Plan your trip
Snorkeling Molokini as a couple
The short answer Two adults without kids get the most from a boat with a smaller passenger cap and a bar or buffet. Aliʻi Nui, Sail Maui, Trilogy and Pride of Maui's ʻElua fit; rafts suit a shorter trip.
On this page
Where a cap is printed, it runs from 36 to 49 guests (Trilogy says it generally takes 40 to 50), against 99 on Pride of Maui's main boat. All the catamarans serve lunch and drinks, and rafts suit a shorter trip.
No boat is private. Everyone shares the water with other guests, and mid-morning is the busiest stretch (see when to go).
Boats that fit for two adults, by feature
- Aliʻi Nui: a 65 by 36 foot sailing catamaran with passenger numbers "intentionally capped". Breakfast and lunch, a Maui Brewing open bar, in-water instruction and an onboard photographer. Two full-size restrooms and a shaded cabin. Aliʻi Nui.
- Sail Maui: a 54-foot catamaran limited to 49 passengers, with a buffet lunch and local beer, wine and cocktails. Sail Maui.
- Trilogy: generally 40 to 50 passengers on 55 to 65 foot catamarans, two island cocktails on the sail back for guests 21 and over. Trilogy.
- Pride of Maui's ʻElua: a 62-foot catamaran, limited to 36 or 40 guests depending on which page you read. Gourmet lunch, open bar and an air-conditioned cabin. Ages 4 and up. Pride of Maui.
- Rafts: shorter trips on smaller boats. Blue Water Rafting runs a 2-hour trip with juice and water, ages 4 and up. Maui Reef Adventures leaves Māʻalaea on a 4-hour trip with breakfast and lunch, ages 4 and up. Redline Rafting takes up to 24 guests, ages 8 and up. Its 2-hour trip has no food. Its 5-hour trip includes breakfast and lunch and has a bathroom on board. Compare the rafts.
What it costs for two, and is it worth paying more?
The cost for two is two adult fares, plus tax and fees where the line says they aren't included. Check the basis on each line:
- Aliʻi Nui: from $249 adult, tax not stated, on Aliʻi Nui’s site, checked .
- Sail Maui: $200 adult, tax not stated, on Sail Maui’s site, checked .
- Trilogy: $219 adult, before tax and fees, on Trilogy Excursions’ booking calendar, checked .
- ʻElua: $288 adult, with tax and fees, on Pride of Maui’s site, checked .
- Rafts take shorter trips, so the fares are not like for like. Here are the rafts named above, by adult fare:
- For Blue Water Rafting's 2-hour trip, the listing is $129 adult, tax not stated, on Blue Water Rafting’s booking calendar, checked .
- For Redline Rafting on its 2-hour trip, the listing is from $129 adult, before tax and fees, on Redline Rafting’s site, checked .
- For Maui Reef Adventures' 4-hour trip, the listing is $175 adult, before tax, on Maui Reef Adventures’ site, checked .
- For Redline Rafting on its 5-hour trip, the listing is from $209 adult, before tax and fees, on Redline Rafting’s site, checked .
Fares differ with what is included. The sailing catamarans and ʻElua list meals and a bar, and ʻElua adds an air-conditioned cabin. Among the rafts, the 2-hour trips list only snacks or juice, or no food at all, while the 4-hour and 5-hour trips list breakfast and lunch. ʻElua's open bar opens after snorkeling, so drink after you're out of the water. The tax basis differs by operator. What the Aliʻi Nui trip includes.
One strong swimmer, one not
Pick a boat that supplies flotation and gives instruction. Aliʻi Nui lists flotation and in-water instruction. Sail Maui and Trilogy list flotation. The weaker swimmer can wear it. Stay together in the water and keep the boat in sight. Top 15 tips covers swimming with a partner.
What if one of you doesn't snorkel?
Aliʻi Nui, Trilogy and ʻElua list shade, so a partner can stay dry on deck. Sail Maui's page doesn't say. None of the operator pages checked list a lower fare for a non-snorkeler, so ask before you book.
Early start, then the day
The catamarans above depart between 7:00 and 8:00 a.m. Sail Maui is back at 12:30 p.m. and Trilogy at noon or 1:00 p.m.; Aliʻi Nui and ʻElua print no return time, so ask. The rafts differ: Maui Reef Adventures leaves at 8:00 a.m., Redline Rafting at 7:00 or 9:30 a.m., and Blue Water Rafting at 10:30 a.m. on its 2-hour trip. Check the time before you plan the afternoon. Winter trips can overlap with humpback whale season, which the whale-watch post covers.
Going private
Several operators sell private charters. See private charters.
Sources and corrections
The 8 sources for this page
- aliinuimaui.com (Aliʻi Nui), read . Backs: Aliʻi Nui Molokini Deluxe: 65 by 36 foot sailing catamaran with passenger numbers intentionally capped; chef-prepared breakfast, lunch buffet, Maui Brewing open bar, in-water instruction, onboard photographer, shaded cabin, two full-size restrooms; check-in 6:45 a.m.
- sailmaui.com (Sail Maui), read . Backs: Sail Maui Akialoa: 54-foot sailing catamaran limited to 49 passengers; buffet lunch, beer, wine and cocktails; 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- sailtrilogy.com (Trilogy Excursions), read . Backs: Trilogy generally takes 40 to 50 passengers on 55 to 65 foot catamarans; two island cocktails on the return for guests 21 and over; two restrooms; covered cabins or awnings.
- prideofmaui.com (Pride of Maui), read . Backs: Pride of Maui's ʻElua: 62-foot catamaran limited to 36 or 40 guests depending on the page; gourmet lunch, open bar after snorkeling, air-conditioned cabin, ages 4 and up; the larger Pride of Maui is limited to 99.
- redlinerafting.com (Redline Rafting), read . Backs: Redline Rafting: 2-hour and 5-hour rafts both up to 24 guests; 2-hour Molokini trip with no food; ages 8 and up; vertical ladder boarding; health limits.
- bluewaterrafting.com (Blue Water Rafting), read . Backs: Blue Water Rafting: 2-hour trip lists Hawaiian juices and bottled water; children must be 4 or older.
- mauireefadventures.com (Maui Reef Adventures), read . Backs: Maui Reef Adventures: 60-foot raft from Māʻalaea; 4-hour trip with breakfast and lunch; children must be 4 or older.
- redlinerafting.com and its booking pages (Redline Rafting), read . Backs: Redline group size: up to 24 on the 2-hour trip. · Redline group size: up to 24 on the 5-hour trip.