Is Captain Andy's $250 Kauai sunset cruise worth it? — featuring The Awkward Tourists (Captain Andy's)

In this video: Captain Andy's Kauai Hawaii Sunset dinner cruise / Kauai Hawaii Travel Vlog

The Awkward Tourists · 2 years ago

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Is the $250-per-person price worth it?

The video's travelers were impressed by the Na Pali Coast views, crew quality, and included dinner, but found the per-person cost steep. They estimated it would feel like excellent value at $150 per person but had reservations at $250.

At a glance

Length
9 min
Channel
The Awkward Tourists
Video from
Dec 2023
Rating
⭐⭐ Great video · 2/2
Best for
Kauai travelers seeking a scenic dinner cruise and willing to spend $250 per person for premium access to Na Pali

What this video answers

  • Is the $250-per-person price worth it?
  • What if it rains during the cruise?
  • Do I need to bring anything or wear specific clothing?
  • Is there food for dietary restrictions?
  • How far in advance should I book?
Reads the guide aloud in your browser — free, no account.

Captain Andy's Na Pali Sunset Dinner Cruise: A Kauai Ocean Experience

This video follows a couple taking a 4-hour catamaran cruise along Kauai's Na Pali Coast with Captain Andy's, a highly-rated tour operator based at Port Allen on the island's west side. The experience combines scenic ocean navigation past towering sea cliffs with a dinner service, cocktails, and narration from the ship's captain about the coastline's history and geology. It's designed for travelers willing to invest in a premium island excursion and wanting to see the dramatic Na Pali cliffs from the water rather than from land alone.

The cruise suits couples, groups, and solo travelers who prioritize natural scenery and don't mind paying premium prices for a longer, all-inclusive outing. If you're budget-conscious or prefer shorter activities, you may find the $250-per-person cost steep. However, if you're already committed to visiting Kauai and want a memorable way to experience one of the island's most iconic features, this tour merits serious consideration.

Key Moments

What You'll See and Experience on This Na Pali Coast Cruise

  • The Na Pali Coast cliffs rising up to 4,800 feet, viewed from ocean level as the catamaran sails close to the rock formations
  • A full dinner service with salad, bread, rice, corn, and a choice of meats, plus lime cheesecake for dessert
  • Signature cocktails (including the "Sleepy Tiki" drink) and beer, wine, and soft drink options at an open bar
  • The sunset over the Pacific during the latter half of the cruise
  • Educational narration from Captain Brian about the island's rainfall, mythology, and coastal geology
  • Close-up views of smaller cliff sections (around 1,400 feet) before reaching the taller formations
Featured image for the guide to Captain Andy's Kauai Hawaii Sunset dinner cruise / Kauai Hawaii Travel Vlog by The Awkward Tourists

Essential Details for Booking and Preparing for Your Cruise

  • Total cost: $250 per person after taxes and fees (about $500 for two people) — dinner and drinks included
  • Duration: Approximately 4 hours and 15 minutes on the water
  • Departure location: Port Allen on Kauai's west side; arrive 45 minutes early, though boarding may begin 30 minutes before departure
  • No-shoes policy: Shoes must be removed when boarding the catamaran, following Hawaiian tradition
  • Facilities: Two basic marine toilets (heads) in the galley area; plan accordingly for a 4-hour voyage
  • Weather conditions: Kauai receives heavy rainfall (up to 450 inches annually at its peak), so rain during the cruise is common; expect potentially obscured views but cooler temperatures
  • Traffic and parking: Allow extra travel time from your hotel; parking at the dock can be difficult during peak times

Frequently Asked Questions About the Captain Andy's Na Pali Cruise

Is the $250-per-person price worth it?

The video's travelers were impressed by the Na Pali Coast views, crew quality, and included dinner, but found the per-person cost steep. They estimated it would feel like excellent value at $150 per person but had reservations at $250. The verdict depends on your budget and priorities—if the Na Pali Coast is a must-see and you value an all-inclusive experience with minimal planning, it justifies the expense.

What if it rains during the cruise?

Rain is frequent on Kauai and likely during your tour. The video shows rain actually keeping the boat cooler and adding a mystical quality to the cliffs, though it can reduce visibility. Rather than canceling plans, pack a light rain jacket and prepare for changeable conditions.

Do I need to bring anything or wear specific clothing?

You must remove your shoes before boarding. The video shows passengers in casual summer clothes; bring a light layer or jacket for the ocean breeze and potential rain. Sunscreen is advisable if skies clear, and consider a waterproof bag for phones or cameras.

Is there food for dietary restrictions?

The video shows a fixed dinner menu (salad, bread, rice, corn, and meat options) with no choice given at service time. If you have allergies or dietary needs, contact Captain Andy's directly before booking to discuss accommodations.

How far in advance should I book?

The video notes this is an extremely popular tour, so booking ahead is wise to secure your preferred departure date. High-season slots fill quickly, especially during Hawaii's peak travel periods.

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Key Terms

Na Pali Coast
A rugged, largely inaccessible stretch of Kauai's north shore featuring steep sea cliffs and narrow valleys that can only be explored by water or air.
Catamaran
A twin-hulled boat that is stable and spacious, commonly used for cruises and water tours in Hawaii.
Port Allen
The west-side harbor on Kauai where most Na Pali cruise tours depart.
Marine head
A basic toilet facility on a boat that uses seawater for flushing and requires careful operation.
Signature cocktail
A house-specialty drink served at the bar—in this case, the "Sleepy Tiki" offered to cruise passengers.

Sources: Na Pali Coast · Catamaran · Port Allen · Marine head · Signature cocktail — definitions cross-referenced with Wikipedia

Justin’s Take

This video is genuinely helpful because it gives an honest, balanced review rather than simply promoting the tour. The couple wrestles openly with whether the price justified the experience, shows you actual food and drink served, films the real weather conditions, and provides practical details like the no-shoes policy and toilet locations that matter when planning a 4-hour boat trip.

What stands out is the transparency about cost and value—they loved the Na Pali cliffs and the experience overall but admitted hesitation about the $250-per-person tag, which helps you calibrate your own expectations and budget. If you want to see the Na Pali Coast from the ocean with dinner included and don't mind premium pricing, this tour is worth booking.

Great video · 2 out of 2

Justin
Justin

Years on the front lines of helicopter tour coordination — not as a travel blogger, but as the person responsible for making every guest experience go right. Managed 2,000+ cruise guests weekly as Shore Excursions staff aboard the Pride of America in Hawaii Personally coordinated with helicopter tour operators to confirm age, weight, and safety requirements.

Video by The Awkward Tourists on YouTube. If you enjoyed it, please subscribe to their channel and show your support for the great video.

Description

Hello Happy Travelers! Wondering How much does Hawaii Cost?

Welcome to our Kauai Hawaii travel vlog! In this video, we decided to splurge and spend $500 on a Capt Andys Hawaii sunset dinner cruise around the Na Pali Coast of Kauai.

This Kauai cruise is very highly rated but if you're wondering how much does Hawaii cost, the answer is a lot! Hawaii and especially Kauai are very expensive, but the Napali Coast might just be worth the money.

Stay tuned until the end of our video to see our review of the cruise and whether we thought it was worth it to spend $500 on a Kauai tour.

Captain Andy's Na Pali cruises:
https://www.napali.com/

Hilton Garden Inn Kauai Wailua Bay (where we stayed)
https://booking.tp.st/fPx1QJBV

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Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:29 Arrival at the dock
01:43 Embarkation
02:42 Sailing out
03:56 Beginning of Na Pali Coast
04:12 Na Pali Coast main attraction
05:10 The start of dinner
06:24 Sunset
06:42 Review
08:13 Bloopers

Video transcript for “Captain Andy's Kauai Hawaii Sunset dinner cruise / Kauai Hawaii Travel Vlog” Accessibility

A full written transcript of this video, provided for accessibility. Select any timestamp to jump the video to that moment.

[Music] want a cocktail over here yeah she'll take one all [Music] right hello happy Travelers welcome to Kawaii so we've just driven from our

hotel on the east side of the island to Port Allen which is where we're going to catch our catamaran with Captain Andy to do a sunset dinner sale at the Nepali Coast oh my God I'm so [Laughter] excited this tour is extremely popular for tourists so I recommend you take a little more time to get here than you

think you need we had some traffic and also parking was a little difficult so just keep that in mind if you're going to do this tour so full disclosure guys we did pay full price for this tour excursions on Kawaii are not cheap you can definitely get some deals on food and accommodation but when it comes to

tours they are definitely at a premium we heard the Nepali Coast was awesome to see from the water so we decided to splurge the price of our tour after taxes and fees ended up being about $250 per person so it is a little steep but you do get dinner included plus some alcoholic drinks and it's like 4 hours

on the water so that sounds pretty good to me they told us to be here 45 minutes before departure and they are promptly boarding at 30 minutes before departure and that's us let's [Music]

go no shoes no shirt no problem except I have a dress so I don't know if that counts no shoes on the catamaran which is pretty standard for being on a catamaran it's the Hawaiian lifestyle that's what the guy said I didn't say that Aloha folks I'm going to be your captain my name is Brian uh us inspected Coast

Guard vessels they want you to know about our safety equipment we're going to tell you some stories about the island uh of course the Nepali co- of the show if we see some Wildlife we'll spend some time with them we just had our boat safety briefing reminded me a little bit like being a flight attendant

make sure to listen to your crew folks and now we're on our way I know I know Kevin's making friends of course try to maintain my balance go down do a weather check uh looks good A little bit of shallow [Music]

War so a few of you might be wondering if there's any toilets or their facilities on board good news there's two toilets in the back Galley area you have to walk down backwards three steps it's very basic marine toilet or a head No Frills but it'll [Music] work so Kawai is one of the wetest

places on Earth highest peak on Kawai gets 450 in of rain per year put that into perspective Seattle which is really known for its rain only gets 40 Ines of rain per year so that's an insane amount of rain and unfortunately it looks like we're about to hit some on our way up to the Nepali

Coast starting to feed us we just passed the official start of the Nepali Coast however these Cliffs are only about 1,400 ft High and they get up to 4,800 ft high so we have quite a ways to go until we get to the the really impressive [Music]

stuff we're up close to the clips now and it's rainy right in here but it's really [Applause] incredible it's been an incredible tour of the coast and our captain also gives us some information about the coast like history and mythology and stuff so it's

been really interesting it's a little bit socked in but actually it's keeping the temperature a bit cooler so we're more comfortable than we would be than if it was completely Sunny also is a little bit mysterious this is awesome the bars about to be open so want a cocktail over here yeah she'll take one

all right yeah they're coming around with the both signature Al alcohol signature alcohol they're coming around with the both signature cocktail which is the sleeky TIY I don't know what's in [Music] it yeah there's Booz in there so you don't want to have the signature cocktail they also have beers and wines

and a bunch of different soft drinks I decided to go for a Longboard Beer of course and uh I think our dinner is just about to come around they bring it to you which is nice all right they just served dinner you don't get a choice or anything which is fine uh there's salad bread rice a corn cob and a selection of

a couple different Meats I think it's chicken and beef I'm not really sure but it looks delicious so I don't really care your favor is cheesecake lime cheesecake right at my alley tiny little [Music]

cheesecake we just made it back to our car all in all that tour was about 4 hours and 15 minutes which is a pretty long tour yeah it was really fun though we had a really great time hello there happy Travelers when I was editing this video I felt like we really didn't do a good job at

giving a solid review of this tour and saying if it was actually worth spending $500 for two people to take this tour the Nepali Coast was amazing to see from the ocean the whole crew was amazing the food was pretty good too but was it really worth the $500 price tag I'm not so sure Kelly and I felt like it was

just a little steep if it had been $150 per person 100% worth it all the way but 250 per person seemed like a little much now that being said if we had skipped this tour we probably would have been disappointed so it really comes down to what you want to get out of your vacation and how much you budget for it

still a great tour I can still recommend it worth 500 bucks not 100% sure on that all right now let's get back to Hawaii if you are interested in this tour we will put a link to the tour in the description so you can check out the exact one that we went on but that's going to be it for

this video be sure to hit that subscribe button though because tomorrow we're going to be seeing the Napo Coast from the air so you don't want to miss that but until then this is Kelly and Kevin from the awward tourists peace [Music] out [Music]

Holly Coast insane when it's raining insane in kaai safety briefing from Captain Brian and huh did you say Brian Brian oh no wrong right tell me

me I decided to go for all right I see the uh the andrees have made their way out to the bow and uh now start to get to the cabin listen on the and you happen to

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