Any thoughts, reviews or info on Vancouver to Hawaii fall cruises

[dipdotdarlin']

We have booked the Vancouver to Hawaii cruise fall 2025. I know there is the same cruise this fall too. Any help, info, reviews, etc. are appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[auntlynne]

Have fun!

 

[auntlynne]

I love Hawaii - been there for fly-in vacations many times. And have done 3 long Disney cruises with emphasis on Sea Days (Transatlantic and Panama Canal).

A good Activities Team can make a big difference. Someone recently mentioned the special activities they had onboard. Things like Hide and Seek With the Officers are fun and not found on “regular” cruises.

Your nighttime entertainment will be a hodgepodge. There are no new production shows added - you will get Golden Mickeys and the other two.

Expect fewer kids and more experienced cruisers (but not exclusively - and not necessarily older).

There should be a better chance at securing Palo Brunch.

Prepare for the chance of seasickness.

 

[auntlynne]

When in Hawaii, it is known for its openness to tourists. Maybe not so much in Kauai, but I didn’t notice any hostility. They just have a big interest in being free from the USA.

But consider outside vendors if ship excursions are sold out or don’t cover what you want to see.

A YouTube travel couple I watch rents cars through Turo when in Hawaii. It may be useful for you.

Enjoy sail in and out for each island. When doing a land vacation, you have to pay to get views from a ship/ boat.

 

[auntlynne]

If you want to snorkel from a boat, possibly with turtles, Maui is excellent for this. Tours leave from Maalaea Harbor. The dark blue circle in the water is Molokini Crater - a sunken volcano top. Turtle Town area for snorkeling with turtles is located along the coast between Kihei and Waimea-Makena.



There’s also Mt Haleakala and the Road to Hana. And many other options. Upcountry (side of Mt Haleakala) is cowboy country and lavender farms. ATV rides. Hana is lush and green, with black sand beaches and about 100 one-lane bridges. We’ve enjoyed breakfast and lunch at Colleen’s at the Cannery in Haiku.

 

[auntlynne]

Oahu: If you want to visit Pearl Harbor, go online to see how to get admission. And it coukd change before your cruise. It seems to be a different procedure each time I visited. The one thing that was constant: no bags, even purses. They have lockers.

 

[European]

Oahu: If you want to visit Pearl Harbor, go online to see how to get admission. And it coukd change before your cruise. It seems to be a different procedure each time I visited. The one thing that was constant: no bags, even purses. They have lockers.

They do accept transparant bags. One thing I didn’t know when I went and wish I did.

 

[European]

If you want to snorkel from a boat, possibly with turtles, Maui is excellent for this. Tours leave from Maalaea Harbor. The dark blue circle in the water is Molokini Crater - a sunken volcano top. Turtle Town area for snorkeling with turtles is located along the coast between Kihei and Waimea-Makena.

View attachment 881493

There’s also Mt Haleakala and the Road to Hana. And many other options. Upcountry (side of Mt Haleakala) is cowboy country and lavender farms. ATV rides. Hana is lush and green, with black sand beaches and about 100 one-lane bridges. We’ve enjoyed breakfast and lunch at Colleen’s at the Cannery in Haiku.

If one wants to go snorkeling to Molokini, best to go in the morning. In the afternoon there’s more wind and chances are you will go to Coral Gardens instead. We used Malolo Molokini, but would not necessarily recommend them.

Road to Hana is definitely a highlight on Maui, but 1 day is not enough. You’ll be in the car/bus all day on a long winding & twisting road.

I don’t know if anyone has visited Iao Valley State Park? It seems not too far from the cruise terminal, but we never made it there.

​

 

[auntlynne]

If one wants to go snorkeling to Molokini, best to go in the morning. In the afternoon there’s more wind and chances are you will go to Coral Gardens instead. We used Malolo Molokini, but would not necessarily recommend them.

Road to Hana is definitely a highlight on Maui, but 1 day is not enough. You’ll be in the car/bus all day on a long winding & twisting road.

I don’t know if anyone has visited Iao Valley State Park? It seems not too far from the cruise terminal, but we never made it there.

​

I have been to Iao State Park. Some unique rock formations to see as you walk around.







One day is not enough for any of these islands, but you work with what you’ve got. I wouldn’t discount the drive to Hana (and I do mean drive, not a tour) for those who want the experience.

Port time is 8:30 am - 7:30 pm.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

Great thread! We are going the opposite way-Hawaii to Vancouver in Feb 2026. Very interested in snorkeling with turtles. We will do Pearl Harbor as well-to start.

 

[jimmymc]

Oahu is amazing, so hopefully you have some time available. If you're going outside Waikiki, then it really helps to have a rental car. In Waikiki, parking is a nightmare, so I would avoid having a car when you don't need it.

 

[dipdotdarlin']

We are staying at Aulani for 4 nights after the cruise before going home. Looking at whether to book a car through turo or not. We are thinking of taking the grand circle tour excursion in Oahu during the first port day in Honolulu and then the Pearl Harbor excursion on disembarkation day that drops you off at Aulani. For the other ports/islands, they have excursions that take you to all the highlights of the island. They are pricey, but I did not know if they were worth it compared to the headaches of doing them on our own.

 

[Youneek1]

We are on the same sailing in 2025. I am interested to know for those who do the cruise this September/October, if the times in port changed after booking. I know that the 2024 itinerary has very different times than our sailing, which might be because they have just the slightest difference in their itinerary. (If we sail exactly as it is scheduled now, there will be no negative feelings; I knew what was being offered when I booked. But...I would not be disappointed in longer times in port/on the Islands.)

 

[Youneek1]

We are staying at Aulani for 4 nights after the cruise before going home. Looking at whether to book a car through turo or not. We are thinking of taking the grand circle tour excursion in Oahu during the first port day in Honolulu and then the Pearl Harbor excursion on disembarkation day that drops you off at Aulani. For the other ports/islands, they have excursions that take you to all the highlights of the island. They are pricey, but I did not know if they were worth it compared to the headaches of doing them on our own.

Did you book your Aulani stay through DCL? We booked for 2-nights when making our cruise reservation. Reading your post, I'm wondering if we could have booked longer than the 2-nights. She offered 2-nights, I said yes, and did not even stop to think perhaps I could have requested 3 or 4-nights instead.

 

[auntlynne]

Oahu is amazing, so hopefully you have some time available. If you're going outside Waikiki, then it really helps to have a rental car. In Waikiki, parking is a nightmare, so I would avoid having a car when you don't need it.

I used Zip Car for short-term rentals during my last trip. With multiple pick-up / drop-off sites, I had the freedom to go where I wanted, but avoided the daily $40+ daily parking fees at my resort. And by short-term, I mean hours, not days. Granted, I was not limited by a short vacation, so I did not have to budget time v money on my choice. I used a standard car rental for my all-day drive, returning it to their parking lot at the end of the day.

One day with a circle around Oahu is a great use of a car. Return it without parking at your resort. And I would not include Waikiki in that day. Because parking is so limited.

 

[dipdotdarlin']

We booked Aulani through our travel agent. When the dvc rental places open up, I will check prices and may book through them and cancel our present reservation. After the 2024 cruisers review their cruise and excursions, I will make more decisions too.

 

[mmouse37]

Oahu: If you want to visit Pearl Harbor, go online to see how to get admission. And it coukd change before your cruise. It seems to be a different procedure each time I visited. The one thing that was constant: no bags, even purses. They have lockers.

Yes, as mentioned they do allow clear bags. I researched this before our trip in 2022 (Honolulu to Vancouver cruise in May of 2022) and when we got to Pearl Harbor one of the park rangers congratulated me on using a clear bag. He said he was glad some people do research and pay attention! We saw some people turned away with other type bags.

MJ

 

[mmouse37]

Great thread! We are going the opposite way-Hawaii to Vancouver in Feb 2026. Very interested in snorkeling with turtles. We will do Pearl Harbor as well-to start.

We loved our Hawaii to Vancouver trip in May of 2022!!!

MJ

 

[mmouse37]

Did you book your Aulani stay through DCL? We booked for 2-nights when making our cruise reservation. Reading your post, I'm wondering if we could have booked longer than the 2-nights. She offered 2-nights, I said yes, and did not even stop to think perhaps I could have requested 3 or 4-nights instead.

We stayed 4 nights at Aulani before our cruise. I booked directly with Aulani (not a DVC member).

MJ

 

[LAS2AMS]

Aulani has hotel inventory, it’s not just DVC. Unless you’re a Disney fanatic, I don’t recommend staying there. There’s little to do nearby and few places to eat. Unless you plan to stay entirely at the resort - you’re in Hawaii, enjoy it - you’ll need a car to get around… and rental cars plus parking are expensive.

Waikiki is a better option for base exploration. Oahu has an awesome city bus system that will take you to all of the touristy places.