We booked this trip three days ahead and thank goodness we did - we got the last three seats on the boat. (Book early is the lesson here!)
This was a fantastic experience! We were picked up by the Alii Nui crew via shuttle at our condo (shuttle service was no extra charge!) We boarded the catamaran promptly on time, and upon arrival were invited to enjoy “snacks”, which we assumed would be cheese/crackers etc., but instead turned out to be veggie and fruit trays, crackers with dip, ribs, meatballs, cold salads, bread - it was quite a spread! Once we left the harbor we were treated to a full open bar, complete with specialty cocktails. The entire staff was incredibly friendly and attentive to everyone’s needs at all times, from beginning to end.
There were a few children on the boat (not sure I’d personally recommend bringing really small kids, with a fairly liberal “all you can drink” bar for two hours) and the staff was accommodating to those families as often as possible.
We saw so many groups of whales on our two hour trip! First Mate Laura stood at the bow with us to share her knowledge about whales, and answer questions while we moved out to sea. Once we were in a prime spot, she coached us on how to spot whales. The entire crew was focused on finding the most active whales for us to observe and photograph. They did not under-deliver on their promise for a great experience.
Some of the unexpected perks thrown in included the crew cleaning sunglasses at intervals during the trip (as we got sprayed with seawater) and laying out all of the guests’ shoes as we docked back at the harbor. Everyone was really appreciative of these small gestures towards their customers.
This was an amazing two hours and I would not only recommend it to anyone, but I would book this cruise again as many times as I had the chance. The crew was incredibly respectful to the whales, obviously loved their jobs, and were eager to share their knowledge and enthusiasm with everyone on board. When we return to Maui, we will definitely be back.