Nova Five Star Sunset Dinner and Jazz

The best part of the Nova Five Star Sunset Dinner and Jazz cruise is the setting: you watch the sun drop behind Oahu while Diamond Head and Waikiki slide past from the water. Dinner is served at your own table, with lobster and prime tenderloin as the main event, not merely a buffet with a view.

I like the polished service and live music, especially when the piano, singer, and saxophone build the evening beyond background noise. I also like the Friday version, which adds time for the Hilton Waikiki fireworks. The main caution is price: at $236 per person, you are paying for a special occasion, and the value depends heavily on the sunset, table location, food expectations, and how much you enjoy formal cruise entertainment.

Key points to know before booking

• Maine lobster and USDA Prime tenderloin: The five-course meal includes both signature main dishes, served at your private table.
• Sunset views from the Star of Honolulu: The route gives you broad views of Waikiki, Diamond Head, and Oahu’s southern coast.
• Friday adds fireworks: Friday sailings last about three hours instead of two, with a chance to see the weekly aerial fireworks show.
• Live jazz is part of the evening: Expect piano during dinner, with singing and saxophone featured later in the program.
• Premium drinks are included: You receive a champagne toast and two super premium beverages, while further drinks cost extra.
• Dress neatly, not formally: Casual clothing is accepted, but short pants are not recommended.

A sunset cruise built for celebrations

This is the Star of Honolulu’s more polished dinner option, aimed at couples marking an anniversary, birthday, or simply wanting a special night out. You board at Aloha Tower Marketplace, then head out along Oahu’s southern coast as the late-afternoon light begins to soften.

The ship is large, with capacity for up to 999 people, but the Five Star section offers a more private dining setup than the casual cruise levels. You sit at your own table and receive table service throughout the meal. Several bookings include an upper-deck package, which can improve your view of Waikiki and make it easier to step outside for sunset photos.

I would not book this as a quiet little sailboat dinner. This is a full-size cruise ship with an Art Deco Super Nova Room, live performers, a lounge, and a planned sequence of food and entertainment. That gives the evening energy, but it also means the experience feels like a polished dinner show rather than an intimate meal on a small yacht.

Checking in at Aloha Tower

Check-in is onboard the Star of Honolulu at Aloha Tower Marketplace. The posted check-in time begins at 4:45 p.m., with departure at 5:30 p.m. Give yourself enough time to find the pier and get organized before boarding, since the ship leaves on schedule.

The meeting point is 1 Aloha Tower Drive in Honolulu. The cruise ends back at the same location, which keeps the evening simple if you are staying near Waikiki or arranging your own transportation.

Parking deserves attention. One booking reported paying $27 rather than the expected one-dollar-per-hour rate. Rates can change, but I would confirm current parking costs before arriving. At this price point, an unexpected parking bill is an unnecessary surprise.

The dress code is casual, though short pants are not recommended. A neat dinner outfit works best. You do not need formalwear, but you will feel more comfortable in something suitable for a celebratory meal and an evening performance.

Sailing past Diamond Head and Waikiki

Once the ship leaves Honolulu Harbor, the views become the main attraction. You get a water-level perspective toward Waikiki, Diamond Head, and the southern coast that you cannot match from a restaurant on shore.

The sunset timing is well chosen. As dinner unfolds, the light changes from bright afternoon to warm evening tones, then to the city lights of Waikiki. I recommend spending part of the meal outside, even if your table is in an air-conditioned dining area. The best photographs and the clearest view of Diamond Head will come from the open areas of the ship.

Weather matters. Clouds can block the sunset, and rain has occasionally prevented a proper sunset cruise. You still receive the dinner and entertainment, but the view is a major part of what you are buying. If the sky is overcast, the $236 price will feel harder to justify.

The ship can also move enough to bother sensitive stomachs. One family found the boat a little rocky and recommended taking seasickness medicine as a precaution. If you are prone to motion sickness, plan ahead rather than waiting until dinner is served.

What arrives at your private table

The meal is presented as five courses. The listed menu begins with a cheese and charcuterie board served at the table, followed by a Maine lobster and beet carpaccio salad. The salad includes locally grown vegetables, fennel, goat cheese pearls, and a champagne-chive vinaigrette.

The main course combines USDA Prime tenderloin of beef with Maine lobster. The beef comes with truffle mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables. This pairing is the heart of the meal, and it gives the dinner a special-occasion feel that many basic sunset cruises do not try to provide.

Dessert includes seasonal fruit sorbet and a chef’s special dessert served with freshly baked brioche and butter. Individual reports also describe cheesecake on some sailings, so the exact dessert may vary. The sorbet is a useful lighter course after the beef and lobster.

Food quality has been one of the strongest parts of the experience. Several bookings praised the freshness, cooking, and timing of the meal. The service team generally brings each course at a steady pace, so you are not left waiting long between dishes.

Still, expectations matter. One meal was judged only average for the cost, and another found the mashed potatoes too heavy on truffle flavor and not especially fresh-tasting. A little more lobster would also have been welcome for the price. This is good cruise dining, but it is not a substitute for Honolulu’s finest land-based restaurant.

Drinks, champagne, and extra charges

The package includes a champagne toast and two super premium beverages. That gives you a pleasant start and covers part of the evening’s drink cost. You can also order additional beverages from the lounge, but those are not included.

I like that two premium drinks are built into the fare, since the meal feels incomplete without something to sip while the sun goes down. At the same time, check your final bar spending if you plan to order several more drinks. The advertised fare is already substantial, and extra purchases can push the evening well above the original price.

The lounge is also part of the ship’s social side. After dinner, you can listen to the performers and dance in the Art Deco Super Nova Room. The ship’s mid-century style has been a hit with people who enjoy a bit of old-fashioned cruise glamour.

Jazz during dinner, then a fuller show

The music is more than a single band playing in the corner. The evening can include piano during dinner, a singer, a host, and a saxophone player later in the cruise. Several bookings singled out the vocalist and saxophone performance as especially strong.

The music style is smooth and easy to enjoy while eating. If you want a high-energy Hawaiian revue or nonstop dancing, a cheaper casual cruise may suit you better. One comparison found the casual Star of Honolulu show more active and entertaining, while the Five Star cruise felt more refined and subdued.

That difference is important. Here, jazz supports the meal and the atmosphere. It does not always dominate the whole cruise. One disappointing evening had the jazz concentrated in the final half-hour as the ship returned. If live music is your main reason for booking, confirm the current entertainment schedule and understand that the show may build gradually rather than run as a continuous concert.

Friday fireworks from the water

Friday is the strongest night to book. The cruise adds an extra hour, bringing the total duration to about three hours, and gives you the chance to see the weekly aerial fireworks show near Waikiki.

The combination of sunset, dinner, live music, and fireworks can make Friday feel much better suited to an anniversary or birthday. You get a proper ending to the evening rather than returning immediately after dessert.

The fireworks are weather dependent, and the view may vary with the ship’s position and cloud cover. Still, if your schedule is flexible, Friday gives you the best chance of getting the full version of the experience.

How the $236 price makes sense

At $236 per person, this is expensive for a meal, and I would not pretend otherwise. You are paying for several things at once: the boat ride, private-table dining, a five-course menu, lobster and prime tenderloin, champagne, two premium drinks, live entertainment, and the view.

The fare makes the most sense for a milestone celebration. If you are already planning an anniversary or birthday dinner, combining the meal with sunset views and entertainment can be good value compared with paying separately for a nice restaurant, drinks, and a show.

It makes less sense if you mainly want a boat ride or a casual meal. Oahu has simpler and cheaper cruise choices, and one comparison favored the more affordable casual option for its livelier entertainment. You should also be comfortable with cruise-ship dining. The Star of Honolulu is a large, older vessel, and one booking described the ship as dated. Another found the air conditioning insufficiently cool.

The best way to improve the value is to book a Friday, choose the upper-deck or premium seating option if available, and treat the cruise as a full evening rather than just dinner. A poor sunset or a table with limited views can change how the price feels.

Service, seating, and small practical details

Service has usually been a strong point. Staff members are described as friendly, attentive, organized, and eager to make celebrations memorable. Food arrives in a sensible order, and special requests have been accommodated when arranged ahead of time.

There can be uneven moments. One table received less attention than the couple beside it, with no water refill, little explanation of the meal sequence, and no coffee offer with dessert. That seems to be an occasional service lapse rather than the normal pattern, but it is worth knowing at this price.

Call the provider at least 72 hours before departure for special requests. Confirmation normally arrives at booking, though reservations made within five days of departure may take up to 48 hours and remain subject to availability.

Service animals are allowed, and most people can participate. The ship can hold a very large number of people, so this is not the right choice if you want a small, personal setting. It is better for someone who enjoys a planned, social evening with clear entertainment and a strong sense of occasion.

Who should book the Nova Five Star cruise

I would choose this cruise for:

• Couples celebrating an anniversary or birthday
• Families wanting a special dinner with a view
• Anyone who likes jazz, piano, vocal music, and a classic cruise atmosphere
• People who want to combine sunset, dinner, drinks, and fireworks in one booking
• Visitors willing to pay more for private-table service and a premium menu

I would think twice if you want a small boat, a quiet meal, a long uninterrupted jazz concert, or the lowest-cost way to see the sunset. You should also reconsider if motion sickness, warm interiors, or shipboard crowds are likely to spoil the evening.

Should you book it?

Book the Nova Five Star Sunset Dinner and Jazz cruise if you want a polished celebration and can accept the premium price. The lobster, tenderloin, private table, attentive service, live music, and Waikiki views create a memorable package, particularly on Friday when fireworks extend the night.

Skip it if your priority is value alone. A sunset is never guaranteed, the ship is large, the entertainment may be gentler than expected, and food quality can vary by course. For the best chance of feeling your money was well spent, choose Friday, request special arrangements early, consider upper-deck seating, and keep your expectations focused on the complete evening rather than dinner alone.

FAQ

Where does the Nova Five Star cruise begin?

The cruise begins at the Star of Honolulu at Aloha Tower Marketplace, 1 Aloha Tower Drive, Honolulu, Hawaii.

What time should I arrive?

Check-in begins at 4:45 p.m. onboard the Star of Honolulu. The cruise departs at 5:30 p.m.

How long does the cruise last?

The cruise lasts about two hours on most nights. Friday sailings last about three hours because of the added fireworks viewing time.

What food is included?

The five-course dinner includes a cheese and charcuterie board, Maine lobster and beet carpaccio salad, USDA Prime tenderloin with truffle mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables, seasonal sorbet, and a chef’s special dessert.

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 entertainment is provided?

The cruise includes live jazz entertainment. The program can feature piano, a singer, a host, and a saxophone player, followed by dancing in the Art Deco Super Nova Room.

What should I wear?

The dress code is casual, but short pants are not recommended.

Can I cancel for a refund?

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