The Hawaiian Islands are popular with families, couples, retirees, groups of friends, and anyone who loves warm weather, tropical scenery, and the spirit of the 50th state “aloha.” Each island has a different climate, landscape, and style, and even on the same island, it can vary greatly depending on the location. On Oahu, for example, there is bustling Honolulu on the south shore and a more secluded surfer paradise on the north shore. On the Big Island, the Hilo and Puna regions on the east coast are humid and densely forested, while the Kailua-Kona region on the west coast tends to be much drier.
Pam ·Jacobs, a travel consultant at the Everdes Estate Travel Store in Palos, California, said visitors to Hawaii, especially first-time visitors, want to experience as much of the island as possible, and cruise travel is the best way to do that. “People love inter-island cruises because it’s a cheap and convenient way to get around the island because all the meals are included on the cruise. You only need to open your luggage once, so you don’t have to go back and forth to the airport and check in and out of the hotel. This is the best way to travel around the island. ”
Families and travelers with limited time can enjoy a seven-day Norway cruise Honolulu to Honolulu round-trip cruise, while retirees can opt for longer cruises from the West Coast for longer stays at sea. You can depart from several ports on the West Coast, including San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Seattle. “Many Hawaii cruises are part of a long-haul voyage to the South Pacific, Australia or around the world,” says Jacobs, an expert in cruise and train travel.
“Shore excursions on a cruise ship are the same activities that tourists do on land — attending Hawaiian banquets, playing golf, visiting attractions like the Arizona Memorial, or just relaxing on the beach — everything is arranged for you,” Jacobs said. One more piece of advice from our cruise experts: “Always arrive a day early to make sure you’re ready.” You’ll have time to explore and relax before boarding the boat. ”
Here are some of the best cruises to visit Hawaii. Dates, prices, amenities, and itineraries vary, so choosing a cruise requires some planning and research. It’s always part of the fun, so hopefully this list will inspire you to get started.
Holland America Cruises: 17-Day Circle Hawaii Tour – Round Trip from San Diego
The 1,432-passenger Zaandan cruise ship departed from San Diego and sailed at sea for five days before arriving in Honolulu at 8 a.m. Optional activities include a trip to Pearl Harbor, a hike to Diamond Head, a road trip to Oahu, a night tour of the Polynesian Cultural Center, and a day trip to Waikiki Beach. After an overnight voyage to Kauai, the cruise ship docked at Port Willy, Neville. Visitors can take a Wailua River cruise to the Fern Cave, visit a coffee plantation, or head to the Grand Pacific Canyon Waimea Canyon. Maui is the next island on the itinerary, and visitors can choose to drive to the Haleala Crater, snorkel aboard the all-new Reef Explorer, or drive inland Maui or the rainforest. The last two stops, Hilo and Kona, are on the Big Island. In Kona, there is the option to explore the Coral Gardens on an Atlantis submarine or cruise on a catamaran. Options include a visit to Volcanoes National Park, and in Hilo, visitors can visit Rainbow Falls or experience a zipline adventure. After four days at sea, you’ll stop in Ensenada, Mexico, before heading back to Santiago.
Royal Caribbean: 9-Night Hawaii Cruise – Vancouver to Oahu
The 4,180-passenger Celebration of the Seas offers guests a wealth of marine activities, including a climbing wall, a FlowRider surf simulator and Northstar, a 360-degree capsule at 300 feet above sea level. For travelers who have time to spend these days at sea, the activities on board are an important part of the fun. After departing from Vancouver, British Colombia, the cruise will sail at sea for four days before arriving in Honolulu, where you will spend the day exploring Oahu and visiting the Polynesian Cultural Center or Waikiki Beach. After a day at sea, the cruise crosses the International Date Line and passes by Kauai’s beautiful Napali Coast, known for its steep cliffs with rising sea levels. The final stop is Oahu, where passengers can spend as much time exploring Honolulu, Waikiki Beach, or other parts of the island as they want before heading home.
Norway Cruises: 7-day inter-island Hawaii cruise from Honolulu
Spend a week exploring Hawaii’s four islands aboard the 2,186-passenger Pride of United States, the only cruise ship to sail to the four Hawaiian islands seven days a year. “Norway Cruise Line has weekly departures and is a reliable way to get around the island,” Jacobs said. “You can visit other islands and visit Oahu before or after your cruise.” On-board activities include basketball, volleyball, video games, theater, hot tub, spa and shopping. The two-day cruise departs from Honolulu on Saturday night to Kahului, Maui, and includes a drive on the Hana Way, a catamaran ride to Molokini to snorkel with turtles, a visit to the Haleala Crater and more. Next up is a day at Hilo on the Big Island, where guests can see volcanoes, rainforests, waterfalls, or lush botanical gardens. On the other side of the island, in Kona, snorkeling, fishing, catamaran cruises and reef tours are all optional activities. In Kauai, passengers can enjoy a traditional Hawaiian pig roast feast, walk through the rainforest, kayak or cruise the Waimea Canyon. The cruise will return to Honolulu next Saturday, where passengers can explore the city, nearby Pearl Harbor, or the North Shore of Oahu.
UnCruise Adventures: Hawaiian Seascapes
UnCruise adventure cruises focus on destinations rather than boats. The experience is immersive, eco-friendly, and great camaraderie is always built in small groups. The 36-passenger Safari Explorer is a seven-night cruise departing from Kona on the Big Island and will be welcomed with champagne by the captain. The next two days will be spent hiked up the slopes of Hualalai with a naturalistic guide, snorkeling among giant Pacific manta rays at night, and plenty of opportunities to swim or kayak. On your fourth day in Maui, guests can stroll through historic Lahaina, snorkel among corals and turtles, or kayak in a marine reserve. Lanai is the next island where guests can paddle or kayak over 1,000-foot sea cliffs, go snorkeling, take a bike tour, or visit the quaint Lanai Cultural and Heritage Center. On Molokai Island, visitors can learn about the process of growing taro and making it into a poi, or hike to the spectacular waterfalls of the Halawa Valley. At Molokai Island Museum, visitors can start with an island history lesson, followed by a pa’ina (feast) and traditional music. On the second day, tourists will disembark at Kaunakakai and can then transfer to Molokai Airport or extend their stay.
Princess Cruises: 16-Day Hawaiian Islands Tour – Round Trip from San Francisco
The cruise departs San Francisco in the evening aboard the 3,080-passenger Ruby Princess. Swimming pools, hot tubs, mini-golf, sea exploration, movies, dancing and performances ensure that visitors have plenty of activities to do during their four-day trip to Hawaii. There are activities for everyone on board for teenagers and families. On the Big Island, visitors can zipline through the rainforest or visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Next up is Oahu, where activities include a visit to Pearl Harbor, snorkeling in Hanauma Bay, and a visit to United States only royal palace. On Kauai, there are hiking, snorkeling, and kayaking adventures. In Maui, visitors can take a catamaran, Zodiac, or submarine. After four days at sea, visitors have one day to explore Ensenada, Mexico, located on the Baja California Peninsula, before returning to San Francisco aboard the Ruby Princess.
Celebrity Cruises: 13-Night Hawaii Cruise – Vancouver to Oahu
The 2,918-passenger luxury cruise ship departs from Vancouver and stops in historic Astoria, Oregon for a day before continuing on to Hawaii. During the six days at sea, passengers can play blackjack at the casino, take a yoga class at the fitness center, or soar across the ocean on a magic carpet and enjoy cocktails. On the eighth day, in Hilo, visitors can explore the waterfalls, volcanoes, wineries, and gardens of the Big Island’s lush coast. The cruise will sail to Kona on the other side of the island, where you will spend two days snorkeling or other shore activities before spending the day crossing the Napali coast of Kauai, where steep cliffs rise from the ocean and sea caves and waterfalls can be seen from the boat. After another day of cruising, the final stop is Honolulu, where visitors are free to explore Oahu before heading back to the mainland.
Disney Cruises: 10-Night Hawaii Cruise departs Vancouver and ends in Honolulu
This cruise itinerary includes Maui and Mickey Mouse aboard the 875-cabin Disney Miracle, perfect for families and Disney lovers. Departing from Vancouver, you’ll spend the next six nights at sea with entertainment ranging from a Broadway-style musical featuring Disney characters to a Marvel-themed superhero academy at the Kids’ Ocean Club. The first stop is Neville Willy on Kauai, where guests can visit Waimea Canyon State Park, known as the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific,” or explore restored sugar cane plantations in the old town of Koloa. The next stop is Kahului on Maui, where you can spend the day at the beach, the Maui Arts and Cultural Center, or the Botanical Gardens. In Hilo, Hawaii’s “Big Island,” guests can visit the Mauna Kea Observatory or see an active volcano in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. When the ship arrives in Honolulu and lands, passengers can transfer to the airport or extend their stay.
Viking Cruises: Hawaiian Islands Tour – Los Angeles Roundtrip
The 17-day voyage from Los Angeles will take place aboard the Viking Neptune, a small all-balcony cruise ship that can carry up to 928 guests. After five days at sea, the first stop is the Big Island, where visitors can take a helicopter ride to see Kilauea Volcano, visit a waterfall or kayak to explore Hilo Bay. The next stop is Oahu, where visitors can take a helicopter tour, climb Diamond Head Mountain, attend a Hawaiian pig roast feast, and more. In Kauai, excursions include an ATV tour around the island and snorkeling along the South Shore. On day 10 in Maui, highlights include Halealala National Park, snorkeling, and a visit to the Maui Marine Center. Afterwards, the cruise ship sails to Ensenada, Mexico, where passengers can enjoy wine tastings, take an e-bike tour, and experience an all-terrain vehicle adventure in the Guadalupe Valley. The Viking Neptune returned to Los Angeles the next day.
Carnival Tour: 15-day Hawaii tour from Seattle
The cruise carries 2,124 passengers, the Spirit of Carnival, and will sail at sea for five days after departing from Seattle. Guests can have fun with pickleball, casino games, parties, a comedy club, and WaterWorks, a water park. On day seven, visitors to Honolulu can spend the day at Waikiki Beach, visit the Polynesian Cultural Center and the USS Arizona Memorial, or attend a traditional Hawaiian pig roast feast. On the second day, visitors are on Maui and can snorkel or climb to the top of Haalala Mountain. On Kauai, visitors can choose to take a helicopter tour of Waimea Canyon or the Napali Coast, with the next stop being Hilo, located on the slopes of Mauna Loa. After two days at sea, the cruise will visit Victoria, British Colombia, before returning to Seattle.