Alaska, Hawaii, Canada & the US
Hawaii cruises
Hawaii cruises come in two kinds: Norwegian’s 7-night inter-island round trips from Honolulu, which sail year-round and visit Maui, the Big Island and Kauai with overnight stays, and 14- to 17-night round trips from California or Vancouver with four or five sea days each way. The islands are warm all year; winter brings humpback whales and more rain, while late spring and early fall offer the best mix of weather, value and smaller crowds.
- Season: Year-round; humpback whales December to April. Best weather-and-value months April to May and September to October.
- Typical length: 7 nights inter-island from Honolulu; 14 to 17 nights from the West Coast
Photo: Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Season
- Year-round; humpback whales December to April. Best weather-and-value months April to May and September to October.
- Typical length
- 7 nights inter-island from Honolulu; 14 to 17 nights from the West Coast
- Best months
- Jan, Feb, Mar, May, Sep
- Main departure ports
- Honolulu, Los Angeles, San Diego
- Ports covered here
- 4
- Cruise lines
- 8 lines sail here
What a Hawaii cruise is like
A Hawaii cruise solves the islands’ biggest logistical headache. Instead of booking inter-island flights and packing up hotel rooms, you unpack once and wake up somewhere new: Maui’s Kahului for Haleakalā and the Road to Hana, Hilo for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Kona for coffee farms and snorkeling, and Nawiliwili on Kauai for Waimea Canyon and the Na Pali Coast. Honolulu, with Pearl Harbor and Waikiki, bookends the trip.
US law shapes the options. Norwegian’s Pride of America is US-flagged with an American crew, which lets it sail purely between Hawaiian ports every week of the year, with overnight stays on Maui and Kauai. Every other line uses foreign-flagged ships, so their Hawaii cruises start on the West Coast or in Vancouver and must call at a foreign port, usually Ensenada in Mexico, on the way home. Those voyages spend eight or so days at sea in total, which some travelers love and others find too long.
Hawaii cruises suit couples, families and anyone who wants several islands without hotel-hopping. The trade-offs: fares on the inter-island ship are higher than for a comparable week in the Caribbean, and port days can feel short for big sights like the Road to Hana. Pick an itinerary with overnights if you want sunrise at Haleakalā or a slow day on Kauai.
Best time to cruise Hawaii
- Jan: Best time to go
- Feb: Best time to go
- Mar: Best time to go
- Apr: Good time to go
- May: Best time to go
- Jun: Good time to go
- Jul: Good time to go
- Aug: Good time to go
- Sep: Best time to go
- Oct: Good time to go
- Nov: Good time to go
- Dec: Good time to go
- No regular sailings
- Shoulder season
- Good time to go
- Best time to go
Hawaii in JanuaryBest time to go
January is the heart of whale season, and humpbacks breach in the channels around Maui almost daily. It’s also the wettest stretch of the winter, though showers favor the windward sides of the islands, like Hilo, while Kona and Kahului stay sunnier. Giant winter swells pound north shores, making some beaches unsafe for swimming. West Coast round trips are plentiful.
Hawaii in FebruaryBest time to go
February continues peak whale-watching, and Maui’s whale festival season keeps the harbors busy with boats. Temperatures sit in the upper 70s to low 80s °F, with cooler evenings and passing showers. Presidents’ Day week and Valentine’s getaways push up demand on Pride of America sailings, so reserve early.
Hawaii in MarchBest time to go
March brings the Honolulu Festival and Prince Kūhiō Day on the 26th, along with the last strong weeks of whale season. Spring break lifts family demand mid-month. Winter rains taper off and north-shore surf calms, opening more snorkeling spots on Kauai and Maui.
Hawaii in AprilGood time to go
The week after Easter, Hilo hosts the Merrie Monarch Festival, widely regarded as the most prestigious hula competition anywhere, filling the town with performances and craft fairs. Late whales still linger early in the month. Repositioning ships heading from Hawaii to Alaska offer one-way bargains, and the islands are drier and quieter after spring break.
Hawaii in MayBest time to go
May is one of the best months: dry, sunny, warm without summer’s humidity, and before families arrive. May 1 is Lei Day, celebrated with flower garlands and music across the islands. Fewer foreign-flagged ships call while most are in Alaska, so this is mainly a Pride of America month, often with better fares.
Hawaii in JuneGood time to go
King Kamehameha Day on June 11 brings floral parades and lei-draped statues in Honolulu and on the Big Island. Summer begins, with highs in the mid-80s °F, calm south-facing waters and family crowds once mainland schools finish. The Central Pacific hurricane season starts, though direct hits on Hawaii are rare.
Hawaii in JulyGood time to go
July is hot, busy and in high demand, with fireworks over Waikiki on the Fourth and families filling Pride of America. South-shore surf picks up, while north shores turn glassy for snorkeling. Tours such as Haleakalā sunrise and Molokini snorkeling sell out, so book them before you leave home.
Hawaii in AugustGood time to go
August is among the hottest months, with the warmest sea and, in some years, tropical storms passing south of the islands. Hawaii marks Statehood Day on the third Friday of the month. Crowds thin once mainland schools resume late in August, and humid days make early starts on the volcano and canyon tours worthwhile.
Hawaii in SeptemberBest time to go
September is a sweet spot: warm, mostly dry, with kids back in school and lower fares. The Aloha Festivals bring Hawaiian music, a royal court and a floral parade to Oʻahu. Late in the month, ships finishing the Alaska season start repositioning to Hawaii, adding one-way options from Vancouver.
Hawaii in OctoberGood time to go
October is still warm and fairly dry, though the wet season starts to creep in late in the month. Foreign-flagged ships return from Alaska, bringing back West Coast round trips and repositioning voyages. The Kona coffee harvest is underway on the Big Island, and shoulder-season fares make it a smart month for value seekers.
Hawaii in NovemberGood time to go
The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival celebrates the harvest with farm tours and tastings in early November. Winter swells start building on north shores, bringing big-wave surf contests to Oʻahu. Rain increases on windward coasts. Fares are reasonable until Thanksgiving week, and the first humpbacks may arrive late in the month.
Hawaii in DecemberGood time to go
December brings the holiday peak, with Christmas and New Year sailings priced highest and booked early. Humpbacks arrive in growing numbers, Honolulu lights up for its City Lights celebration, and December 7 remembrance ceremonies at Pearl Harbor draw visitors. Expect more showers, especially in Hilo.
Average weather across Hawaii ports
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F (°C) | 6920 | 6920 | 7021 | 7222 | 7424 | 7825 | 8027 | 8127 | 8027 | 7826 | 7323 | 6921 |
| Low °F (°C) | 6217 | 6116 | 6217 | 6418 | 6619 | 6820 | 7122 | 7222 | 7122 | 6921 | 6619 | 6217 |
| Rain in (mm) | 4.1103 | 3.793 | 4.3110 | 3.075 | 2.255 | 1.539 | 1.334 | 1.947 | 2.152 | 2.974 | 3.897 | 4.6116 |
| Daylight (hrs) | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 |
Hawaii cruise highlights
- 1
Pearl Harbor National Memorial
The USS Arizona Memorial, reached by Navy-run boat from the visitor center, is free but uses timed tickets that are best reserved ahead. Add the battleship USS Missouri, the submarine USS Bowfin and the aviation museum on Ford Island for a moving half or full day. Bags aren’t allowed in, so travel light.
- 2
Haleakalā sunrise, Maui
Watching dawn break over the 10,000-foot summit crater of Haleakalā is a Maui ritual, and the overnight stay in Kahului makes it possible. Sunrise entry requires an advance reservation through the national park, and it’s near freezing at the top, so bring a jacket.
- 3
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
About 45 minutes from Hilo, the park circles Kīlauea’s summit caldera, with steam vents, the Nāhuku lava tube and Crater Rim viewpoints. Eruptions come and go; when Kīlauea is active, the glow can be spectacular, but lava viewing is never guaranteed.
- 4
Road to Hana, Maui
This narrow coastal highway twists past waterfalls, bamboo forest and black-sand beaches such as Waiʻānapanapa, whose entry requires a reservation. It’s an all-day drive, so take a guided van tour that keeps an eye on the clock, or save it for an overnight call.
- 5
Waimea Canyon and the Na Pali Coast, Kauai
Mark Twain is often credited with calling Waimea Canyon the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, and its red-and-green gorges are about 90 minutes from Nawiliwili. The roadless Na Pali cliffs are best seen by helicopter or catamaran; Pride of America also sails past them.
- 6
Kona coffee and Kealakekua Bay
Kona is a tender port, and the town’s Kailua Pier puts you steps from Huliheʻe Palace. Farms in the cool hills above town offer tastings of Kona coffee, and snorkel boats head to Kealakekua Bay, a marine sanctuary with spinner dolphins and the Captain Cook monument.
- 7
Humpback whale season
Thousands of humpbacks migrate from Alaska to breed and calve in Hawaii’s warm, shallow waters from December to April, with the peak from January to March. The channels off Maui are the best-known viewing grounds, and you’ll often spot spouts from the ship.
Typical Hawaii itineraries
- 1
7-night inter-island round trip from Honolulu
Norwegian’s Pride of America calls at Kahului on Maui with an overnight, Hilo, Kona and Nawiliwili on Kauai with an overnight, and sails past the Na Pali Coast. No sea days, and no passport needed for US citizens.
- 2
15- to 17-night round trip from Los Angeles, San Diego or San Francisco
Four or five sea days each way, then four or five island ports such as Honolulu, Kahului, Hilo, Kona and Nawiliwili, ending with a stop in Ensenada. Princess, Holland America and Celebrity sail these most often.
- 3
One-way repositioning between Vancouver and Honolulu
In spring and fall, ships moving between Alaska and the South Pacific or Asia offer one-way voyages of 10 to 12 nights with several Hawaiian ports. Great value per night if you can arrange open-jaw flights.
- 4
Hawaii and Tahiti or the South Pacific
Longer voyages of 18 nights or more combine Hawaii with French Polynesia, often round trip from California or one way to Papeete or Australia, with many sea days in between.
Hawaii ports of call
Honolulu
Departure port
Kahului (Maui)
Kahului is Maui’s working harbor town, where ships dock at a commercial pier on the island’s central north shore. The port itself is plain, but it puts you within reach of everything that makes Maui famous: the summit of Haleakalā, the twisting Road to Hāna, snorkeling at Molokini Crater, ʻĪao Valley and, in winter, some of the world’s best humpback whale watching.
Hilo
Hilo is the laid-back, rain-washed main town on the Big Island’s green eastern side, and ships dock at its harbor a few miles from downtown. The headline excursion is Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, about 45 minutes away, where you can stand on the rim of Kīlauea’s caldera and walk through a lava tube, with waterfalls, gardens and a farmers market closer to port.
Kona (Kailua-Kona)
Kona is the sunny, dry west side of Hawaii’s Big Island, and cruise ships anchor off Kailua-Kona and tender passengers straight to the pier in the middle of town. It’s a great port for snorkeling with sea turtles, touring Kona coffee farms and exploring Hawaiian history at Huliheʻe Palace and the sacred place of refuge at Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau.
Nawiliwili (Kauai)
Nawiliwili is the harbor for Līhuʻe on Kauai, Hawaii’s oldest and greenest main island, and ships dock right beside Kalapaki Beach. Kauai is all about nature: Waimea Canyon’s red gorges, the sheer cliffs of the Nā Pali Coast, waterfalls, rivers and quiet beaches, best seen by road, boat or helicopter from this easygoing port.
Los Angeles
Departure port
San Diego
Departure port
San Francisco
Departure port
Vancouver
Departure port
Where Hawaii cruises start
Cruise lines that sail Hawaii
Hawaii cruise tips
- Reserve timed tickets for the USS Arizona Memorial, Haleakalā sunrise and Waiʻānapanapa State Park as soon as the windows open; they often run out.
- Rent a car for some ports. Kahului and Nawiliwili have rental counters nearby, and an overnight call makes it easy to explore at your own pace; Hilo and Kona are better with a tour or taxi.
- Pack reef-safe sunscreen. Hawaii bans the sale of sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate, and many visitors use mineral formulas to protect coral.
- Take the weather by island, not by day. Hilo is one of the rainiest cities in the US, while Kona and much of Maui’s west side are sunny and dry.
- For West Coast round trips, expect cool, windy sea days for the first two or three days out of California. Pack a sweater and plenty of books.
Hawaii cruises: FAQs
When is the best time to cruise Hawaii?
April, May, September and October offer the best mix of dry, warm weather, smaller crowds and better fares. December to April is best for whale watching but wetter. Summer is hot, busy and the most expensive.
How long is a Hawaii cruise?
Norwegian’s inter-island cruise from Honolulu is 7 nights. Round trips from Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco or Vancouver are usually 14 to 17 nights, with four or five sea days each way.
Do I need a passport for a Hawaii cruise?
Not for the inter-island cruise from Honolulu, which stays in the US. West Coast round trips stop in Mexico, so US citizens can generally use a birth certificate and photo ID but a passport is recommended. Canadians, and anyone sailing from Vancouver, should carry a passport.
Which cruise line is best for Hawaii?
Norwegian is the only line offering year-round inter-island cruises, ideal if you want maximum island time. Princess, Holland America and Celebrity are the main choices for longer round trips from California, and Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Oceania and Regent offer occasional voyages.
Why do Hawaii cruises from California stop in Mexico?
Because of the Passenger Vessel Services Act, a US law that requires foreign-flagged ships sailing round trip from a US port to call at a foreign port. Ensenada, near San Diego, is the usual choice on the return.
Can you see lava on a Hawaii cruise?
Sometimes. It depends entirely on Kīlauea’s activity. When an eruption is underway, tours from Hilo to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park may see glowing lava, but there are long quiet periods with only steam and craters to view.
Updated November 2026 by the BookMyDreamCruise editorial team. How we research and fact-check.
Sources: Wikidata, NASA POWER climate data.