My Dream Vacation

If you've never cruised before, then your ideal dream vacation will be taking a Hawaiian cruise. Imagine enjoying island paradise experiences each day. Major cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean Int'l and Princess Cruises offer Hawaiian cruise vacationsbetween 10 and 14 days with port stops at most of the major islands. The Hawaiian island chain includes the islands of Oahu, the Big Island, Kauai, and Maui. A new cruiser may be intoxicated by the experience afforded by the Hawaiian culture.

Oahu is the most populated island. Cruise passengers will savor in its beautiful beaches, breathtaking views, wonderful restaurants, and great shopping. The Lolani Palace, built in 1882 by King David Kalakaua is the only Royal Palace in the United States. The Polynesian Cultural Center offers the most authentic luau and entertaining night show on Oahu. Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial, which is located on the North West side of Honolulu, remind us of this pivotal event during World War II.

The Big Island of Hawaii is twice the size of the other Hawaiian Islands combined. Visitors will marvel at the diversity of the island, from Mauna Loa with its snow-capped peaks at over 14,000ft and Mauna Kea host to Kilauea, the most active volcano in the world. The Big Island of Hawaii offers the most breathtaking beaches with sand showing all the colors of the rainbow due to the effects of its volcanic history.

Kauai is an ideal destination for those looking to lose themselves in the romantic beauty, and tranquility of an island paradise. There are the high mountain cliffs that rise from 3,000-3,567 feet to form the Na' Pali Coast. Kauai's Waimea Canyon stretches 14 miles across the western end of the island and is called the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific". It has amazing views you have to see to believe. Waimea Canyon is also known for many Hollywood movies, such as Jurassic Park and Raiders of the Lost Ark. Wailua Falls has some of the most beautiful waterfalls made famous by TV shows such as Fantasy Island and Magnum PI.

Maui is known as the "Valley Isle" with natural diversity, ranging from mountains, to deserts, and beautiful beaches. Many vacationers voted Maui as the "Best Hawaiian Island". The Maui Nui Botanical Gardens were established in 1976 by Rene Sylva, and are mainly aimed at conserving dry forests and coastal plants. Hiking through the Haleakala National Park from the height of a 10,000 ft volcanic peak to the warm Pacific water, is truly a unique experience that will last a lifetime. Maui is the second largest island in the Hawaiian Islands providing miles of diverse cultures, climates, and landscapes.

To experience this dream vacation, it is necessary to explore each of the islands by enjoying the on shore excursions that some of these major cruise lines have to offer. Hawaii, from a cruise ship is not a true Hawaiian vacation. Shore excursions located at these ports include tours of the waterfalls and rainforests located further inland on Kauai. Visitors will relish in snorkeling activities into the crystal clear waters of Maui that will get you up close with the aquatic life. Passengers will marvel at the different color landscape from lava at the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Each of these shore excursions is available for a fee and range from 2 to 5 hours long. The islands of Hawaii are considered to be the ultimate playground that hosts a range of activities on both land and sea.

Taking a Hawaiian Cruise can be an experience worth the cost. Many passengers choose to cruise over flying to Hawaii because of the amenities and lower price. Traveling by air is the fastest way to reach Hawaii. When flying to Hawaii, a visitor has to take in to consideration the extra costs of hotels, dining, and many other expenses, which can be very costly in the long run compared to taking a cruise. The price of the cruise includes all meals, non alcoholic drinks, most ship board entertainment, and some of the most luxurious rooms on board. It is like taking your hotel