Hawaiian Cruise Ships

I would not go near a cruise ship unless they make some drastic changes. They are one of the worst Coronavirus danger points.

I wouldn't get on a cruise ship even before Covid-19

Are cruise lines even selling tickets?

It is easy enough to spend a few days ( or whatever) on Oahu to see the historical sites and then fly to the Big Island and get your volcano ( and a lot more nature) and not be bound to a ship sailing schedule.

When I was younger, I thought I would love doing a cruise around the Hawaiian islands, but couldn't afford it. Now I wouldn't even consider it and this is not only because I wouldn't consider getting on such a virus factory. 15 years ago,we went out on the lava fields to watch lava go into the ocean at night. It was spectacular and cruise ships do not stay in port at night, so cruise passengers would not be able to have this experience. Cruise ships do not stay in port long enough to accommodate my desire to have ample time to see a place.

We don't expect to cruise again till a lot more progress has been made vs. COVID, either a vaccine or an effective treatment. And we thought some bad choices were made by cruise lines and some ports, especially in the early stages in Asia. But we've enjoyed a lot of cruises, including in Hawaii. I think next February would be premature, but this cruise would be a good one if the current moratorium is lifted and you decide to go for it. We took essentially the same cruise with the same line a number of years ago.

I also agree with Joe and Cala that a cruise isn't a good way to really "see Hawaii." You have only a day in each port so limited time to see much. The Arizona, spotter viewpoint, and volcano would be best seen on a land-based trip before or after any cruise. However, the ship can be its own destination, along with the fun of sailing between islands (though most of that at night). I think we did see lava coming down to the shore of the Big Island, though after dark (dramatic) and from a distance (safe). Of course any tropical destination is a great choice for February!

February is too soon. I wouldn't travel anywhere until there is a vaccine and treatment for Covid-19. That may or may not happen for a year or two. There are still a lot of unknowns.
I have tentative plans to travel to Hawaii again in March 2022, but I am in "wait and see" mode.

Your 3 top desires mean being on Oahu island and the Big Island. So a cruise circling all the islands isn’t necessary for those three experiences. Maybe an alternative means of transportation to reach various sights, without being on a ship much of each day/night?

Even if it’s way in the future, I hope you get a trip to Ireland and a trip to Hawaiian sights.

One cruise line NCL has a cruise that begins and ends in Hawaii. All the other cruise lines start on the mainland and end in Hawaii or the other way around.

You can find tours of Oahu easy enough. We didn't go to the big island and everyone says that is the best.

We did the referenced Norwegian seven night Hawaii cruise a few years ago. We chose it because we just could not decide which island to go to. The cruise began and ended in Oahu so we stayed on the island a few days before the cruise started. I did feel like our time was rushed on every island, although it was an excellent way to get a taste of what every island offers. In my humble opinion, the ideal situation is to fly into Oahu a few days early like we did, do the cruise, and then have a flight that leaves four or five days after the cruise. Then, you can last-minute choose which of the other three islands do you want to spend those extra days on and book a land vacation. Of course you would have to have a tolerance for a last-minute booking and probably would need to research hotels on each of the other three islands so that you would have an idea of where to start.

We rented a car at every port which was super easy. There were car rentals as soon as you walked off the ship. On the Big Island, we drove to volcanoes national Park on our Hilo day and rented bikes on our Kona day. Kona was probably our least favorite. On Maui, we took a helicopter ride, played golf, went to a winery, and went to the beach (warning! The beaches in Hawaii are often very rocky and can have a strong undertow). On Kauai, we went to the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, took a boat cruise, and did scenic drives, also checking out Poipu Beach (which I thought was overrated).

I would probably have gone back to stay on Maui. Honestly I would recommend doing a 12-night trip where you spend 3 nights in each major island and fly between islands as opposed to a cruise.

We have visited Hawaii several times, all independently except for one two week cruise round trip from California. We have taken many cruises and enjoy them. However, It is so easy to travel in and among the islands that I’d skip the cruise and DIY. Our first trip was three weeks, four islands (Oahu, Maui, Kauai and big Island-Hawaii) with a rental car everywhere except Oahu. Subsequent trips were two weeks each devoted to two islands. Flying is easy and convenient. My take is that this is the most beautiful state in the Union with maybe the friendliest people ever. Spend as much time on land as you can, save the cruise for another itinerary.

And a word about cruising: Please don’t shoot me.
We spent much of December looking at several transatlantic cruises to be followed by two, three weeks on land somewhere. That ended abruptly, and I said I’d never get on another cruise ship as long as I lived. Then I recalled that after 40+ cruises over 30+ years, neither of us had ever developed as much as a cold or sniffles. Really. So am I ready to jump back on board? Hell no. But I confess to wondering. I offer no apologies or explanations, only that our history is what it has been. And, I am indeed more aware of the cruising impact on localities and ports than in years past .Meanwhile, we aren’t going anywhere except to the grocery store, which requires almost as much planning as the four week trip to Europe.
I hope you get to see beautiful Hawaii! Safe travels.

If the cruise allows you to do what you want, then go for it. I think touring Hawaii is easy and can be done at a reasonable cost as a land tour. For me there is too much to do on any of the islands to stay on the island rather than do for just 1 day

The volcano is not active, and cruising is absolutely the worst possible way to see Hawaii.

Actually several of Hawaii's volcanoes are considered 'active', they just aren't erupting at this time. They can, and do, sometimes erupt and spew lava.

I realize, in your opinion, cruising may be the worst way to see the islands. You are allowed your opinion, just please state it as your opinion and not as accepted fact. Many many people would disagree with you. That doesn't make them wrong and you right, nor does it make them right and you wrong - just differing opinions.

Personally I have no strong opinions either way. I know people that have done it by cruise and loved it; and I know people who have done individual islands for days on their own and loved it. To each his/her own.

Would you want to experience local food or do you need the security of cruise ship food? With feet on the ground experience local food options from lunch wagon plate lunches to upscale regional/ethnic cuisines.
Eggs and portuguese sausage breakfast, a lau lau lunch or or lunch wagon plate lunch, to fine dining or casual dinners.

https://www.hawaiimagazine.com/content/how-eat-local-oahu

https://www.hawaii-guide.com/eat-like-a-local-in-hawaii

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/usa/hawaii/planning/other-features/eat-and-drink-like-a-local/a/nar/70c2abf0-cb1a-4ca6-8048-18ced9c6f069/361972

Edgar's comments remind me of something I heard over there: "In Hawaii, we don't eat until we're full, we eat until we're tired." ;-)

hey hey jamilner
as others have stated here, i would rather rent a car and drive to different areas of the islands. i'm from the big island (island of hawaii). so much to see and do, a day trip from cruise ship would not due you justice in my own opinion.
you really need to understand, you only have so much time to sightsee from the cruise ship per day and can't see all you wish too. the volcano is not active now, the ride there is at least an hour from hilo if it is even open. are you doing it as a cruise excursion? they go where they want not what you want. it's rush rush rush, along with everyone else on that bus, don't know what your expectations and getting back to ship before sail away. same thing with other islands. hiring private tour guides is more expensive., which is a better option, but don't know what you budget is. remember you want to see and tour what others want too which is busy and crowded.
not knowing where you are flying from (europe, usa, canada, mexico). i would do a multicity flight. (into honolulu out of kona/hilo or vice versa) book you interisland flights with hawaiian/southwest airlines).
spend a few days on oahu, soaking in tourist areas along with other places worth while to see. fly to kona/hilo, rent a car, and drive around the island with stops along the way, spending a night in different towns, a week on the big island will give you time to understand why it's called "big island".
edgar has great and fabulous ideas about eating local foods you won't find anywhere else. he makes my mouth drool while wearing my bib.
if you want more ideas for different ideas and places to go and see, ask. you will enjoy renting a car, can give you places to stay, not 5* but local style. get to know the real hawaiian style. we're here to help. mahalo edgar
aloha

Maybe this is the year we all skip Europe and spend our money in the US, Hawaii would be perfect. We should promote the heck out of the idea. The more tourists the better!

...and spend our money in the US, Hawaii would be perfect.

Interesting thought. The Norwegian cruise ship Pride of America is the only American flagged cruise ship.
https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4709434

Norwegian Cruise Line recently [2005] launched the Pride of America,
the first new U.S.-flagged cruise ship built in 50 years. The U.S.
flag means it can travel directly from U.S. port to U.S. port, unlike
most ocean liners, which are registered in foreign countries. But it
also has to obey U.S. labor laws and minimum wage requirements.

Forum Friends - Just a note to say thank you for all of the informative replies. Our plans are still under review and your insights have been very helpful. Other thoughts and ideas are welcome but just wanted to say thanks to those that have written thus far!

BTW, I learned that the lookout point was a mobile operation in WW2 and there is nothing original there now and the site is not open to the public, so off my “list.” If anyone has any other WW2 sites worth seeing beyond the Arizona, please advise. Thanks!

Punchbowl (National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific)
https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/nmcp.asp

USS Missouri
https://www.ussmissouri.org/#

Diamond Head
http://www.diamondheadhike.org/militaryhistory.html
Not sure about the WW2 history part but it's a good hike.

hey hey jamilner
edgar gave a mention of diamond head. (best-of-oahu.com/diamond-head-trail)
i have hiked within the crater and up to the top many years ago. it's a very challenging hike, with lots and lots of steep stairs/steps, heat, narrow paths, tunnels and others on the trail. it is worth getting to the top to see the gorgeous views. wear comfy shoes, a hat, and bring water if you decide to go.
tripsavvy.com/which-hawaiian-islands-suit-you-best lists the differences between the islands
theculturetrip.com/hawaiian islands read up about the myths and legends of hawaii.
hawaii.com/take a trip up tantulus a hill above honolulu overlooking parts of the coast. you will need a car, old style homes and estates among the trees and bushes on the slopes. read up also on a pearl-harbor-tour/a perfect day at pearl harbor.
see the uss bowfin submarine museum, battleship missouri and pacific aviation museum with last 2 on ford island, a shuttle away.
WW11 spotters could have been in homes of active military personnel/families or residents of oahu. lots of slopes "heights" and valleys with homes that could have served this purpose. my aunt lived high up aiea heights, across valley of camp smith, with a fabulous view of pearl harbor/hickam air force base.
look up homeofthebrave.com and brewseum. also the iolani palace
hope this give you info to research about what you can see and do on oahu.
aloha

WW11 spotters could have been in homes of active military personnel/families or residents of oahu. lots of slopes "heights" and valleys with homes that could have served this purpose. my aunt lived high up aiea heights, across valley of camp smith, with a fabulous view of pearl harbor/hickam air force base.

Enjoy a sushi meal at the Natsunoya Tea House and view today's Pearl Harbor.
https://www.natsunoyahawaii.com/about-us/history/

Many Hawaii residents have heard that a spy from the Japanese
Consulate in Honolulu watched ship movements in Pearl Harbor and sent
coded messages to Tokyo in the months before World War II. What is
largely unknown is that he did it from Natsunoya Tea House in Alewa
Heights.

“A customer named Yoshikawa used to come here during the day for tea
or beer,” recalls current owner Laurence Fujiwara Jr. “When he was
tired, my grandmother let him sleep in an upstairs room where we had a
telescope. Unbeknownst to us, he was using it to watch the ship
movements in Pearl Harbor.”

Natsunoya, which means “Summer House,” is the last remaining full-time
tea house in the islands.