Crystal Cruises: Hawaiian Island Shores 16
Guests boardCrystal Serenity in Los Angeles and spend four days at sea enjoying the entertainment, dining, fitness center, enrichment opportunities, spa, and sports activities. The ship arrives in Honolulu for a day and a half of exploring the bustling city and island of Oahu. Cruising overnight to the next port on Kauai, the ship spends all day, giving guests the chance to enjoy the Garden Isle’s waterfalls, lush gardens, beaches, and culture. Lahaina on the island of Maui is the next stop, with a full day and evening to visit Maui’s beaches, upcountry farms, and the historic whaling town of Lahaina. In Kailua-Kona, there’s an opportunity to see miles of black lava as well as Volcanoes National Park. On the other side of the island in Hilo, the next day shows the contrast with lush gardens, waterfalls, rainforest, and rocky shores. Four days at sea on the way to Ensenada gives guests time for the casino, a new restaurant, spa treatment, pool, or movie. After a full day in the Mexican port, the ship returns to Los Angeles.
Popular Ports For Hawaiian Cruises
No matter which cruise line and itinerary you ultimately decide on, you will likely visit a mix of these fantastic island hopping Hawaii cruise ports.
Many cruises to Hawaii and the surrounding area offer trips to these popular ports of call that are consistent with most itineraries. Like mainstream Caribbean cruise ports, these ports cater to the tropicalcruise market. If you are looking for more than touristy attractions and activities, make sure to get out of the main port area and explore.
Honolulu, Oahu
Honolulu serves as the main cruise port serving out of Hawaii for island hopping Hawaii cruises. As the beautiful capital of Hawaii, Honolulu boasts brilliant sand, bright blue skies, and tasty Hawaiian drinks.
The top outdoor attraction in Honolulu is Manoa Falls. There are plenty of cruise shore excursions that will bring Hawaiian cruise passengers to this massive, 150-foot tall waterfall that empties into a majestic, glimmering rock pool. To learn about Hawaiis royal past, head over Iolani Palace, known as the Kingdom of Hawaii.
If you would like to swim with wildlife during your time in Honolulu, head over to Dolphin Quest Oahu where you can swim with dolphins!
Lahaina, Maui
To discover some of Hawaiis exquisite natural wonders, make sure that Lahaina, Maui is on your Hawaiian cruise itinerary. Once the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii, Lahaina now welcomes over two million people annually.
Kahului, Hawaii
Nwiliwili, Kauai
Kona And Hilo On The Big Island
Youve heard of Kamehameha, right? He was the leader who united most of the Hawaiian Islands in 1795. He was born on the Big Island, more commonly referred to simply as Hawaii, and ruled as king from that islandthe southeastern-most and largest in the archipelago. In fact, the Big Island is larger than all of the other Hawaiian Islands combined and consists of five volcanoes: the extinct Kohala Mauna Kea, which is dormant and three active volcanoesHualalai, Kilauea, and Mauna Loa. When measured from the mountains base at the sea floor to its highest peak, Mauna Loa is the tallest mountain on the planet and you can visit it and Kilauea when you head to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
There are two ports you may visit on the Big Island: Kona on the West Coast and Hilo on the East Coast. The West Coast is known for its almost lunar landscape and luxury resorts with golden sand beaches stretching from Kailua-Kona north to Waimea. Expect to visit Kealakekua Bay, St. Benedicts painted church, Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park, and Anaehoomalu Bay for the beach. Coffee and chocolate are crafted here and many visitorsespecially those with children in towvisit the Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory. You can enjoy plenty of watersports and, if youd like to spy sea turtles, just enjoy the beach and youre likely to see a few swimming right off shore.
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Day : Returning Honolulu Oahu
Everything about checking out of the cruise is easy. Its bittersweet to return to Honolulu, but cruising the Hawaiian Islands creates memories that last a lifetime.
This article is written by Ashlee Galea, an Aussie living in Hawaii who enjoys sharing Hawaii insider knowledge and travel advice on her blog Hawaii Admirer. Ashlee was a guest onboard NCL Pride of America thanks to MyCruises.com.au.
Hawaii Cruises That Departs From California
This is the most common way that people cruise to Hawaii and it is a fine option. Unfortuantely, because of the distance from the mainland, this adds several sea days to your voyage. For example, for cruises from San Diego this would add FOUR sea days to your trip. On a round trip Holland America Line Zuiderdam Hawaii Circle Cruise that turns a cruise with five days in Hawaii to a 17-day cruise that includes a stop in Ensenda, Mexico to satisfy regulations regarding the PVSA. Of course, if you want something special and have plenty of time, Zuiderdam also hosts a 45-day Tales Of The South Pacific scheduled for October next year that leaves and returns to San Diego but explores Hawaii and the South Pacific for a starting price of only $7,000 vs the 17-day Hawaii Circle Cruise for $1,899.
For folks with lots of time, this is a great option since it generally isnt that much more expensive than booking an inside cabin on Norwegians Pride of America cruise ship. For example, both of them are about the same price for Hawaii cruises in the spring of 2022 at a starting price for an inside cabin coming in about $2,000 per person. Certainly thats a lot of extra value for the Holland America Line option.
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Royal Caribbean Runs Repositioning Cruises On Quantum
Known for its bigger-is-better, embrace-all-the-bells-and-whistles ethos, Royal Caribbean offers a select number of Hawaiian sailings each year, as part of its repositioning routes. Its trio of Quantum-class ships are among the biggest, boldest, and newest of the amenity-packed cruise lines 26-ship fleet. But two of those threeQuantum of the Seas and Ovation of the Seashave been serving the Asian and Australian markets since their debut, with only the New Jerseybased Anthem of the Seas targeting U.S.-based travelers.
That changes this year when the 4,180-passeger Ovation of the Seas repositions from Sydney to Alaska for the summer 2019 season. En route, cruisers can sign up for an 11-night voyage from Honolulu to Vancouver embarking May 2, 2019, it includes an overnight stay in both Oahu and Maui, scenic cruising past the active Mount Kilauea volcano, and a call in Victoria, British Columbia. Several sea days afford ample time to explore the mega-ship, with its FlowRider surf simulator, RipCord by iFly indoor skydiving experience, and SeaPlex entertainment center .
The Ovation runs a similar return route from Vancouver to Honolulu, embarking September 20, 2019, with repeat Hawaii-inclusive repositioning voyages scheduled in May and September of 2020, too. Rates from $840/person royalcaribbean.com
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Getting A Hawaii Cruise For You
Taking a cruise to Hawaii is an amazing experience. These cruises make an impressive gift, a good last minute trip and the perfect way to enjoy a long honeymoon. Hawaii cruise options include:
- Book a cruise thats round trip: It will pick you up on the West Coast port city of your choice, take you to the Hawaiian Islands and back again. It will make port calls throughout the Islands.
- Book a cruise from port to Hawaii: The cruise will pick you up on the West Coast port city and take you to Hawaii. You enjoy a vacation on the Islands and fly back home from Hawaii.
- Book a cruise from Hawaii to home: You can fly to Hawaii, enjoy your vacation there and then take a cruise back home. This option allows you to spend as much time as you like in Hawaii prior to your cruise portion.
Choose the right option for you based on your budget and timeline restrictions. Also, consider what is most important to you. Do you want to see a lot of Hawaii or would you rather spend most of your time on the cruise itself?
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Moorea Society Islands / French Polynesia
The island was formed as a volcano 1.5 to 2.5 million years ago, the result of a Society hotspot in the mantle under the oceanic plate that formed the whole of the Society Archipelago. It is theorized that the current bays were formerly river basins that filled during the Holocene searise.
Moâorea is about 10 miles in width from the west to the east. There are two small, nearly symmetrical bays on the north shore. The one to the west is called âpnohu Bay, which is not very populated but many travelers have come into the bay. The main surrounding communes of the bay are Pihaâena in the east and Papetâai to the west. The one to the east is Cookâs Bay, also called Pao Pao Bay since the largest commune of Moâorea is at the bottom of the bay. The other communes are Pihaâena to the west and busy Maharepa to the east. The highest point is Mount Tohiâeâa, near the center of Moâorea. It dominates the vista from the two bays and can be seen from Tahiti. There are also hiking trails in the mountains. The Vaiâare Bay is another small inlet, smaller than the two main bays, on the east shore. This bay has been settled a lot and has a lot of business. The main village is located just south of the bay.
Day 28:
Uncruise Adventures: Hawaiian Seascapes
This eight-day small yacht cruise includes stops at four islands aboard the 36-guest Safari Explorer, with embarkation and captain’s welcome in Molokai. The next day features time to explore the secluded island and the Hawaiian culture with a visit to the Molokai Museum. Lanai is the next port, where guests can snorkel, paddleboard, kayak, and explore by skiff, seeing sea cliffs along the shore and the quaint Lanai Culture and Heritage Center. On Maui, stroll through historic Lahaina, snorkel among coral and a sea turtle habitat, or kayak in a marine sanctuary. With a stop on the Kona coast, guests can explore the rugged shore, snorkel among tropical fish, or visit a national park. At Puu Waawaa State Wildlife Sanctuary, there’s a naturalist guided hike, visit to a coffee plantation, and a captain’s dinner in the evening. The ship docks in Kawaihae Harbor for transfer to Kona Airport or additional time on the Big Island.
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Ports Of Call: Cruise Around Hawaii
For individuals who want to spend at least some of their time cruising around the Hawaiian Islands, you have several ports of call to enjoy.
- Nawiliwili, Kauai
Each port city is quite unique. Hawaii may be known as a single destination, but each of the states 137 islands is individually special. You can expect to find a variety of things to do at each port. To find out which ports you will visit, check your cruise itinerary.
- Find out if there are any sports activities to enjoy such as water skiing, snorkeling, swimming and sailing.
- Learn about the historical areas to see at the port and beyond. Many of the Hawaiian Islands have storied histories worth learning.
- Find out if there is shopping, museums, recreational facilities, restaurants and other activities available at the port city.
Plan in advance for any of these trips into port. A cruise around Hawaii has to be one of the things you truly put your heart into, so be sure to do as much planning as possible for it!
- 7 nights aboard Norwegian Cruise Lines Pride of America
- All meals included aboard the ship with Freestyle Dining
- Scenic cruising along Kauais Na Pali Coast
- Nawiliwili, Kauai*Tender port
Additional fees applied by the cruise line are not included in your tour price. These fees include but are not limited to: daily service charge for cabin & wait staff, specialty restaurant cover charges and optional shore excursions.
Day 1 : Fly to Honolulu
Day 2 : Pearl Harbor
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Holland America Cruises Round
Holland America has a handful of 16- to 18-night voyages in 2019/2020 that run round-trip from sunny San Diego, aboard the 1,964-passenger Oosterdam or 2,104-passenger Eurodam. Itineraries vary slightly but typically incorporate stops in Oahu , Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island, along with scenic cruising past the Kilauea volcano and a dip into Ensenada, Mexico.
Excursion highlights include a farm-to-fork, Food & Wine magazinebranded culinary tour of the Big Island, or a visit to the Grand Canyon of the Pacific at Kauais 2,857-foot-deep Waimea Canyon. Note that these lengthier voyages include up to 10 days at sea: Pass some of that time in the ships numerous music venues, including BB Kings Blues Club, Lincoln Center Stage , and dueling-piano venue Billboard Onboard. Rates from $1,699/person hollandamerica.com
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Do You Need A Passport To Take A Cruise To Hawaii
You can visit Hawaii without a passport on a closed-loop sailing . Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America and UnCruise’s Safari Explorer, both U.S.-flagged vessels, are the only cruise ships based in Hawaii. Other lines and ships offer there-and-back Hawaii itineraries from ports like San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
The Best Month To Cruise Hawaii
A Hawaii cruise is an increasingly popular way to take in Hawaiis dramatic landscapes, great weather and varied activities, sights and lifestyles. Cruise travelers can choose from weeklong round trip Honolulu cruises on Norwegian Cruise Line longer cruises sailing round trip from the U.S. West Coast and less-common, one-way sailings on ships heading to or from the South Pacific, Australia or Asia.
Theres another important choice to make, and thats when to go. The good news is that no time of year is bad to take a Hawaiian cruise. Nevertheless, there are differences in weather, cruise availability, price and other factors from season to season. Heres what you need to know about which months are best to cruise Hawaii.
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Hawaii To Australia Cruises
Travelers sailing the Southern Hemisphere on a cruise from Hawaii to Australia also enjoy visits to some of the worlds most beautiful islands in French Polynesia. Before you go, research each place that your ship will dock so you can maximize your time. In some ports, youll have only eight or nine hours to explore. Planning all your activities and listing the sights you want to see can help you make the best use of your time.
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Hawaii Cruise And Tour Packages
Enjoy the simplicity, convenience and bundled rates of Hawaii cruise and tour packages. Take the headache out of searching for hotels and transportation and forget about coordinating a multi-destination vacation. Hawaii cruises offer all the fun, romance and entertainment of ocean cruises along with the sightseeing and experiential adventures of land tours.
With over 50 years in the Hawaii tour business, YMT Vacations offers an expert inter-island cruise and tour itinerary of the Hawaiian Islands. The tour is 12 days, with 7 nights aboard the Norwegian Cruise Lines Pride of American cruise ship and 4 nights on the island of Oahu. The cruise portion originates on Oahu and includes port stops on Maui, Hawaii Island and Kauai. Explore Iao Valley or Lahaina on Maui. Visit Volcanoes National Park or go snorkeling in Kona on Hawaii Island. On Kauai, cruise along the otherworldly Na Pali Coast. Upon return to Oahu, a Polynesian Tour Director escorts guests through a tour of Pearl Harbor and Honolulu. The final two days are unscheduled, allowing for leisure time.
Apart from YMT Vacations cruise and tour itinerary, there are classic cruise packages available. Choose from six cruise lines that sail in Hawaii, some with multiple cruise ships. Browse Hawaiian cruises below or to search using your own parameters.
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Cruises To The Hawaiian Islands
Hawaii cruises are relaxing and unforgettable adventures that introduce you to the spirit of aloha and allow you to experience the islands as they were meant to be experienced by sea.
The Hawaiian islands have become universal symbols of relaxation, and AAAs concierge cruises amplify the rejuvenation by treating you to a host of benefits, including exclusive parties, gifts, and excursions.
AAA concierge Hawaiian cruises also offer priority boarding and complimentary specialty dining, and are coordinated by an experienced AAA host who will help you with all your travel needs so that you can focus on being refreshed by the Hawaiian islands.
Continue reading to learn more about our cruises to Hawaii or contact your AAA agent today to begin making plans.
What Are Popular Activities In Hawaii
Beach time and water sports are popular in the islands, with snorkel and kayak trips and surf lessons topping the list. Scenic cruises to see the seasonal whale population or gaze at the gorgeous Napali coastline are more sedate ways to get onto the water. The famous Road to Hana twists and turns to reveal beautiful waterfalls and lush sceneries to tourists with steady stomachs. Caffeine fiends can tour a coffee plantation and taste the local wares.
Hawaiis volcanoes also top the activities list. You can bike down Haleakala on Maui , wander through lava tubes at Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island, or tour the observatory at the top of Mauna Kea.
A Hawaii cruise lets visitors experience Hawaiian culture as well. Ships stay in port late so passengers can attend a luau, offering a chance to try local culinary favorites and watch a spectacular show with hula and fire dancing. You can also visit places like Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park, a refuge in olden times and still a sacred site for Hawaiians.
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