Lahaina Cruise Company
The Lahaina Cruise Company is based out of Lahaina, and has four boats, the Maui Princess, the Molokai Princess, the Island Princess and Kaulana. According to the guide book, Maui Revealed, the Maui Princess is a 118 foot boat, used mostly for dinner cruises along Lahaina Harbor. The dinner cruise has live music and the company claims that it is Maui's largest "floating dance floor." In addition, the Maui Princess also does regular trips to the nearby island of Molokai as part of a boat/drive vacation. If you would prefer to go on a snorkel cruise, consider taking the Kaulana which takes guests to some of the best reefs for snorkeling in West Maui. Included in the cruise are snorkel equipment, flotation devices, a barbecue lunch and also a waterslide. Island Princes meanwhile takes visitors to two snorkel locations, nearby Olowalu and also Molokini Crater, both of which have excellent snorkeling and are a great place to look for turtles. During whale watching season (between December and April) Lahaina Cruise Company also offers whale watching cruises.
Lahaina Cruise Company
1036 Limahana Pl # 3E
Lahaina, Hawaii 96761-1592
(808) 661-8397
mauiprincess.com
Pacific Whale Foundation
Another popular company in Maui is the Pacific Whale Foundation. Between December and May the non-profit organization offers whale watching cruises leaving from Lahaina. These tours have onboard naturalist who can offer a wealth of information on humpback whale behavior. They will even stop and drop a hydrophone so that you can listen to the male humpback whales singing. In addition to their whale watching cruises, year round the company offers dolphin watching and snorkel tours which go to nearby Lanai; one of the best places to look for dolphins in Maui County. The company also offers sunset dinner cruises around Lahaina, and if you happen to be visiting during the full-moon, consider going on one of their star gazing tours where you get to listen to whale song and learn about the night sky.
Pacific Whale Foundation
Lahaina Harbor Slip 10
Lahaina, Hawaii 96761
(808) 661-3291
pacificwhale.org
Princess Cruises
If you would rather take an actual cruise to the Hawaiian Islands, there are numerous companies that offer such cruises, beginning in Los Angeles and even from Honolulu. Princess Cruises offers several different cruise options that take you to Lahaina. However, most of these cruises will only allow you one day to take in the small town of Lahaina. Even so, they do offer numerous shore excursions, such as trips up to Haleakala Crater, Iao Valley or a walking tour of historic Lahaina.
Princess Cruises
24844 Avenue Rockefeller
Santa Clarita, California 91355
(800) 774-6237
princess.com
