Don't be deceived by the price of the trip. Rather, you should select the cruise as it meets specified criteria. What is your budget? The quoted price includes all of your meals on the ship as well as accommodations. Occasionally, you are also given a ship credit to spend on drinks at the bar or mementos at the gift shop on board. Which islands would you like to travel to? Make sure the trip covers all the bases and leaves you with plenty of time (at least eight hours) at each port.
The cruise lines that service Hawaii have different reputations and appeal to different types of travelers. Celebrity and Royal Caribbean, for instance, appeals to young families, while Holland America and Norwegian cater to older, retired folk.
There are a few cruise lines that offer 15 day trips to Hawaii from California, but most cruises begin and end in Honolulu and include stops at all of the major islands of the Big Island, Maui and Kauai. The roundtrip cruises last between seven to eleven days, and excursion times in ports are usually around eight hours, if not longer.
If you thought the Titanic was big, then you'll be astounded at the size of these new cruise ships. Nowadays, these ships cost more than 100 million dollars and have a capacity of over 2,000 guests. There are more intimate boats, but these tend to be private charters that are at least twice as expensive as floating resorts that set out from Aloha Tower's harbor.
All cruises offer optional excursions at every port. These excursions cost between $50 (city tour) to $500 (helicopter tour). About 50 percent of passengers choose to take a cruise excursion, while the other half go off on their own. Familiarize yourself with each island's highlights and offerings and plan ahead by selecting an activity that best suits your needs and interests.
