This was definitely a great small group activity which was perfect for us due to my significant other's disabilities! I researched other snorkel activities and most had groups of 35 or more, so 19 is about as good as it gets without paying someone for a private snorkel tour! I wish there would have been a water lounger for him to use to get him into the water, but he enjoyed his conversation on the boat with the Captain which still gave me the opportunity to snorkel. The 3 women crew were confident and capable from the Captain to her first mates! We motored out to Shark's Cove, and saw a huge pod of spinner dolphins on the way! Once the anchor was dropped, we snorkeled where we saw plenty of coral, fish, and two sea turtles! We loaded back onto the Cat for lunch with drinks and a sail back to the dock with our 3 women crew really showing their skills by unfurling the sails! They were well organized from having sandwiches nicely displayed after the snorkel to the shoes being displayed on dock after the excursion! They had every detail well thought out and planned which kept things running smoothly! Be sure to use the restrooms at the dock before boarding; otherwise, you're contributing to the toxins in the sea during the snorkel! ‍ read more

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My wife and I had a fantastic whale watching experience with Taylor and Brewski, and I highly recommend checking them out if you're looking for a crew with a deep knowledgeable of the local whale pods. The catamaran is the way to see the whales (IMHO) because you sit on an unobstructed mesh net between the hulls or on the hulls, and can see everything without any blockages. Our trip was about 2 hours with another couple on the boat. When we were about 10 minutes into the voyage, we spotted the first whale pod of a baby whale, the mom and another adult. It was magical to get so close to them (100 yards by law), hear them blow the water and flop around in the ocean. Taylor and Brewski couldn't have been nicer locals and great hosts on the boat. Highly recommend! read more

My friends and I had the best experience watching whales ! I practically sat on every corner of the boat and appreciated the freedom and comfort of laying on the net and sitting up at higher parts of the boat to spot the whales We went mid-day and saw about 10 whales. Ya never know what you'll get but we were BLESSED by a close up experience with a Mama and her curious Calf. Perfect birthday expedition, thank you Captain and first mate Lauren! read more

North Shore Catamaran Charters - Boating Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

One of the absolute best Whale Watching experiences of my life!! Taylor and Captain Bruski were incredible! Very knowledgeable, and took us to a spot where we just stopped, and the whales and dolphins came up to us! Incredible experience having a calf and 2 adults sit right under the boat for more than a few minutes!! Highly recommend going out with North Shore Catamaran! read more

Once in a lifetime experience! The captain and crew member were knowledgeable and respectful of the animals. We happened upon the perfect day. Calm waters and a dolphin pod dancing with the whales! Fun boat experience. Magical creatures! read more

Amazing time. Brewski and Taylor were fantastic hosts. We had a great time seeing dolphins, whales, and even some flying fish! Thank you for the great experience and the friendly conversation! read more

Captain Mark was amazing! so much fun and personable! I loved the experience and so did my family. Taylor and Mel were also awesome, even though it was raining the cruise and snorkeling was accommodating and a real neat experience. read more

Seamless transaction through Groupon to booking even as a last minute plan. The captain and first mate were extremely friendly and funny and were happy to help in any way. Madison, the first mate, was very helpful offering to get whatever we needed and take pics and videos. We got to see and follow a pod of spinner dolphins and the sunset was beautiful!! Have done an experience in town prior and this one killed it with location on a quiet north shore afternoon! Would 100% book for my family of 4 again. Many mahalos to the crew for an epic time. read more

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Taylor and Bruski were awesome! They were knowledgeable, professional, and patient. I'd definitely go again with North Shore Catamaran Charters!!! read more

We saw whales!! Lots of whales. Mother and child. Groups of whales jumping out of the ocean. It was more than I expected. The crew was professional, entertaining, and educational. The boat left on time and returned on time. I was very happy read more

Our sunset cruise was amazing!! Uncle mark & taylor showed great hospitality and made it a sail to remember. They had coolers on board that we could fill with our drinks, and they also provided juice inside! They had a jug of water as well. We had a lot of fun and definitely hope to go again read more

North Shore Catamaran Charters - Boating Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

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We loved our snorkeling catamaran tour with North Shore Catamaran Charters! The boat was clean, comfortable and comfortable even had a small portapotty. People were so so nice. Guided our snorkeling experience and created a chill and joyous vibe. We 100% recommend this group and hope you sign up for a trip with them!!! read more

Captain Mark and crew are no ka oi! Luana the biologist from Brazil is an excellent guide, very knowledgeable and so sweet. Taylor, crew-member, is awesome, makes everyone feel comfortable and so friendly. I will always highly recommend this business to all my friends, coworkers, and visitors. Such a great crew. Mahalo nui loa! Only recommendation would be if you are gonna play music on the boat, to play local music, like Jawaiian style kine and Sean Na'auao, Bruddah IZ, Ka'ikena Scanlan, J Boog, The Green, Gabby Pahunui. John Cruz, Landon McNamara, Jack Johnson etc...that would elevate the experience, but not play it loud. read more

Really lovely trip both times that I've used North Shore catamarans! Gorgeous views and smooth sailing but most importantly- great vibes and service. Captain Mark is a really awesome man and knowledgeable captain. He gave us such chill and beautiful catamaran rides that we came back a second time, and we are bringing our next visitors also. Rachel, his first mate on our latest sail was so sweet and kind and welcoming. We love going up to the North shore for a chill catamaran ride away from the hustle and bustle of town. Thanks so much Captain Mark and Rachel! read more

North Shore Catamaran Charters - Sunset sail - Boating Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

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This trip was extremely disappointing. I will keep it brief but here are the positives and negatives: Positive - Clarissa (Crew Member) - Fairly knowledgable about the whales Negative - The Captain - Where do I start. He lit up a cigarette (right around all of us) and denigrated our home city He then went on to tell us that his son is a retired pot grower living "off of the grid" in Idaho. He proceeded to tell us all that he wished that he had gone into this business with his son because he would have more money and would not have to be there with us. - Fast forward to the Catamaran. The crew had about a 15 minute window of interest in finding the humpbacks. After we saw a couple (very far away) the crew decided that it would be a great idea to head out towards them...at about 2mph. Needles to say, we never saw those again. If fact, we basically saw nothing more for the entire duration of the experience. The crew essentially quit looking for whales. They talked amongst themselves while the customers had to scan and yell out when they saw whales. Most of the time, we were ignored, and in one instance, they literally headed back towards the shore, away from where we were seeing whales in the distance. - All of this occurred while they were BLASTING music in all of our ears. A trip that should be all about nature and the animals turned into a disco of 70's music, 80's music and scores from every movie imaginable. We were excited to hear nature but were pounded with Gillian's Island, Christoper Cross and Jurassic Park. Oh, I forgot to mentioned "The Love Boat" theme. Wait...we also felt like we were in North Jersey as we were blessed with "Woke up this Morning". The Sopranos is the greatest show of all time, don't get me wrong. It just does not go well with trying to find a majestic Humpback and her calf. So, we paid $190 ($95 each) to have cigarette smoke blown on everyone, see (virtually) no whales and have a random assortment of music ruin the sound of the ocean. Please...find another charter. Literally anything else. read more

Brewsky and Dorian (hope I spelled it right) had the best vibes for the sunset cruise! Super outgoing, lively, and informative. Made the boat ride super enjoyable. Also provided some good local recs. Would def book again!!! Mahalo read more

The crew of this boat were fantastic! Captain Zack, Taylor, Madison and Quinn were all very helpful and accommodating especially with our kids (both under 10). Very chill relaxed atmosphere while also being very safe. read more

Awesome catamaran! Mark the captain and Taylor the crew were great! They were very informative about the whales. We had a beautiful day and saw a lot of of Whales. Mark has so much sailing experience that we felt very comfortable on the boat. read more

Captain Mark, Clarrissa, and Marcela made my family and I feel at home. Thank you for all that you do. It was a pleasure to see the amazing ocean with you 3. The best day ever! read more

North Shore Catamaran Charters - Dolphins - Boating Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

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Don't miss this spectacular experience. Thoroughly enjoyed sunset, the small group (only 7 of us), and the friendly and insightful captain and crew. HIGHLY RECOMMEND! read more

North Shore Catamaran Charters - Magnificent sunset! - Boating Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

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the charter was phenomena. the captain was knowledgeable and knew what he was doing. Rachel was awesome and did a great job pointing out dolphin, sea turtle, spotted eagle manta rays and all the different reef fish. it was a small tour and we almost had the boat to ourselves. such an amazing adventure. read more

It's so much more relaxing on the North Shore than in Honolulu. Less crowds, cleaner water, less stress. Our family of five shared this boat with another small family of four. Plus three crew, so it was a wonderfully private outing. We slowed to follow a pod of about 35 dolphins on the way out. Then smooth snorkeling just outside Shark's Cove where we spotted turtles. Sandwiches were provided for the smooth sail home. Overall, a really top notch day with a great crew. I'll definitely come back. read more

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While we were waiting to start our trip, the "captain" (I think Mark) started smoking right next to my wife and 6 month old baby. My sister in law kindly asked him to move because of the baby breastfeeding nearby. He gave her attitude and was quite unaccommodating. I couldn't believe this and I've never had this kind of treatment anywhere. He showed no enthusiasm about the trip either. It was a blessing in disguise; I left and found a much better company. He said afterward, sarcastically, "hope you enjoy Hawaii!" read more

Wonderful experience doing the whale-watching charter with Taylor and Captain Mark! They made sure that my family was safe and well cared for, even as we hit some rough seas in the first half of the excursion. My sister dropped her apple watch in the bay and Taylor actually dove down (maybe 30+ feet?) to retrieve it! Taylor then spotted some whales so Captain did an excellent job at navigating us towards the family of whale so we could watch them breach without a great view. Overall, a wonderful experience. read more

My daughter and I did the sunset cruise. it was a mix of exciting fun and pure relaxation. Captain Mark had a wonderful sense of humor and chose some fun and relaxing music during the cruise. Taylor was attentive and super kind to all of the guests. Soft drinks and water were available at no charge. If you are in the front of the catamaran or on the net you will get wet. I look forward to doing it again when I return. read more

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We did the sunset cruise with our friends and kids last summer. Not knowing how the younger kids would do, we brought iPads to entertain, but they had the BEST time and did not even touch them!!! We brought snacks and drinks on board. The carefully thought out music was great!! We even caught a full double rainbow during the sunset. It was a beautiful ride and Captain Mark and his helper were nothing short of amazing!! Definitely would recommend!! read more

North Shore Catamaran Charters - Boating Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

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I did a birthday booze cruise with my family and friends . From start to finish was simply amazing. The captain was awesome and his partner ! The view the ride everything . Had a big cooler to put our drinks and they had complementary drinks . 10/10. Would definitely recommend it ! read more

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Our family did a sunset cruise...we had a fantastic time! Some snorkeled some did not but we all saw some dolphins and turtles! Buffet was really excellent and plentiful and the crew was top notch! read more

A most righteous experience for this landlubber! I am surprised at some of the other reviews I have seen when my experience was top-notch. The captain was funny, the crew was super helpful, and if you missed those whale pics, there was a pro photographer onboard who did catch them. Yes, that is a separate charge, and no, it's not unreasonable. I've worked as a photographer before myself, and it can be difficult enough on steady ground, much less on a heaving deck! LOL We didn't see that many whales, but that's just the way things go. I doubt the marine creatures are in collusion with the Hawaiian tourist industry, - though it would be helpful! :-D The experience of being out on the open water on a catamaran was fantastic for this Yelper; watching those great swells develop right in front of you and being lifted up on them was something indeed! Good thing I was wearing a patch, something I would recommend for any newcomer to the sea - yar!! (not implying that I am a salty Swedish seadog, out there from the salty seas...you know) If ever I find myself in need of another open ocean fun cruise, I'll be using North Shore Catamaran Charters! Mahalo! read more

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My family and I chartered a private sunset sail to celebrate our mother's life. The crew was incredible--kind and with great tunes and fascinating stories to share--and we saw sea turtles and a dramatic rainbow straight out the gates. We sipped wine, shared memories, and scattered my mom's ashes at sunset. We were honored to receive aumakua (Hawaiian spirit animal medicine) by way of a nearby whale pod with spouts galore. SO SO SO special and the most magical experience for all of us. Thank you! read more

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Booked the sunset cruise for my birthday weeks in advance. Got a call 2 hours before we were supposed to leave that our tour was being canceled due to not having enough people on it. I understand if there is unpredictable weather but to just cancel because they aren't taking enough people/not making enough money is ridiculous. That is not our fault. Told Gina over the phone we booked this well in advance for my birthday and we made all our plans around this and they didn't care! All because they wanted us to book 2 more spots for $150 to make the trip worth it for them. Do not recommend to anyone. Book another sailing place in the area that won't cancel on you. Such a bummer as we were so looking forward to it our whole trip. read more

I wanted to be mad at this place for us leaving late for our sunset cruise but the experience we had with them for the price we paid was amazing. The crew was so incredibly nice offering to take our pictures and complimenting everyone. The boat is awesome. It has a big net stretched across the front to layout on (might get wet but welcome to Hawaii)! Loved our experience with them saw whales and a gorgeous sunset. This is my new number-one thing to do while visiting Hawaii! read more

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North Shore Catamaran Captain Mark and his crew are phenomenal. We have done the sunset cruise multiple times and each time is perfect. From start to finish they work really hard to make sure everyone is having a good time. I can not express how much fun and professional North Shore Catamaran Charters are read more

North Shore Catamaran Charters - Boating Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

I booked a 2 hour Sunset Cruise for my husband and I on 6/6/21 and it was great. The vibe was good and the views were gorgeous despite the weather being a little cloudy ans drizzly here and there. The music was fun and there were complimentary non-alcoholic beverages. We forgot to take some Dramamine before the cruise, so halfway through we felt sick but luckily didn't actually get sick. Since the sunset was obstructed by clouds at the end, the boat returned to the harbor maybe 15 minutes earlier than planned and we were grateful because we avoided actually getting sick. Would totally book this again, but remember the Dramamine next time. Also, we didn't see dolphins during our time there but it was still gorgeous and we saw cool Hawaiian flying fish! read more

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Great crew and snorkeling adventure. Our family highly recommends North Shore Catamaran. read more

North Shore Catamaran Charters - Boating Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

This was one of the best evenings! The crew was charming and helpful. The ride was a mix of smooth sailing, enjoying the setting sun, and some good tales from the crew. After a stressful day of dealing with traffic and crowds in Haleiwa, this was just the right antidote. A fine end to a day on the north shore. We took lots of pictures. And surprisingly, the soundtrack was inspired. It was a perfect mix of oldies, sailing tunes, and some surprises. It set just the right mood. HIGHLY RECOMMEND! read more

I would not recommend this tour. The guides were not interesting or funny like other tours I've been on. Also, the snorkeling spot was right near the beach by the boat dock. You can honestly do it yourself. This is also not for experienced snorkeler. Be prepared to wait for all the kids to get in the water and stay as a group. No alcoholic drinks and it's Disney music. Other tours are honestly better! read more

Finally getting around to writing my vacation reviews. Capitan and Sky were so great! Our girls had the best time! The sunset was gorgeous and our overall experience was a truly memorable one. Capitan's playlist was also a hit! #selenaforever read more

North Shore Catamaran Charters - Oahu Sunset - Boating Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

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This was such a fun trip to take!! My husbands sister and her family were visiting over the holidays and last night was their last night with us so as a final send off we all took this sail. Captain Mark was funny, welcoming and taught the kids a lot about the ocean, ocean life and sailing, his two crew mates Sky and Mariella were amazing with our children, they danced and sang with them, and our kids had the best time. We relaxed and enjoyed the beautiful ocean and a serene sunset. We didn't see any whales but this trip and it's crew gave us a lifetime memory!! Thank you so much Captain Mark and crew for giving us such a great tour!! We will be back read more

North Shore Catamaran Charters - Kids enjoying the tour - Boating Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!! The Whale Watching tour was insane. We got lucky and ended up seeing quite a few whales. The crew said I could put it in the review since it's not advertised BUT it is BYOB. We will definitely be going again for their sunset cruise sometime soon. read more

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