Aerial view of a resort pool on a rocky point on Oahu, a stay to add before or after a cruise

Hawaiian Land and Cruise Vacations

Add hotel nights before or after your cruise to get the best of both.

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Hawaiian Land and Cruise Vacations: The Best of Both

A Hawaiian land and cruise vacation pairs a week at sea with a few nights in a hotel before or after. It is the easiest way to get the island-hopping of a cruise and the slow evenings of a resort in the same trip.

The idea is simple. Because the weekly inter-island cruise starts and ends in Honolulu, Oʻahu is the natural place for the land portion. Fly in early, spend a couple of days in Waikiki and at Pearl Harbor, then board the ship. After the cruise, either fly home from Honolulu or take a short inter-island flight to spend a few more days on the island you liked best.

Three Ways to Build It

Waikiki first

Two or three nights in Honolulu before the cruise. Great for Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head and recovering from jet lag.

Cruise, then a favorite island

Use the cruise to scout the islands, then fly to Maui, Kauaʻi or the Big Island for three or four beach days.

Crossing plus a stay

On a one-way voyage from Vancouver to Honolulu, add hotel nights at the end and fly home from Hawaii.

Aerial view of a tropical resort with a pool among gardens in Wailea, Maui — A resort stay after the cruise adds slow days to a busy week of islands.

Making the Logistics Work

Hotels: for Honolulu stays, compare Honolulu hotels on Rooms Cheap.
Flights: fly into Honolulu a day or more early; for routing tips, see Cruise Airfare.
Transfers: Honolulu’s cruise pier is a short ride from Waikiki hotels; cruise lines sell transfers, and taxis and ride-share are easy.
Luggage: pack the cruise bag so the land days do not need a second suitcase.
Activities: book popular land activities ahead, and use Shore Activities for tours on port days.

A few people relaxing on a quiet sandy beach at Pupukea on the North Shore of Oahu — Extra days ashore give you the beach time a port day cannot.

Which Islands to Add

Oʻahu is the easiest add-on because the cruise starts there. Maui suits travelers who want resorts and snorkeling (our sister site Molokini Cruises covers the famous crater trip). The Big Island is the choice for volcano country and stargazing, and Kauaʻi for hiking and the quietest pace. Our guides Best of Honolulu and Best of Hawaii Island list what to do, and Best in Hawaii covers every island.

Land and Cruise Questions

How many nights should I add before the cruise?

At least one, to protect against flight delays. Two or three nights let you see Pearl Harbor and enjoy Waikiki before you sail.

Can I book the hotel and flights with the cruise?

Yes. Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise can quote cruise-and-stay combinations, and cruise lines also sell pre- and post-cruise hotel packages. Compare both.

Put Together a Land and Cruise Hawaii Trip

Tell us how many nights you want ashore and where. Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will quote the cruise with hotel nights and send it free.

Get a Land + Cruise Quote