Planning a trip to Hawaii - a few questions!

[mouseclick1]

Will you be flying into Oahu, then to Maui, and then flying out from Hawaii?

That's what I was thinking. I know it seems like too much, but DH seems to think it will work.

 

[nwdisgal]

Plus, remember you are going to be dealing some with the effects of jet lag. If you are in the Midwest there is at least a five hour time difference.

 

[mouseclick1]

Here's a new thought - NCL offers a 7-day four island cruise leaving from Maui. It stops at The Big Island, Oahu, and Kauai. I'm guessing this is the same cruise NCRedding went on. Any thought on seeing Hawaii this way? We could add a couple of days in Maui, and still see the sights we want to see.

 

[nwdisgal]

That might be a fun way to do it, and would allow you to see multiple islands.

 

[mommytotwo]

Here's a new thought - NCL offers a 7-day four island cruise leaving from Maui. It stops at The Big Island, Oahu, and Kauai. I'm guessing this is the same cruise NCRedding went on. Any thought on seeing Hawaii this way? We could add a couple of days in Maui, and still see the sights we want to see.

It might work.
Where in The Big Island will it stop? Kona or Hilo and how much time will you have on land? If you want to see the volcano, you will most likely not be able to do a cruise. You will need to drive to The Volcanos National Park, and you can visit the museum, and if you want to see the actual lava flow, you will need to take a hike. The other option would be a helicopter ride.
So, to get the most out of The Big Island, I would fly in and rent a car.

 

[mouseclick1]

Here's the itinerary - I thought we could add an extra 2 nights in Maui before the cruise.

7-Day Maui - Pride of Aloha

Day Port Arrive Depart
Fri. Kahului, Maui - - overnight
(Optional tour to Lanai available)
Sat. Kahului, Maui - - 6:00pm
Sun. Honolulu, Oahu 7:00am 8:00pm
Mon. Nawiliwili, Kauai 7:00am overnight
Tue. Nawiliwili, Kauai - - 1:00pm
(Scenic Cruising)
Wed. Hilo, Hawaii 9:00am 6:00pm
Thu. Kona, Hawaii 8:00am overnight
Fri. Kahului, Maui 8:00am

 

[mommytotwo]

Here's the itinerary - I thought we could add an extra 2 nights in Maui before the cruise.

7-Day Maui - Pride of Aloha

Day Port Arrive Depart
Fri. Kahului, Maui - - overnight
(Optional tour to Lanai available)
Sat. Kahului, Maui - - 6:00pm
Sun. Honolulu, Oahu 7:00am 8:00pm
Mon. Nawiliwili, Kauai 7:00am overnight
Tue. Nawiliwili, Kauai - - 1:00pm
(Scenic Cruising)
Wed. Hilo, Hawaii 9:00am 6:00pm
Thu. Kona, Hawaii 8:00am overnight
Fri. Kahului, Maui 8:00am

Wow, that seems like alot packed into a cruise.
Will you have the option to rent a car at each island and have the entire time to explore by yourself?
If you plan well, then I can see you doing a few things on each island. Just remember to add in the traffic, especially in Oahu and study your maps and plan well.

 

[DawnCt1]

I've been sharing all of your fantastic information with DH, and now we're more confused than ever! There seems to be so much we want to see and do, and simply don't have the time to do it all!

Does this seem possible, or do you think it is trying to squeeze too much into our stay?

Oahu: 2 nights, mainly because we want to see the Pearl Harbor memorial.

Maui: 4 nights, relax a bit on the beach and see the island.

Big Island: 3 nights, visit the National Park and hike to where we can see the lava flow.

So, what do you think? Too much? Is there any way to adjust the itinerary and still hit all three islands? I've already added one day, but I don't think I could get away with adding any more (due to school schedules - I'm a teacher and both boys are in high school).

Thanks again for all your input - it is so helpful!

I think its "do-able" and I don't blame you for wanting to see Pearl Harbor,The Arizona, the Missouri and the Bowfin. You could do that on one day and maybe enjoy the beach on the second day. If you are only planning three nights on the Big Island you probably won't have time to get to the Kohala Coast. "A" Beach, in front of the Marriott is a very lovely white sand beach, but there aren't a lot of them. I think that you could see and do what you wanted to on the Hilo side in two nights if you left late the next day and then spend 5 nights on Maui, enjoy the beach, drive to Hana, enjoy the black sand beach at Waianapanapa State Park and continue on to Oheo Gulch. Just another idea to add to the confusion. We usually do three islands in 17 days so you get an idea of the time table you are dealing with. This year we are spending three nights in Honolulu, which is always enough for us. Five nights on Kauai which is comfortable and 9 on Maui. We found a good rate at the Ka'anapali Alii for 5 of us although I am hoping that DS 21 will change his mind and come. We like condos for the space and flexibility for meals.

 

[DawnCt1]

Here's the itinerary - I thought we could add an extra 2 nights in Maui before the cruise.

7-Day Maui - Pride of Aloha

Day Port Arrive Depart
Fri. Kahului, Maui - - overnight
(Optional tour to Lanai available)
Sat. Kahului, Maui - - 6:00pm
Sun. Honolulu, Oahu 7:00am 8:00pm
Mon. Nawiliwili, Kauai 7:00am overnight
Tue. Nawiliwili, Kauai - - 1:00pm
(Scenic Cruising)
Wed. Hilo, Hawaii 9:00am 6:00pm
Thu. Kona, Hawaii 8:00am overnight
Fri. Kahului, Maui 8:00am

It gives you so little time on each island that sometimes cruisers only see the tour they signed up for. I actually met someone on a snorkel trip who thought Kauai was "very overrated". She had gotton off of the ship, took a tour bus ride up to the beginning of the five bridges that are on the north shore and then went back towards the south and on the west coast. She said she couldn't wait to get off of the island and didn't understand how anyone could spend more than a day there. It made me really nervous because we were leaving Maui for our first visit to Kauai for FIVE DAYS! Once we got there, we saw what the problem was. She stayed on the main road and the bus was too big to get to the scenic areas, the hiking, the beaches, the natural beauty that is everywhere on Kauai if you just look. I think that is the risk of a cruise and I think it applies to every Hawaiian island.

 

[NCRedding]

Coming back to the thread late. I did cruise NCL, but we did the 10 night Wind which included 4 at sea days going to/from Fanning, so we had alot less in port time than the POA (I believe that there are now 3 NCL ships doing an interisland cruise).

There is actually quite a bit of time in port on these. On cruisecritic, alot of people rent cars, and park them overnight at the overnight ports to maximize their time onshore. I would highly recommend not taking the ship tour (except maybe the movie tour in Kauai, which is unavailable otherwise). Renting a car was SOOOO easy, and gave us the flexibility to see what we wanted.

mouseclick: I also sent you an pm about this.

 

[nwdisgal]

It gives you so little time on each island that sometimes cruisers only see the tour they signed up for. I actually met someone on a snorkel trip who thought Kauai was "very overrated". She had gotton off of the ship, took a tour bus ride up to the beginning of the five bridges that are on the north shore and then went back towards the south and on the west coast. She said she couldn't wait to get off of the island and didn't understand how anyone could spend more than a day there. It made me really nervous because we were leaving Maui for our first visit to Kauai for FIVE DAYS! Once we got there, we saw what the problem was. She stayed on the main road and the bus was too big to get to the scenic areas, the hiking, the beaches, the natural beauty that is everywhere on Kauai if you just look. I think that is the risk of a cruise and I think it applies to every Hawaiian island.

Wow. I can't even imagine having a bad time in Kauai. It really is a beautiful island with a lot to see. But you are right, it has to be done right. I am glad you had a better experience there and gave it a chance.

I stayed at Marriott Waikoloa. It is a very pretty hotel, as is the Hilton. I have not been to Hilo yet, but hope to go there some day.