Are the Hawaiian islands on your travel bucket list? With over 100 islands that make up the Hawaiian paradise and four main islands for tourist, it may see like a relentless task to plan the perfect vacation. Let me introduce you to the best-kept secret in Hawaiian travel: cruising. Cruising to each island is efficient, convenient, and a downright fun way to hop from one Hawaiian paradise to the next. Here are five reasons to choose a cruise to explore Hawaii.
All-Inclusive Convenience for Families
The number one reason to book a cruise to explore Hawaii is the overall convenience of a cruise. This is especially true for parents traveling with kids.
Your meals? Covered. Entertainment? Right on board. Transportation? Just a quick walk from your cabin. Cruises offer a wide range of dining options, ensuring even the pickiest eaters are satisfied. And the entertainment? It’s endless—from kid-friendly shows and movie nights to pools, water slides, and supervised kids’ clubs that give parents some much-needed downtime.
The Price Is Right
At first glance, a cruise might seem like a splurge, but let’s break it down. Cruising can actually be a fantastic value. The only way to travel between four main Hawaiian island is by air. Imagine booking separate flights, baggage fees, hotels, meals, and entertainment for each island. Things in Hawaii are pricey! The costs can skyrocket faster than a tiki torch. In addition to flights, you must factor in hotel accommodations and meals on each island. With a cruise, most of that is bundled into one tidy package, leaving you more time and money to spend on souvenirs—or more shore excursions.
Choosing a cruise makes it easy to stick to a budget. No surprise expenses, no unexpected fees—just an all-inclusive vacation that leaves you with nothing to worry about except which swimsuit to wear. It’s the ultimate stress-free way to explore Hawaii with your family.
Unpack Once
One of the reasons my family consistently chooses a cruise for many of our vacations is that we only have to unpack once. When you cruise, your luxurious floating hotel moves with you. No need to wrestle with luggage at every stop or try to remember which rental car company has your reservation. Instead, you can glide from one breathtaking island to another, waking up each morning with a new view from your cabin’s balcony.
By choose a cruise to explore Hawaii you can sample the best of each island, all without the stress of inter-island flights or ferry schedules. It’s the ultimate way to “taste” Hawaii and figure out which islands you want to dive deeper into next time.
RECOMMEND READING:
ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CRUISING HAWAII ON NORWEGIAN’S PRIDE OF AMERICA
Cruising Saves Time
With a cruise, you can visit multiple islands without having to check in and out of hotels, arrange inter-island travel, or waste valuable time packing and unpacking. You wake up at a new destination each day, ready to explore, without any of the usual travel hassles. This efficiency means you get to experience the diverse beauty of each Hawaiian island without losing precious hours to travel logistics.
Instead of spending hours traveling and waiting at airports, you effortlessly glide to your next destination overnight while you sleep. This means more time spent exploring and less time in transit. Instead of researching and booking separate hotels, restaurants, and activities on each island, you have everything at your fingertips. This not only saves planning time before your trip but also allows you to maximize your vacation time once you’re there.
Shore Excursions: Choose Your Own Adventure
Whether you’re into hiking, snorkeling, or sipping mai tais on the beach, shore excursions in Hawaii are next-level. From visiting Pearl Harbor on Oahu to snorkeling with manta rays off the coast of the Big Island, the opportunities for adventure are endless.
When you book excursions through your cruise line, everything is coordinated for you—no stressing about getting lost in a rental car or missing a ferry. You just focus on having fun, and they’ll make sure you’re back on board in time for dinner.
Why We Chose Norwegian’s Pride of America
There are many cruise lines traveling to Hawaii. We chose Norwegian Cruise Lines for our Hawaiian adventure for one simple reason: their cruise itinerary maximizes your time exploring the islands and minimizes those long days at sea. Norwegian’s Pride of America is the only cruise ship that sails round-trip from Honolulu year-round, allowing you to see more islands in less time. With minimal days spent at sea, you can pack your itinerary with island-hopping fun—without packing and repacking your suitcase every other day.
Should you choose Norwegian’s Pride of America, I would recommend looking into booking some private shore excursions. This will save you money and you will not have to stress to getting back to the ship as two of the islands include an overnight stay. Read more here.
In Summary
Cruising is the best way to explore Hawaii’s islands because it offers a unique combination of convenience, value, and unforgettable experiences. So why not choose a cruise? Trade your land-locked hotel for a room with a view that changes daily! Save time and money to use to see all the beauty this state has to offer.
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About the Author:
Hi! I’m Chris. I’m a mother, wife, college professor by trade and micro-influencer by hobby. I am a bargain hunter, jack of all trades, and master of chaos.
Thank you for reading my random thoughts on travel, my stories of life as an under appreciated mother of a teenager, and my easy recipes that have won no awards but instead my family’s love and adoration (which is WAY better, right?).
