Hawaii offers year-round cruise vacation options, but different seasons provide particular advantages for groups. Winter tends to be peak season and will likely yield the highest air, hotel, and cruise rates.
On Maui, stroll along Lahaina’s Front Street or snorkel among marine life and coral. On a Hawaiian cruise to Molokai or Kauai, paddleboard past towering sea cliffs while visiting quaint villages – an experience not to be missed!
The Big Island
The Big Island lives up to its name by covering twice as much land as its Hawaiian Island counterparts combined, boasting two dozen climate zones from desert aridity to subarctic tundra conditions. This breathtaking destination makes an impressive statement about our planet.
Visit Kealakekua Bay, where Captain James Cook first landed in 1778, then take a speedboat tour past cliffs, caves, and coral on a speedboat ride. If desired, you may also kayak past 1,000-foot-high sea cliffs or snorkel along its rugged coastline.
UnCruise offers an eight-day Hawaii Island cruise aboard their 36-guest Safari Explorer that’s sure to please adventure travelers. Highlights of this itinerary include hiking Hualalai volcano with a naturalist guide and snorkeling among Giant Pacific Manta Rays at night. Maui features historic Lahaina with paddleboarding past crystalline waters, kayaking along the Lanai coast, or visiting a cultural heritage center. At the same time, Lanai boasts kayaking along the coast or culture heritage center, kayaking along the beach or kayak along the beach, or visiting one of several cultural heritage centers along its coast or visiting one of Lanai’s many cultural heritage centers or cultural and heritage centers quaint culture and heritage centers retro culture and heritage centers quaint culture heritage center quaint culture heritage centers. Ship refurbishment at completion included Cagney Steakhouse and Rudi’s Sel de Mer, among many other unique dining options (at an extra surcharge).
Oahu
Oahu is an introduction to Hawaii, drawing visitors with its famous white-sand beaches and blue Pacific waters. This island’s asymmetrical butterfly shape results from two intersecting volcanoes; its beautiful natural scenery offers something for every traveler – pay your respects at Pearl Harbor, enjoy a Broadway-style musical featuring Disney characters, or conquer a set of steep hiking trails on Oahu’s North Shore which attracts surfers worldwide.
Oahu offers unforgettable memories, from learning the hula to sampling fresh pineapple on a plantation tour. While at sea, take advantage of your cruise’s excellent amenities by touring its bridge and galley (kitchen), playing bocce, or attending an art auction – or on select evenings, take an incredible dinner cruise along Oahu’s western coast – perfect for couples seeking romantic escape!
Molokai
Molokai stands apart from more tourist-oriented islands like Maui, Oahu, and Kauai in that locals want your visit here to be more than a checklist and sightseeing adventure – they want it to be about learning about Hawaiian culture and values and connecting with them through learning experiences like snorkeling tours or hula lessons.
Molokai Island often strikes visitors as one of Hawaii’s more unassuming islands, as you approach from a propeller-driven airplane, with miles upon miles of beaches devoid of people and square miles of scrubland with nothing more than dirt roads running through them resembling an earlier simpler Hawaii before tourism, high-rise hotels, and traffic gridlock became part of daily life.
Once there, it becomes obvious why locals take such pride in their island. Not only can you admire its beaches and towering sea cliffs, but there is also the history of Kalaupapa, a former leper colony located along its northern coastline that now serves as a home for an engaged community that takes its role of upholding traditional Hawaiian values very seriously.
Kauai
Kauai, known as the Garden Isle for its idyllic topography of waterfalls and sharp mountain ridges, is beloved by Polynesians. At the same time, Hollywood continues to film movies there – such as 1934’s White Heat to Jurassic Park, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and King Kong’s 1976 remake.
Poipu Beach and Waimea Canyon offer guests plenty of ways to stay active; guests can experience luaus, hike through rainforest trails or kayak Waimea Canyon, and sunbathe on Poipu Beach while gazing upon Hawaiian monk seals in their natural environment.
Many cruise lines offer Hawaiian Islands itineraries, but only Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America provides round trips that encompass four islands within eight days – departing Oahu every Saturday, this voyage visits Maui, Oahu, and Kauai, all while only needing one unpack!
