The beautiful scenery and stunning landscape of Hawaii is all accessible by a cruise. The eight major islands of Hawaii are all volcanic, and each has different attractions and climates. Whether you want to see the volcanic summit of Maui’s Haleakala Crater, or tour the dramatic cliffs of Kauai’s Napali Coast, it’s all available to you. Because of this, Hawaii reigns as the king of cruising’s hottest destinations.

Getting There

Cruise ship off the beach in Hawaii

In the past, one downside to a Hawaiian cruise was the necessary stop at a foreign port, which was required for foreign cruise lines to fulfil passenger shipping laws. This would add to the cost of the trip, as well as making it several days longer. This has changed, however, as the Norwegian Cruise Lines America brought 3 ships to the region (1 of which remains), eliminating this requirement. Getting to Hawaii can be a challenge, especially when coming from the East Coast. Most East Coast flights require a stop and a connecting flight in either San Francisco or Los Angeles. It is possible to begin a cruise from the mainland, which does eliminate the flight to Hawaii. The downside is this adds several days at sea to your trip. If you end up flying to Honolulu, and decide to transfer directly from the airport to the cruise port, plan on a 15-minute cab ride. Also, prepare for potential delays on the return home; it may be worth your while to stay an extra day.

Itinerary

Waikiki Beach, Honolulu

There are three main itinerary options to choose from. The first is a roundtrip from Honolulu. The NCL’s Pride of America is the only U.S. branded liner sailing the Hawaiian Islands. It offers the industry’s only port intensive weeklong options. Be warned; there have been complaints of mediocre food service and inadequate service levels in general. There is also a mandatory $10 a day service charge on passengers. The second option is a roundtrip from the U.S., Mexico, or Canada. Princess and Holland America are two cruise lines that offer roundtrip itineraries to as long as 15 nights, departing from either Vancouver or San Diego. The Carnival, Celebrity, and Royal Caribbean offer itineraries of shorter varieties, and typically only offer one-way options. The third choice is repositioning, which are cruises between the U.S. and the Far East or New Zealand and Australia. These cruises, however, only occur twice a year, and thus your date options are limited.

Paradise at Hanauma Bay

Highlights

Tropical dream

The cruise liners, although majestic, are no competition for Hawaii itself. There is a huge range of shore excursions to choose from, although they are often rather pricey. They will be your best bet in the long haul, however, if for no other reason they get you back on the ship on time. Pearl Harbor, found on Oahu, is a moving experience, although shore excursions usually only tour the USS Arizona Memorial. If you are there on your own, check out both the USS Bowfin and the Mighty Mo (get there early to beat the crowds). On the Big Island, there are two major ports, so plan accordingly. In Kona, you will want to tour historical sites like the first Christian church on the island and King Kamehameha’s temple. The biggest natural attraction on Maui is the Haleakala Crater, while the scuba diving is breathtaking in Lanai. There are astounding underwater formations to see, all of which were formed from lava. If your itinerary includes a stop at Fanning Island, there are two terrific beaches to choose from. The Fanning Island beach is free to the public, but is often very crowded. The Napali Beach features fewer crowds and more scenery, but it is $20 a person, and there are no bathrooms or food outlets on the beach.