Nova Five Star Sunset Dinner and Jazz

Oahu sunsets look best from the water, and this cruise gives you a front-row view from the Star of Honolulu. You’ll dine at a private table on Maine lobster and USDA Prime tenderloin, with Waikiki and Diamond Head slipping past outside.

I like the top-deck setting and the smooth live jazz, especially when piano gives way to vocals and saxophone. I also like the Friday timing, which adds an hour for the Waikiki fireworks. The main concern is price: at $236 per person, you’re paying for atmosphere and service as much as dinner.

Key points to know before booking

• A private-table dinner cruise: You dine at your own table rather than balancing a plate on a crowded deck.
• Two polished main courses: Tenderloin beef and Maine lobster arrive as the centerpiece of the meal.
• A strong sunset view: The route gives you views of Waikiki, Diamond Head, and Oahu’s southern coast.
• Friday adds fireworks: Friday cruises last about three hours instead of two and include the weekly aerial show.
• Live music changes through the evening: Expect jazz piano during dinner, followed by additional singers or saxophone entertainment.
• Premium pricing with mixed value: The service and setting can feel special, but the cruise is not the best choice if you mainly want a large meal or a long jazz concert.

A sunset cruise built around the view

The Star of Honolulu leaves from Aloha Tower Marketplace at 5:30 pm, timed for the sun to drop over Oahu’s southern coast. That timing matters. You get daylight for the first part of the ride, golden light as dinner begins, and city lights as the boat heads back.

From the water, Waikiki looks different than it does from shore. The high-rise hotels form a bright wall along the coast, while Diamond Head gives the skyline a clear natural marker. You can also step outside for a better look, though your private table remains the main base for the evening.

I would book this for a birthday, anniversary, or another night when you want dinner to feel like an event. It is less suited to a casual meal where you can order quickly, eat at your own pace, and leave whenever you like.

The cruise itself is operated by Star of Honolulu Cruises and Events. It is a large vessel, with capacity listed at up to 999 people, but the Five Star experience is organized around private dining tables and a more polished area of the ship. That gives the night a quieter feel than a general sightseeing boat, though you are still on a sizable dinner vessel rather than a small yacht.

Checking in at Aloha Tower

Plan to arrive at the pier well before departure. Check-in begins onboard at 4:45 pm, and the listed departure time is 5:30 pm from Aloha Tower Marketplace, 1 Aloha Tower Drive in Honolulu.

This is not a hotel pickup experience. You make your own way to the pier, so allow time to locate the boarding area and deal with parking. One practical warning comes from the parking cost: the nearby rate can be far higher than a casual one-dollar-per-hour expectation, with one account of a $27 charge. Confirm the current parking price before you arrive.

The dress code is casual, but short pants are not recommended. I would choose neat resort clothing and shoes that are comfortable on a moving boat. You do not need formalwear, but this is a poor setting for beach clothes.

Mobile tickets make check-in simple. Confirmation is normally issued when you book. If you reserve within five days of departure, confirmation can take up to 48 hours and remains subject to availability. Special requests require a call to the operator at least 72 hours ahead.

The Star of Honolulu and its Art Deco mood

The ship has an older, theatrical character rather than a sleek modern yacht feel. One of its attractive details is the 1960s-inspired style, paired with the Art Deco Super Nova Room where you can listen to music and dance later in the evening.

That styling gives the cruise some personality. You are not simply sitting in a floating restaurant with a view. The setting has a retro dinner-show quality, with several areas to explore and an indoor lounge for premium drinks.

The ship can feel warm, particularly when the air conditioning does not keep up. A few people found the vessel somewhat dated, while others liked its atmosphere. I would set your expectations correctly: this is a well-established dinner ship with a classic showboat look, not a minimalist luxury vessel.

A little motion is possible once the ship reaches open water. If you are prone to seasickness, bring the medication you normally use. The boat was described as a little rocky on some sailings, and weather can affect the entire evening. Heavy rain has canceled or limited the sunset portion in the past, and clouds can hide the sun even when the cruise sails normally.

What arrives at your private table

The dinner is presented as a five-course meal, with service paced across the cruise. The menu begins with a cheese and charcuterie board served at your table.

Next comes a Nova Scotia Maine lobster and beet carpaccio salad. The plate includes locally grown vegetables, fennel, goat cheese pearls, and a champagne-chive vinaigrette. This is a more composed opening than the basic bread-and-salad start you may find on a standard dinner cruise.

The main course combines two luxury ingredients: Maine lobster and USDA Prime tenderloin of beef. The beef comes with truffle mashed potatoes, gravy, and seasonal vegetables. The lobster portion is a key reason the meal commands a premium price, though you should not expect an oversized seafood serving. One person specifically wanted more lobster.

Dessert includes seasonal fruit sorbet and a chef’s special dessert with freshly baked brioche and butter. The supplied menu does not name the final dessert, and the exact offering may change. Some dining accounts describe cheesecake, while another highlights dragon fruit sorbet, so treat the dessert as seasonal rather than fixed.

The food is one of the cruise’s stronger features, but it is not perfectly consistent for every palate. Beef was praised for being cooked well, while the truffle flavor in the potatoes struck one diner as too strong and the texture as less than homemade. Bread service could also be more generous.

I like the fact that the meal is served in measured courses rather than all at once. You can watch the view, hear the music, and let the evening unfold. The tradeoff is that your timing depends on the dining team. One table received excellent attention, while another found the waiter slow to offer water, explain the courses, or suggest coffee with dessert.

The jazz is part of dinner, not always a full concert

Live jazz gives the cruise its character. Piano accompanies dinner, and the entertainment can expand later with a singer and saxophone player. The quality of the performers has been one of the most praised parts of the night, particularly the vocal and saxophone portions.

You should understand the format before you pay the premium. This is a dinner cruise with live music, not a dedicated jazz club performance. On at least one sailing, the jazz felt limited to the final half-hour while the boat was returning. Other evenings included piano during dinner and a longer sequence of vocals and saxophone.

That difference may come from the evening’s programming, but it creates a real expectation gap. If you want a continuous concert, this may disappoint. If you want music that supports a romantic meal and finishes with a more active show, it can work very well.

The entertainment is generally smooth rather than a loud theatrical production. That suits a couple celebrating an anniversary. Families can enjoy it too, but younger children may find the slower dinner format less exciting than the more active shows on other Star of Honolulu cruises.

After dinner, you can spend time in the Art Deco Super Nova Room, listen to the performers, and dance. Additional premium beverages are available in the lounge at extra cost. The included drinks are a champagne toast and two super premium beverages, so budget extra if you plan to continue ordering.

Sunset, Waikiki, and Friday fireworks

The view is the reason to reserve a sunset sailing instead of eating at a restaurant along Waikiki Beach. You see the coast from a changing angle, with Diamond Head, Waikiki, and the southern shore providing the backdrop as the light fades.

A clear evening can be beautiful. The boat gives you a wide view that is difficult to match from a table on land. You can also move outside to take photographs, then return to the air-conditioned dining area.

Weather remains the uncontrollable part of this experience. Clouds can block the sunset, and rain can prevent the cruise from delivering the evening you imagined. The dinner and entertainment still operate when possible, but the view may become the weakest part of the night.

Friday is the most attractive departure if your schedule allows. The cruise runs for about three hours instead of two, giving you time to watch the weekly aerial fireworks show near Waikiki. Seeing the fireworks from offshore adds a strong final scene, and the longer sailing helps justify the price.

I would not pay extra or rearrange an entire trip solely for a guaranteed sunset. No sunset cruise can control clouds. I would choose Friday because it adds a second visual feature, not because it removes the weather risk.

How the $236 price makes sense

At $236 per person, this is an expensive evening. The value comes from the combined package: a private table, a five-course dinner, lobster, prime beef, a champagne toast, two premium beverages, live entertainment, and the coastal view.

You are also paying for the occasion. An anniversary dinner on land may offer better food in a quieter room, while a less expensive boat cruise may offer a livelier show. This Five Star option sits between those choices, aiming for polished dining with a broad view.

The price feels more reasonable when the weather is clear, the service is attentive, and the music continues through dinner and the return. It feels less convincing when clouds hide the sunset, the boat feels warm, or the jazz arrives only near the end.

Photos are not included in the ticket. Professional souvenir photographs can be purchased separately, which surprised some people who felt the price should cover at least one picture. Parking is also an extra expense and can be significant.

If your budget is tight, compare this with the cheaper Star Casual Sunset and Show Cruise. That option uses the same ship but offers a more active and immersive show. The Five Star section is more refined, especially on the upper deck, but it is not automatically the best value for every style of evening.

Who will enjoy this most

I would choose this cruise for couples celebrating a milestone, families wanting a memorable dinner, and anyone who values scenery as much as food. The private table makes it easier to talk, and the service can feel wonderfully personal when the dining team is on form.

The experience also suits people who want several parts of an evening handled for them. You check in, sit down, receive dinner in courses, enjoy drinks and music, and return to the same pier. You do not need to plan a separate sunset viewpoint and dinner reservation.

I would hesitate if your priority is a large lobster portion, a fully air-conditioned modern ship, or uninterrupted jazz. I would also think twice if you are sensitive to boat motion or if you would be genuinely upset by a cloudy evening.

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The maximum capacity is large, so do not picture an intimate sail with only a handful of tables. The private-table format helps, but the overall setting remains a major dinner cruise.

Practical choices that improve the evening

Book as far ahead as you can. This experience is commonly reserved about 44 days before departure, so last-minute availability may be limited, especially for a preferred date or premium seating.

Choose Friday if fireworks matter to you. The extra hour gives that sailing a stronger finish and provides more time on the water.

Ask for the upper-deck or premium setting when available. This is where the cruise feels most special, with better views and a more elegant dining atmosphere. The upper deck may also be more comfortable than lower areas, though temperatures can still vary.

Call at least 72 hours before sailing for special requests. Do not rely on a last-minute note in the booking. Confirmation is normally immediate, but bookings made within five days of travel may take up to 48 hours to confirm.

Bring a light layer and seasickness medication if you need it. The dress code is casual, but neat clothing works better than beachwear. Give yourself time for parking, check-in, and boarding rather than arriving at 5:29 pm.

Should you book the Nova Five Star cruise?

Book it if you want a polished celebration with a private table, a strong sunset setting, lobster and tenderloin, and live music that adds atmosphere. Friday is the best version because the fireworks extend the night and give you another reason to be on the water.

Skip it if you mainly want the cheapest dinner cruise, a large seafood meal, or a long jazz concert. At $236 per person, the experience depends heavily on clear weather, good table service, and how much you value the ship’s retro style and Waikiki views.

My call: a good splurge for an anniversary or birthday, especially from the upper deck on Friday. For a casual night or a music-first outing, choose a less expensive and more active cruise instead.

FAQ

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

It starts at Aloha Tower Marketplace, 1 Aloha Tower Drive, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813.

What time does the cruise depart?

The ship departs at 5:30 pm. Check-in begins onboard at 4:45 pm.

How long does the cruise last?

The standard sunset dinner cruise lasts about two hours. Friday sailings last about three hours because they include time to view the weekly aerial fireworks show.

Does the cruise return to the starting point?

Yes. The activity ends back at the Aloha Tower meeting point.

What dinner is included?

The five-course meal includes a cheese and charcuterie board, a lobster and beet carpaccio salad, USDA Prime tenderloin of beef with truffle mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables, seasonal sorbet, and a chef’s special dessert with freshly baked brioche and butter.

Are drinks included?

A champagne toast and two super premium beverages are included. Additional beverages cost extra.

Is a private table included?

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.

Can I request something special for the dinner?

Yes, but you must call the service provider at least 72 hours ahead to confirm special requests.

Can I cancel for a refund?

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