InnerSeas Offer Hawaiian Adventure

Hawaii-bound vacationers looking to explore the islands next winter have a new, innovative option at hand with InnerSea Discoveries’ launch of AdventureBound Hawaii, a week-long Active Adventure by expedition vessel. The multi-island "Un-Cruise" aboard the 76-guest Wilderness Explorer includes adventure activities by sea and ashore for up-close explorations of sea life and the four islands of Oahu, Maui, Lana’i and Hawaii, the Big Island.

From November 2013 to April 2014, the Explorer will sail seven-night AdventureBound cruises between Oahu and the Big Island and reverse. The itinerary visits Ka’ena Point State Park, Wai’anae Harbor, Maui, Molokini, Lana’i, Honomalino Bay, Opihihali and Kailua-Kona. Guests will also enjoy scenic cruising and searching for whales and dolphins in the wildlife-rich Humpback National Marine Sanctuary.Cruise fares start at $2,495 per person, based on double occupancy.

Guests may find themselves snorkelling with colourful fish, sea turtles, whale sharks and dolphins; hiking on Oahu and Lana’i to see less visited areas of the islands; or night snorkelling with Giant Pacific Manta rays and exploring the historic town of Kailua on the Big Island. Off Maui, guests enjoy a snorkel at Molokini, a crescent shaped, partially submerged volcanic crater rich in sea life and then an exploration of the historic town of Lahaina. 

On board, expedition guides provide interpretation on excursions ashore and at sea. Innovative meals are served buffet style to accommodate a flexible schedule of adventure activities. A wellness program includes a sauna, fitness equipment, complimentary yoga on deck and massages for a fee. Cabins feature a flatscreen TV/DVD player, iPod dock and eco-friendly bath amenities. In the lounge, guests will find a selection of games and a library of books and DVDs.

For Luxury Adventures in the Hawaiian Islands, the line’s 36-guest Safari Explorer sails seven-night cruises between Hawaii, the Big Island, and Lana’i, with two days of activities on Moloka’i. Rates begin at $4,995 per person.

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's adventure-cruise specialists.

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Hawaii, Epilogue

Some final thoughts on our big Hawaii cruise-and-stay adventure with Norwegian Cruise Line, Virgin Holidays and Disney's Aulani Resort...

This 12-day trip was an unmitigated success with us, a pure joy to experience and a great advertisement for Hawaii, Norwegian, Virgin Holidays and all the resorts we stayed at (three in four nights).

From arrival at Honolulu to our departure at the same point, everything went off like clockwork and the whole spirit and welcoming vibe of the islands was crystal clear everywhere.

With Norwegian's excellent 7-day itinerary providing 2 days on each of Maui, Kauai and the Big Island, it provided an in-depth view of each destination - and the great diversity of each one. And finishing with 3 nights on Oahu was a great choice to ensure we had a fully rounded experience here, too.

So here are a few final thoughts from the whole journey...

It's stating the obvious but Hawaii is one of THE great cruise destinations, like Alaska.

Norwegian's shore excursion experience here (with Roberts Hawaii) is priceless and well worth taking advantage of.

Some of the great little 'extras' include masses of fresh tropical fruit (notably locally grown pineapple, guava, papaya and passionfruit), fabulous coffee (notably on Kauai as well as the Big Island), superb seafood, with several fish we hadn't sampled before, and the blissful climate, which rarely varies from 80-85F and without the enervating humidity we get in Florida for much of the year (and the Caribbean and Mexico).

The climate alone is enough to make the trip worthwhile, and the scenery is rarely short of spectacular, but it is the people who ultimately make Hawaii come alive as a destination. We had so many wonderful encounters with the locals wherever we went, we were always made to feel like 'ohana, or family, not mere visitors. The sights, sounds, tastes and aromas were all distinctive, and they combine to form one overwhelming, long-lasting impression.

Outrageous sunsets are also part of the deal here and the sheer variety of landscape is also breathtaking. We would rate things like Haleakala Crater (Maui), Volcanoes National Park (the Big Island), Waimea Canyon (Kauai), and Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor, Kualoa Ranch and the North Shore (all on Oahu) absolute must-sees.

It is rare that a seven-day cruise can pack in so many essential destination experiences and, with a pre or post-cruise stay on Oahu, this is very nearly the perfect destination (the fact it is such a long haul for most people is something of a drawback, but then it wouldn't be so enticing if it was nearby!).

It is not a cheap place to visit certainly (many prices for things like car fuel, hotels and even meals are above what you'd pay on the mainland or in the Caribbean) but this is definitely unlike anywhere else, hence it is most assuredly worth it.

We have already resolved to return in future, whether by ship or shore, and that, ultimately is the test of any destination, if it leaves you wanting more. 

So, Aloha Hawaii and a hui hou, or, until we meet again...! 

PS: Don't forget to "read all about it" in our full eight-page Hawaii special in the new Winter edition of World of Cruising magazine (left) - out now! See full subscription details on this link.

    

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The Aloha Cruise - On Dry Land

Continuing our grand Hawaii cruise adventure with Norwegian Cruise Line and Virgin Holidays. The 7-day cruise is over, but there's more in store...!

While we had planned for the full seven-day cruise aboard Pride of America, with that much-needed overnight stay at the Modern Honolulu Hotel the day before, we were asked by Virgin Holidays - who had helped with our flights from Florida - if we could stay on for an extra couple of days to see something of their resort choice on Oahu as well.

With their help - and a very generous offer from the Walt Disney company - we were able to extend our stay to three extra nights, starting with a night at the exclusive Kahala Resort on our return to Honolulu. And we were SO glad we had the additional time, both to truly see some of this island and also to relax a little (because, for all the fact it had been a wonderful cruise, we had packed a LOT into the 7 days).

Our first item of business was to pick up a hire car from the Airport (a 15-minute shuttle ride from the port - and just $7 per person with Roberts Hawaii), and then we were finally off under our steam.

With all our luggage in the car, we were advised it was extremely unwise to park in any of the tourist spots on the island as car theft (when obvious items are in view) is somewhat prevalent. Therefore, we headed straight to the Kahala so we could leave our baggage there, even though it meant driving to the far side of Waikiki and then returning to Pearl Harbor, our main target for the day.

We were actually glad we did as the Resort took a bit of finding in daylight, and we were able to navigate back later on with no trouble. It is also quite stunning, with a beautiful entrance reception area that we took to terming New World Chic for its airy, contemporary styling. It was also in the middle of one of its trademark Dolphin Shows at the big seaside lagoon that sits at the back of the resort (a more personal Dolphin Quest adventure is also available but we were happy just to watch the Christmas-themed show).

Once unloaded, we stopped off at the Diamond Head crater, the iconic volcanic outcrop at the end of Waikiki Beach. Here you can drive (or hike) in and then follow the winding path  and 175 steps to the crater summit for a wonderful overview of Waikiki. Due to the fact we didn't have two hours to spare (or any water on a pretty hot day), we opted for a look around inside the crater (including the history of the Crater as a WWII army base) and just a gentle wander along the path to get the general idea. We will be back to tackle the summit another time, though!

Next, we headed for the site of the infamous Japanese attack that brought America into WWII. Pearl Harbor is still a working military base, but there is also the main Visitor Center, with 5 distinct historic sites to peruse and learn about this tragic day for the US Navy, when some 3,500 lost their lives to the sneak attack.

The free-admission USS Arizona Memorial offers a film about the main attack on the island and the ship that took the biggest hits on that fateful day, with a boat ride over to the site of the ship itself, with a hugely poignant display and tribute to the 1,177 men who perished aboard. 

For an additional fee, we went over to the USS Missouri, or the Mighty Mo, one of the WWII battleships that 'bookended' the War by being the place where Japan officially surrendered on September 2, 1945. The Missouri also served in the Korean and Gulf Wars before being retired here in 1999. A full tour of the battleship would take several hours but we managed to do it in about 90 minutes, ending quite in awe of how much of the ship's interior you can actually see.

Other exhibits included the submarine USS Bowfin, which offered more interior touring and the story of the Pacific's under-sea war, and the Museum and Park, with its moving memorial to the 52 US submarines lost in the course of duty. We would have loved to include the Pacific Aviation Museum and the USS Oklahoma Memorial (the other big battleship lost during the raid, along with 429 crewmen), but it was already gone 4pm and things were closing, and we also had one other stop we wanted to make on our way back to the Kahala.

The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific is located in the Punchbowl Crater overlooking Waikiki and is otherwise known as the Arlington of the West. Another volcanic crater - albeit not as big as Diamond Head, the Punchbowl is a dramatic and fitting tribute to the many US servicemen and women who have died in the various Pacific theatres of war. Superbly laid out, with dramatic views from the crater rim, this is a somber but impressive memorial to those who died in WWII, the Korean War and Vietnam, as well as being the resting place for servicefolk and their families in between.

 Our day was completed back at the Kahala Resort, luxuriating in a walk along the beach at dusk and then retiring to the Verandah Lounge for drinks and a light meal (in our case, a superb burger and some sushi) while we contemplated the enormity of our Hawaii journey so far. We were still waking up FAR too early in the morning but, all in all, it was worth it, as we were covering a lot of ground...

Next up - Kualoa Ranch and the North Shore 

 

  

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The Aloha Cruise - More Kauai

Continuing our journey around Hawaii with Norwegian Cruise Line and Virgin Holidays, we have more time on the Garden Island...

Destination Hawaii - Kauai Pt 2

With Norwegian's wonderful Hawaii itinerary allowing for an overnight on Kauai (as we did on Maui), we were able to spend the night at my cousin's and enjoy the amazing peace and views of this part of the island in the morning.

OK, so the birds do make a bit of a racket at 5am, but it is a tropical racket and still quite fun!

After a nominal breakfast of fresh fruit straight from their garden (pure bliss), we were taken down into the town of Kapaa for another look round and a full (or second!) breakfast at Ono Family Restaurant, a typical Hawaiian/Asian choice that is one of the busiest hereabouts.

We're not usually ones to indulge in a big first meal of the day but, at Dave's recommendation, we waded into a Lindsey Special (fried rice topped with eggs, spam and Portuguese sausage), a Local Boy omelette (sausage, kim chee and cheese) and a truly gorgeous side order of the Tropical Stack pancakes (with macadamia nuts, bananas and other fruit). It would be enough to keep us going for most of the day but again served to underline why dining out here is such a pleasure.

After breakfast there was still time to go out to Kilauea Point Wildlife Refuge, where the stunning promontory location is topped off by an eye-catching lighthouse - and great colonies of Laysan Albatross, Nene Geese, Shearwaters, red-Footed Boobies and Frigate Birds. Quite stunning to see them in such profusion (especially the nest-burrowing Shearwaters). There are often whale sightings here, too, but we weren't lucky enough to see any.

The Aleko Menehune Fishponds were our final stop of the day before we had to head back to the ship, the traditional Hawaiian royalty fish stocks, and one of the finest examples of this type of ancient Hawaiian aquaculture. We'd already heard the tradition of the little 'Menehune' people on the islands but this looked like a particularly amazing example of their 'work' at 900ft long!

The Pride of America was due to sail at 2pm, hence we had to be back aboard at 1.30, and we said a very reluctant goodbye to Dave and Bill. Although we had been given a genuinely amazing 'insider's' view of the island, we could tell there was still a lot more to see and do here and I think it will be top of our list to re-visit if we are able to get back out this way. *Sigh!*

Luckily, we had a special invitation to take up back on the ship, with suite guests being invited to a unique sailaway occasion on Deck 7, forward, effectively the bow of the vessel. With champagne and hosting by the Hotel Director, Cruise Director and their staffs, it was a memorable occasion as we said farewell top Kauai for our return to Oahu.

There was still more to enjoy, though, as Captain Kjell Nesheim set a course for the Na'Pali Coast and the chance to view this amazingly steep and ravine-linked section of shoreline. We were greeted by playful Spinner Dolphins playing in the bow-wave and, at 5pm, the sighting of humpback whales!  Several pods were clearly in view and one surfaced barely a stone's throw from the bow for a truly breathtaking moment at sea (too quick for the camera but an indeligible image in the memory).

Our final night we had chosen to spend in Little Italy, the specialist Italian bistro up on Deck 12, next to the Aloha Cafe. This proved to be a great, romantic, dinner-for-two venue, with fabulous food and a wonderful ambience.

The morning dawned suitably bright (and early!) and, back in Honolulu, we were due to disembark. Thankfully, due to the help of Virgin Holidays and two local resorts, we still had three nights to enjoy before our flight home. And we intended to make the most of them!

Next up - Oahu and Pearl Harbor.

   

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Hawaii Cruise Report - Intermission!

Just a very quick note to let everyone know we haven't forgotten our big cruise Blog from Hawaii, with Norwegian Cruise Line, but we are having to put all hands to the pumps this week to ensure we get the new Winter edition finished in time.

We are due to go to print next week, hence our prime focus is on finishing off our News pages, getting the Hawaii feature written up and laid out, and making sure we have everything looking ship-shape for our final issue of the year.

We are roughly half-way through the Hawaii blog, and will resume the full day-by-day account later this week, so stay tuned for all about the fabulous island of Kauai, Waimea Canyon, three days on Oahu and a blissful stay at Disney's Aulani Resort!

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InnerSea's New Hawaiian Voyager

InnerSea Discoveries’ 76-guest expedition vessel Wilderness Explorer begins active adventure cruising among the Hawaiian Islands in autumn 2013. The boat joins the line’s 36-guest upscale yacht Safari Explorer offering island explorations from the sea.

From November 2013 through April 2014, the Explorer will sail seven-night Adventure Bound Hawaii cruises between Oahu and the Big Island and reverse. The itinerary visits Ka’ena Point State Park, Wai’anae Harbor, Maui, Lana’i, Honomalino Bay, Opihihali and Kailua-Kona. Guests will also enjoy scenic cruising and searching for whales and dolphins in the wildlife-rich Humpback National Marine Sanctuary.

Highlights of the new itinerary include snorkeling at Molokini’s undersea volcanic crater, a night snorkel with Giant Pacific Manta Rays, watching whales and dolphins and guided hikes exploring scenic areas on all four islands. Expert naturalists provide interpretation on guided excursions ashore and at sea.

The Explorer has a swim platform for easy access to water sports equipment and entry into the water. A specially built kayak launch platform comfortably launches four kayaks at once. Guests enjoy included watersports activities such as kayaking, snorkelling, stand-up paddle boarding, skiff explorations and swimming. Guests may also take a spin on the innovative human-powered watercraft powered by two peddlers and up to six paddlers.

On board, innovative meals are served buffet style to accommodate a flexible schedule of adventure activities. A wellness program includes a sauna, fitness equipment, complimentary yoga on deck and massages for a fee. Cabins feature a flatscreen TV/DVD player, iPod dock and eco-friendly bath amenities. In the lounge, guests will find a selection of games and a library of books and DVDs.

Cruise fares on the Explorer start at $2,495 based on double occupancy. 

For bookings, follow this link to our sponsors The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's leading adventure-cruise specialists.

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

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