Hawaii cruises

Hawaii cruises come in two very different forms. Norwegian runs a US-flagged ship on 7-night round trips from Honolulu that visit Maui, the Big Island and Kauai without a foreign port, so you spend almost every day ashore on a different island. Other lines sail round trips of roughly two weeks from Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco or Vancouver, with four or five days at sea each way and four or five island stops.

The appeal of a cruise is seeing several islands without inter-island flights and repacking. You can tour Pearl Harbor on Oahu, drive the road to Hana or watch sunrise on Haleakala on Maui, visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park from Hilo and see the Na Pali Coast on Kauai, all in one trip.

Weather is pleasant year-round, with highs in the low to upper 80s F at sea level. Winter brings humpback whales and bigger surf on north shores; summer is a little warmer and drier. The longer mainland round trips are best for people who enjoy sea days; if you want maximum island time, the Honolulu round trip is the better fit.

Inter-island cruises from Honolulu run year-round. Round trips from the West Coast are mostly scheduled in fall, winter and spring. Humpback whale season is roughly December through April, peaking January to March. The Central Pacific hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, although direct hits on the islands are uncommon.

Ports you'll likely visit

• Honolulu, Oahu, United States
  Pearl Harbor National Memorial, Waikiki, Diamond Head and the start of inter-island cruises.
• Kahului, Maui, United States
  Gateway to Haleakala National Park, the road to Hana, upcountry farms and winter whale watching.
• Hilo, Hawaii Island, United States
  The closest port to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, plus waterfalls and botanical gardens.
• Kailua-Kona, Hawaii Island, United States
  Coffee farms, snorkeling and historic sites on the sunny west coast. A tender port.
• Nawiliwili, Kauai, United States
  Waimea Canyon, the Na Pali Coast by boat or helicopter, and quiet beaches.
• Ensenada, Mexico
  The foreign port call required on many mainland round trips, usually near the end of the cruise.

Highlights

Four islands, one unpack

Visit Oahu, Maui, Hawaii Island and Kauai without inter-island flights.

Volcanoes and canyons

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Waimea Canyon are day trips from port.

Winter whales

Humpbacks gather in Hawaiian waters from about December to April.

Pearl Harbor

The national memorial is a short drive from the Honolulu cruise terminal.

How long, and what documents

7 nights round trip from Honolulu; 14-18 nights round trip from Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco or Vancouver; one-way repositioning cruises of 10-12 nights in spring and fall.

A round trip from Honolulu stays entirely in the United States, so US citizens need only the government ID they would use to fly there, though your line may still list a passport as preferred. Round trips from Los Angeles, San Diego or San Francisco on foreign-flagged ships must call at a foreign port (usually Ensenada, Mexico) because of the Passenger Vessel Services Act; these are closed-loop cruises, so US citizens can re-enter with a birth certificate and government photo ID under CBP rules. Cruises starting or ending in Vancouver are not closed-loop and require a passport book. A passport book is the safest choice for any cruise with a foreign port. Check current requirements with your line before you sail.

Specialist tips

• For the most island time, choose a Honolulu round trip; mainland round trips spend 8 or more days at sea.
• Rent cars early for Maui and Kauai port days; supply is limited when ships are in.
• Arrive in Honolulu a day or two early to enjoy Oahu and absorb the time change.
• Hawaii bans the sale of sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate to protect its reefs; pack a mineral sunscreen before you go.