Table Of Content
View active volcanos on Hawaii, the Big Island, seek out water sports in laidback Maui and escape from it all in Kauai. Hawaii boasts balmy temperatures year-round and has only two seasons, winter and summer. There are minor temperature fluctuations between the two and it rains more in winter. The area is also home to numerous waterfalls you can visit, such as Rainbow Falls and Akaka Falls, as well as black-sand beaches. Kayak or snorkel in Hilo Bay, or — for something different — visit the Volcano Winery to sample vintages made both with grapes and local fruits. Learn about Hawaiian history at the Mauna 'Ala royal mausoleum and the Iolani Palace, or Hawaiian culture at a luau or the Polynesian Cultural Center.
Hawaii Driving Tour Apps
The recently announced (potential) merger between Hawaiian and Alaska airlines will have implications on Hawaii travel; we'll touch more on that as the merger process evolves. Below we'll cover more details about what makes this a great time, or not, to visit the Aloha State. May, in particular, is an excellent time to witness Hawaii's lush landscape adorned with colorful tropical flowers in full bloom.
Shore Excursions Costs
You’ll find that most ship itineraries either embark or disembark on the mainland. However, NCL’s Pride of America is the only ship that starts and ends in Hawaii (Honolulu, Oahu, to be exact). We recommend coming to Oahu a few days early if you’re going on this cruise.
Onboard Amenities and Activities
When deciding when to go on your cruise, there are many factors to take into account. We like to go by the three Cs – clouds, crowds, and cost – to determine the best time to go to Hawaii. These are the low season for visitors so you can find the best deals here, especially last-minute deals as the cruise line tries to fill cabins. Holiday weekends always see an upswing in tourist travel, which includes plane tickets to the West Coast and/or Honolulu as well as hotel rooms before and after a cruise. In addition, certain dates have a special significance for Hawaiians, and you may see an increase in crowds both on your ship and at off–shore excursions during these periods. Late fall and early winter in Hawaii bring a major influx of tourists over the Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's breaks.
Major Hawaii Events and Festivals by Month
Ultimately, all factors considered - the best month for a destination wedding in Hawaii is in May. For accommodations, the months of September through November (sometimes into early December) offer the best hotel deals, again excluding Thanksgiving. In the spring, the best accommodation rates can be found from late March until early June (excluding the Easter holiday and Japan’s ‘Golden Week,’ in April). It’s also a popular destination for cruise ships, allowing passengers to hop between islands without ever setting foot on a plane.
Cruisers can read reviews from verified members sharing their experience while cruising to Hawaii. Are you looking for magnificent mountains, lush rainforest or stunning beaches? It’s a difficult choice, so you may want to pick and choose where to go based on your favorite activities. Luckily, shore excursions offer a lot of variety with something for everyone from culture seekers, shopping enthusiasts, beach bums and more. Hawaii is a bucket list cruising destination for all types of travelers, and with good reason! This isolated, yet inviting, archipelago is renowned for its exotic destinations spread across four islands.
The Best Month to Cruise Hawaii - CruiseCritic.co.uk
The Best Month to Cruise Hawaii.
Posted: Thu, 15 Mar 2018 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Get the Cruising Hawaii Guide
However, the time of year you travel can influence how much money you spend on vacation. Leaving and returning from San Diego, Holland America’s Hawaii cruise makes an epic journey across the Pacific for this Hawaiian cruise. There’s a total of 10 days at sea (5 days each way), which might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Tropical voyages to Hawaii are only available at certain times of the year (except for one cruise line).
Best time to Visit Maui
West Coast; and less-common, one-way sailings on ships heading to or from the South Pacific, Australia or Asia. The hard part is finding the best shore excursions, planning self-guided itinerary days, and how to get around the island. After all, you’re traveling with one or two thousand other people who are eager to get on shore!
The Big Island’s Kilauea volcano has erupted almost continuously since 1983, sometimes more spectacularly than at other times. The summer will often be too warm to hike anywhere near the older black lava flows. As noted in the weather question, to avoid the wettest weather, try and plan your wedding for the summer months; anytime from late April until late October is usually a pretty safe bet. The middle of the summer will be warmer but is also typically the driest. Hurricane season runs from June through November as well, but storms are historically rare events.
The line’s two largest vessels sailing Hawaiian itineraries are the 2,650-passenger Eurodam and the 2.104-passenger Zuiderdam. Summers are crowded in Hawaii as mainland families flock to the islands to enjoy summer vacation. However, there’s ample natural scenery, adventures, and culture to be found across Hawaii if you don’t mind lively crowds. Kauai is easily explored on your own via car, whether you're heading into the Waimea Canyon to go hiking or seeking out the perfect beach. Once you've booked your Hawaii cruise, do some research and decide what you want to see — and what the best way is to do that. Your strategy can include a combination of shore excursions booked via the ship or arranged independently and exploration in a rental car.
Travelers on a budget may get better rates in the quieter shoulder seasons before and after summer. As spring arrives, the rain starts to subside and temperatures become nearly perfect in Hawaii, ranging from the low 70s to mid 80s Fahrenheit. The ocean calms as well, making for excellent beach weather and water activities. Using sunscreen in the islands is key if you want to prevent severe sunburn, which can happen quickly, especially in the middle part of the day. Hawaii's location (it is about 1,300 miles from the equator) means the sun's rays are more intense than they are in much of the mainland U.S.
Shore excursions like snorkeling, sightseeing tours, and luau dinner shows provide immersive cultural experiences at each island stop. According to the latest cruise reviews, the Pride of America receives high praise for its Hawaiian itineraries, friendly service, entertainment options, and diverse onboard dining. With departures available on Saturdays year-round, cruisers can easily find a sailing date that fits their schedule. Cruise lines also leverage special promotions like “Kids Sail Free” and other giveaways to incentivize booking decisions over the December/January period. The fall features ideal conditions in the low 80s and cheaper everything on the islands as the kids return to school. Websites like CruiseLine regularly publish Hawaii cruise deals with big red “Sale” tags highlighting the deepest discounts in spring and fall.
Cruise calendar: The best times of year to visit popular destinations - USA TODAY
Cruise calendar: The best times of year to visit popular destinations.
Posted: Tue, 06 Aug 2019 07:00:00 GMT [source]
According to the 2022 Hawaii Tourism Report, over 500,000 visitors sailed to the Hawaiian Islands between September 2021 to October 2021. This time window just narrowly beat out the following March-April period by around 12,000 passengers. Fall brings slightly cooler temperatures, less humidity, lower prices and smaller crowds. High temperatures drop down to the mid 80s Fahrenheit while nights can dip into the low 70s. That doesn't mean, however, that you can just head to a resort, select a lounger and act like you're a guest.
There are two shoulder seasons, one in spring, from mid-March to the beginning of May, and the other in fall, from September to late November. Sure, it has luscious landscapes with cascading waterfalls, lava-spewing volcanoes and pristine beaches. One of the best ways to experience the islands is by cruise because you can unpack just once and go to multiple islands. Spend the night in Honolulu, island-hop to Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island. With bright skies and warm sand all year long, any month can be considered the best month to go to Hawaii. Whether you’re looking for a tropical holiday or a year-round retreat, unpack once and see four of the most popular Hawaiian Islands any time of year with Princess.
The ship itself is in good condition, and the on-board food and entertainment are above average. There are over 20 different restaurants and bars, sports courts, kids’ and teens’ clubs, a spa, and tons of daily activities. We have the answers so your first time will be nothing but smooth sailing.
