We were on the Honolulu to Vancouver cruise in 2015 so I don't know for sure how they did customs on the Vancouver to Honolulu cruise. But I imagine it is similar to Alaska cruises - you go through US Customs right in the Vancouver cruise port before you get on the ship.
I wanted to throw this out for anyone it might be helpful for. When we went in 2015, we flew into Honolulu 2 days before the cruise. Since we didn't get in until afternoon, we basically only had one full day on Oahu before the cruise. We figured it would be best to hire a tour guide to get us to see as much of the island in one day as possible (we had done Pearl Harbour previously so wanted to see more of the island itself). We used Private Tours Hawaii (found them based on their reviews on Trip Advisor). We were not disappointed - it was a fantastic day and there was no way we would have been able to see as much if we were taking ourselves around the island. It was only 2 of us so it was a bit expensive per person but they can accommodate larger groups, making the per person cost more reasonable.
Thinking about that tour, anyone remember the night the Vancouver to Honolulu cruise overnighted in Honolulu (which was the night before our cruise Honolulu to Vancouver embarked) that there was a tsunami warning? Thinking of Private Tours Hawaii reminded me of that because our guide was adorable. He didn't want to worry us but was stressing if he should tell us about it or not (he found out while we were poking around a farmer's market and we were wondering why he was pointing out all the tsunami warning alarms as we were driving along the North Shore beach area!) He finally "confessed" why he was acting strangely when we were on a small patch of beach watching the sea turtles. He was quite relieved when we didn't freak out on him.
We have an Oceanview 9D GTY held. Hoping to grab a better Oceanview room with a Guarenteed Stateroom and one large porthole. We may be the only Silver in Board, lol.
I am wanting to try to go to National Volcano Park but I am curious how feasible this is on our day at Hilo.
We had a fabulous experience in 2012 and 2015 !! Would love to go again but didn't book this time.
2012 photobook: http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AZtWTZk4bMmjHpA
2015 youtube:
Yes, we will add our favorite things for the Big Island! Next week some very special friends are coming to Hawaii and meeting us in Kona for a Luau at the Courtyard Marriott King Kamehameha Beach Hotel. The luau is held on a stretch of beach just steps from the hotel and the pier. The royal court arrives on a canoe, very special. We met our friends on the EBTA 2017 , they were our tablemates!! Disney friends are the best!!
If anyone has any Maui questions feel free to PM me. I'm a third generation born and raised Maui person, spent about 25 years living there between growing up and my older child's younger years, and I still go back a few times a year to take the kids to see family.
This is so exciting! I am so surprised they have port excursions up already. I saw that they have a luau in Maui but we don’t overnight there....does the 9 day? I am on the 10 day. I love luaus.
Will they add a luau for our overnight on the 10 day?
So happy! I stayed up until past midnight to check for rooms to switch to. I came up empty but set my alarm and checked at 4:45 and found a 9C room which was the category I wanted. Still a GTY but that is ok. Now to put the deposit down today!
So excited you started this. I've already started looking into what to do on each island. I've never done a cruise that crosses an open ocean before, will it be rough sailings?
We are doing the Vancouver to hawaii sailing. Do we have to pass US customs and immigration when we arrive on the first island? Just wondering how that works since we are technically leaving a foreign country and returning to the US.
Is Kahului, Hawai'i Maui? I don't really know which city goes to which island looking at the itinerary. But if that is Maui the 9 night is there until 11pm, which is definitely late enough for a luau I think.That is a very good question, Sig. They are not showing a delineation between 9 & 10 night on the shore excursions currently. If they keep the hours shown right now for our port time in Maui for the 10 night there is no way to do the Old Lahaina Luau, which by the way is known to be the most authentic and best Hawaiian luau (so no fire dancers folks! that's not Hawaiian in origin, but a FABULOUS luau!), it beautifully weaves the history of Hawaii and hula into the program and the beachfront setting in Lahaina is lovely. I'm thinking we will get expanded port times in Maui so the luau and Haleakala sunset excursions will be an option for the 10 nt. as well as the 9 nt, but since Maui is our LAST port of call before departing to cross the Pacific, I don't know....
Great planning thread. We've only been to Hawaii once during Thanksgiving 2016 and stayed at Aulani. Really looking forward to visiting the other islands.
Is Kahului, Hawai'i Maui? I don't really know which city goes to which island looking at the itinerary. But if that is Maui the 9 night is there until 11pm, which is definitely late enough for a luau I think.