Interisland Cruises Around Hawaii
Hawaii interisland cruises offer a number of shore excursions which an essential component of any cruise. Passengers are given the chance to try their hand at a whole range of activities which do not often present themselves very often. SNUBA diving, kite boarding, windsurfing, snorkeling colorful reefs and observing the graceful humpback whales which grace Hawaii's shallow waters during the winter - this is just a taste of awaits you.
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Apart from the activities, inter-island cruises allow vacationers the chance to see some amazing sites. Tour operators are often waiting at the ports of call, ready to take you on an Island adventure!
A typical Inter-Island cruise extends over 7 to 10 days, and an itinerary will look similar to the one below.
Day 1 Set off from Honolulu on Oahu in the early evening.
Day 2 Arrive on Kauai (Nawiliwili) in the early morning and spend the night.
Day 3 Leave Kauai around lunch time and set sail for Hilo.
Day 4 Arrive in Hilo early morning, setting sail again in the early evening to cruise past Mount Kilauea.
Day 5 Arrive in Kona early morning, setting sail again in the early evening.
Day 6 Arrive on Maui in the early hours of the morning and spend the night.
Day 7 Leave Maui in the early evening
Day 8 Dock in Honolulu in the morning
Interisland cruises of Hawaii also set off from California. These follow a similar itinerary but extend over an extra eight days due to the time need to sail from the mainland to the archipelago.
Typical Ports of Call
No island is the same as the other, so each port of call offers a completely unique experience. The schedule varies between companies but generally speaking vessels usually pull into Honolulu, Lahaina (Maui), Nawiliwili (Kauai) and Hilo on The Big Island. Few lines go out of their way to stop at the smaller islands of Lanai and Molokai. With each call, prepare yourself for some of the world's best sightseeing opportunities.
These cruises will introduce you to the state's capital - Honolulu. Walk the sands of the infamous Waikiki Beach, experience the solemnity of the USS Arizona Memorial which stands as a firm reminder of the tragedy of Pearl Harbor, visit the opulent North Shore or take the kids to the Sea Life Park and the Honolulu Zoo.
Passengers are often given about two days shore leave on "The Valley Isle" of Maui. Ships often moor very early in the morning and remain here till the evening of the second day. A similar pattern is followed when the cruise broaches the waters of Oahu, although in most cases arriving in Honolulu usually signifies the end of the voyage. Many travel agents do however offer cruise packages that provide passengers with night at a hotel, this way holidaymakers can get to see more of the island.
The largest of the isles - the Big Island of Hawaii - is home to two ports of call. Hilo and Kailua Kona are situated on opposite sides of the island and offer passengers two very different experiences. The Alii Drive, Hulihe'e Palace, Kealakekua Bay, Pu'uhonua o Honaunau (Place of Refuge) and in October of every year the Ironman Triathlon - these are all waiting to be discovered on your stop over at Kailua Kona. Hilo on the other hand provides the setting for the beautiful Rainbow Falls, Hawaii's Tropical Botanical Garden, naturally formed volcanic pools and lava steam rooms. A large number of Hawaii interisland cruises make a point of departing in the early evening and purposely follow a route which takes them along the south coast of the island. The night is broken by facets of intense red and orange - this is non-other than the emissions of the Kilauea Volcano found in the famous Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
For many Kauai is the port of call of choice. The Garden Isle is abundant with some of the most striking natural scenes on the planet. Our only grimace is that the stop here never seems to be as long enought. If you are a definitive Kauai fan then we suggest you have a good look at your inter-island cruise itinerary and check the length of the shore excursions before you commit. Passengers should keep a look out for a fantastic view of the incredible Na Pali coast.
The number of cruise lines that offer an interisland service has grown over the years and holidaymakers often now find themselves spoiled for choice. We would recommend Norwegian Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean Cruise - both will provide an unforgettable experience.
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