Quicksilver Sunset Dinner Cruise Maui: 3-Course Meal from Ma'alaea Harbor

Quicksilver Charters

From Ma'alaea: Sunset Dinner Cruise Aboard the Quicksilver

★ 4.5 (226) · from $140

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Prices and timetables checked 2026-10-17. This page contains affiliate links: I earn a commission on bookings, at no extra cost to you.

The Quicksilver sunset dinner cruise is a two-hour evening trip on a double-deck catamaran that serves a three-course meal and two drinks while the boat runs along the South Maui coast. It is $10 cheaper than the Calypso boat that docks next to it, with the same menu on the operator's own pages.

The detail that changes the decision is where you stand at check-in. This listing sits under a Lahaina web address and the operator's page title also says Lahaina, but the boat leaves Ma'alaea Harbor in South Maui, and guests check in at a shop, not at the slip. A reviewer wrote that the meeting-point instructions on the booking site were wrong and nearly missed the boat.

For the wider picture, see my Maui dinner cruises and sunset cruise pages, the boat tours in Maui hub, or the Harbour Advisor home page.

What is the Quicksilver sunset dinner cruise from Ma'alaea?

It is a table-service dinner on the water, planned around the west-facing end of the day. The crew brings drinks and plates to your table, and you can sit in the cabin or on the upper deck.

Quicksilver Charters runs it daily and shares its dock, its phone line and its menu with the Calypso boat. The operator says the tables have generous spacing for a more private feel, and the listing lists live island-style music on most nights.

• 3 courses: a Caesar salad, a main course of your choice and dessert.
• 2 alcoholic drinks, then $5 each, with unlimited soda, juice and water.
• Two seating zones: a cabin and an upper deck.
• Dolphins and whales appear in reviews, depending on the season.

Where do you check in for the Quicksilver sunset dinner cruise?

You check in at Boss Frog's Snorkel, Bike and Beach Rentals, shop 2N in Building 2 at 300 Ma'alaea Road, Wailuku. A Quicksilver crew member waits at a table outside the store, and check-in closes 30 minutes before departure.

Parking is required at the Maui Harbor Shops lot at the same address, and you then walk to the boat slip, which the operator puts at 10 to 15 minutes. The operator names the same lot as the Maui Ocean Center's address on Ma'alaea Road.

Start point: Boss Frog's Snorkel, Bike & Beach Rentals, 300 Maalaea Rd, Wailuku, HI 96793. The boat dock: Ma'alaea Harbor Slip 76, 101 Maalaea Rd, Wailuku, HI 96793.

What is the route, stop by stop?

The route is a coastal run in Ma'alaea Bay and along the South Maui shoreline, and the only named stop is the bay. The boat does not land, and the captain picks the viewing spot for the sunset.

How long is it and when does it sail?

The cruise lasts 2 hours and runs daily, leaving at 5:00 PM from 15 October to 14 April and 5:30 PM from 15 April to 14 October. Add the 30-minute check-in and the walk, and your evening starts 45 to 60 minutes before the boat moves.

The table below puts the departure against the sunset on the 15th of each month, which shows how much daylight is left when dinner is served.

November and December are the tightest months: the sun sets 46 to 49 minutes after you leave, so dessert is eaten in the dark. In June and July it sets about 100 minutes in, which gives the best light. September is a middle case at 60 minutes.

The operator says the cruise runs in most weather and asks guests to dress for it. It needs 24 hours' notice for a change, while the booking site allows free cancellation up to 2 days ahead, so follow the stricter rule on your confirmation.

What is on board and what is included?

The ticket covers a three-course meal, 2 alcoholic drinks and unlimited soft drinks, and the cabin protects you from wind. The operator also sells extra drinks at $5, Dramamine at 2 for $5 and T-shirts at $20.

For the main course you choose between roasted prime rib, fresh island fish with a lemon-butter caper sauce, smoked baby back ribs, a barbecue chicken combination or a vegetarian penne. Every plate comes with rice and sauteed vegetables, and dessert is a chocolate cake or a cheesecake.

• Included: the meal, 2 drinks, soda, juice and water, music on most nights.
• Dietary needs: state vegetarian or gluten-free requests when you book.
• Children: one child aged 0 to 3 per paying adult is free without a meal; a child ticket adds one.
• Bring: a camera, a light jacket, sunscreen and photo ID for drinking.

• Not included: tips, parking and hotel transfers.
• Not allowed: smoking, vaping and unaccompanied minors.
• Not suitable for: wheelchair users and people with mobility impairments.

Drinking requires you to be 21 with a valid photo ID, and the operator suggests cash for tipping the crew.

How does it compare with the other Maui evening boats?

It is the cheapest of the three dinner cruises in my Maui data. The Calypso sits at the same dock and the Teralani dinner sail leaves from a beach.

Calypso adds a third deck and manual-wheelchair boarding for $10 more. If you need step-free access, Quicksilver is the wrong boat; if you only need a meal, it is the better price.

Is the Quicksilver evening dinner boat worth it against the other Maui sunset cruises?

For a meal-first evening on a budget, I'd book this one over the Calypso, and I'd pick the Sail Maui sunset sail if you want a quieter, wind-powered trip. The $10 gap is real money for a group of six.

The case against is the confusing check-in and a rating that is the lowest of the evening boats at 4.5. The value sub-score is 4.4/5, the lowest of the four sub-scores GetYourGuide shows, so some guests felt the price was high for the evening.

100 yards is the minimum distance a vessel may approach a humpback whale in Hawaii, by federal law.

Reviewers mention whales in winter and a mother with her calf, so the 100-yard rule shapes where the captain steers. The sanctuary's own site says whales are visible from November through April. If whales are the point, book my pick for a whale watching trip in Maui, such as the Quicksilver whale watching tour at $50.

When is the best time to go?

Late May to August gives the longest light at dinner, and December to April adds whales. The winter 5:00 PM departure is fine for whales but gives a short sunset window.

Daytime highs in West Maui run from 79°F in winter to 87°F in August, and rain is least frequent around July and November. A reviewer in January reported a very windy trip, and the captain stayed close to the shore for the sunset. Sea state barely changes by month, as the table shows.

Check the National Weather Service Honolulu marine forecast on the day. The climate table below is based on the Lahaina area.

What do passengers say?

The pattern is happy diners and a recurring complaint about finding the right meeting spot. The sample I can read is all five-star, and the provider replies to most reviews, so I rely on the 4.5/5 average and the sub-scores instead.

• Service: staff described as friendly, helpful and professional.
• Food and drinks: one reviewer rated the cocktails above those in Las Vegas.
• Entertainment: a talented on-board musician.
• Wildlife: dolphins and a whale with a calf in separate reviews.
• Logistics: two reviewers found the meeting instructions stressful or wrong.

The sub-scores are 4.7 for the guide, 4.7 for transportation and 4.4 for value for money.

Who should skip it?

Skip the Quicksilver sunset dinner cruise if you use a wheelchair, struggle with stairs, or want a late dusk in December. The operator and the listing both say it is not suitable for wheelchair users.

• Wheelchair users: not wheelchair accessible; see the Calypso dinner cruise, which takes manual chairs.
• Quiet-dinner seekers: the boat is a group experience with music.
• Snorkel fans: try the Maui snorkeling tours instead.
• Anyone staying in Lahaina who dislikes driving: factor in the trip to Ma'alaea.

The hub page lists the alternatives by type.

How do you book the Quicksilver sunset dinner cruise?

Frequently asked questions

Sources: Quicksilver Maui sunset dinner cruise page; Calypso Maui sunset dinner cruise page; NOAA Fisheries humpback whale; NOAA Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary; National Weather Service Honolulu; Open-Meteo, sunrise-sunset.org and Nager.Date APIs; GetYourGuide listing 125201.