Visitors to Hawaiʻi often face an interesting situation. They want to travel around our diverse islands and experience all that Hawaiʻi has to offer, but face the difficulty of logistics. Here’s where a Hawaiian cruise is a sought-after experience.
A cruise brings an efficient and luxurious way to experience more than just one Hawaiian island. It provides a comfortable home base for you to explore, relax, and simply have fun. Think of it as a floating resort to maximize your island immersion.
As you start to plan your Hawaiian cruise, we wanted to offer some information to help get you started. While there are many cruise lines worth your time and money, we’ve provided a few suggestions to kick off your search.
Best Time to Cruise Hawaiʻi
If you’re balancing warm weather, fewer crowds, and more affordable prices, the “shoulder seasons” are generally recommended. These include months in late spring (April to June) and early fall (September to December). If whale watching is a high priority for you, then the winter months (December to April) offer the best chance for you to experience the magic of koholā (humpback whales), migrating to our warm waters to breed and mate. Summer (June to August) brings hot weather and the ability to engage in many amazing activities, but will more likely than not see larger crowds and higher prices. As you start to plan your trip, think about what’s most important for you to make the most of your time in Hawaiʻi.
Best Hawaiian Cruise Lines
Our motivation in offering these cruise lines is to inspire you to cruise Hawaiʻi and have a memorable experience. There are many fantastic cruise lines to choose from and these three will hopefully get you started on your search as you investigate further into amenities, price, and more.
Pride of America (Norwegian Cruise Line)
Pride of America provides a great Hawaiian cruise experience, allowing you to immerse yourself in four islands over seven days. The vessel, updated in 2022, offers a unique blend of relaxation and adventure, and is the sole ship cruising year-round from Honolulu. The ship holds just over 2,100 guests, offers plenty of amenities, and enough support from its crew.
LEARN MORE ABOUT PRIDE OF AMERICA
Koningsdam (Holland America Line)
This cruise line offers a 17-day cruise around Hawaiʻi, providing a contemporary yet elegant experience for its 2,650 passengers. With plenty of activities to enjoy on the ship, and certainly tons of amazing experiences to do off of it, Koningsdam offers a fantastic blend of relaxation and adventure.
Ruby Princess (Princess Cruises)
This recently updated cruise ship offers more adult-only opportunities, making this a nice getaway for couples or adult groups. The ship holds just over 3,000 people and allows nearly 80 percent of guests in exterior cabins to have balconies for outdoor relaxation. From casual activities to more formal options, Ruby Princess is a nice choice for your Hawaiian cruise.
LEARN MORE ABOUT RUBY PRINCESS
Tips for Choosing the Right Hawaiian Cruise
Choosing the right Hawaiian cruise line for you and your family involves important factors to align with your preferences and budget.
What’s your preference for itinerary? Some cruise lines involve more inter-island exploration while others are longer round-trip cruises from the mainland. These will be likely based on your desired sea days and island visits.
Who are you traveling with? Choose a cruise line and ship that aligns with your ideal experience, whether it’s for a family vacation, romantic getaway, or more active adventure.
What’s your budget? It’s important to factor in cruise fare inclusions, optimize your booking time, and consider traveling during shoulder seasons to make sure you get the most out of your trip regarding budget.
Does a cruise line offer shore excursions? Decide whether you prefer the convenience of excursions offered by your cruise line, or the flexibility and potential savings of traveling around on your own.
How big is the ship? Determine if you desire a large ship with potentially more entertainment and amenities, or a smaller, more intimate vessel.
What are the cabins like? Consider a balcony cabin in Hawaiʻi for better viewing. There’s so much to see from our beautiful landscape.
How are the reviews? Reviews from past cruisers’ are important to gain real-world insights into specific ships, quality of service, and the overall experience.
Depending on which cruise you decide to travel with, you may get the chance to visit Maui. And we’d love to have you. At the Maui Ocean Center, we have incredible opportunities to see the diverse flora and fauna of our islands with exhibits and experiences. Our award-winning restaurant and locally-curated gift shop round out your experience for the complete Maui package. Get your tickets today and have your itinerary all set for when you arrive.
When traveling to Maui there will never be a shortage of things and places to see. Make sure you’re always abiding by local and cultural laws when exploring the natural beauty of Maui and most importantly, relax! That’s what you came to do after all.
