Where to Book: The 7 Best Luxury Catamaran Cruises in the USA

1.Deluxe Snorkel & Dolphin Watch Aboard a Luxury Catamaran from Kailua-Kona

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 797 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $183Our pick

Set out from Kailua Pier aboard Body Glove’s accessible catamaran for a 4.5-hour Kona adventure. Watch for dolphins and seasonal whales, snorkel at Red Hill for about two hours, then enjoy breakfast, a barbecue lunch, slides, a high-jump platform, paddleboards, and shaded seating. Captain Erica and crew members Adam, Brianna, and Taylor have all been singled out for warm, attentive service.

“It was exactly what I expected. The crew were knowledgeable and organized. The snorkeling was fun, with plenty of time to go out several times. The food was good.”

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2.Luxury Catamaran Cruise from Oahu

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 682 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

Sail from Kewalo Basin aboard Makani Catamaran for about two hours along Oahu’s coast. Choose an afternoon or sunset departure, watch for dolphins, turtles, and seasonal whales, and enjoy Waikiki views from the water. Sunset trips include an island-style buffet and one complimentary drink, with hotel pickup available for a fee.

“We enjoyed the cruise very much. We were lucky enough to be entertained by whales jumping out of the water near by. That was exciting. The captain and crew were very personable. Met nice people aboard from Canada. Food and drinks were very good. Fireworks were good. A very pleasant evening on the ocean.”

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3.Newport Beach: Luxury Whale Watching Catamaran Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 194 reviews · 2h 30m · from $58Best value

Join Newport Landing Cruises for a 150-minute whale watching trip from Balboa Pavilion. You will ride a 50-foot catamaran with a full walk-around deck, listen to English-speaking naturalist guides, and watch for blue, humpback, fin, and minke whales, dolphins, and sea lions. Captains such as Kayla, Larry, Dani, and Chris have helped make sightings especially memorable.

“Saw more dolphins than I could ever imagine. They came right up to the boat and swam near us the whole time. Amazing experience”

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4.Luxury Catamaran Sunset and Wine Cruise from Dana Point

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 44 reviews · from $59

Spend 90 minutes aboard Dana Wharf’s 63-foot Ocean Adventures catamaran, cruising Dana Point Harbor with four organic wine tastes, cheese, crackers, dried fruit, and nuts. Live music, harbor lights, and hosts such as Captain Steve and Michele add to the evening. This is a calm harbor cruise, not a whale-watching trip.

“Sunset was great. Wine not so great. Musician was outstanding. Thought the value for the price was good.”

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5.Kona Luxury Catamaran Yacht Snorkel & Sail

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 40 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $449

Set out from Honokohau Harbor on Hawaii Nautical’s No Wiki catamaran for a four-hour Kona Coast cruise. With room for only six, you can snorkel at places such as Pawai Bay or Makalawena, then enjoy lunch, drinks, shaded seating, showers, and restrooms. Crew members may include Captain John, Brooke, Michael, or Nicole.

“Beautiful boat, excellent snorkeling, and lovely sail, delicious lunch and all the drinks one wanted, plus outstanding service from Captain John and First Mate Shawn. Only four guests aboard. Six is the maximum. Truly luxurious. My wife and I highly recommend this tour, especially if you want to go first class. Nothing else like it on the Big Island.”

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6.Luxury Catamaran Private Tour Baltimore Harbor

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 22 reviews · from $107

Join Captain Shane and S & S Charters aboard Lady Tiffany, a 38-foot private sailing catamaran from Lighthouse Point Marina. During this two-hour cruise, you will see Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, the National Aquarium, Fells Point, and a national monument. The boat has roomy seating, restrooms, a kitchen, Bluetooth music, and space for private celebrations.

“Captain Shane was a pleasure and the trip was amazing!! I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a fun afternoon or evening on the water! The captain and crew were fantastic!”

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7.Big Island: Luxury Catamaran Trip along the Kona Coast

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · 4 hours · from $449

Spend four hours aboard No Wiki, a 51-foot Lagoon sailing catamaran, with captain Kirk, Liz, or another English-speaking crew member. Cruise Kona’s lava coast, snorkel at two sites selected for ocean conditions, and look for spinner dolphins, turtles, tropical fish, and seasonal whales. Lunch, gear, drinks, shade, and restrooms are included.

“Great fun! Great boat and crew. They really took care of us.”

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