# Hawaii Cruises

Hawaii cruises compared: Norwegian's 7 night inter-island loop from Honolulu vs 15 night round trips from California, real costs and which fits your time.

Canonical: https://www.bookcruises.us/hawaii-cruises/


Hawaii cruises split into two products: Norwegian's year-round 7 night inter-island loop from Honolulu, the only big-ship cruise entirely within the islands, and 15 to 16 night round trips from California with four island days and long Pacific crossings. Inter-island starts near $1,299, round trips near $1,399.

## Current sailings and pricing

| Itinerary | Length | Line | From (pp) | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Inter-island from Honolulu | 7 nights | Norwegian Cruise Line | $1,299 | Four islands, overnights in Maui and Kauai |
| Round trip from San Francisco | 15 nights | Princess Cruises | $1,499 |  |
| Round trip from Los Angeles | 15 nights | Princess Cruises | $1,399 |  |

## Two completely different Hawaii cruises

The inter-island loop is Hawaii-dense: fly to Honolulu, board the one large ship legally able to sail purely among the islands, and wake somewhere new daily, with overnights in Maui and Kauai that make luaus and sunrise volcano trips possible. Per night it is the priciest mainstream cruise in America, and per island-hour it is the cheapest way to see four islands without packing five times.

The California round trips are ocean-first: four or five sea days each way wrapped around four island calls, no flights at all for West Coast cruisers, and a per-night price that embarrasses the islands' hotels. Our Hawaii from California page covers that version in detail, including why the mythical 7 day version from the mainland cannot exist.

## Which one fits

- One week and island time is everything: fly and do the inter-island loop.
- Two-plus weeks, hate flying, love sea days: the California round trip.
- Budget-first: the round trip's interiors at $1,399 for 15 nights is the lowest cost-per-night path to Hawaii that exists.
- Honeymooners: inter-island with the Maui overnight, covered alongside other options in our honeymoon cruises guide.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the best month for a Hawaii cruise?

April to May and September to October: pleasant weather, whale season's edges, and shoulder pricing on both products. Winter brings whales and rain; summer brings families and peak rates.

### Why is there only one inter-island cruise ship?

US cabotage law requires US-flagged, US-crewed ships for purely domestic itineraries, and Norwegian's Pride of America is the only large cruise ship meeting that bar. Hence the premium and the year-round sellouts.

### How far ahead should I book Hawaii?

Inter-island: 9 to 12 months for cabin choice, holiday weeks earlier. California round trips: 6 to 9 months, with occasional shoulder-season drops inside 60 days. Prices checked: August 2026.

## Related pages

- [Hawaii cruises from California](https://www.bookcruises.us/hawaii-cruises-from-california/)
- [Cruises from San Francisco](https://www.bookcruises.us/cruises-from-san-francisco/)
- [Honeymoon cruises](https://www.bookcruises.us/honeymoon-cruises/)

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