The case for a cruise
A cruise is one of the few ways to visit multiple Hawaiian islands without multiple rental cars, multiple check-ins, or inter-island flights — you unpack once and the ship repositions overnight. For a first-time visitor who genuinely wants a taste of several islands before deciding which to return to properly, it's a more honest option than the rushed multi-island land itinerary covered in our island-hopping guide.
The main itinerary types
- Inter-island cruise (Hawaii only) — typically 7 nights, visiting Oʻahu, Maui, the Big Island and Kauaʻi, usually with one or two sea days. Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) holds a unique position here: under the Passenger Vessel Services Act (a US cabotage law), foreign-flagged vessels can't carry passengers between US ports without stopping at a foreign port — meaning most cruise lines' Hawaiian itineraries must include a stop outside the US (typically Ensenada, Mexico, or Vancouver). NCL operates the only US-flagged ships that can do a pure Hawaii-only inter-island itinerary.
- Transpacific cruise — typically repositioning cruises that include Hawaii as part of a longer Australia/NZ-to-US West Coast or Asia route, often with more sea days and a slower pace. A legitimate way for Australian travellers to combine the transpacific leg with the destination.
What you actually see from a cruise
Each island typically gets one port day (often 8am–6pm), occasionally two on a longer itinerary. That's enough to do one meaningful excursion per island — a helicopter tour on Kauaʻi, the volcanoes on the Big Island, a short Road to Hana drive on Maui, Pearl Harbor on Oʻahu — but not enough to genuinely explore. Think of a cruise as a proper introduction rather than a complete visit to any one island.
Practical notes for Australian travellers
- Transpacific itineraries departing from Sydney or Auckland are specifically worth watching if you want to avoid the additional flight to a US departure port.
- Hawaii is a US port of entry — you'll still go through US Customs and Border Protection when you arrive, with the same visa/ESTA requirements as any other US entry.
- Onboard currency is USD regardless of where the ship departed from.