Hawaii Cruises
Four islands in a week, or a relaxing round-trip voyage from the West Coast — two very different ways to see Hawaii by sea.
Get Up to 5 Free Cruise QuotesCruising Hawaii
There are two basic types of Hawaii cruise, and the difference matters:
Inter-island (7 nights)
Norwegian Cruise Line’s US-flagged Pride of America sails year-round from Honolulu, calling at Maui, Hilo and Kona on the Big Island, and Kauai — with overnights, so you have time ashore. Read Mister Cruise’s full review.
Round-trip from the West Coast (14–18 nights)
Ships sail from Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle or Vancouver, spend four or five days at sea each way and visit four or five Hawaiian ports. Foreign-flagged ships must also call at a foreign port, usually Ensenada, Mexico.
One-way and repositioning
In spring and fall, ships moving between Alaska, the West Coast, Australia and Asia offer one-way Hawaii voyages, sometimes combined with Tahiti and French Polynesia.
At a Glance
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Season | Inter-island: year-round. West Coast round-trips: mostly September through May. |
| Typical length | 7 nights (inter-island); 14–18 nights (from the mainland) |
| Main ports | Honolulu (Oahu), Kahului (Maui), Hilo and Kona (Big Island), Nawiliwili (Kauai) |
| Good for | Island-hopping without flights; sea-day lovers on the longer voyages |
Smart Traveler tips
- On an inter-island cruise, fly to Honolulu a day or two early and stay in Waikiki.
- Rent a car on Maui and Kauai; book popular excursions such as Haleakala or the Na Pali Coast early.
- Kona is a tender port, so landing there depends on the sea.
Plan Your Hawaii Cruise
Flights
Flights to Honolulu and West Coast ports. Plan to arrive at least a day before the ship sails.Shore excursions
Find shore activities by portBrowse Hawaii cruise lines, deals and specialists on the Official Cruise Directory: Hawaii cruises.
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Get Free Cruise QuotesHawaii Cruise FAQ
Why do Hawaii cruises from California stop in Mexico?
US law (the Passenger Vessel Services Act) requires foreign-flagged ships carrying passengers between US ports to call at a foreign port. Round-trip Hawaii cruises from the West Coast usually stop in Ensenada, Mexico. Pride of America is US-flagged, so it can sail only within Hawaii.
Which Hawaii cruise is best for a first visit?
For seeing as much as possible in a week, the 7-night inter-island cruise from Honolulu. If you love days at sea and want to avoid a long flight, a round-trip from the West Coast is a relaxing alternative.