours
Price from
$85 / person
Location
Oahu, United States
Rating
4.4 / 5 · 204 reviews
Languages
EN
Group
Small group, up to 999
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Confirmation
Instant
Ticket
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Operator
Star of Honolulu Cruises and Events
Meeting point
Star of Honolulu departs from Aloha Tower Market Place, Pier 8 at9:15 AM. Please check in from 8:30 AM onboard the Star ofHonolulu.
Description
See humpback whales during their annual migration in the waters off Oahu on a whale-watching cruise from Waikiki. Enjoy great photo ops of the massive mammals, as well as views of Honolulu, Diamond Head and the Kahala Gold Coast. Plus, keep your eyes peeled for other marine life like Hawaiian spinner dolphins, porpoises and sea turtles.
Schedule & prices
Runs
Every day
Start times
9:15 AM
Season
Starts Jan 2, 2027
Adult (ages 12+)
$85
Child (ages 3–11)
$54
Infant (ages 0–2)
Free
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 15.
Tour Options
Premier Whale Watch Cruise
Cruise departing at 9:15 am; boarding is 30 minutes prior to departure (hotel transport included); 2-hours
Breakfast Bread: Homemade pineapple banana bread breakfast
What's included
Included
Naturalist guide
Enjoy Homemade Pineapple Banana Bread with hot Kona Blend Coffee or Tea
Onboard exhibits
Not included
Gratuities
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.4
204 reviews
5
134
4
35
3
18
2
9
1
8
How it compares in Oahu
Starting price $85 is 20% below the typical $106 for tours of similar length in Oahu
Excurgo comparison of 857 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Wheelchair accessible; please advise at time of booking if wheelchair assistance is required
Products may be adjusted due to government COVID-19 guidelines.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Premier Whale Watching Cruise from Waikiki take?
Premier Whale Watching Cruise from Waikiki lasts about 2 hours.
How much does Premier Whale Watching Cruise from Waikiki cost?
Prices start at $85 per person for this Oahu experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Premier Whale Watching Cruise from Waikiki run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 9:15 AM.
How much does Premier Whale Watching Cruise from Waikiki cost for children?
Children aged 3–11 pay from $54, adults from $85. Infants go free.
Can I cancel Premier Whale Watching Cruise from Waikiki for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Star of Honolulu departs from Aloha Tower Market Place, Pier 8 at. 9:15 AM. Please check in from 8:30 AM onboard the Star of. Honolulu. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Premier Whale Watching Cruise from Waikiki offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 999 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair accessible Wheelchair accessible; please advise at time of booking if wheelchair assistance is required
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Reviews(204)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
7
754yadanarm
March 8, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Really bad experience
Breakfast is only banana bread and coffee. Don't even include the juices. Staffs are arguing in front of the guests. We didn't see a whale either. They offered to call the customer service to rebook but I am not doing it.
I wasted my half day and $85 per person.
Operator response
Aloha 754yadanarm,
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We sincerely apologize for your experience and want you to know that your feedback has been shared with management. We are committed to improving and hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back in the future.
Mahalo,
Star of Honolulu
N
Navigate794668
March 2, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Smooth sailing and beautiful views
My boyfriend and I went on the Early Bird Whale Watching Cruise and we both had a great time. The cruise is ~2 hours long and I wish it could've been longer. It was a beautiful sunny day when we went, but eve if the weather is bad, there is indoor and covered seating and viewing locations. It is a family friendly and accessibility friendly boat making it great for everyone to be on board. The staff were kind and helpful, we enjoyed the onboard Naturalist's informative overview of whales and the other animals of the Hawaiian islands. And even though we didn't see any whales on this trip, you get a voucher to go on another cruise with them during whale season which is a cool gesture
Operator response
Aloha Navigate794668,
Thank you for your wonderful review! We are very happy to hear that you enjoyed the whale watching experience on the Star, though the whales didn't visit during this trip. We hope that you were able to rebook your cruise with us for another adventure - we will see you again soon!
Mahalo,
Star of Honolulu
A
Ambassador9618
February 25, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
whale watching Star of Honolulu
The Captain and the crew were very helpful and friendly with information and finding whales. Great Time Aloha
Operator response
Aloha Ambassador9618,
Thank you for your kind review! We ae glad that you enjoyed our Whale Watch cruise experience. We hope to welcome you aboard again!
Mahalo,
Star of Honolulu
S
Sylvia_H
February 25, 2025 · via Viator
Never again
I feel a little deceived because reviews on this cruise said we would have to get briefly in the water to get on and off making me think it was a different cruise and smaller boat. I have already been on the star of Honolulu and thought it was quite boring. Didn't see any whales but that's not the reason. I just wanted a different boat experience. I think they should actually tell you the name of the boat before you book.
K
Kurtirvin_C
February 25, 2025 · via Viator
You’ll definitely see...
You’ll definitely see whales here! We were able to see everything they said through the introduction of the trip.
L
Lanette_P
February 22, 2025 · via Viator
Whale watching was great....
Whale watching was great. Loved the snacks and beverages included. Unfortunately, the parking validation sticker didn't work and we had to pay.
1 people found this helpful
M
marisamM1061WQ
February 22, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Awesome BOGO Whale Watching Tour
I took advantage of a By One Get One deal for the early bird whale watching tour and it was phenomenal! We had the pleasure of standing by the naturalist, Alyssa, for most of the trip and she was informative and a joy to be around. We saw a momma and her calf breach, and several fluke tail breach’s. The star itself had a ton of space to allow families to spread out and was very clean. What a great experience!
Operator response
Aloha marisamM1061WQ!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear you had such a great time on the whale watching tour, and that Alyssa made your experience even more enjoyable. Seeing a mother whale and her calf must have been incredible! We appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure soon!
Mahalo!
Star of Honolulu
S
shimizuh2025
February 21, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
stephen
Captain stephen is the best!! He had a good personality ⭐︎ He was nice and nice! The food was good and the boat was beautiful!!! If you're struggling, please join us!!! I hope they'll entertain you a lot! I'm sure you'll join us!
Operator response
アロハ shimizuh2025！
この度はスターオブホノルル号にご乗船頂き、誠にありがとうございました。
キャプテンスティーブが素敵な体験をご提供できたこと、とても嬉しく思います。
またのお越しをスタッフ一同お待ち申し上げております。
マハロ、
Star of Honolulu
S
Scott B
February 19, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Great first experience
Everyone was super friendly, wwlearned a lot and we saw some whales and a big pod of dolphins! All in all, it was a good morning and a great first whale watching experience for two of us. Also banana bread and coffee was a great bonus
Operator response
Aloha Scott!
Thank you, Scott! We’re so glad your first whale watching experience was a great one—and that you got to see both whales and dolphins! We’ll pass the kind words along to our crew, and we agree—banana bread and coffee are always a win. Hope to see you again soon!
Mahalo!
Syar of Honolulu
K
Kenneth_D
February 15, 2025 · via Viator
Whale watching off Oahu
Beautiful ocean & island views!
The shop crew were very courteous & knowledgeable and the ship was clean.
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