Planning a Hawaiian cruise in 2018? I am! And, I am planning to repeat much of what I have done in the past on the Pride of America cruise ship on the Norwegian Cruise Line cruise that begins and ends in Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii every Saturday. My husband and I plan to enjoy Oahu and then board the cruise to see the Road to Hana, Mount Haleakula, and Lahaina on Maui; Volcanoes National Park near Hilo and Coffee Plantations in Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii; and Princeville and the Nā Pali Coast at Kauai. So, if any of those destinations sound good to you, follow along as I recommend a plan for enjoying these places on their own or on a Hawaiian cruise based on the best of what I have done on our Pride of America cruise stops. Click on the audio link at the end of the article to listen to the podcast for even more about the ship and the things to do on this fun cruise.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America Ship
The only cruise that does not leave the Hawaiian Islands during its journey is Norwegian’s Pride of America ship. As someone who likes unpacking as few times as possible and touring more than cruising, this makes the perfect ship for me. The ship mostly cruises at night, so each new day brings an opportunity for sightseeing on Hawaii’s major islands. I will follow the typical itinerary as I share with you what my husband and I enjoy visiting on each stop of the cruise. The ship leaves Honolulu, Oahu, each Saturday evening and returns from the 7-day voyage the following Saturday morning. We try to board at lunchtime on Saturday, enjoy lunch on board, and get to know some fellow passengers. We enjoy sail-away up on deck as we cruise past Waikiki and Diamond Head on our way to Maui. Then, we usually have dinner in the Liberty Dining Room on the first night of the cruise.
We usually stay in a suite with a hot tub on the deck on this cruise. The weather is so nice in Hawaii, so this is one cruise where you will get to use your balcony. Suite guests have a private dining room available for breakfast and lunch, so we really enjoy that perk. Plus, priority exit from the ship is a nice option, too, especially on days when there is a crowd to get off the ship.
Oahu, Hawaii
The Pride of America cruise begins and ends in Honolulu on Oahu every Saturday, so be sure to see my three earlier articles and podcasts about my favorite island of Oahu, Hawaii here:
Waikiki – Walking Tour and Highlights
Oahu – Things to Do
The North Shore of Oahu
Maui, Hawaii
Next the Pride of America docks for two full days, Sunday and Monday, on Maui. Read my plan for enjoying your two days on Maui on my blog and podcast here:
Two Perfect Days in Maui, Hawaii
Hilo, The Big Island, Hawaii
 Welcome to the Big Island of Hawaii! The ship will dock at 8 am on Tuesday, and you will want to exit the ship as soon as possible for the best day of the cruise, in my opinion. Catch the rental car shuttle to the airport, pick up the car from the frequent renter line, and drive straight to Volcanoes National Park.
Volcanoes National Park, The Big Island, Hawaii
From the Hilo airport, drive 28 miles on HI-11 and then turn left on Crater Rim Drive for 1/3 mile to begin your visit at the Kilauea Visitor Center at Volcanoes National Park to see the volcanic crater, lava tubes, steam vents, and lava flows of one of the world’s most active volcanoes, Kilauea.