Nova Five Star Sunset Dinner and Jazz

The best part of the Nova Five Star Sunset Dinner and Jazz cruise is the view from the water. As the Star of Honolulu moves along Oahu’s southern coast, you get a broad look at Diamond Head, Waikiki, and the changing sunset without fighting for a patch of beach. The private table, polished dining room, and smooth live music give the evening a special-occasion feel.

I like two things in particular: the five-course dinner with lobster and USDA Prime tenderloin, and the Friday-night schedule, which adds an hour for the Waikiki fireworks. The main consideration is price. At $236 per person, this is not simply a boat ride with dinner. You are paying for the setting, service, drinks, entertainment, and occasion, so it makes the most sense for an anniversary, birthday, or memorable final night in Honolulu.

Key points to know before booking

• Five courses at a private table: The meal includes Maine lobster, prime tenderloin, salad, sorbet, and a chef’s dessert.
• A sunset made for photographs: The boat gives you views toward Waikiki and Diamond Head from offshore.
• Friday adds fireworks: The cruise lasts about three hours on Fridays, allowing time for the weekly aerial show near Waikiki.
• Jazz is part of the atmosphere: Expect piano during dinner, with live singing and saxophone featured later in the evening.
• Two premium beverages are included: Additional drinks cost extra, so budget accordingly.
• The upper deck can matter: The premium section offers a more refined setting and better access to open views, though the ship can feel warm and a little dated in places.

Boarding at Aloha Tower for a 5:30 p.m. sailing

Your evening begins at Aloha Tower Marketplace, at 1 Aloha Tower Drive in Honolulu. Check-in is available onboard the Star of Honolulu from 4:45 p.m., and the vessel departs at 5:30 p.m. Give yourself enough time to reach the pier, park, and find the check-in area without turning a romantic dinner into a small race.

The activity ends back at the same pier. A mobile ticket is accepted, and confirmation is normally sent at booking. If you book within five days of the cruise, confirmation can take up to 48 hours and remains subject to availability.

The boat can accommodate a very large number of people, with a maximum listed capacity of 999. That does not mean your dinner table will feel like a cafeteria, since the Five Star arrangement gives you a private table and a more formal section of the ship. Still, this is a major dinner vessel, not a tiny sailboat with six seats.

Dress is listed as casual, but short pants are not recommended. I would choose a neat evening outfit and comfortable shoes. You will want something suitable for dinner, but also practical for stepping outside to watch the sunset.

The Star of Honolulu, part dinner room and part 1960s time capsule

The Star of Honolulu is a large dinner-cruise ship with several levels and dining areas. The Five Star experience uses a more polished section, and the upper deck is especially appealing if you care about views and atmosphere.

The ship has a 1960s-inspired Art Deco feel. That gives the evening a little personality instead of making it feel like a generic hotel banquet. The design is part of the fun, although the vessel is not brand-new. One account also found the air conditioning insufficient, while another found the upper floor comfortable. Conditions may vary by seating area and weather.

The ship moves steadily along the southern coast, but it can rock. If you are prone to seasickness, bring medication before departure rather than waiting for trouble to arrive with the salad course. Rain can also change the mood quickly. On a wet evening, the sunset may disappear and outdoor viewing may become limited, though the dinner and entertainment continue when conditions allow.

The sunset route from Diamond Head to Waikiki

The cruise’s main visual attraction is the view from offshore. From the water, Honolulu looks different than it does from a hotel balcony or city street. Diamond Head forms a strong landmark, while Waikiki’s shoreline stretches across the distance with the city rising behind it.

The timing is designed to put you on the water as the sun begins to drop over Oahu’s southern coast. A clear evening can give you the colorful sky and glowing shoreline people hope for when they book a sunset cruise. Clouds and rain are the wild cards. The boat cannot arrange the weather, so a sunset cruise always carries that small gamble.

I would not stay seated for the entire meal. Use the outdoor areas when the view opens up, then return to your table while the next course arrives. The best photographs often come just before and just after sunset, when the sky still has color and Honolulu’s lights begin to show.

The view is good from several parts of the ship, but the premium upper deck may be worth considering if scenery is your priority. One caution: a higher-priced seating area does not guarantee clear weather or a perfect sunset. You are buying a better setting and position, not control over the clouds.

A five-course menu built around lobster and beef

Dinner begins with a cheese and charcuterie board served at your table. This gives you something to enjoy soon after sitting down and fits the evening’s more polished tone.

The next course is a Maine lobster and beet carpaccio salad. It includes locally grown vegetables, fennel, goat cheese pearls, and a champagne-chive vinaigrette. This is a composed plate rather than a simple bowl of greens, with several distinct flavors and textures.

The featured main course combines Maine lobster with USDA Prime tenderloin of beef. The beef comes with truffle mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables. The lobster is served tableside, which adds a small bit of ceremony to the meal and helps separate this package from a standard buffet cruise.

Food quality is one of the strongest reasons to consider this experience, but expectations should remain sensible. The kitchen is serving a full boat on a schedule, not preparing a tasting menu for one table at a time. Many diners find the beef tender and the meal well timed, while one account found the mashed potatoes too processed and heavy on truffle flavor. Another wished for a larger portion of lobster.

The final courses are seasonal fruit sorbet and a chef’s special dessert served with freshly baked brioche and butter. The supplied menu does not promise one fixed dessert, so the ending can vary. A few accounts describe cheesecake, while the listed menu names sorbet and a chef’s dessert.

The meal generally arrives in planned increments, which is important on a three-hour cruise. You are not left waiting between every course, but you also are not rushed through the entire dinner. Service can be excellent, though the experience may depend on your individual server. If your table needs water, coffee, or an explanation of the next course, ask promptly rather than waiting.

Champagne and premium drinks included in the fare

The package includes a champagne toast and two super-premium beverages. That adds real value to the $236 price, especially if you were already planning to order drinks during an anniversary or birthday dinner.

Additional beverages are not included. The comfortable lounge offers a selection of premium drinks, but every extra cocktail, glass of wine, or other beverage increases the final cost. I would treat the included drinks as part of the package and decide in advance how much more you want to spend.

A welcome toast also helps set the tone. This is meant to feel like an evening out, not just dinner served while a boat happens to move. If you prefer a quiet meal without a set program, the drinks and entertainment may feel like more than you need.

Live jazz, piano, singing, and the Art Deco Super Nova Room

Jazz is woven into the dinner rather than saved entirely for the end. Piano music accompanies the meal, with the entertainment later adding a singer and saxophone player. The live performers are repeatedly praised for adding warmth and polish to the evening.

The exact timing matters. Some accounts describe the main jazz portion as concentrated during the final half-hour while the boat was returning. If you are booking specifically for a long jazz concert, this may not meet your hopes. If you want music that supports dinner and then becomes more prominent later, the arrangement works better.

After dinner, you can move toward the Art Deco Super Nova Room, where dancing and live entertainment continue. The program leans toward smooth jazz and classic lounge music. One person wished for more Hawaiian songs, while another preferred a less active, more refined program than the cheaper cruise on the same ship.

That comparison is useful. The Five Star experience is designed for elegance and conversation. It is not necessarily the best choice if you want a loud, high-energy show with constant audience participation. You are choosing a calm dinner setting with polished entertainment.

Friday fireworks add a useful bonus

Friday is the smartest night to book if your schedule allows it. The cruise runs for about three hours instead of two, giving you time to watch the weekly aerial fireworks show near Waikiki.

The fireworks are an extra visual layer, not the whole reason to pay for the package. A strong Friday evening can combine sunset, dinner, jazz, Honolulu lights, and fireworks in one outing. That makes the price easier to justify for an anniversary or birthday.

Fireworks timing and weather still matter. You should not book Friday solely on the assumption that every view will be perfect. But when the sky cooperates, this is the clearest advantage of the longer sailing.

What $236 per person really buys you

At $236 per person, the Nova Five Star cruise is expensive for a dinner. The value comes from combining several costs and activities into one scheduled evening: a private table, five courses, lobster and prime beef, a champagne toast, two premium drinks, a sunset cruise, live jazz, and, on Fridays, fireworks.

I would not book it if your main goal is simply to eat good seafood. Honolulu has other ways to do that, often with more control over the menu and bill. I would also hesitate if you dislike organized entertainment, large ships, or fixed dining schedules.

The price becomes easier to understand when the occasion matters. You are paying for the view and the sense of ceremony, not only the food. A couple celebrating a milestone may value the private table and service more than a family looking for a casual night out.

Parking is another cost to check before you go. One account put parking at $27 rather than the expected $1 per hour, so confirm the current pier rate and add it to your budget. Photos may also cost extra. Several people felt souvenir photos should have been included, so do not assume they are part of the ticket.

Who should book the Five Star dinner cruise

I think this experience suits:

• Couples celebrating an anniversary or birthday
• Families looking for a special evening with a broad Honolulu view
• Visitors who want dinner, music, and sunset in one planned event
• People who appreciate table service and a more formal setting
• Anyone able to book Friday and interested in adding fireworks

It may not suit you if you want a small, quiet boat, a long concert, a completely casual meal, or the cheapest way to watch the sunset. The regular ship can feel warm in some areas, and the boat is large enough that the evening has a programmed, event-style quality.

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. Special requests should be made by calling the provider at least 72 hours ahead. That is especially important for celebrations or dietary needs, since last-minute changes may not be possible.

My call: book it for the occasion, not just the dinner

I would book the Nova Five Star Sunset Dinner and Jazz cruise for a milestone evening, preferably on a Friday and with an upper-deck package if the view is central to your plans. The combination of sunset, lobster, beef, private seating, live music, and fireworks can turn one night in Honolulu into a clear memory.

I would skip it if $236 feels uncomfortable, since the value depends heavily on atmosphere and weather. The food is generally well received, but portions and individual service may not satisfy everyone at this price. You should also prepare for a large ship, possible rocking, extra drink and photo costs, and a jazz program that may be shorter than expected.

The cancellation policy allows a full refund when you cancel at least 24 hours ahead. That gives you some flexibility, but I would still check the forecast and confirm special requests early. For the right occasion, this is a polished, scenic night out. For an ordinary dinner, it is probably more cruise than you need.

FAQ

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

It departs from the Star of Honolulu at Aloha Tower Marketplace, 1 Aloha Tower Drive, Honolulu, Hawaii. The cruise ends at the same meeting point.

What time should I arrive?

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

How long does the cruise last?

The sunset dinner cruise lasts about two hours on most nights. Friday sailings last about three hours so you can watch the weekly aerial fireworks show.

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 with freshly baked brioche and butter.

Are drinks included?

The package includes a champagne toast and two super-premium beverages. Additional beverages cost extra.

What should I wear?

Dress is casual, but short pants are not recommended. A neat outfit suitable for dinner is the safest choice.

Can I cancel for a refund?

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