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Sea days offer opportunities to enjoy the chic, grown-up ambience and amenities aboard these ships. Each vessel offers multiple complimentary and extra-fee specialty restaurants. Celebrity Solstice features Tuscan Grille for Italian specialties and steak and Murano for modern French cuisine, while Celebrity Edge offers the whimsical Le Petit Chef and the international Eden Restaurant. That means passengers enjoy five or six days in Hawaii on Kauai, Oahu, Maui and the island of Hawaii. Cruisers seeking a less traditional, more carefree Hawaii experience can have it from November to April aboard UnCruise Adventures' 36-passenger Safari Explorer.
Cruise Ports
Visitors to Hawaii, especially first-timers, will want to experience as much of the islands as possible, and a cruise is one way to accomplish that. You can embark from any of several ports on the West Coast (or within Hawaii itself), and the convenience of not worrying about hotel changes or local transportation is a plus. Dates, prices, amenities, and itineraries vary, so picking a cruise requires some planning and research. That's always part of the fun, and we hope this list will inspire you to get started.
Stargazing Along East Oahu
Seabourn, Silversea and Oceania offer upscale accommodations, fine dining and multiple fare inclusions for travelers looking to journey in style across the Pacific Ocean, stopping in Hawaii along the way. Seabourn and Silversea feature smaller ships, more fare inclusions and higher prices than Oceania. For a completely different interisland cruise, UnCruise Adventures offers a more off-the-beaten-path, adventure-focused sailing on the 36-passenger Safari Explorer. 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. Walk out onto the pier, where local kids like to jump off, and soak in the sweeping vistas of the bay, veiled in rain clouds and teeming with vibrant greenery.
The best Hawaii cruises for travelers who love sea days
Port tour options include helicopter rides over Hawaii’s legendary landscapes, a sunrise bicycling tour down the switchbacks of the Haleakala volcano, or a rappelling excursion past 50-foot-high waterfalls in Maui. Spend a week exploring four of Hawaii's islands during this this cruise aboard the 2,186-passenger Pride of America, with onboard activities that include basketball, volleyball, video games, theater, hot tubs, spa, and shopping. Departing Honolulu on Saturday evening, the ship heads to Kahului, Maui for two days with options like a drive on the Road to Hana, a catamaran cruise to Molokini for snorkeling with sea turtles, a tour to Haleakala Crater, and more.
On the Big Island, the Hilo and Puna regions on the east coast are wet and heavily forested, whereas the Kona region, on the west coast, tends to be much drier. Two of Celebrity’s sleek Solstice-class ships—the 2,850-passenger Celebrity Solstice and 2,852-passenger Celebrity Eclipse—run a handful of 10- to 13-night spring and fall Hawaii voyages between Vancouver and Honolulu. Itineraries vary slightly, but generally include stops at Hilo and Kailua-Kona on the Big Island and Lahaina in Maui; several also factor in scenic cruising past the Kilauea volcano and one or two overnight calls in port, too. The four-island itineraries include less commonly visited ports and come chockful of active adventures like hiking to a waterfall in the Halawa Valley or snorkeling alongside green sea turtles off of west Maui.
THE 25 BEST March 2025 Cruises (with Prices) on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic
THE 25 BEST March 2025 Cruises (with Prices) on Cruise Critic.
Posted: Tue, 24 Oct 2023 02:59:57 GMT [source]
Elevate your experience at The Retreat® and stay in a beautiful suite with access to a private lounge and the exclusive restaurant, Luminae at The Retreat. Hawaiian people feel a deep connection to nature and embrace the spirit of Aloha, which means living in harmony with nature and the people around you. Beliefs are expressed through beautiful chants, music, graceful hula, and art. Stories relayed from one generation to the next invoke the spirits and the historical events that have shaped the islands. Natural phenomena are understood as the work of gods and goddesses, and many locations and animals are regarded as sacred. Vegetarians have plenty of choices in Hawaii, but this isn't one of them.
Additionally, lodging prices in Hawaii can be high due to its popularity as a vacation destination. Restaurants are also more expensive than on the mainland because many staples have to be shipped in from afar. In addition to the free shore excursions, pricing includes complimentary wine or beer with lunch and dinner, specialty dining at no extra charge, crew gratuities and transfers.
Carnival's 14- or 15-night Hawaii from Los Angeles
If you’re looking to purchase locally crafted goods, Waialae Avenue has you covered. In fact, there’s an entire movement dedicated to supporting the small businesses of the area, known as Keep It Kaimuki. Hawaii is more than meets the eye, and there’s a transformative experience awaiting visitors who want to go beyond the beaten path. If you’re looking to experience the spiritual power of the Aloha State's natural beauty and history, or see where the locals like to go, here are 10 underrated places to visit in Hawaii. Popular amongst many cruise lines including Celebrity Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, and Norwegian Cruise Line. Spend time at the picturesque Wailua River, where you can kayak or take a leisurely riverboat cruise to the stunning Fern Grotto.
Other lines and ships offer there-and-back Hawaii itineraries from ports like San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Early fall is another shoulder season that offers good weather (as noted above, Hawaii is generally not in the path of storms during the central Pacific hurricane season) and fewer crowds. Cruise tourism to Hawaii begins to pick up again as cruise lines reposition ships from Alaska, and it's possible to find good-value fares during this time by booking well in advance or even last-minute. Airfare and hotel rates for pre- or post-cruise stays should be lower, too. The majestic power of Mother Nature can be seen throughout the islands, but Maui’s Nakalele Blowhole is one of the best places to witness that force up close. Getting to the blowhole, located on the northern part of the island, requires a windy and scenic drive along Honoapiʻilani Highway.
Once the calendar page hits mid-December, however, Christmas and New Year's crowds begin arriving and cruise, airfare and hotel room prices skyrocket. If you're on a tight budget or crowds make you crazy, it's best not to book a holiday cruise. Turtles are also abundant in Hawaii's warm, calm waters during this time since it's nesting season, while dolphins frequent Hawaiian waters year-round. So, while you'll miss the chance to see wintering humpback whales, there's still plenty of sea life to spot. Spring break in March is also a popular time for family vacations in Hawaii, so crowds can be expected. Winter is also the season to experience two of Hawaii's most incredible phenomena.
Nearly 10 million people made the trek to the archipelago last year, a destination with a population of around 1.5 million. The Hawaiian islands offer accessible natural beauty throughout the year — from the mountains (known as mauka) to the sea (called makai). Think sun-drenched beaches with warm water, waterfalls hidden in rain forests, and sand in hues of white, black, and red.
Holding much cultural significance, Ka Lae (or “the point” in Hawaiian) is believed to be where the first Polynesian voyagers landed in Hawaii and one of the earliest settlements on the islands. Evidence of the ancient Hawaiians remains there to this day, including an ancient fishing shrine, marked by stone walls and a platform where fish was once prepared. To get there, drive to the end of South Point Road in Naʻalehu on Hawaii Island until you reach the 69 and 90 mile markers. Once you finish reveling in this sacred space, head over to Papakolea Beach, one of just four green-sand beaches in the world. Hawaii has beckoned tourists away from their daily routines to experience paradise for years.
November is also a month with fewer crowds and generally favorable weather. If you visit early enough in May or late enough in November (into early December), you may even catch sight of the humpback whales that winter here, especially in the waters around Maui. Must-sees on Maui include the extinct volcano Haleakala (for sunset or sunrise visits or bike rides down the steep slopes), the twisty road to Hana with its waterfall views and many gorgeous white-sand beaches. Maui is the best Hawaii cruise port for whale watching in season or snorkeling in its clear waters.
Visitors can take a short hike through a 500-year-old lava field and view the fragile petroglyphs from a boardwalk. People come to Hawaii for the beach, and while Waikiki may technically have one, it often feels too crowded to relax. For a true beach day, pack up some snacks and gear and head all the way west to Yokohama Bay.
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