We stayed in Ka’anapali over Christmas and booked two different excursions with Sea Maui for our family (2 in our 50s and 5 in their 20s). We initially chose Sea Maui because of their close proximity to our hotel and their fantastic reviews. We were not disappointed – this was a top notch experience with professional and engaging crew.
Reservations were easy to make online and confirmation and reminder emails were timely. Having everyone sign the online waiver ahead of time made the check-in process a breeze. They do need to update their confirmation email for the Sunset Sail though – it says “This sail will take place on our new vessel which is currently awaiting it's liquor license. All sails will be BYOB until further notice”. After confirming this is not the case and assuring us our 20-somethings will be quite pleased with the liquor selections, we were set to go.
We took the 8:30 AM West Maui Half-Day Snorkel & Whale Watch on the first full day of our vacation. With the time change it was easy to get everyone up and over to the check-in point at Whaler’s Village. While most guests headed to the bench seating, our family boarded and took over one of the trampoline sides at the front of the catamaran which was outfitted with comfy bean bags. What a great choice that proved to be! We had excellent views of the many whales and dolphins we spotted throughout the trip. Shortly after departure, coffee & juice orders were taken and delivered, followed by a surprisingly fabulous boxed breakfast from Joey’s Kitchen. Eggs, bacon, sausage and rice, flawlessly prepared! We sailed a bit, saw several whales, then anchored in the snorkel spot. Everyone was given well-fitted gear, told where the best viewing of sea life would be, and was offered any other assistance. We saw several turtles and schools of fish, and although the snorkeling wasn’t the best we’ve experienced, the water was clear and the fish plentiful.
Upon return to the catamaran, the bar was open, and a spread of delicious food was put out, again, from Joey’s Kitchen. The BBQ chicken was a favorite, the Maui beers chilled, and the Mai Tai’s mixed perfectly! On the sail back to Ka’anapali, we were fortunate to join a large pod of spinner dolphins who playfully entertained us and added an exclamation point to an already wonderful morning.
Three days later, we all boarded the newly refurbished Sea Maui III for its maiden voyage. We had booked the Premium Sunset Sail with Dinner and after the experience we had on the snorkel trip, everyone was excited to venture out with Sea Maui again. This vessel was bigger than the snorkel one and had tables with cup holders to accompany the bench seats. Everything on board was in pristine condition! For some reason, there was only one other family on this sail, so we felt like we had the boat to ourselves. Most of our group stretched out on the large trampoline area again outfitted with comfy bean bags. Drinks were served (and served!) and a huge spread of food was set out below deck complete with chicken, ribs, fish, veggies, salads, rice, etc! And it was delicious – perfectly prepared and enjoyed by all. All this combined with a gorgeous sunset and a mama humpback whale teaching her newborn calf the tricks of the sea made for a very memorable excursion. We all highly recommend Sea Maui and its delightful crew to make your Maui vacation unforgettable!