A Cruise to Hawaii With Kids
Turtles, volcanoes and waterfalls — with the same cabin every night.
Get Hawaii Cruise QuotesA Cruise to Hawaii With Kids: Why It Works
A cruise to Hawaii with kids takes away the parts of family travel that wear everyone out: repacking, long drives between hotels and hunting for meals. The ship is a floating home base, and each morning brings a new island to explore.
Children tend to love Hawaii’s variety. One day it is turtles and tide pools, the next a volcano with steam rising from the ground, then waterfalls and a canyon. On board, kids clubs give parents a few hours to themselves, and family-friendly dining means no one has to sit through a long restaurant dinner every night.
Shore Days Kids Remember
Snorkeling
Calm-water reefs and boat trips with flotation gear; see our sister site Molokini Cruises for Maui’s famous crater trip.
Volcano country
Steam vents, lava fields and lava tubes in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, reached from Hilo.
Beach time
Waikiki’s gentle surf is ideal for first lessons; ask lifeguards where the calm water is on each island.
Planning Tips for Families
- Book early for school holidays. Family cabins and connecting rooms go first.
- Choose cabin layout carefully. Sofa beds, bunks and connecting cabins differ by ship.
- Pick one big outing per island. Over-scheduling tires children; leave room for the beach.
- Pack mineral sunscreen and rash guards. Maui County allows only mineral sunscreens, and shirts protect better anyway.
- Use the sea days. On mainland voyages, sea days are kids club and pool days, a welcome rest.
Groups and Grandparents
Hawaii is a favorite for multi-generation trips: grandparents enjoy the ship, parents take the active excursions, and everyone meets for dinner. Our sister sites Family Group Cruises and Cruises for Children cover family and group cruising in depth, and our page for seniors helps you plan for the older members of the group. If someone in the family dreams of turning a love of travel into a career, Be a Travel Agent explains how travel agents work.
Family Questions
What is the best age for a Hawaii cruise with kids?
Any age can work, but children who can swim and walk a few miles get the most from the shore days. Cruise lines set their own minimum age for infants, and kids clubs have their own age ranges.
Do kids need passports for a Hawaii cruise?
On a cruise that stays within the United States, U.S. citizen children may not need passports, but voyages that call in Mexico or start in Canada have different rules. Check the line’s document requirements for your exact sailing; a passport for every family member is the simplest choice.
Is snorkeling safe for children?
With the right trip, yes. Choose calm-water spots and boats with flotation gear and lifeguards, keep young children within arm’s reach, and follow the crew’s advice on conditions.
Plan a Family Hawaii Cruise
Tell us the ages of everyone traveling and your school-holiday dates. Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will find family-friendly Hawaii sailings and send free quotes.
Get Family Cruise Quotes