Cruising to Hawai’i

When it comes to settling on a family-friendly cruise itinerary, there might not be a more obvious choice than Hawai’i.

Sitting in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the only ways to get to the island are plane or cruise ship. Luckily, this paradise is popular enough to warrant plenty of cruise itineraries to the islands.

Different lines offer different types of itineraries. While most major cruise lines will sail to the islands in some capacity, different lines offer different benefits. For example, Norwegian Cruise Line offers an itinerary with stops on each of the four major Hawai’ian islands. Seasoned travelers and families with older kids might enjoy this, but the packed schedule could be a bit much for families with small children.

One point to take into consideration when planning a cruise to a remote destination like Hawai’i is many itineraries do not return to the same port of departure. This is true of Disney Cruise Line cruises, nine and 10 days respectively and beginning in Vancouver, sailing to Honolulu, or in Honolulu and sailing to Vancouver. Disney’s Hawai’i cruise offerings also go to all four islands, but the sailings are more equipped to deal with cruising families.

Royal Caribbean offers six sailings to and from Hawai’i. These cruises are a little more versatile; for instance, one of the 11-day sailings includes a stop in Seattle before departing for the islands. The longest Royal Caribbean cruise to Hawai’i is a 12-day itinerary.

When booking your travel, consider the time of year. Booking for off-season travel is a good way to reduce crowds and cost. For Hawai’i, this time period runs September–December and April–June. Depending on the kind of weather you like, you should aim to travel in one of these off seasons.

Cruising to Hawai’i also makes a vacation out of the transit. For so many days at sea, it can be a good way to get some downtime in before getting inundated and busy with sightseeing on the island.

No matter which time of year or itinerary your family chooses, cruising to Hawai’i is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The islands are filled with varied activities and will keep every member of the family enthralled before arrival and during the family’s time on the island.