Hawaiian cruise ideas

By CruiseCritic staff

updated 2:48 p.m. ET July 12, 2005

GETTING THERE

For most travelers, the challenge of getting to and from Hawaii is the only negative on this itinerary.

Flights from the East Coast typically connect in Los Angeles and San Francisco, which means you're adding a five-plus hour flight to the six hours it took to get there from New York, say, or Boston. If you have little ones with you and can spare the time, you may want to consider spending a night or two in California to break up the travel time.

Obviously, West Coast residents have a shorter haul, and folks in some central gateways, such as Minneapolis and Dallas, can find direct flights to Honolulu International Airport that take about 8 1/2 hours each.

Keep in mind that the Christmas holiday season - from about Dec. 21 to Jan. 4 - is high season, which means that air prices are at their most expensive. Summer is also popular because it's "family season." Thanksgiving to mid-December is considered "low season" and offers the best bargains.

While NCL is currently the only cruise line originating and ending in Hawaii, other lines offer Hawaii itineraries that sail to or from the west coast of the U.S., Mexico or Canada.

The advantage of cruising from the mainland is that you eliminate one or both flights, but keep in mind that you could be adding as many as eight days at sea to the duration of the voyage. Also remember that one-way air fares can be expensive, so you may be better off booking air through the cruise lines and taking advantage of their bulk air rates.

THE ISLANDS
The islands you are likely to visit on a roundtrip Honolulu cruise and cruises to-and-from the West Coast are Oahu (Honolulu), Maui, the Big Island (ports of Kona or Hilo), Kauai and even Fanning Island in the Republic of Kiribati. Lanai and Molokai are typically only available as shore excursions from the main islands. Repositioning cruises may only visit Oahu and Maui, while also incorporating such South Seas destinations as Bora Bora, Tahiti, Fiji and New Zealand.

MANEUVERING AROUND HONOLULU
Oahu's cruise port, the Aloha Tower Marketplace, is located about 15 minutes from the airport, and transportation from the airport to area hotels (about seven miles) is a snap via shuttle service (about $18 roundtrip on Aloha Hawaii Trans, for example), taxi or car rental. If you rent a car at the airport, keep in mind that, unlike some other islands you may have visited, Honolulu operates like any other American city - which means you won't experience culture shock navigating the roads.

If you are simply transferring from the airport to the cruise port, plan on a 15-minute cab ride. Be aware, however, that the return trip from the cruise port to the airport can be another matter entirely - with daunting crowds at the buses (we suggest springing for a cab) and long delays at some of the terminals at the security check point. Waits of up to two hours are not unheard of if you're trying to leave at the same time as everyone else. Our advice? Stay a few extra days (Oahu deserves a week if you can swing it) or at least consider departing at night for a red eye flight home that will put you on the West Coast in time for breakfast or on the East Coast in the afternoon.

BEING THERE
Most Hawaiian Island cruises begin and/or end in Honolulu, on the island of Oahu - the most logical in terms of air access. It being the port of embarkation - or debarkation - means passengers often are hurrying from the airport to the ship or hustling away to catch a flight home. But don't forego a pre- or post-cruise stay if you can afford the time because there is so much to see on Oahu. From whale watching and surfing on the stunning beaches of the North Shore to the Polynesian Cultural Center and Pearl Harbor, the island has attractions to appeal to a wide variety of interests.

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