Are Hawaiian Cruises The Best Way To Experience Hawaii?

The state of Hawaii comprises the eight main islands of Hawaii, Lanai, Maui, Oahu, Niihau, Kauai, Molokai and Kahoolawe. It is widely acclaimed as the most isolated population center on the face of the earth and is blessed with beautiful beaches, thick and lush tropical rain forests, pristine waterfalls and majestic volcanoes. Spend time at the beach or take a trek into the natural rain forests. Explore the volcanoes or take awesome pictures of the waterfalls. With so much to do and see, it is a challenge to plan an unforgettable Hawaiian vacation.

Of late, Hawaiian cruises have become more and more popular and fast becoming a hit with those who have yet to experience the islands. Are Hawaiian cruises the best way to experience Hawaii? To choose whether taking a cruise to Hawaii is a wise vacation option, these are some pros and cons you should consider:-

Pros:

You don’t have to plan your Hawaii vacation. The cruise company deals with all the difficult work of planning for your itinerary, meals, entertainment, logistics and possibly, land accommodation. In most cases, with their economies of scale, cruise companies are able to get good deals for you.

See all. Experience all. Cruising can be a good option to see and experience as much as possible in one single cruise trip. Many cruise companies arrange ways for you to visit at least three of the Hawaiian islands in one itinerary. Usually, the cruise ship travels whilst you are asleep and that saves you valuable time allowing you to feel afresh when you hit the shores the next day.

It is most common for Hawaii cruise vacations to plan local sampling of food and to allow you to experience the traditional Hawaiian Luau. Moreover, there is plenty of things to do onboard.

Cons:

Well, if the cruise company plans the itinerary one way, that’s the only way you will be experiencing Hawaii. Check on your sightseeing time allocation. Some Hawaii cruises have limited time on shore and this make reduce a full experience of what the Hawaiian islands could offer.

Hawaii islands are beautiful but the ports are a disappointment. If you could look past the port, then you will be alright.

Though you will have a sampling on great Hawaiian dishes, most of the meals will be onboard the cruise. And that said, some of the food on Hawaiian cruises could fare much better.

Evaluate the pros and cons of taking a cruise for your Hawaii vacation and see if a Hawaiian cruise is the best for your Hawaiian vacation.

Hawaii Cruise Information and Costs

Most of the large-ship cruise lines now operate the Hawaii route, some year round, some only in the spring and fall as their ships reposition to and from Alaska. The different lines differ widely in quality and theme.

Here are 2 of the most popular ones:

Pride of America

If you’re looking for a cruise line that cruises Hawaii only, embarking and debarking in a Hawaiian port of call, the Norwegian Cruise Line America (NCLA)’s U.S flagged ship, Pride of America, offers fabulous new inter-island itineraries in Hawaii all year long, with shorter days at sea and longer days in port.

NCL has a fourth vessel in Hawaii (Norwegian Wind), offering 10 and 11 day sailings including Fanning Island in the Republic of Kiribati to satisfy the Jones Act (since it is not a U.S flagged ship).

It is the least expensive choice of all the liners that cover the Hawaii route. Their main attraction is a unique cruising experience called “Freestyle Cruising”, which allows for dining when and where you want, no set dress codes and a leisurely disembarkation program among other benefits.

Holland America

An upscale line, with a typical average passenger age of 55 – 85 and departs from San Diego or Seattle before circling the famed islands in 15 or 17 days.

Also offers a 30-day Hawaii South Pacific Explorer cruise, which calls on the exotic islands of Bora Bora, Moorea and Nuka Hiva.

Expect 5-star gourmet dining and an extremely professional staff – almost like being in a 5 star hotel.

The cost of a cruise to Hawaii in general varies from one liner to another. However, many cruise lines tend to offer discounts for early bookings and for seniors. A group rate may also be available for those traveling with a large group of family and friends.

Prices tend to be much higher over summer and during the christmas season due to increased demand. Generally, cruises are at their cheapest November-February, except for holidays.

Typical cruise package costs are as follows:
• 7-day roundtrips from Honolulu cost about $520-$1,100 for a standard cabin; about $1,000-$1,650 for a cabin with a balcony; and about $1,600-$3,000 for a suite. Any airfare costs to Hawaii will be in addition to this.
• 10-15-night cruises departing from Ensenada, Mexico to Vancouver, BC and ports in the west mainland cost any between $900-$2,700 for a cabin; $1,500-$2,900 for a cabin with a balcony and about $1,700-$4,700 or more for a suite.
• 15-31 days may also be available at prices ranging from $1,100-$4,500 or more.
Always read the fine print to make sure there are no additional costs before committing yourself to what may seem like a great deal.
• Be sure that the price you’re quoted includes port taxes and other fees as you may end up paying more than you bargained for.
• On-shore activities are not always inclusive and you may have to pay extra for these - prices tend to vary depending on what’s involved.
• Onboard tipping may add $5-$10 daily per traveler. However, some cruise lines, such as Seabourn, Radisson Seven Seas, Silversea and Windstar, include tips in the basic price.
• Some lower-priced vessels may charge for restaurants, special shows, spa treatments or any other shipboard amenities. However, luxury ships generally include everything in the price except for port excursions and bar tabs.

Experience Hawaii Onboard and On-Foot

Have you ever heard people talk about their Hawaii cruise excursion experiences and envy their joyful recollections? Well, there are numerous other reasons why you should book yourself a deal. With the islands’ refreshingly tropical climate and breathtaking sites to see like the Kilauea volcano, a Hawaii cruise excursion may just be your one-way ticket to a fabulous outing.

First things first: You should consider freeing 10 to 14 days from your calendar, as the area the cruise covers will be vast area. This is not even considering the ocean that surrounds these islands. So if you are departing from San Diego or Los Angeles for example, expect the trip to be that long.

It is also obviously imperative that you find the best cruise ship that suits your leisurely needs. The best part of being on a Hawaiian cruise excursion is you can just sit back and take in the sights. But if you’re the restless type, then a ship with the facilities that can cater to your interests would greatly enhance your enjoyment. If rock climbing or working out in a mini-gym is your cup of tea, then avail of a cruise ship with those features. That’s not to say that you’ll be bored in your Hawaii cruise excursion. You can do things such as horseback riding, deep-sea diving and playing golf once you make the proper shore excursion arrangements.

If you have a problem with seasickness, you can opt to go to Hawaii by plane and then board the cruise ship from thereon. But take note that cruise ships are generally huge, so you won’t feel the waves too much when you’re inside them. For specifics, you can contact Norwegian Cruise Lines in this matter, as they are the primary inter-island cruise operators in Hawaii. Plus, since you cut short your time in getting there, you can spend more time traveling around them.

As with any traveling adventures, the schedule will also play a part in your overall comfort. Most people do their excursions in the summer or the Christmas season, so if you desire a less populated and more affordable trip, it is advisable to sign up on the months of September and October.

Going on a Hawaii cruise excursion is surely a great way to consume your vacation time. You can never go wrong on a trip that has a beautiful destination without the hassles.

Why A Cruise To Hawaii Is Better!

If you’re trying to decide whether a cruise to Hawaii is really better than an air and land expedition, there are a few reasons why a cruise is so much better – unless of course you are prone to sea sickness.

Get To See All The Islands

You can get to see the four main islands of Hawaii in a 7-10 night round trip Honolulu sailing aboard one of the cruise liners, such as Norwegian Cruise Line, staying a day or two on each island, which would be adequate time to explore the tropical forests and active volcanoes, relax on the beach and partake in all the other activities on offer before moving on to the next island.

Trying to cover the the same itinerary yourself by air and land would take you longer than 10 days and you might not even get to see much of the islands depending on how much vacation time you’ve got. Not only that, the costs of flying and staying in hotels would work out to be much more than the cruise package cost. Additionally, you would be spending your vacation days packing and unpacking as you travel from one island to another, not to mention the times you would spend waiting at the airports for each flight.

All Exclusive Vacation

A cruise to Hawaii on one of the lines will be based on a package that covers transportation, accommodations, meals and entertainment. Additionally, the cruise line can arrange airfare (if you’re coming from mainland USA), pre or post cruise land packages and shore excursions for you at a reasonable charge.

However, if you were to arrange all of the above on your own, your total costs for the whole vacation might actually come up to double the cruise package cost.

The only time an air and land expedition might even begin to make sense is if you have a lot of vacation time to spare, can afford it and all you really want to do is relax on the beach without getting caught up in all the activities that other holidaymakers engage in - but wouldn’t that be boring?