Help us Decide!!!

My mom wants to go to Hawaii. It will be a one time only trip for her and she would really like to see more than one island. I realize most people advise a week on each island. I realize that we can not see all that Hawaii has to offer on a 10 day or so trip, and we will be cramming a lot in. Because we are planning on going to multiple islands, I need your help!! We can not decide between a Trafalgar guided tour or a cruise. I realize this is a cruise board and we love cruising, but I want to make sure this trip is everything my mom wants. We would also have to cruise NCL because of time of year. (Either over Springbreak or Summer- still not decided). There will be 8-9 people total in our party. 13 and 15 year old kids, 5 or 6 middle aged adults, and my older mother) So help please!!

Trafalgar is about $1000 more per person, but includes many excursions already (Coffee plantation, Pearl Harbor, National Volcano Park, a luau, experiences at restaurants on different islands, etc.) We would go to Oahu, the Big Island, and Maui over 8 days. We get a free day at Maui and Kona. Plus we would extend the trip by 2 days because our time on Oahu is short.

All accommodations are beachfront and my mother loves the beach!!! She likes to take evening strolls, etc. Are beaches easily accessible from the cruise ship for this? Are there some ports that you can just exit the ship with tons to do without an excursion like a lot of Caribbean ports?

Downfall: We have to go through airports more often, change rooms (3 different rooms total over 10 days), pay for 1/2 of our meals, be with the same group of people with not as much flexibility

Cruise on NCL- $1000 cheaper. We get to pick our own excursions (though we are pretty happy with Trafalgar's selections over all). We get to go to 4 islands over 7 days (We would add time on in Oahu pre or post cruise with this option too) Meals are all included, but the ships may be far from where we are on the island so may not be accessible easily? We also do love cruising, but I am thinking we will barely be on the ship and it will more be for breakfast/sleeping. After paying for excursions, tips, etc. I am thinking the prices might be fairly close.

Please help us decide. Anyone with experience with both? I am sure there is something we haven't thought of too that those with experience with Hawaii, cruising, Trafalgar, can help us with!! TIA!!!!:)

I have been twice land trip not cruise. A week for each island maybe a bit much. We did Oahu and Maui first with 4 days on Oahu 3 on Maui. We again more recently did Oahu and Big Island 4 and 3 days again. The smaller islands you can do in fewer days. Cruise while convenient you won't stay long enough. It is more of a sampler tour. Don't forget tours are extra on a cruise so that could more than cover the difference. Look around because hotels often also offer tours or if your up to it you could rent a car and do it yourself which is usually the way we do land trips. Must sees on Oahu are Pearl Harbor and the Plantation. Both would consume a day each in order to fully appreciate.

I had a look at the Trafalgar tour and feel that it would be a mistake because it's only 7 nights and 3 islands ... I think you'd be tired of the amount of time wasted in airports and packing/unpacking moving from one island to the next. On the day that you leave Oahu and fly to Hilo, you hardly have any time at Volcanoes National Park, because you then have to travel across the island to Kona....it's way too much to pack into a day.

Kona isn't a beach town ... it's a tacky tourist town (sorry, I know some will disagree) - the nice beaches on the Big Island are about 45-60 minutes drive north of Kailua Kona, on the S. Kohala Coast.

We've done land trips to Oahu, Kauai, Maui and the Big Island (some of them twice or more) - and I wouldn't recommend the Trafalgar tour to anyone. We haven't done the NCL cruise, but know several couples who have and based on their positive feedback, I'd recommend it to those who have a short vacation time and want to see more than one or two islands.

I'd suggest considering a 3rd option ... a DIY land trip. The majority of tourists visit Hawaii that way and it's not difficult to organize. It's a great destination for a family trip ... there are loads of very nice accommodations to choose from in both hotels and condos resorts. You'd be able to do it less expensively than the tour and can choose activities that are of interest to your group (I don't think the Trafalgar farm trip on Maui is going to be of much interest to the teens.) If no one in the group is keen on working out the logistics, then I'd opt for the cruise.

If you want to do a land trip on your own, I'd suggest two islands maximum in 10 days. The Hawaii tripadvisor forum is a great place to get help with planning land trips. Ask there about a Trafalgar tour to get more opinions, but I think everyone there will have the same feeling about a tour like that as I do.

Good luck with your plans.

I just looked at NCL 7 Day, that looks good if you fly in early or stay extra on your own in Oahu. Oahu has the most to do. You make 2 stops on the Big Island and you spend 2 days on the other 2 islands. Might be less stress than having to pack up and change hotels. Had't seen this tour before.

ETA didn't catch your party size. Agree with other poster a DYI might be better but the cruise doesn't sound too bad. I bet though DYI would be cheaper.

A cruise would be better than a land tour because you wouldn't have keep packing and unpacking. ;)

Aloha Ollychelle,

Hmm. While reading through what your family wants/needs, I kept changing my mind between your 2 offered options. But ultimately I voted for the cruise because I absolutely agree that all that airport time and packing up over and over will bite into your sightseeing time big time. I think overall the cruise would be more relaxing for your family. Hawaii is my favorite place on the planet. If you had more time, I would recommend a tad more time and perhaps only 2 islands. Happy planning! :)

Thanks for the advice so far. I do agree that we could DYI cheaper for two islands. I've thought about it, but my mom likes the idea of tours because of minimal waits and less planning on our end. This is her decision.

Are any of the docks close to beaches, short walk?

I am not familiar with NCL so I do not know what ports you will be in. If you can give those, we can let you know the closest nice beaches. :)

For Maui, ships either dock in Kahului or tender off of Lahaina in West Maui. You're never too far from walkable beaches in either of these locales on Maui.

Day Cruise Ports Arrive Depart

Sat Honolulu, Oahu (EMBARK) 7:00 pm

Sun Kahului, Maui 8:00 am ---

Mon Kahului, Maui --- 6:00 pm

Tue Hilo, Hawaii 8:00 am 6:00 pm

Wed Kona, Hawaii 7:00 am 5:30 pm

Thu Nawiliwili, Kauai 8:00 am ---

Fri Nawiliwili, Kauai --- 2:00 pm

Sat Honolulu, Oahu (DISEMBARK) 7:00 am ---

If you want to visit the highlights on each island, e.g. Waimea Canyon on Kauai, Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island, Haleakala on Maui - you'll need to either rent a car or take excursions.

If you stick close to the ports, you'll miss out on great beaches (there's a mediocre beach at the Kailua Kona port, and an OK beach within walking distance of Nawiliwili - it's where the Marriott is (Kalapaki Beach) - but the nicest beaches are in S. and N. Kauai.

Re your comment about less planning and minimal waits ... I understand the appeal to your mom re less planning, although a port intensive cruise such as this one can involve just as much, if not more planning than a DIY land trip to two island (if you want to see the highlights on each island.) I'm not sure what 'minimal waits' means though? However, I would still choose the cruise over the Trafalgar tour (a Trafalgar tour might be OK for someone who can't or doesn't have any interest in planning any aspect of a trip other than booking the tour itself - but I think you are really settling when choosing that type of vacation for Hawaii.)

I figured since I added cruise locations that I should add trafalgar as well. If this helps

Day 1

ARRIVE HONOLULU, OAHU – WAIKIKI (2 NIGHTS)

Welcome to Hawaii. In the traditional Aloha spirit, you'll be greeted at the airport with a flower lei. Explore your hotel in the heart of Waikiki Beach and spend the rest of the afternoon as you like: dive into the warm gentle waves of the Pacific or relax with a tropical drink poolside. At 6 p.m., gather for a Hawaiian-style Welcome Reception and dinner with your Travel Director and fellow travellers.

Meal(s)

Welcome Reception

Dinner

Day 2

PEARL HARBOR AND HONOLULU SIGHTSEEING

Today, begin your exploration of Oahu. During a visit to Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial, you'll be moved by this memorial to the World War II military personnel still entombed in the ship's hull since the fatal attack in 1941. After driving through the National Memorial Cemetery in the Punchbowl Crater, make your way back to Honolulu to see the splendid Iolani Palace, former home to Hawaii's last monarchs, and the iconic King Kamehameha I statue at Aliiolani Hale. View the current state capitol building, built in a Hawaiian version of modernist Bauhaus architecture. The rest of the afternoon is yours to spend relaxing on the beach, doing some shopping or just exploring.

Meal(s)

Full Breakfast

Day 3

OAHU – KONA – KEAUHOU BAY (2 NIGHTS)

Your morning begins with a short, scenic flight to the Big Island of Hawaii. Upon arrival, enjoy an orientation tour of the lively seaside village of Kailua-Kona followed by time to explore the local shops in this quaint and bustling town. Kona is famous for its tasty coffee and you'll learn more about this fragrant bean and the process of growing them on a Kona coffee plantation with a Local Specialist. Later, check in to your oceanfront resort and perhaps get a glimpse of the most famous guests on the property: the manta rays. Speaking of rays, get an up close view of these majestic sea creatures with a dinner at Rays on the Bay.

Meal(s)

Full Breakfast

Dinner

Day 4

KONA FREE TIME

Wake to the sound of the sea and explore one of the most beautiful areas in the world on your own today. Options abound: don a snorkel and mask to see some of Hawaii's colourful and varied marine life, experience a spectacular helicopter flightseeing excursion over Big Island or just relax and enjoy the pool and other facilities at your oceanfront resort. This evening, perhaps join an optional experience to visit a historic working cattle ranch in the highlands for dinner and entertainment. Learn all about one of the ocean's most unique animals, the manta ray, from a Local Specialist at the hotel's Manta Ray Learning Center.

Meal(s)

Full Breakfast

Day 5

KEAUHOU BAY – HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK - HILO - MAUI (3 NIGHTS)

Bid farewell to Kona as you make your way to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that's home to the world's largest volcano. On the way, see the immense stretches of black sand beaches the island is known for and enjoy a stop at the southernmost bakery in the United States. Once inside the park, learn about the fiery geology of the islands and walk through a real lava tube followed by a visit to an interpretive museum. Afterwards, enjoy a savoury lunch at The Rim restaurant, offering unparalleled views of the Kilauea caldera. Later, travel to Hilo where you board your flight to Maui, the Magic Isle. Formerly a royal retreat, magnificent Kaanapali Beach is often ranked as one of America's finest beaches. Check in to your beachfront resort and relax for the evening.

Meal(s)

Full Breakfast

Lunch

Day 6

MAUI SIGHTSEEING

This morning, set off for another of Hawaii's most famous volcanoes: Haleakala, which means "house of the sun". The volcano itself is the world's largest dormant volcano and the National Park is home to the island's highest peak at 10,023 feet (3,055 metres) above sea level. Travel into the countryside next to visit a local farm and learn about the sustainable agriculture on the islands. Then toast your host with a glass of wine and indulge in a Be My Guest lunch serving up delicious Hawaiian specialities made with the freshest local ingredients. After lunch, visit the lush emerald peaks of Iao Valley State Park. Join your travelling companions this evening for a luau Regional Meal, featuring a sumptuous buffet, tropical cocktails and the songs and dances of old Hawaii and the South Pacific.

Meal(s)

Full Breakfast

Be My Guest Dining

Regional Meal

Day 7

MAUI FREE TIME

Enjoy a full free day in paradise as you chart your own course through Maui's wonderlands. Spend some time on the long white-sand beaches. Explore the old whaling village of Lahaina with its trendy art galleries and welcoming cafés. Play 18 holes at a championship golf course overlooking the sea or maybe embark on a whale watching cruise. This evening, toast your travel adventures with your newfound friends at a festive Farewell Dinner.

Meal(s)

Full Breakfast

Farewell Dinner

I've been to Hawaii in a variety of tours and DIY. I checked into the cruise, but for a balcony cabin, the cost was very prohibitive.

My first trip to Hawaii Hubby and I did Oahu only (1989). 5 nt stay at Islander on the Beach (gone and now part of the Hilton Hawaiian Village). We were supposed to go back the next year to another island, but Hubby decided he didn't lose anything in Hawaii.

SOOOO, a girlfriend and I decided to do a 4 Island tour. 3 days on each island (Oahu, Kauai, Maui & Hawaii). You literally live out of a suitcase. DO not even think of unpacking. You are on the move non-stop. NOT A RELAXING VACATION!

I've really enjoyed our DIY much more. Hubby & I returned in 1999 to Oahu and Kauai for 5 nts each in hotels with car rentals. Again in 2010 with a van rental and houses on VRBO for 5 nts each Oahu & Hawaii. Then in 2011 I took my daughter and granddaughter to Maui for 7 nights at an old fashioned Kaanapali Beach Hotel (AWESOME) until the flight home (5 hours of horrendous turbulence, so much so I don't care to fly).

The big problem I see is the number of folks you will be traveling with. DIY would require at least two vehicles (even 7 passenger vans). Hotels on the beach can be very expensive.

While the cruise would be your hotel and transportation, and meals. You would have to arrange your own tours, but overall probably have a better vacation. Robert's Hawaii does cruise tours as well as land tours. The 7 nt cruise plus 2 or 3 days on Oahu would make the overall trip 10 days. More planning and research on your part, but I'd lean toward the cruise for this one.

Have fun planning, then taking your family vacation.

Personally, I would do a self booked trip with only 2 islands. Wait times are minimal even at Pearl Harbor especially if you go early and you can do the tours at your leisure and more or different ones. Even just a day drive around the island is a beautiful adventure. This also allows early morning or late evening walks on the beach. Spend 5 nights in Oahu and the remaining on another, flight time is minimal and you can be at your next resort by lunch. I think this would please all since if some wanted to hike up Diamond Mtn but others didn't you could have separate trips.

I voted for the cruise. As you can see from my signature, we have cruised around the islands many times. After quickly reading though the Trafalgar tour, I noticed a couple of things. You are spending two nights in Kona, with one day being a free day. From the description, you will be staying at the Sheraton Hotel which is oceanfront, but does not have a beach....only a pool. You will have to have a car or book a tour off property to get to a beach. Also, on the day you leave Kona for Volcanoes Nat'l Park, you will have a three hour bus ride to the park. Then, after visiting the park, you have another 45 minute bus ride to the Hilo airport and all the time spent waiting around to board the flight. That seems like a lot of down or wasted time that day. And, on the tour, you will not visit Kauai.....a gorgeous island and a must-see for a one time only trip to the islands.

I voted for the cruise. As you can see from my signature, we have cruised around the islands many times. After quickly reading though the Trafalgar tour, I noticed a couple of things. You are spending two nights in Kona, with one day being a free day. From the description, you will be staying at the Sheraton Hotel which is oceanfront, but does not have a beach....only a pool.

Good to know.

Thinking that maybe the extra days at Oahu at a beachfront resort with booked tours (because my mom likes the ease of tours and really wants to do Pearl Harbor and the Palace)and then cruise might be the best bet? Still a few nights beachside with the ease of tours, but less packing/airport headache. Hmmm...decisions, but fun decisions!

Thanks everyone!!! Keep the great info coming!!

You don't need a week on EACH island, but a land vacation will give you more exploring time than a cruise ever will.

I didn't respond to poll. Having done the cruise on NCL, and having done land based tours, I would opt for neither. Given an amount of time of about 10 days, I would second the recommendations of about 5 days on Oahu, and 5 days on either Maui or Kuaui. If Big Island, then pretty much the whole time there.

5 days on two islands would give a taste of some of the splendor that is Hawaii and a taste of the Aloha spirit.

We have done the NCL cruise and also one round trip from Mainlanf, plus 11 visits thT were land trips. Give me a land trip anytime.

In your first post (and the poll) you mention that the Trafalgar tour is 8 days ... but in your detailed itinerary it's 6 days plus the evening of day 1.

Two problems with the Trafalgar tour (in addition to it not being 8 days, and too much time in airports) - at $1000 more than the cruise, it seems like poor value. Although some tours are included, some of those might be ones that you wouldn't choose if you were selecting tours based on the interests of those in your group...so, it's not only a waste of money but also a waste of valuable time that could be spent on activities that might be more suited to your group. Also, you have 2 days out of your 6 full days where you have to organize and pay for tours, rent vehicles, or spend the day at or near the resort.

Also, I think with a little research on the highlights of each island, Kailua Kona wouldn't be one of the locations that you'd choose to spend 2 nights during your vacation if you were planning a short land trip to Hawaii on your own.

But it sounds as if you're leaning towards the cruise ... which has 100% of the votes so far, so hopefully no more convincing is required to steer you away from the Trafalgar tour. :)

Add another vote for the POA cruise which will be super relaxing in comparison to the whirlwind tour you are considering. In addition to the other negatives noted for the tour, it appears that not all meals are included and you have very little choice in what you will see.

Note that the POA does offer their own tours, ( take a look at the list of those offered by port, it is quite extensive ) or you can book with outside vendors on your own. Tour companies like Roberts have tours geared for cruise passengers with ship pick up and return. Just indicate on their website that you are a cruise passenger, plug in your ship and cruise date, and a list of those offered will appear. With an overnight on both Maui and Kauai and two ports on the big island Hawaii, it is possible to do a lot of touring or you can be as lazy as you wish, and not everyone in your party need do the same things if tastes, interests and activity level abilities differ. You come and go all day and night as you wish while the ship is in port. There are lots of activities and shows offered on the ship itself as well as a large number of dining options.

Consider whether you would rather spend your evenings sipping coctails on an aft facing lounge or having dinner followed by a show, or perhaps joining an excursion to a Luau on one of the overnights, or schlepping through an airport.

Did a land hawaii vacation 6 yrs ago. 3 islands for 12 days. Our flight to each island was smack in the middle of our day. Then you have to get to the hotel. It does take time away from the fun. We are going on NCL POA this august. And 3 days prior in Oahu. So we will see. I like the idea of waking up and just getting off the ship. Lets face it there are just so many great things to see.

Did a land hawaii vacation 6 yrs ago. 3 islands for 12 days. Our flight to each island was smack in the middle of our day. Then you have to get to the hotel. It does take time away from the fun. We are going on NCL POA this august. And 3 days prior in Oahu. So we will see. I like the idea of waking up and just getting off the ship. Lets face it there are just so many great things to see.

We did the POA this past August. The weather was fantastic. No rain and not too hot. A little tip on the ship, find the Aloha Lanai on the aft of the ship. You have to walk through the buffet area toward Moderno restaurant. They set up a breakfast buffet inside Moderno you can enjoy inside or on the covered lanai. A great place for lunch, sailaways, and evening coctails. A hidden gem some people never find.

A car rental for Maui and Kaui which allows you to keep the car overnight and park at the port really makes it easy to tour at your own pace and make the day as long or short as you like. Have a great trip!

Thank you so much for the tips. We did rent a car in both Maui and Kauai. We really just want to go at our own pace! Thanks again.

We did four days on Oahu and then the 7 day POA cruise. Looking at the Trafalgar tour, I would choose what we did again in a heartbeat. Too much wasted time traveling to and from airports, hotels, checking in, checking out...makes me exhausted just thinking about it! lol :D

Some 25 years ago, my former college roommate offered me the opportunity to buy into her husband's spot on a Tauck tour to Hawaii (she decided to separate from him, after they had booked it). It was a 9-day, 3 island tour, and even though it was for quite a bit of money, it did serve as a good trip for me (this was long before I went on my first cruise, and had never been out of the mainland part of the US). The guide took care of us (our trip started just as a hotel strike was also starting), her driver took care of our luggage -- getting it to the bus and to the hotels. We stayed in really nice hotels. The meals that were included were to nice places (on one night we were given a choice in Honolulu between a glitzy restaurant or a trip up to the Polynesia Culture Center, and my friend and I were the only ones who did the latter). We hit all of the tourism sites, including the Arizona Memorial. The islands were Oahu, Kauai and Maui.

Five years later, my new hubby and I went there for our honeymoon (he had a prior time there too). Rented a car on Kauai and went from one end to the other. Then flew back to Honolulu and spent a few more days.

Some years later, hubby heard about the RTs on Princess and thought this might be a nice cruise. Even our girl was interested in seeing the setting for Lilo and Stich. But the holiday cruising for that year was already filled so a few months later we booked the following year and had a 13-month rate. It became my favorite itinerary and we've done it two more times on Princess.

If we wanted to go for more time on the islands, we would just fly directly there and do another land trip. Just stay in one or two places.