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The itinerary features two-day overnight visits to Maui and Kauai and stops in both Kona and Hilo on the Big Island, as well as scenic cruising along Kauai's famed Napali Coast. It's easy to book pre- or post-cruise stays in Honolulu to explore places like Waikiki Beach, Diamondhead Crater and Pearl Harbor. If you're looking for a longer itinerary, sailing round trip from the west coast of North America, or a small-ship adventure cruise, you'll have the biggest selection of cruises between October and April. If a Hawaii cruise sounds like the perfect getaway to you, you'll want to read up on which lines offer which types of itineraries, as well as which islands and ports you must visit.
EXCURSIONS
Princess cruise excursions are pure magic, offering luaus, beautiful beaches and glimpses into Hawaii's unique culture. From the emerald mountains of Kauai to the white-sand beaches of Maui, discover the best Hawaiian Islands to visit when you sail with Princess. Plan some slower days during your trip to jibe with the leisure-loving locals. Do you cruise to Oahu and hit Waikiki — where the people-watching is as good as the tanning — or to the scenic Napali Coast of underrated Kauai? The small but mighty Kauai is one of the best Hawaii ports for outdoor, nature-based adventure.
CRUISE ITINERARIES
Unlike some ports in the Caribbean and Mediterranean, Hawaii isn't a destination where it's easy to just walk off the ship and explore on foot. UnCruise Adventures is the line for travelers who want to get off the beaten path on a small ship with a flexible itinerary. These sailings are perfect for active folks who want to get up close to nature.
DIVE INTO THE CULTURE
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The 8 best Hawaii cruises in 2024 and 2025.
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(Or, stop by Aloha Poke and grab a bowl of fresh rice and cubed ahi tuna to enjoy on the beach.) It’s the furthest west you can go on Oahu, and about a 1.-5-hour drive from Honolulu. Upon arriving, you'll be met with a wide stretch of golden sand that's surrounded by mountains. As long as there’s no northwest swell wrapping around the island, the turquoise waters are inviting.
And on the island of Hawaii, it's possible to visit the Puʻuhonua National Historical Park, also known as the Place of Refuge, an ancient spiritual sanctuary for defeated warriors who would be protected from death there. That doesn't mean, however, that you can just head to a resort, select a lounger and act like you're a guest. Instead, there are public access points for popular resort beaches, such as Wailea and Kaanapali on Maui, Waikiki on Oahu and Poipu on Kauai. You'll be able to stake a spot on the sand, generally to either side of a resort's beach chairs — so bring along beach towels and/or pareos as well as water and snacks.
The Best Beaches in Hawaii
Using sunscreen in the islands is key if you want to prevent severe sunburn, which can happen quickly, especially in the middle part of the day. Hawaii's location (it is about 1,300 miles from the equator) means the sun's rays are more intense than they are in much of the mainland U.S. You'll also be spending the majority of your time outdoors, so as added protection it's a smart idea to also pack an SPF-rated swim shirt or rash guard to wear while enjoying water-based activities.
Sea turtles can be spotted on all the islands in spring, but especially around Maui and Lanai as the waters warm with the approach of summer. Weather-wise, daytime temperatures are comfortable at around 80 degrees, with nighttime lows of 65. Rainfall averages just under one inch a month in Honolulu, but certain ports are more likely to experience showers than others. These include the aforementioned Hilo on the island of Hawaii and Nawiliwili on Kauai, where monthly rainfall averages 4-5 inches in December and January. Norwegian offers several excursions, including airport drop-off, if you cannot spend a few days in Honolulu before or after your cruise.
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The seven-night Hawaiian Seascapes itinerary, which begins either on Molokai or the island of Hawaii, is an unconventional one designed for those who enjoy going off the beaten path in an intimate and more authentic setting. Pride of America sails round-trip from Honolulu every Saturday year-round. As a U.S.-flagged ship, it's the only large vessel permitted to sail this way. Not only do you skip the long Pacific crossing that most cruise ships do to reach Hawaii, but passports are not required for U.S. citizens, and you can tack on pre- or post-cruise stays on Oahu. Hawaii cruise options are somewhat limited — just a fraction of what's available in the Caribbean — and many itineraries involve multiday crossings from the West Coast. Only one cruise line offers Hawaii itineraries throughout the year; most others visit during specific months or when repositioning ships in spring and fall.
Lahaina is a major tourist destination for its restaurants, shops and boat tours, but ships must anchor and transport passengers to shore via tender boats. The final type of Hawaii cruise is the one-way repositioning sailing, typically offered when ships are heading to or leaving Alaska. The cruise line schedules these sailings to swing by Hawaii on their way to the South Pacific or Australia or perhaps before the ship begins Mexico cruises from southern California or transits the Panama Canal to the Atlantic. Most travelers stick to one, possibly two islands, during a Hawaii vacation.
Most cruises to Hawaii require several days at sea, but not Norwegian’s Pride of America. The 2,186-passenger Pride of America is the only cruise ship that sails from Oahu to neighboring Hawaiian islands, minimizing sea days while taking travelers to four Hawaiian islands in a single week. The ship departs from Honolulu every Saturday all year long, making it easy to tack on visits to Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, and Waikiki Beach. The ship spends the night in Maui and Kauai, and makes two stops on the island of Hawaii—also known as the Big Island—in Hilo and Kona.
Go for bigger, bolder Polynesian adventures filled with sunset surfing and evening luaus in the Aloha State. Royal Caribbean® returns to Hawaii with two revolutionary Quantum Class ships, Ovation of the Seas® and Quantum of the Seas®. Once you've decided how you want to cruise Hawaii, you can seek out the best cruise fares so you're ready to say "Aloha!" to an incredible vacation when the right deal pops up. Whether you're looking for utter relaxation or an adrenaline rush, you'll find plenty of things to do in Hawaii. The islands have much to offer families, couples and friends of all ages. Sister lines Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean are good bets for those hybrid one-way cruises from the West Coast to Hawaii.
After cooking for hours over an open flame, this tender meat is plucked off the bone and plated, or sandwiched in a Hawaiian roll. Ahi tuna has become famous all over America, most commonly seared and added to Asian-style salads. There are several varieties of poke, with modern versions substituting avocado and spicy mayo for classic accompaniments like seaweed and rice. Seafood is an important part of the Hawaiian diet, but there's so much more to enjoy.
You don't have to be a true cruiser to love UnCruise, but you do need a large budget, as intimate adventures don't come cheap. Princess Cruises is definitely the leader in the two-week, round-trip Hawaii cruise department, offering more sailings out of more homeports than any other line. Carnival, Holland America and Viking also offer this type of sailing, but not as frequently. Holland America is a great choice for round-trip sailings that explore deep into the South Pacific.
Whatever your choice, Norwegian can make your dream cruise to Hawaii happen. Sign up for one of six weeklong summer itineraries, cruising round-trip from the island of Molokai with stops in Lanai, the Big Island, and Maui. Cruises embark on the 36-guest, upscale-yet-laid-back Safari Explorer yacht, making it the most intimate voyage option in the region. On the other hand, compared with a weeklong, land-based visit to just one or two islands, you might find yourself hard-pressed to fit in everything you want to do in each port of call. You need to make sure your cruise ship and itinerary help you reach your vacation goals — not hinder them. You’re constantly aware of the power of nature in Hawaii, where the lush scenery is like something out of another world.
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