- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Captain Andy's Sailing Adventures
Rating Details »
Categories: Boating, Rafting/Kayaking, Tours
Port Allen Marina Center4353 Waialo Rd, Ste 1A-2A
Ele'ele, HI 96705
(800) 535-0830
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
Sponsored Result
You Might Also Consider
Kauai Sea Tours
- 11 reviews
- Location:
- Eleele, HI
"This review is kinda late. We did a catamaran trip with them during the summer of 2006. I wrote a review on tripadvisor but I think I'll…" read more »
17 reviews for Captain Andy's Sailing Adventures
Worth every penny. My boyfriend and I went on the Sunset Dinner Cruise.
Staff was wonderful.
I almost lost my cookies an hour into the trip. For this, I reccomend dramamine. But the staff was very helpful, brought me crackers and soda, and later on, I was fine.
The staff also offered to take pictures of us with our camera, chatted with me and my boyfriend, and were very personable.
The dinner was delicious and sneaky tikis...were very sneaky!!! I was feeling myself by the second cocktail!!
Advice:
1) If you are coming from Princeville, allow yourself PLENTY of time to get there. We underestimated how long it would take and almost missed the boat!
2) There is no need to dress up. This is a small boat. My boyfriend and I wore our nicer outfits and got completely soaked!! The ride is rough at times and the boat hits multiple waves. And we weren't the only ones. But, we're in Hawaii right?? They do not mention this on their website, and it would of been nice to know.
Overall, we had a great time and would do this again.
Took my two nephews on the rafting tour of the Na Pali coast. Beautiful trip and great staff but you MUST MUST MUST be ready to spend hours bouncing up and down on a pretty rough ride. Dramamine or scopalamine (anti-sea-sickness medications) are highly recommended.
Looking for something more sedate: try their catamaran sailing trip.
Generally: highly recommended.
We did the morning snorkel cruise. Cruising an hour to get to the Napali Coast - another hour seeing the different features / valleys / caves / waterfalls of the coast line and then back to snorkel for 30 minutes. Then another hour or so back.
The boat was fantastic - the staff were gracious - the cruise / views were amazing - the snorkel, not the highlight!
We stood next to the captain and he would point out anything of interest, including a stick fish that was dancing along the top of the water like a skipping stone, spinner dolphins and sea turtles.
We enjoyed our cruise. Would definitely recommend the morning cruise when the waters are calmer and you have a better chance of spotting the dolphins.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Cool (2)
We searched online and Cap't Andy's Sailing Adventures had the nicest website and good reviews. We booked out sunset cruise the day of and it was $105 a person. We drove to Ele'ele and got there around 215pm and hung out before we boarded our catamaran. The crew was just super nice. Capt Dave was informative and funny. Ian and Aaron were super cool and kept the drinks flowing, took numerous pictures of us and made the experience so enjoyable.
It was a 4 hour round trip sunset dinner cruise to the Na Pali coast. A lot of the time was spent looking at the coastline and the navy area. We saw planes take off and land as well as a military helicopter.
We also saw dolphins swimming right under our catamaran and a whale in the distance!
Besides that, we saw the beautiful rugged coastline of Na Pali. The dried waterfalls, the nooks, the caves and just the beauty of everything. We sat on the top deck and the swells weren't too bad, only about 4 feet. It was windy, so I was thankful I had a hair tie and my northface jacket. It is comfortable inside the cabin and everyone has to take their shoes off at the port (and leave them there). So, don't wear your manolo's to the boat!!!
UPDATE: It is the day after our trip with Captain Andy's and man, my back aches! I don't even have a bad back... but I guess all those bumps did me in. My husband is fine though, so go figure. Funny enough, today we ran into the family that was also on our tour... the parents were also really sore. I'm not saying don't do it -- I'm just saying, you will be anywhere from a little to A LOT sore the next day, so plan accordingly. Originally we were going to do some active stuff the next day but had to change plans since my back hurt so badly. Knowing what I know now would I have opted for the catamaran? Naw, because only the raft can go inside those caves!
----
My husband and I are on our honeymoon here in Kauai and went on the Captain Andy's Rafting day trip to Na Pali coast.
We had a lot of fun, but just to warn you:
1.) You WILL get wet no matter where you sit on the boat.
2.) It is VERY bumpy and they aren't joking -- don't do this if you have at all a bad back, neck, or knees.
3.) No matter how much sunblock (or what SPF) you put on, you will get some sun. If you are already burnt badly, I would say don't go on this until you recover, or wear lightweight long sleeves and pants... and sunblock underneath.
They do feed you lunch and everyone else it right -- it was YUMMY! And they had a lot of it, so don't worry, you can get seconds.
Going on the cruise, any cruise, along the Na Pali coast is a must on a trip to Kauai. Sure, it was absolutely beautiful hiking along the Kalalau Trail, but sailing along the coast offers an entirely unique experience. I wasn't sure whether to go with Captain Andy or Holo Holo for the Na Pali sunset dinner cruise. In the end, I went with Captain Andy, and was so glad I did.
Part of the fun of the cruise is not only seeing the beautiful coast, but watching whales (during whale season) and spotting dolphins. In the middle of my cruise, someone spotted a whale. Our catamaran raced a catamaran from Holo Holo to the whale. Our captain got us there first and the other catamaran was forced to retreat. While we were there, someone spotted dolphins, so despite already being off course and off schedule, our captain sailed to the dolphins, who swam and played with our catamaran for a while. At this point we were about 30 minutes off schedule. None of the other catamarans in the area did this. Though the Holo Holo catamaran did spot the dolphins and spent a few minutes with them, we stayed and played way longer. Captain Andy's seemed to care about our experience in a way that other catamaran's didn't. It was on a whole other level. The dinner was delicious, the catamaran was immaculately clean, we saw whales & dolphins, the captain got us back on schedule to catch the sunset. Definitely one of my favorite memories of Kauai.
First I'll apologize to fellow Californians (everyone who reviewed this place is from California) for giving this place a one star. Well, I didn't even get on their boat, and that's the problem.
We booked the pm boat tour. Admittedly it was our fault to underestimate the time to get there, but when we told them we'd arrive a bit late when we were driving through the Lihue area. They said the boat won't leave in another 45 minutes, so keep them updated. Fine. We called them 3 times in 30 minutes to keep them updated about our progress till we were only 10 minutes from there, and things seemed to be fine. At 1:45 we pulled into the parking lo and walked into their office just to find out - the boat has left!
Enough said.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Funny (2)
- Cool (2)
A trip on Captain Andy's Adventures is one of the things I enjoyed the most when I came to Kauai the first time about eight years ago. We were told by friends that this was one of the best things to do when you want to see the NaPali Coast and Kauai's amazing wildlife.
I still remember how much fun I had on my adventure with Captain Andy. It was one of the best trips I have ever had on the sea. The scenery is breathtaking. We saw spinner dolphins and whales and the crew were informative and gracious.
I would love to go back on this trip, but with a 4-year old in tow, it may not be the best idea.
Ahhh ... Andy, take me away!
People thought this was:
- Useful (4)
- Funny (4)
- Cool (4)
From my July 2007 Trip:
There are many companies offering tours of the Napali Coast. I ended up here after doing A LOT of research. Captain Andys always showed up at the top of the lists I read and were recommended by most hotel concierges. We did the 4-hour dinner cruise of the Napali Coast.
All of the companies advertise "luxury boats." I was able to see the boats from 5 different companies in Port Allen (including Holo Holo and Blue Dolphin) and they are all basically the same. I would not consider any of them luxury, they all were nice but basic boats.
The cabin area is open on the rear and half of the sides. There are two bathrooms on board with "normal" toilets. The entire boat is white fiberglass, nothing fancy. If you are outside of the cabin, you will get wet at least a little. Sitting on the trampolines may get you soaked. The boat on Captain Andy's was rated for over 70 people, but they limit it to no more than 50. I had plenty of room and was able to walk around the boat easily.
Immediately upon leaving, they brought out a fruit platter and sodas, juices and waters for everyone. We saw dolphins, which was the only marine life we saw on the trip. As for the NaPali coast itself, words or pictures cannot describe how beautiful this area is. It is unique when compared to other areas of the island. I spoke with a family on the boat who did the same trip on a helicopter and said the boat was "hands down" much better to truly take in and appreciate this beautiful area.
The boat motored along the coast until the turn around point. Then, the motors were turned off and the sails were put up. At this time, the bar opened with red and white wine, beer (including Heineken) and sneaky tikis (quasi-Mai-Tais) which were great. They then brought out dinner, which we ate while sailing along the coast.
Dinner is served informally with paper plates on deck, buffet style. They served teriyaki chicken, garlic beef with onions, a yellow type rice, green salad and assorted breads. My wife and I agreed that the chicken was "incredible." The food was good and far exceeded my expectations. You could eat as much as you wanted. Believe me, I did eat a couple heaping mounds of chicken and beef and there was still more food leftover. Once dinner was complete, the staff brought out mango dessert bars which the staff said were homemade. The bar was open until about 5 minutes before we docked. They were not stingy with the food or the drinks.
We reached Port Allen right at sunset. The staff then took pictures of anyone who wanted a picture taken with their own camera. As soon as the sun was down, we sailed about 5 minutes back into port and our cruise was over.
The staff was top-notch. We were taken out by Captain Dave who moved to the island 20-some years ago. Helping Dave out were two assistants. Dave knew everything about the coast, island life and anything he was asked. Dave continued to provide excellent details over the boat's PA system throughout the entire trip. There was nothing Dave did not know.
At the end of the trip, I was surprised they did not have a tip jar or their hand out. There was no request for tips or sob stories about how expensive it is for them to live, etc. I really appreciated the service and gave a gratuity to Dave who seemed surprised to receive it. A class act all around!
SEASICKNESS: I read reviews on other sites where people gave low ratings because they got sea sick. How can you blame a boat charter company for getting sea sick? Still, I was worried because my wife and I both got seasick on a scuba trip on Oahu years back. The night before going out with Captain Andy's my wife and I took Dramamine (I took two because I am 6'2" and weigh 220). In the morning we each took one and an hour before we went out on the boat my wife took another one and I took 2.
My wife and I felt great the entire trip. There was about a half hour period before entering the Napali coast that the water got rough. Once we turned around, the trip back seemed much calmer (which may be another reason they wait to open the bar and serve dinner).
The currents, waves, etc. are unpredictable and conditions can change within hours. The boat is much smaller than a cruise ship so it will move much more. There were about 50 people on board. Two of the three children on the boat were not feeling well with one of them heaving over the side. Only one adult lost her dinner over the side.
I recommend eating light healthy food for lunch if you go for the dinner cruise. My wife and I ate greasy Burger King on our Oahu scuba trip and this probably did not help our queasiness on that trip. We had a lighter lunch this time.
OVERALL RECOMMENDATION: I highly recommend this activity and Captain Andy's. It was one of the highlights of our trip.
People thought this was:
- Funny (1)
Another one of those things I'm really glad I didn't die without doing. We learned that at $150 per person, Captain Andy's is the most expensive Napali Coast catamaran tour. It's worth every dime.
The day I spent on Captain Andy's catamaran was simply this: one of the most memorable experiences I've ever had. The first testimonial on the website reads "a truly amazing experience that will live within me forever." I could not agree more.
You'll pick up the boat (a luxury... I mean LUXURY 55' catamaran) at Port Allen early in the morning (I recommend morning rather than afternoon for better chances of seeing dolphins and calmer waters throughout the day). From moment one, I noticed that the captain and crew were some of the most cheerful people I'd ever had the pleasure of meeting. They make it their personal mission to make sure you've had the most incredible time of your life.
Our captain drove us gently up the Napali Coast, chasing dolphins when he spotted them and told us stories about Hawaiian history over the PA. The crew was equally awesome... they walked the boat making sure everyone was having a fantastic time, asking... just one more time... if there's anything at all they can do for you.
Captain Andy's tour includes a stop at a nice snorkeling spot on the north side of the Napali Coast. Once out of the water, you'll be served a DELICIOUS lunch and a wide variety of beers and wines. Watch it... they'll get you drunk on the trip back if you let them. They literally watch to make sure you never come up empty. My guess is that it's a ploy to get better tips. It worked.
Aside from the truly fantastic day aboard this boat, here's something that happened that I'll never forget: on the way back, we drove through a short (but huge) rainstorm. Almost everyone huddled inside, but not us... my friends and I had been seated out on the front trampolines of the catamaran, soaking up the sun and sipping our beers, and when the rain started coming down we just couldn't imagine moving. It was just us and the little kids, full speed ahead on the Pacific, Hawaiian wind and rain hitting our faces while, for the first time on our trip, we actually shivered a little bit.
I plan to visit Kauai many, many times throughout the course of my life. Every single time, I'm going out with Captain Andy.
Let me be the first to say that I am NOT a fan of organized tours on vacations. However, a few people said "you must do this catamaran sunset cruise" - and when I hear "you must", well then I guess I MUST! So I did.
In all honesty, this was a perfect way to see parts of Kauai that you cannot see on your own.
The crew were all extremely friendly - and not the "fake" kind of nice, but I truly felt they were genuinely happy to be taking this group of kaki shorts and wife beater wearers on this sailing.
For a sunset sailing on a catamaran with more space for people than anything else - the food was good. The drinks were fantastic, and there was no limit to what they would serve you (all included in the price).
The vistas were amazing. Waterfalls coming out of the mountains into the ocean. Goats grazing on the side of the hill and me marveling as to how the didn't fall. Sea turtles swimming up to the catamaran in water so clear it was a site to be seen. And Dolphins jumping 10's of feet in the air out of the water following us as we made our journey. You just can't replicate something like that, and you really don't want to miss it.
One of the best things we did on Kauai and money well spent. we took the tour on the raft with captain Matt. Great and funny guy, knows a lot about the island. Enjoyed the tour, the snorkeling, delicious lunch (to be honest, the best lunch we had all week), very save raft. I highly recommend this organization!
BEST THING ON OUR TRIP EVER!
We had three whale sightings and even got to see one jump out of the water! There were spinner dolphins under and around our boat, we got to see them jump too. We also got tons of turtles (did you know it is a 10,000 fine if you get caught @#$#(* with one? CHRIST). Anyways the tours and stuff went really well.. for 140 bucks we got a light breakfast, yummy lunch, all the beer and wine you can drink and some sight seeing and snorkeling action! I can't wait to see the underwater photos since Jessica couldn't work the camera to save her life. Anyways-- Yes the pasta salad was yummy..BUT THE TRAMPOLINES ARE A MUST! You are like Vicky WTF were you doing on a trampoline in the middle of the ocean? I was on the ride of my life! It is like being on a water ride times a million... HELLA FUN. The dad that was on the trampoline with us got hit in the nuts by his younger brother..that was priceless..almost as priceless as Jess trying to chug a beer on the trampoline with the waves....
These guys are a must when in Kauai!
People thought this was:
- Useful (5)
- Funny (3)
- Cool (6)
The most amazing experience I had in my week and a half in Hawaii!!! Captain Andy's has been around the longest, and has the most knowledgable staff around.
If you come to the island of Kauai, you HAVE to see the Na Pali Coast. Most people think that seeing it by helicopter is the way to go. I highly disagree.
Captain Andy's has sailing vessels, but if you are up for the true adventure, look into the 5-6 hour rafting trip. This boat holds about 15 people, and is a huge rubber raft that goes about 50 miles per hour!! It cruises as you sit on the edge of the raft with your butt dangling over the side while you hold on to the hand and foot ropes. The boat allowed us to get so close to spinner dolphins and green tortoises, both of which you'll see plenty of during the trip.
Na Pali Coast has the most breathtaking views of sea cliffs, sea caves, and arches (see pics). Famous movies filmed here were the opening to Jurassic Park, King Kong, 10,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and Pirates of the Caribean, amoung others. Again, just look at the pics and you'll see what I mean.
Here's why you want to take the raft....they take you into the sea caves!! So amazing!! And, the rafts get so much closer than any sail boat can or will. Also, they stop for lunch on a beautiful beach. The lunch is all inclusive and consists of fliet of beef with onions, pineapple chicken, salad, local fruit, bread, rice, and desert. The food was amazing.
Best of all, the staff is local and extremely knowledgable. Our guide, Quinton, has lived in Kauai his whole life and knows about ancient folklore, spiritual beliefs of settlers, and he even showed us how they used to shuck and eat coconuts back in the days.
Amazing experience. You're not living unless you come to Hawaii to see all its beauty and take on an adventure like this.
We went on the snorkeling adventure with our family. You're on a 55' catamaran and we had hazy, overcast and rainy weather as we made our way up the Napali coast. We had a nice continental breakfast and lunch later on. Snorkeling would of been better if we had better weather but it was fun nonetheless. Having not snorkeled before it was a nice experience. The snorkeling portion was probably less than one hour but was sufficient. Lunch was after that. I got queasy after a while which didn't make for a pleasant experience, however once I got in the water things were good.
We did the sunset dinner cruise and it was totally spectacular. I agree with Chris M's review that you have to see the Na Pali coast while you're on Kauai, and this is a great way to do it. The boat leaves around 3 and heads out to Na Pali, and then turns around
People thought this was:
- Cool (1)
This is one of many that cruise up the famed NaPali coast. We chose the catamaran, the larger ship,55 foot, as opposed to zodiacs, which look like lifeboats. The ride was bumpy but the captain and the crew worked well together & we spotted several whales & dolphins. The young captain, who told a bit too many beer jokes, took the boat pretty close to the shores for amazing viewings. The lunch, sandwich buffet, was good - especially the pasta salad. Overall, it was a good ride, but glad to be on dry land. So 4 stars! Aloha.
