Hawaii cruise guide: Best itineraries, planning tips and things to do
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You can sail to Hawaii year-round, but the itinerary options vary based on the month you choose. Norwegian Cruise Line is the only major cruise line to offer year-round, weeklong cruises. However, it's not all paradise in the Hawaii cruise world because itineraries are limited. U.S. government regulations prohibit foreign-flagged ships from sailing between U.S. ports without visiting a foreign port.
Norwegian Cruise Line Adjusts Port of Call For 2024 - Cruise Hive
Norwegian Cruise Line Adjusts Port of Call For 2024.
Posted: Thu, 09 Mar 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
UnCruise Adventures' 7-night Hawaiian Seascapes
In addition, unless you live on the West Coast, a Hawaii cruise will require a long flight either to California or Honolulu, so you'll want plenty of time to find an airfare deal or available award seat. 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. 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.
Maui Map
Traditionally, Hawaiian Airlines has been the dominant airline operating inter-island travel, and it still is a very common choice with multiple daily flights between the islands. However, Southwest Airlines is now a very formidable competitor in Hawaii, which is great for travelers looking for the best deal to fly to the Big Island, Maui or Kauai. Viking Neptune will also do 32-night Grand Hawaii and Polynesia sailings round-trip from Los Angeles in late 2024 and early 2025 that visit four islands in Hawaii and four in French Polynesia.
Celebrity Cruises
And it can be quick and easy to explore multiple Hawaiian islands — but you have to be strategic. Furthermore, to really enjoy Hawaii you don't want to constantly be on the move, so you need to stay on each island long enough to soak it all in before continuing onto the next. Cruise Critic is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. When you book with one of our partners, please be sure to check their site for a full disclosure of all applicable fees as required by the U.S. A variety of cruise lines call on Hawaii -- Princess, Crystal, Holland America, Royal Caribbean -- but Norwegian Cruise Line has the only big ship based there, sailing from Honolulu. Expedition lines like UnCruise Adventures sail Hawaii's smaller islands.
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Unless you’re flying in a 9-seater plane with Mokulele, you’ll have to arrive at the airport with enough time to go through airport security. Throw in the travel time to and from the airport, and it will still take at least half a day to island-hop—cutting into your precious vacation time. Many visitors overdo it, so be sure to keep that balance of lost time in mind when sorting out your itinerary.
The Safari Explorer cruises the Hawaiian Islands, Alaska's Inside Passage. A benefit of using Virgin Atlantic miles is that they are easy to earn, as you can transfer from Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards and even Marriott Rewards. We've also seen periodic transfer bonuses from both Amex and Citi in the past, so your award rates could be discounted even further by transferring during these promotions. Note that JetBlue awards on Hawaiian Airlines must be booked over the phone with JetBlue, but in our test call, availability lined up roughly with what United displayed as available. Lowest pricing is based on our 3rd party pricing supplier and valid as of April 22nd, 2024.
Night Hawaii Tahiti & MarquesasDetails
Everything you need to know about inter-island travel in Hawaii - The Points Guy
Everything you need to know about inter-island travel in Hawaii.
Posted: Sun, 28 Oct 2018 18:04:27 GMT [source]
More recently many more ships offering an interislands cruise in Hawaii have pumped up their agendas by affording visitors more time ashore between island jaunts. Growing interest in cruising between the islands has led to many more exciting opportunities. In days gone by the popular journey was a Hawaii cruise, leaving from a major US port and sailing around the islands with little time to stop and enjoy the scenery. These days every combination is possible, from one and two day journeys to another island or week-long and longer cruises to all the islands.
Book your select 2025 departure of the below-linked small ship cruises in Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico (Baja, California) and the Galapagos Islands to lock in 2024 pricing and receive 10% off. 100+ combined years of experience, 7 continents explored, decades of expedition cruising around the world & here to help you find & book your dream trip. We’re here to help you save with our partnerships & exclusive Hawaii cruise deals. Work with one Adventure Specialist to prepare for your Hawaii island hopping cruise. Short of an organized cruise, there really isn’t a way for tourists to get from island to island via boat, with the exception of Maui and Lanai.
Kayak or snorkel in Hilo Bay, or — for something different — visit the Volcano Winery to sample vintages made both with grapes and local fruits. The following Hawaii ports are the ones commonly found on cruise itineraries. Attend a luau where you can feast on Hawaiian cuisine and enjoy music, dancing and fire play. Some take place on plantations where you can discover more about local agriculture.
All are one-way cruises just before or after the Alaska cruise season (so late April or early October) between Oahu and Vancouver (or vice versa). The ships call on two Hawaiian islands and spend four or five days in a row at sea. Passports are required since these itineraries begin or end in Vancouver. Norwegian Cruise Line bases only one ship in the region; other lines only sail to the islands seasonally. Booking early will not only guarantee you get the cabin type you want on the sail date you prefer, but may also get you the lowest prices and promotional booking bonuses (i.e. free stuff).
She has an AA degree in travel from Career Com Technical and is an avid RV buff and gardener. In 2014, she published "Mouschie and the Big White Box" about an RV trip across North America.
The "after" gives a chance to transition from the relaxation of the cruise to the hassle of the flight home. This was an ideal trip -- so many fun activities in a beautiful variety of Hawaiian locations, and yet without crowds and hustle-bustle. Both gave us a sense of awe at nature's variety and beauty, and the small groups with expert guides provided a rare atmosphere of intimacy.
Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. Your other choice is to take a smaller 9-seater plane with Mokulele Airlines (recently merged with Makani Kai Air), which is an experience more akin to a private plane charter than a typical commercial airplane. Another perk of the smaller planes is access to the smaller airports throughout the islands, such as Hana Airport on Maui, Waimea-Kohala Airport on the Big Island, and Kalaupapa Airport in Molokai.
As of now, the only commercial ferry that travels between islands is with the Expeditions Ferry that runs between Maui and Lanai. The service offers the perfect opportunity for a day trip from popular Lahaina to quaint Lanai City or Hulopoe Beach Park. It only takes about an hour to travel between the two harbors, and there are five departures and returns each day.
Our team can assist you with your trip this year, or Hawaii cruises in 2025 and beyond. Another way to get around is by helicopter, though most commercial companies won't drop you off. This can be especially exciting, as helicopters allow for better access to more remote areas from a safe distance. The island of Molokai is not accessible directly from the U.S. mainland. In order to get to this island, you'll need to take a connecting flight from HNL, OGG or JHM. You can book flights via Hawaiian Airlines, Makani Kai Air or Mokulele Airlines to Molokai from these three airports, and the flights only take about 25 minutes.
After four days at sea, passengers get a day to explore Ensenada, Mexico, on the Baja California peninsula, before the Crown Princess sails back to San Francisco. For travelers who want more aloha time than the typical eight-hour port call allows, Norwegian Cruise Line has a solution. Its 2,186-passenger Pride of America lets vacationers sample four Hawaiian islands over seven days, with overnights in Maui and Kauai, plus port calls on both Hilo and Kona on the island of Hawaii. When you choose to apply (and are approved) for a new credit card through our site, we may receive compensation from our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear.
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