When you peruse Blue Dolphin Charters website, you’ll spot a brazen promise: you’ll see dolphins on a morning adventure or another tour is “on us during your stay!” Adding to the bravado is that they’re the only NaPali charter tour company to offer this guarantee.
Before we dive into reviews of Blue Dolphin Charters, let’s take a better look at the company and what it offers. Blue Dolphin Charters is at the Port Allen Marina Center in Eleele, Kauai, specializing in NaPali and Niihau Coast tours. The family-owned business has selected the best captains and crew possible. All have training in CPR, are First Responders, certified SCUBA divers or instructors, and have years of experience navigating the Hawaiian waters.
Blue Dolphin Charters has two custom-built 65-foot catamarans: Blue Dolphin I and Blue Dolphin II. The twin hulls of the boat make for a smoother ride on open waters. No one can promise you won’t get seasick, but these catamarans will help. Both boats have upgraded engines that are environmentally friendly, quiet, and emit little odor. These new engines make for a more enjoyable boating experience for customers. The catamarans are spacious and come with freshwater showers and large bathrooms for men and women. The adventure tour uses a 25-foot rigid hull raft to get passengers close to dolphins, caves, and waterfalls.
Blue Dolphin Charters offer family snorkel packages, sunset dinner cruises, rafting, and dolphin and whale tours. Not all tours provide the promise of seeing dolphins. The tours that do will have the “Dolphin Guarantee” logo on the charter’s landing page. Blue Dolphin Charters also offers deep-sea fishing and scuba excursions.
Let’s explore a few of their charters.
Deluxe NaPali Snorkel
This family-friendly tour leaves in the morning and comes with the “Dolphin Guarantee.” The package includes tropical breakfast, deli-style lunch, snorkeling gear, wetsuit rentals, non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages. The 5.5-hour tour departs Port Allen Marina Center and hugs the NaPali. You will get to snorkel for one hour.
NaPali Coast Sunset Dinner
The 4-hour tour departs in the afternoon from the marina and does not come with the “Dolphin Guarantee.” The sunlight at this time of day on the rugged coast is magical. The crew will serve you a luau-style dinner complete with non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks. You’ll toast the sunset with a glass of champagne.
NaPali Coast Raft Adventure
This “Dolphin Guarantee” tour uses their 25-foot rigid hull raft and leaves the marina in the morning. During your 5-hour adventure, you’ll explore sea caves (weather permitting) and get close to dolphins. You’ll snorkel and see various marine life, including the Honu, the Hawaiian green sea turtle. The tour includes a dry bag, del-style lunch, snorkeling equipment, non-alcoholic beverages, wetsuit rental.
South Shore Sunset Cruise
Information on this 2-hour evening tour is tricky to find on their website. This tour is at the bottom of the “Napali Sunset Cruises” page. The South Shore Sunset Cruise is only available during the whale watching season of November-March. Included in the tour are appetizers, non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks.
Whether you choose a snorkeling tour, a dinner cruise, or the adventure tour on a raft, we believe you’ll have an incredible adventure with Blue Dolphin Charters.
Insider Tip:
You may bring your snorkeling gear, but you cannot use a full-face mask. If you’re prone to seasickness, try to book your tour when weather and water conditions are calmest.