Nova Five Star Sunset Dinner and Jazz

The best part of the Nova Five Star cruise is the changing view from the water. As the sun drops behind Oahu, you look back at Waikiki, Diamond Head, and the city lights while dinner arrives course by course. I like the private table and the polished service, and I like that the meal includes lobster, tenderloin, a champagne toast, and two premium beverages.

I also like the Friday sailing, which runs an extra hour for the Waikiki fireworks. The main caution is price: at $236 per person, this is a special-occasion dinner, not a casual boat ride. Cloudy weather can hide the sunset, and the jazz may feel too limited for anyone expecting a full concert.

Key things to know before booking

• Five-course dinner with lobster and tenderloin: The meal includes Maine lobster, USDA Prime beef, salads, sorbet, and a chef’s dessert.
• Private-table dining: You are seated for dinner rather than moving through a buffet or crowded open dining room.
• Friday fireworks bonus: Friday cruises last about three hours and include views of the weekly aerial fireworks show.
• Best views from the upper level: The premium seating area gives you a better outlook over Waikiki and the sunset.
• Live jazz with a changing lineup: Expect piano during dinner, with singers and saxophone appearing later in the evening.
• Dress neatly and plan for motion: Casual clothing is allowed, but short pants are discouraged, and the boat can feel rocky.

Setting sail from Aloha Tower

Your evening begins at Aloha Tower Marketplace, where the Star of Honolulu is docked. Check-in begins at 4:45 p.m., and the vessel departs at 5:30 p.m. That early check-in window matters because you do not want to rush through parking, find the pier, and board at the last moment.

The cruise ends back at the same meeting point. Parking is not included, and the cost can be much higher than the modest hourly figure some visitors expect. One review specifically noted a $27 parking charge, so I would check current rates before you arrive.

The ship is large, with room for up to 999 people across its various areas. The Five Star experience is the more refined section, but you are still on a sizable dinner vessel rather than a small private yacht. That distinction helps set expectations. You get stability, organized boarding, and plenty of room to move around, but not an intimate little boat with only a handful of tables.

The ship has an Art Deco, 1960s-inspired feel. Some passengers enjoy that retro style, while others find the vessel a little dated. The dining area and upper deck can feel elegant, especially when the lights of Waikiki begin to glow.

The first view is the reason to go

Once the boat leaves Honolulu Harbor, the southern coast opens up. The city recedes behind you, and Diamond Head becomes one of the key visual markers. Waikiki looks different from the ocean, with the hotels rising in a bright line along the shore.

The sunset is the centerpiece, but it is also the part you cannot control. Clouds can block the colors, and rain can affect the entire cruise. A rainy evening may mean no sunset at all, and rough weather can make the boat uncomfortable or delay departure.

I would book this for the combination of scenery and dinner, not for a guaranteed sunset. If the sky cooperates, you get a memorable view. If it does not, the meal, music, and city lights still carry the evening, but the $236 price feels harder to justify.

You can usually step outside for fresh air and better photographs. The upper level is especially useful for seeing both the shoreline and open water. Some seating areas have air conditioning, though one passenger found the boat warm and another appreciated having an air-conditioned top-floor area. Bring a light layer for changing temperatures, but do not expect every part of the ship to feel equally cool.

A five-course dinner built around two main dishes

The meal begins with a cheese and charcuterie board served at your table. This is a pleasant way to settle in while the ship gets underway. The opening course feels more suited to a long dinner than to a quick sightseeing cruise.

Next comes a Maine lobster and beet carpaccio salad. The dish includes locally grown vegetables, fennel, goat cheese pearls, and a champagne-chive vinaigrette. It gives the meal a more formal restaurant feel, although the quantity of lobster is not especially generous. If you are booking mainly for a large seafood dinner, keep that in mind.

The main course pairs USDA Prime tenderloin of beef with lobster. The beef is served with truffle mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables. The steak and gravy have earned strong praise, and the beef is generally the safer bet for diners who want a substantial main course.

The mashed potatoes receive more mixed reactions. Some diners enjoy the truffle flavor, while others find it too strong or compare the texture to boxed potatoes. That is a small detail, but at this price, small details matter.

Dessert includes seasonal fruit sorbet and a chef’s special dessert served with freshly baked brioche and butter. A dragon fruit sorbet has been mentioned as a favorite, and another version of the dessert has included cheesecake. The exact dessert may change, so treat the listed menu as a guide rather than a promise.

Service is designed to keep the meal moving in measured stages. Several diners appreciated that the courses arrived at good intervals and at the right temperature. That pacing is important on a cruise because a late dinner course can leave you watching the sunset while waiting for food.

Service can vary by table. Most accounts describe friendly, attentive staff, but one diner felt the waiter did not explain the meal, offer water, or check about coffee with dessert. I would speak up if you need something. The crew is handling a large dining operation, and a clear request is better than quietly waiting.

Drinks and the champagne toast

The package includes a champagne toast and two super premium beverages. That gives the evening a proper celebratory start, especially for an anniversary or birthday.

Additional drinks cost extra. The comfortable lounge is the place to order more beverages, and several people have enjoyed the cocktails. You should budget for those extras if you plan to continue drinking through the cruise.

Photographs are also sold separately. The view may tempt you into buying a souvenir image, but the photo is not included in the ticket. If you are celebrating a major occasion, decide ahead of time how much that add-on matters to you.

What the jazz program is really like

The music is a major part of the atmosphere. Piano accompanies dinner, then the entertainment may expand to include a singer and saxophone player. The professional live performers have been one of the most consistently praised parts of the evening.

Still, do not book this expecting continuous jazz from the moment you board until the boat returns. One disappointed passenger found that the jazz performance lasted only about the final half hour. The exact programming can depend on the evening, but the experience is better understood as dinner with live entertainment than as a full jazz concert.

The music is smooth and polished rather than rowdy. That suits couples celebrating an anniversary and families seeking a calm dinner. After the meal, you can move to the Art Deco Super Nova Room, where there is room to dance.

If you prefer an energetic Hawaiian show, another cruise on the same ship may suit you better. The Five Star option focuses on food, service, views, and a quieter musical style. It is more refined, but some people may find it less lively.

Why Friday is the strongest choice

Friday cruises last three hours instead of roughly two. The extra time allows you to watch the weekly aerial fireworks show over Waikiki, provided weather and scheduling cooperate.

The fireworks change the value equation. At $236 per person, the Friday sailing gives you sunset, dinner, music, and a second visual event in one evening. The view from the water lets you see Waikiki from a distance, with the fireworks framed against the shoreline.

A Friday booking is especially appealing for a birthday, anniversary, or final night in Honolulu. You get a clear ending to the evening without having to find a second activity after dinner.

The downside is that Friday is also the most popular choice. The cruise is often booked well in advance, with an average booking window of about 44 days. If you want a particular date, especially for a celebration, reserve early.

Is the upper deck worth paying for?

The upper deck or premium seating upgrade has received strong praise. It gives you a more impressive dining setting and better access to the wide views of Waikiki. For this particular cruise, your surroundings are part of the meal, so seating can make a real difference.

I would consider the upgrade if you are celebrating something important or if the view matters more than saving every dollar. One couple described the top-floor dining area as beautiful, with excellent views and air conditioning.

If you are mainly interested in the food, the upgrade is harder to judge. The core meal and entertainment remain the same idea, and the boat still offers outdoor viewing areas. Ask exactly what your selected package includes before paying more.

Who will enjoy this cruise most?

This is a good fit for couples marking an anniversary, birthday, or honeymoon. The private table, champagne toast, formal meal, sunset, and music create a clear sense of occasion without requiring you to plan several separate activities.

Families can enjoy it too. Children have been welcome, and the views give younger passengers something to watch between courses. Still, the three-hour Friday version may feel long for very young children, especially if the weather is rough.

You should also consider this cruise if you want a special dinner but do not want to dress formally. The listed dress code is casual, although short pants are not recommended. Neat resort clothing is the sensible middle ground.

I would hesitate if you dislike boats, get seasick, or are very sensitive to motion. One passenger found the boat a little rocky and suggested taking seasickness medicine. The vessel is large, but it is still moving on the ocean.

Practical details that affect the evening

Confirmation is normally sent at booking. If you reserve within five days of the cruise, confirmation can take up to 48 hours and depends on availability.

Special requests should be made by calling the provider at least 72 hours ahead. This is important for birthdays, anniversaries, dietary needs, or seating questions. The information provided does not promise that every request can be met, so ask early rather than hoping the crew can solve it at boarding.

Service animals are allowed, and most people can participate. The activity has a very high maximum capacity, but the Five Star section is intended to feel more personal than the overall ship capacity suggests.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the experience for a full refund. That gives you some flexibility if the weather forecast turns poor, though you should still allow time for the cancellation process.

Is $236 a fair price?

The short answer is that the value depends on what you want from the evening. You are paying for more than dinner. The price includes the cruise, private-table seating, five courses, lobster and tenderloin, a champagne toast, two premium drinks, live music, and the setting.

That can be reasonable for a celebration, especially on Friday when the cruise runs longer and includes fireworks. The dinner also removes the need to arrange sunset viewing, a restaurant reservation, and evening entertainment separately.

The price is harder to defend if you judge the experience strictly as a meal. The lobster portion may seem small, the mashed potatoes may not impress you, and additional drinks and photographs cost extra. A cloudy sunset can also remove the feature that makes the cruise feel special.

I would call this a good value for an occasion, a fair value for a first-time Honolulu experience, and a poor value for anyone seeking a bargain dinner. The strongest elements are the setting, service, music, and overall presentation rather than an enormous portion of food.

Should you book the Nova Five Star Sunset Dinner and Jazz cruise?

Book it if you want a polished evening with a private table, live music, ocean views, and a built-in celebration feeling. Choose Friday and consider the upper deck if the fireworks and Waikiki views are central to your plans.

Skip it if you want a small boat, a long jazz concert, or a low-cost meal. You should also think twice if cloudy weather would ruin the evening for you. For everyone else, this is one of Oahu’s more memorable dinner outings, provided you treat the sunset as a bonus rather than a guarantee.

FAQ

Where does the Nova Five Star Sunset Dinner and Jazz cruise leave from?

The cruise departs from the Star of Honolulu at Aloha Tower Marketplace, 1 Aloha Tower Drive, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813.

What time should I arrive?

Check-in begins at 4:45 p.m. The cruise departs at 5:30 p.m.

How long does the cruise last?

The cruise lasts about two hours on most evenings. Friday sailings last about three hours to allow time for the weekly aerial fireworks show.

What food is included?

The meal includes five courses centered on Maine lobster and USDA Prime tenderloin of beef. The listed menu includes cheese and charcuterie, lobster and beet carpaccio salad, beef with truffle mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables, sorbet, and a chef’s special dessert with brioche and butter.

Are drinks included?

The package includes a champagne toast and two super premium beverages. Additional beverages are not included and cost extra.

Is seating private?

Yes. Dinner is served at your own private table.

What should I wear?

The dress code is casual, but short pants are not recommended. Neat resort clothing is a practical choice.

Does the cruise include live music?

Yes. Live jazz entertainment is included. The program can include piano, a singer, and a saxophone player, with opportunities to dance in the Art Deco Super Nova Room.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the experience for a full refund.