Luxury Catamaran, Lunch Included

4.5 hours cruising from Kailua-Kona

Overview

Body Glove Cruises runs this morning catamaran trip out of Kailua-Kona, on Hawaii Island, and it is built as much around the boat as the reef. Breakfast is served on board, and the snorkeling happens in the Red Hill area rather than Kealakekua Bay. Once anchored, the boat becomes a water playground: a 20 foot waterslide, a 15 foot high jump platform, plus sanitized masks, snorkels and fins for anyone who needs them.

The trip lasts 4 hours 30 minutes, boards at 08:00 with check-in 30 minutes before departure, and carries a maximum of 85 travellers. Lunch is included along with beverages. The crew keeps the boat wheelchair accessible on the lower deck, with fresh water showers, three restrooms and shade.

Families with young children report it works well. A recurring criticism is the snorkeling itself: several travellers found the fish life thin at this site, so it suits people who want a fun day on the water more than dedicated divers chasing a reef.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Check in at Kailua-KonaArrive at the Body Glove retail store at 75-5629 Kuakini Hwy, in the Ilima Court Shopping Center, 30 minutes before departure. Free parking is at this address, about a one block walk from the pier.
2. Kailua Pier boardingThe listing allows 30 minutes at the pier for boarding. Cruises board 30 minutes prior to departure, with priority boarding available for wheelchair users who advise at booking.
3. Cruise to Red HillThe catamaran sails from Kailua Pier toward the snorkel site, with breakfast served on board. The listing notes an excellent chance of dolphin or other marine mammal sightings.
4. Snorkel and water playAbout 2 hours of snorkel time in the Red Hill area, not Kealakekua Bay.
5. Lunch and return sailLunch is served on board during the trip. The tour ends back at the same meeting point.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points shape how this day goes, from what the boat provides to what it does not.

• Getting there. There is no hotel pickup. Park for free at 75-5629 Kuakini Hwy and walk about one block to the pier, then check in at the retail store 30 minutes before the 08:00 departure.
• Food and drink. Breakfast, lunch and beverages are included, and reviewers describe the portions as generous. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten free meals need 48 hours notice. Alcohol costs extra and the drinking age is 21.
• Bring a towel. Towels are not provided, so bring your own. Wetsuit rental is also an extra if you want one. Reef safe sunscreen is supplied.
• Weather matters. The listing says the cruise runs subject to favorable weather conditions, and if the operator cancels for poor weather you are offered a different date or a full refund. If the seas look lively, plan accordingly and consider motion sickness precautions.
• Set expectations on fish. Several reviewers were disappointed by the reef itself, reporting few fish species at the Red Hill site. Most still rated the day highly for the crew, food and toys, so come for the whole package rather than the snorkeling alone.
• Family friendly. Children 18 and younger need a paying adult along.

Common issues. The strongest and most repeated complaint concerns the snorkel site: several reviewers saw little marine life compared with other Big Island reefs, and the operator states plainly that the trip does not visit Kealakekua Bay. Weather can cut both ways. Cancellations inside the 24 hour window receive no refund. Alcohol, wetsuits and gratuities are extra.

Choosing A Tour