Hawaiian Islands Cruise Tour 2024

Today you board your flight bound for Paradise! Upon arrival at the Honolulu airport, you will be met by your Universal Travel representative and transferred to the Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort for a relaxing three-night stay. Dinner is at your leisure this evening.

Today is yours to enjoy exactly as you please at your resort on the shores of Waikiki Beach. Unwind and relax from your travels with a refreshing tropical cocktail at the pool, or a stroll along Waikiki Beach, with its white sands and turquoise blue waters. Why not take the Trolly to downtown Honolulu, where you’ll find shopping and dining opportunities everywhere you look. Tonight, celebrate the colorful heritage of the Pacific Islands with live music, dancing, and an island-inspired luau feast conveniently located within the Hilton Hawaiian Village! Voyages Across the South Seas features the fiery drama of fire knife dancers as well as traditional Samoan, Tahitian, and Hawaiian dance.

This morning is at your leisure. Take a dip in the warm and calm swimming area with a protective seawall in front of your resort, or relax by one of the 5 sparkling pools, a water lover's dream. This afternoon, you will visit Pearl Harbor. Here you visit the USS Arizona Memorial built above the Arizona which was sunk by a Japanese attack on December 7, 1941. You return to your resort later this afternoon. Tonight, it's like the Fourth of July in Waikiki so don’t miss out when at 7:45 pm, colorful sparks fill the sky at the Hilton Hawaiian Village!

Enjoy a leisurely morning before you check out at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort and depart for the pier where you board Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America just in time for lunch. The ship sets sail at 7 pm.

Welcome to Maui! Today you dock at Kahului and stay for overnight. Maui, known also as “The Valley Isle,” is the second largest Hawaiian island and is beloved for its world-famous beaches, the sacred Iao Valley, views of migrating humpback whales, farm-to-table cuisine, and the magnificent sunrise and sunset from Haleakala, Maui’s highest peak. This massive volcano rises more than 10,000 feet above the sea and provides spectacular views!

It’s not surprising Maui has been voted "Best Island in the U.S." by Condé Nast Traveler readers for more than 20 years. From the highly scenic drive to Hana and beautiful Kaanapali Beach you’ll have a tough time deciding what to do. Lahaina is a historic town that has been transformed into a Maui hotspot with dozens of art galleries and a variety of unique shops and restaurants. Once the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom in the early nineteenth century, Lahaina was also a historic whaling village during the whaling boom of the mid-1800s. Up to 1,500 sailors from as many as 400 ships took leave in Lahaina, including Herman Melville, who immortalized the era in his classic novel Moby Dick. Get a fresh taste of Hawaii Regional Cuisine in Lahaina's fine restaurants.

Don’t forget to set sail from the Harbor on an unforgettable whale watching tour. The channel off the coast of Lahaina is one of the best places in the world to spot humpback whales.

Catch everything you missed in the beautiful Kahului and Maui.

This morning dock in Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii, the youngest and largest island in the Hawaiian chain. Nearly twice as big as all of the other Hawaiian Islands combined (hence, its nickname, “Big Island”), its sheer size is awe-inspiring. You can travel through all but four of the world's different climate zones here, ranging from Wet Tropical to Polar Tundra, a result of the shielding effect and elevations of massive volcanoes. The Island is constructed of 5 major volcanoes: Kilauea, Mauna Loa (located within Volcano National Park), Mauna Kea, Hualalai and Kohala. Mauna Loa is the largest active volcano on Earth. The entire city of Hilo is like one giant greenhouse with spectacular tropical flowers at every turn. You may opt to visit the town's well-preserved historic buildings, or enjoy a tour of the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Factory, with yummy samples at the giftshop!

Once back onboard the Pride of America, enjoy a cocktail at one of the three swimming pools watching the sunset in paradise!

This morning your ship anchors on the Big Island’s “Gold Coast” of Kona. The sunny Kona District stretches almost two-thirds of the entire West side of the island of Hawaii. Along this expansive area, you’ll find everything from coffee farms to historic Hawaiian landmarks. In fact, King Kamehameha actually spent his final years in Kona. Home to shops, restaurants and nightlife, you can conveniently take a walking tour of Kona’s history at places like Huliheʻe Palace and Mokuaikaua Church. Other significant historic places include Kealakekua Bay to the south, where Captain James Cook first set foot on the island in 1778 and where he was eventually killed. You may choose to visit Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historic Park, a well restored Hawaiian “sacred place of refuge”. For water enthusiasts, the calm and clear waters of Kona are perfect for snorkeling, swimming, and spotting dolphins and sea turtles. Your visit on Kona won’t be complete without an optional visit to the cooler upland slopes, where you can sample the distinctive flavors of 100% Kona coffee and learn how it’s grown, dried, and roasted.

Today at 8 am, you arrive at Nawiliwili, where you will be docked overnight. Named after the Wiliwili trees which once lined its picturesque harbor, this lovely port of Kauai is your gateway to what many believe to be Hawaii's most beautiful island. On "The Garden Island," nature is truly the star, from the dramatic mountains of Kokee to the cool rainforests of Haena. Hollywood adores this island, with scenes from Jurassic Park, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and King Kong all filmed here. You may choose to sign up for an excursion to take a relaxing river cruise to the Fern Grotto where a Hawaiian chorus serenades you in a naturally formed amphitheater. Elect an optional helicopter ride and experience all of the natural wonders of Kauai on a guided aerial tour, as you dip low over razor -thin cliffs, flutter past sparkling waterfalls and swoop into the valleys of fabled Waimea Canyon. The Pride of America sets sail at 2 pm and shortly after you’ll cruise along the dramatic Na Pali Coastline. The only way to see this stunning vista is via air or on the water. What a wonderful way to end your Hawaiian Islands Cruise Tour.

Enjoy another day in paradise.

This morning your ship arrives back into Honolulu at 7am. After breakfast and disembarkation, board your motorcoach for a panoramic city tour of Honolulu. View landmarks such as the National Cemetery of the Pacific, the Hawaiian State Capital, and the Pali lookout. You will have free time in Waikiki for lunch and shopping before you transfer to the airport and check in for your overnight flight home. Fond memories of your Hawaiian Islands Cruise Tour program will last forever!

You will continue your overnight flight back to the Midwest landing in Kansas City.