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Hawaii Cruise vs. Land Vacation

If you’re wondering why you might want to consider a Hawaii cruise, you’re in the right place! There are many things to consider when deciding between a Hawaii cruise and a land vacation.

Hawaii cruises aren’t the right option for everyone, and there are many Hawaii cruise pros and cons. However, there are some situations where a cruise of the Hawaiian islands makes more sense than a traditional land vacation.

Before we get started, let me introduce myself. My name is Amy, and I’m a Hawaii Travel Agent. I’m one of the top travel agents in Hawaii and would love to assist you with your Hawaii cruise or land vacation. If you’d like to chat more and see if we’d be a good fit, contact me now. I’d be happy to schedule a call to discuss your vacation plans!

Which cruise lines are in Hawaii?

The most popular cruise in Hawaii is the Pride of America with Norwegian Cruise Lines. This cruise is seven days and visits Oahu, Maui, the Big Island (both Kona and Hilo), and Kauai.

Other cruises travel from the West Coast to Hawaii and from Hawaii to other Pacific Islands, including Tahiti and French Polynesia. However, since this is a post about Hawaii cruises, I am focusing on the Norwegian Cruise Line’s 7-day cruise on the Pride of America.

The other cruises spent more time on the water (Hawaii is the most isolated place in the world!), so they aren’t truly Hawaii cruises but only partially Hawaii cruises. Most of your days on the other cruises will be at sea. 

For this particular blog post, I will discuss the 7-day cruise on the Pride of America, the most popular Hawaii cruise and the only one of its kind.

The Pride of America at the port in Honolulu (Oahu.)

Is a Hawaii cruise worth it?

Hawaii cruises differ from land vacations, but that doesn’t mean one is better. Here are seven ways to know if a Hawaii cruise is right for you.

1. If you have limited time but want to see multiple islands

Most people assume interisland travel in Hawaii is easy, but it’s more complicated than you think. There are no bridges connecting the islands and no ferries for environmental reasons.

Yes, actually I get that question about bridges a lot! Click here to read more of the questions you’re afraid to ask about Hawaii. There aren’t ferries between the islands, except for a ferry from Maui to Lanai, an island you aren’t likely to visit anyway. 

While interisland flights are short, you still have to drive to the airport, arrive early, fly, drive to your next hotel or resort, etc. In most situations, this ends up taking up about half the day.

For land vacations, I recommend visiting one island per week or two at the most. This is simply because travel takes time. Beyond that, interisland travel costs a lot more because it costs more every time you switch resorts. Most resorts give you a price break per night after five days, or sometimes even a free night. If you stay only 2-3 days, you’ll never see this break.

For these reasons, a cruise can be a good option if you only have a week and want to see multiple islands. 

You might also enjoy the best airline for interisland flights.

2. You don’t want to worry about planning meals

If you don’t want to worry about deciding where to eat, a Hawaii island cruise might be for you! While you will probably have some meals off the ship, most of your meals will take place on the cruise ship and will be included in your cruise fare.

It’s also important to note that Hawaii does not have all-inclusive resorts; I’ll discuss that in #5.

3. You have limited mobility

I recently had someone reach out to me, asking about things to do if you are older or have limited mobility. She had already booked her trip, but I wish she had contacted me sooner! Cruise ships and most cruise excursions are great options for those with limited mobility.

If you dream of days of hiking and kayaking, a Hawaii cruise might not be for you. However, if those activities aren’t possible due to limited mobility, a cruise might be the best way to see the Hawaiian islands.

4. Do you love cruises?

This is simple, but a Hawaii cruise might suit you if you love cruises. What better way to see the Hawaiian islands than by cruise?

A Hawaii cruise is the best of both worlds for a cruise lover, combining the ease of being on a cruise ship and the beauty of the Hawaiian islands.

Did you know that you can also sail down the Na Pali coast? I can’t imagine a better way to view it than from the balcony of your stateroom.

5. There aren’t many other “all-inclusive” experiences in Hawaii

I’m asked all the time about all-inclusive resorts in Hawaii. The short answer is there aren’t any.

Sure, some hotels have breakfast options and even a couple with full meal options, but they are costly, and none are truly all-inclusive, like what you’d find in Mexico or Jamaica. A Hawaii cruise is the closest thing you’ll find to an all-inclusive Hawaii experience.

You will know exactly how much you’ll spend after booking your cruise and excursions. It might not be cheap, but when you crunch the numbers, a Hawaii cruise is often more affordable than a comparable land vacation. All you need to budget after the cruise and excursions are souvenirs.

6. You’ll always have an ocean view

For many people traveling to Hawaii, an ocean view is a must. As with most things in Hawaii, that ocean view comes at a premium.

While it’s true that not all staterooms have ocean views, many of them do, and you’re never far from an ocean view if you need one.

I highly recommend splurging for the balcony; it’s completely worth it!

Are you ready to book? Contact me, and let’s get started!

7. You only have to unpack once and never worry about your luggage

Thinking of traveling to four islands and unpacking four times is exhausting! Furthermore, one of my top Hawaii travel tips is never to leave anything valuable in your car. That’s hard to do if you’re always on the move.

This problem can be avoided by cruising around the islands. You only have to unpack once and never worry about where to put your luggage. As someone who island hops frequently, I can tell you how much of a hassle it is to always pack and unpack.

How a Hawaii cruise is different than other cruises

A Hawaii cruise is different from other cruises you may have taken before. For many cruises, the destination is the ship itself.

On a Hawaii cruise, the ship is beautiful, but Hawaii is the real destination. You will spend more time on the island, but you can still spend as much time on the ship as you’d like.

Is it expensive? In a word: Yes. A Hawaii cruise will cost more than a comparable Caribbean cruise, etc. Everything costs more in Hawaii; if you plan to visit, you’ll have to get used to that.

Hawaii cruises cost a bit more, plus you’ll have to pay to get to Honolulu. However, Norwegian runs promotions regularly, and I’m always keeping up with any promotions to ensure we get the best pricing possible. 

Book your Hawaii Cruise with a Hawaii Travel Agent

Not only do I have my Masters’s Certificate with Norwegian Cruise Lines, but I also specialize in Hawaii vacations. 

If you’re trying to figure out if a Hawaii cruise is right for you, make sure to contact me and I’ll get back to you ASAP. We can figure out if it makes more sense to cruise or book a traditional vacation.

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Other options for visiting Hawaii

If you’re still considering your options, check out some of my popular Hawaii vacation posts for tips on a more traditional Hawaii vacation.

• Is Hawaii safe?
• 50 things to do in Maui
• What is the best luau in Hawaii?
• Maui vs. Kauai
• 20 things you should never do in Hawaii.
• When is the best time to go to Hawaii?
• What is the best Island to visit in Hawaii?
• 10 things you need to know before going to Hawaii!
• How to survive a long flight and fight jet lag in Hawaii.
• Hawaii all-inclusive resorts, do they exist?

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