Oahu: Hawaii's third largest island is home to the majority of Hawaii's diverse
population and for this reason it is often referred to as "The Gathering Place".
Spread throughout the south-eastern shores of the island is the state capital,
Honolulu, which is the main international hub when flying in from the UK and is
a great place to stay pre, or post cruise. In Honolulu you'll find everything from
historic landmarks and treasured monuments such as Pearl Harbor and the Aloha
Tower, to world-class shopping, vibrant night-life and spectacular beaches. One
of the most popular places to stay when visiting Honolulu is the world-famous
Waikiki Beach which is located on the south shore of Honolulu and was once a
playground for Hawaiian royalty. The great thing about staying in Waikiki is that
most hotels are either located directly on the beach, or just two or three blocks
away, so you're never far from sea. There's also more to Waikiki than just the
beach, the Honolulu Zoo and Waikiki Aquarium are well worth a visit and a walk
along the Waikiki historical trail provides an insight into the areas past by reading
the surfboard markers dotted along the way.
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OAHU
Kauai: Named after the Wiliwili trees that once lined its stunning harbour, the
port of Nawiliwili is your gateway to what many believe to be Hawaii's most
beautiful island, Kauai. The Island is known as "The Garden Island" due to
its dramatic emerald valleys, tropical rainforests, forking rivers and cascading
waterfalls; so it's no surprise that the Island has served as one of Hollywood's
main tropical locations, with blockbusters such as Jurassic Park, Avatar and the
Pirates of the Caribbean all being filmed here. Norwegian Cruise Lines offer an
excursion called The Directors Cut, which takes you on a live narrated tour of
famous movie locations with specially licensed video scenes from the various
movies made on Kauai and is well worth your consideration. Beyond Kauai's
dramatic beauty, the island offers a wide variety of outdoor activities, from
kayaking up the Wailua River, snorkelling on Poipu Beach or hiking the trails of
Kokee State Park.
KAUAI
Hawaii, The Big Island: The Island of Hawaii (known as The Big Island) is the
youngest and largest island in the Hawaiian chain and is home to black-sand
beaches, tropical rainforests and volcanic mountains. A visit to the World Heritage
site of Volcanoes National Park is highly recommended where you can see Kilauea
and Mauna Loa, two of the world's most active volcanoes; Kilauea which is the
tallest sea mountain in the world stands at more than 10,000 metres high and
has erupted so many times in the last 20 years, that it has added an additional
70 acres of land. Mauna Loa is the largest mountain on the planet and towers
imperiously above the bleak lava fields of the National Park. There are two port
cities on The Big Island, Hilo and Kona. Hilo is located on the east coast and is
the largest town on the Island and is known as the "The City of Rainbows". Here,
you'll find centuries-old wooden store fronts housing a variety of sophisticated
galleries, shops and restaurants. Kona lies on the lava-lined western coast of
the island and is famed for its magnificent sunsets, calm crystal blue waters and
fantastic beaches.
HAWAII, THE BIG ISLAND
Maui: Known as "The Magic Isle" Maui is the second largest and second most popular
Hawaiian island and boasts miles of pristine unspoilt beaches and lush, tropical rainforests.
Like the Big Island, Maui has two ports, Lahaina and Kahului and both provide access to all
of Maui's major attractions. Lahaina is a historic whaling village that has been transformed
over the years into one of Hawaii's tourist hot spots, with dozens of shops, restaurants and
bars. A walk along the picturesque harbour and onto Front Street is recommended, where
you can take a break under the shade of a huge banyan tree, which stands at 60-feet high
and is the size of a city block! Kahului port is the gateway to Maui's world-famous east
coast beaches and the legendary road to Hana, a 52 mile long road that twists its way
through rainforests, spectacular waterfalls, plunging pools and dramatic seascapes. The
Road to Hana is an excursion offered by most cruise lines and is highly recommended, as
you can sit back and enjoy the amazing views without having to worry about navigating
the hairpin turns and narrow one lane bridges as an expert driver takes the wheel. Another
"must do" is an excursion to Haleakala National Park which stretches across Maui's
southern and eastern coastline. This scenic journey takes you through upcountry Maui
to the top of Haleakala, the world's largest dormant volcano, where the views from the
Visitors Centre and lookout points are simply breathtaking.
MAUI
Be at one with nature - Call our cruise consultants now for the perfect cruise and stay
holiday to get the most out of this stunning and unique part of the world.
