Hawaii Cruises 2027
Hawaii has two very different cruise styles, so choose the style first.
Photo: Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
A Hawaii cruise can be one of two very different trips. The first is a 7-night loop around the islands from Honolulu, with a different island each day and no long sea days. The second is a 14 to 16-night sailing from the US West Coast or Vancouver, with several days at sea in each direction before and after a shorter island tour.
The difference comes from US law. Foreign-flagged ships cannot sail between US ports without a foreign stop, so most lines include a long detour or a stop outside the US, which is why those routes are so much longer. A US-flagged ship can run the inter-island loop without one.
When to sail
- Best months
- April to October, with the driest weather and calm seas.
- Shoulder season
- November and March. Fewer visitors and still pleasant, with the occasional shower.
- When to think twice
- December to February brings more rain and bigger swells on the northern shores, though it is also humpback whale season, so it is a trade-off rather than a reason to avoid it.
When to book for 2027
There are very few Hawaii sailings compared with the Caribbean, so the ones that do run, and in particular the 7-night inter-island round trips, are limited in capacity. Book early for school holidays and the winter whale-watching period.
Check prices and dates with your cruise line or travel agent. We do not quote fares because they change daily.
Where Hawaii cruises sail from
The homeport you choose often matters as much as the ship.
Honolulu
The homeport for the 7-night inter-island loop on a US-flagged ship.
Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco
West Coast starts for the longer 14 to 16-night Hawaii sailings.
Vancouver
Starting point for some long Hawaii routes in autumn and spring.
How Hawaii cruises are shaped
The main route styles, and who each one suits.
Inter-island round trip
7 nightsOahu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island, starting and ending in Honolulu.
West Coast to Hawaii and back
14 to 16 nightsSeveral days at sea each way, with several Hawaiian ports in the middle.
Repositioning with Hawaii
10 to 14 nightsA one-way route between the mainland and Hawaii, usually in spring or autumn.
Cruise lines that sail Hawaii
Each line has its own style. See the fleet pages for their ships.
Departure port guides
Terminals, airports and parking for the ports these cruises sail from.
Ports to look for
What is near the pier, shore excursions vs DIY, and what to skip.
Honolulu
A real downtown, a royal palace, Pearl Harbor, and Waikiki Beach all inside a short taxi ride.
Kahului (Maui)
The gateway to the Road to Hana — 59 bridges, 600 curves, and waterfalls the whole way.
Nawiliwili (Kauai)
The Garden Isle — Waimea Canyon, the Na Pali Coast, and a genuinely swimmable beach near the pier.
Kailua-Kona (Big Island)
World-famous coffee, easy snorkelling, and volcanoes two hours away on the Big Island's sunny side.
Ships that sail Hawaii
A sample of ships that usually sail here, newest first. Deployments change each season, so confirm with your line.
Pride of America
The only ship that circles the Hawaiian Islands year-round, every week, without leaving the state.
Seven Seas Mariner
The first all-suite, all-balcony ship in the world — still going strong with 700 guests.
Norwegian Spirit
One of NCL's most well-traveled ships — South Pacific, Alaska and Hawaii in a single year.
Hawaii cruise questions
Why are most Hawaii cruises so long?+
US law requires foreign-flagged ships to call at a foreign port between two US ports. For Hawaii that means a stop abroad and long sea days, so the routes run 14 days or more. The 7-night loop from Honolulu is possible because the ship is US-flagged.
What is the best time of year for a Hawaii cruise?+
April to October for dry weather and calm seas. If you want to see humpback whales, December to March is the best period, with the winter sea conditions that go with it.
Do I need a passport for a Hawaii cruise?+
US citizens on a round trip that starts and ends in a US port can often travel on other documents, but a passport is the simplest and safest choice, and is essential for longer routes that stop in a foreign port.