How to Travel to Hawaii by Cruise Ship
Hawaii is accessible by air or sea. While most visitors to Hawaii fly to the islands, many people choose to travel to Hawaii on a cruise ship. Cruising is a popular way to see Hawaii because cruise ships allow you to see several islands during the same trip without the need to buy additional inter-island flights. Cruising also includes your room and meals with the price of your cruise ticket. Several cruise ships travel to Hawaii from the U.S. mainland.
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Instructions
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Book the Cruise
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Find a cruise ship for your trip. Several cruise lines offer cruises to Hawaii, including Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Holland America and Carnival. Most ships leave from Vancouver, British Columbia, Los Angeles, San Diego and western Mexico. Visit various cruise line websites to find the right cruise for you based on budget, travel dates, scheduled destinations and length of the cruise. You can also search discount cruise websites like CruisesOnly.com, HawaiiCruises.com and Hawaiicruiseoutlet.com to see a list of cruises from a variety of cruise lines.
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Contact a travel agent. Travel agents can book your trip for you or can provide brochures and other information about cruising to Hawaii. You do not need a travel agent to travel to Hawaii on a cruise ship, but if you having problems finding the right cruise for you from online websites, then a travel agent is a good alternative to booking online.
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Book your cruise. You can book your cruise online using your credit card, over the phone with the cruise company or through a travel agent. After you book your cruise, book airfare to get to the cruise departure city.
Prepare for the Cruise
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Purchase a Hawaiian guidebook to read about Hawaii's culture and attractions. You can also get a lot of this information online at websites like Gohawaii.com, Hawaiitourismauthority.org or Hawaii.com.
Each island of Hawaii is unique. Kauai offers plenty of lush rain forest vegetation and several small towns. Oahu is home to Honolulu, Hawaii's largest city, and most urban area (though once you leave the Honolulu area, the urban feel disappears). Maui is home to several tourist attractions, snorkeling and seasonal whale watching. The Big Island (also known as "Hawaii") has an active volcano to visit. Plenty of activities await visitors on each island. Hiking, biking, water activities, nature observation and relaxing are just a few of the most common activities on each Hawaiian island.
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Pack for your Hawaiian cruise. Pack typical vacation gear: shorts, t-shirts, swimsuits, sandals, sun block, sunglasses etc. Also, pack one or two formal outfits, as cruise ships usually have at least one or two formal nights, when guests are encouraged to dress up in the evening. Bring a jacket and long pants, as Hawaii's weather can go from 80 degrees and sunny to pouring rain in just a few minutes. If you hike to some of Hawaii's higher elevations, like Haleakala on Maui, bring winter clothes, as it gets cold at the higher elevations. Bring your Hawaii guidebook or list of activities you plan to do while in Hawaii.
Bring spending cash for your trip to purchase souvenirs and other memorabilia from your trip. Also, bring your credit card because the cruise will charge for any on board purchases. Bring your passport as well; although Hawaii is a U.S. state and does not require a passport for U.S. citizens, your cruise ship might stop in countries outside of the U.S., and you will need your passport for re-entry.
Lastly, bring your camera as Hawaii offers some of the most picturesque views in the world.
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Board your cruise ship and take a walking tour to get to know the ship. Most cruise ships offer a plethora of activities and amenities you can enjoy while you are not exploring the islands of Hawaii. Casinos, spas, live entertainment, pools, hot tubs, workout facilities and lounges are just a few common cruise ship features. Familiarize yourself with the cruise schedule: which days you are at sea, which days you are at specific islands and so on.
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Tips & Warnings
Arrive in the cruise departure city a day before the cruise is scheduled to leave. That way, if you run into travel delays, you allow yourself enough time to still make it to the port before the ship leaves.
References
- Photo Credit cruise ship image by Kate Jones from Fotolia.com
