The islands of Hawaii offer rich and varied scenery from white sandy beaches to black volcanoes and lush green forests. Hawaii cruises may begin and conclude in Honolulu or travelers may save themselves a flight over the Pacific by departing from the west coast of the US mainland. Cost depends on trip length, cruise line and choice of stateroom.
Typical costs:
Cruises that start in Honolulu and cruise around the islands of Maui, Kauai, Kona and Hilo for 7-11 days typically cost about $1,000-$1,920 for an interior room per person, double occupancy, depending on sailing date and cruise line. Upgrade to a larger cabin for $1,100-$2,000 for an ocean view, $1,520-$2,700 for a balcony, or about $2,500-$5,650 for a suite. For example, Royal Caribbean[1] offers 11-13 day island cruises for about $1,000-$1,340, depending on trip length and sailing date, while Norweigan Cruise Line[2] operates a seven-day trip starting about $1,200, per person.
Hawaiian 14-16 day cruises from Los Angeles, San Francisco or Vancouver cost about $1,200-$2,600 per person, double occupancy for an interior room, depending on cruise line, embarkation point and sailing date. Upgraded cabins cost about $1,510-$2,050 for an ocean view, $1,720-$2,655 for a cabin with a balcony and $2,500-$5,050 for a suite. Following three to four days at sea, the ships typically stop at Hilo, Honolulu, Kauai and Maui islands. Carnival[3] offers a roundtrip out of Los Angeles starting at about $1,250, per person.
All meals, onboard entertainment, swimming pools and exercise rooms--excluding spa services -- are typically included.
Additional costs:
Alcoholic beverages are typically not included. Beer typically costs $5-$7, wine $6-$11 and cocktails at $4-$10. A bar bill will appear in the stateroom on the last night of the cruise with a 15% gratuity attached. Check with servers for special pricing on "drinks of the day" or early bird specials.
Tipping is standard on most cruises and prepaid options may provide a slight discount. Some cruise lines automatically bill the passenger's account for a set tip amount, either daily or on the last day of the cruise. If onboard tipping isn't automatic, envelopes will either be provided in the staterooms on the last evening, or may be picked up at the purser's desk. Plan to tip about $10-$12 per day, per person.
Shore excursions vary by island and activity level from swimming with dolphins($80-$250) or hiking, to helicopter rides over volcanoes ($280) and island tours[4] ($80-$150).
Single cruisers typically pay supplemental fees of up to double on most cruise lines for a single occupancy cabin. To receive double-occupancy rates, guests may choose to be assigned to another solo traveler.
Discounts:
Early booking[5] specials are offered by most cruise lines and add up to savings from 10%-40% or about $100-$400. Check with the cruise line if the savings come off the ticket price or are available in onboard credit.
Sailing during the wet fall or spring and away from holidays may save about $200-$700 per person, double occupancy, depending on cruise line and sailing date.
Shopping for a hawaii cruise:
Each cruise line offers a slightly different service so check to see which cruise will fit. For example, Disney[6] caters to families from character meals to baby sitting, however no onboard casino is offered, while Celebrity Cruises[7] focus more on the adult traveler.
Check with CruiseReviews.com[8] or CruiseCritic.com[9] to find a cruise and read what other travelers are saying about the different cruise lines.
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