Cruises from Honolulu, Hawaii

Why sail from Honolulu?

Honolulu is the only embarkation port for all the sailings, which makes it one of the most distinctive cruise gateways in the Pacific. Whether you are flying in from Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne or another Australian city, it is a single short-to-medium international flight rather than a long intercontinental haul — and once you are there, the ship takes you somewhere extraordinary. Most sailings here are one-way voyages, so you board in Honolulu and arrive somewhere else entirely: Papeete in Tahiti, Sydney, Brisbane, Vancouver or Miami. A domestic flight connects the two ends, and we can arrange that alongside the cruise, hotels either side and transfers, as one complete holiday.

Where do these sailings go?

The great majority of sailings from Honolulu head into Polynesia — a sweep of islands across the central and southern Pacific that includes Hawaii itself among its wider reaches. This is where the cruising is concentrated, and it is easy to see why: these voyages connect the Hawaiian Islands to some of the most remote and beautiful island groups on the planet. If Polynesia is your focus, you have the widest choice of ships, durations and cruise lines.

Close to home — Polynesia and the South Pacific

The dominant route from Honolulu runs south and west into Polynesia, with most voyages disembarking in Papeete, Tahiti. These are typically 10- to 14-night one-way passages — long enough to settle properly into the rhythm of island-hopping, with time ashore at ports along the way before the voyage ends in French Polynesia’s capital. A handful of sailings head into the broader South Pacific, finishing in Sydney or Brisbane — a wonderful way to combine a Hawaii stopover with a Pacific crossing that brings you home by sea. If you are thinking about a Honolulu to Sydney sailing, or a Hawaii to Sydney cruise more broadly, these trans-Pacific voyages are worth a close look. There are also sailings in the other direction — if you would rather start in Australia, see our cruises from Australia to Hawaii page, with options departing from Sydney and Brisbane.

The long haul — northbound to Vancouver and beyond

A smaller number of sailings run north from Honolulu up the USA West Coast, finishing in Vancouver. These are a popular choice for travellers who want to combine Hawaii with a Pacific Northwest adventure — the ship handles the scenic leg, and a short flight home completes the loop. One sailing reaches as far as Central America, and one ends in Miami (worth noting: Miami and Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades are about half an hour apart, so a Florida arrival is worth checking both Miami and Fort Lauderdale for connecting options). If you are planning a Sydney to Hawaii cruise in 2027, or looking at a cruise from Hawaii back to Australia, we have dedicated pages for those routes too.

Which cruise lines sail from Honolulu?

Norwegian Cruise Line has the most sailings from Honolulu by a clear margin, making it the most active line on this route. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises each have a strong selection, and Princess Cruises rounds out the mainstream options. For something more intimate, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection offers a small number of luxury sailings. Cruise1st Packages bundle cruise fares with flights and hotels, which can simplify the planning considerably if you are travelling from another Australian city.

The ships sailing from Honolulu

Norwegian Spirit — Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Spirit is the workhorse of this route, with more sailings from Honolulu than any other ship here. After a 2020 refurbishment, she gained Onda by Scarpetta for modern Italian dining and retained the long-popular Cagney’s Steakhouse for premium evenings. On deck, the Spice H2O adults-only open-air beach club brings an Ibiza-style atmosphere to sea days — NCL’s signature outdoor entertainment space. The Norwegian Spirit ship page has full details, and you can browse Norwegian Spirit’s cabins and deck plans before you book.

Norwegian Spirit cabin options

• Family Inside cabin I4 — 13.8 m², sleeps 4. A practical choice for groups who want extra sleeping space without paying for a view.
• Deluxe Sea-view cabin O3 — 26.7 m², sleeps 3. The largest sea-view cabin on board — nearly twice the space of a standard ocean-view.
• Balcony cabin BA — 15.9 m², sleeps 3. Your own private balcony with sea views, which interior and ocean-view cabins simply cannot offer.
• Owner’s Suite SB — 56.2 m², sleeps 2. The most spacious suite on board, with a separate bedroom, living and dining area, and a private aft balcony.

Anthem of the Seas — Royal Caribbean

Anthem of the Seas is one of Royal Caribbean’s most technology-forward ships. The North Star observation capsule — a Guinness World Record holder for the tallest viewing deck at sea at 300 feet above the waterline — gives a perspective on the Pacific that is hard to match. The RipCord by iFLY skydiving simulator and SeaPlex bumper cars keep things lively at sea, while the Two70° venue delivers 4K immersive performances and robotic cocktail-making in a single dramatic space. See Anthem of the Seas cabin grades and deck plans for the full layout.

Ovation of the Seas — Royal Caribbean

Ovation of the Seas offers 18 different restaurants for evenings at sea, a surfing simulator and a skydiving simulator for the more adventurous, and robotic bartenders for a cocktail unlike any you have had before. Full cabin detail is on the Ovation of the Seas cabins and deck plans page.

Celebrity Edge — Celebrity Cruises

The Magic Carpet — the world’s first cantilevered floating platform — is the defining feature of Celebrity Edge. It rides 16 storeys up the hull and serves as a bar, a restaurant and a dive platform depending on where it sits. Infinite Veranda staterooms dissolve the boundary between cabin and balcony by opening the entire outer wall. For dinner, Le Petit Chef’s 3D animated table projection is one of the more original ideas at sea. Check Celebrity Edge cabin grades and deck plans when you are ready to choose.

Celebrity Edge cabin options

• Deluxe Inside cabin DI — 18.8 m², sleeps 4. Around 2 m² larger than the standard inside grade, with a bigger bathroom and more storage.
• Deluxe Ocean-view cabin DO — 22.1 m², sleeps 4. The largest ocean-view cabin on board — 3 to 4 m² more than standard.
• Sunset Veranda Stateroom SV — 21.2 m², sleeps 4. An approximately 8.3 m² balcony — roughly double the size of other veranda categories on the ship.
• Iconic Suite IC — 239.8 m², sleeps 6. The largest suite in the entire Celebrity fleet, with 270° panoramic views from the highest position above the bridge, plus a private hot tub.

Celebrity Solstice — Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Solstice underwent a significant revitalisation in 2026, gaining the Fine Cut Steakhouse, Trattoria Rossa for handmade pasta, and a redesigned Chef’s Table by Daniel Boulud. The Retreat suite sanctuary and AquaClass wellness cabins give guests who want extra privacy and exclusive dining an easy upgrade path. See Celebrity Solstice cabin grades and deck plans for the full breakdown.

Royal Princess — Princess Cruises

Royal Princess is recognisable by her SeaWalk — an 18-metre glass-bottomed walkway hovering 40 metres above the ocean. MedallionClass® OceanNow® lets you order food and drinks to wherever you happen to be on the ship, via the Princess app. Crown Grill and Sabatini’s cover the specialty dining side, while the 24-hour International Café handles everything in between. Royal Princess cabin grades and deck plans are available to browse before you decide.

What fare options are available?

The fare structure varies by cruise line, and understanding the tiers can make a real difference to what you get for your money.

Norwegian Cruise Line fares

NCL offers 3 main fare tiers on these sailings. The entry-level fare covers the cruise only — no packages included. The mid-tier Free at Sea bundle adds a premium beverage package, a speciality dining package, Wi-Fi and shore excursion credits (valued in US dollars per port) for the first 2 guests. The top-tier Free at Sea Plus extends the dining package to the entire reservation and covers specialty restaurants such as Cagney’s Steakhouse, with the number of included meals scaling with voyage length.

Royal Caribbean fares

Royal Caribbean’s pricing on these sailings includes fare types such as last-minute offers and early booking bonuses — the latter can include onboard credit for qualifying bookings. A solo traveller fare covers single occupancy of a stateroom. Our team can walk you through which fare works best for your travel dates and group size.

Celebrity Cruises fares

Celebrity offers 3 tiers. The base rate includes dining, entertainment and onboard activities, and suits travellers who prefer to add extras individually. The All Inclusive fare adds a classic drinks package and basic Wi-Fi in one price. At the top, The Retreat fare covers premium drinks, premium Wi-Fi, suite accommodation, exclusive lounge and sundeck access, private dining and dedicated personal service.

Is there a good time to sail from Hawaii?

Sailings from Honolulu run across a broad window, with departures from late 2026 through to longer-dated voyages in 2027 and 2028. The median voyage length is 12 nights, though sailings range from 7 nights up to 28 — so whether you want a focused island-hopping trip or a proper trans-Pacific crossing, there is a duration that fits. The Polynesia routes tend to draw travellers who want to maximise time at sea and in port; the northbound sailings to Vancouver suit those who want to pair Hawaii with a North American leg. Our Princess Cruises sailings, including the Princess 2027–2028 season, are worth checking for longer-dated options.

What discounts are available on Hawaii cruises?

Reductions on these sailings reach up to 30% off the price previously listed for that cabin grade — though that maximum applies to a single departure. Most reduced sailings are discounted by around 16%. The range is worth checking regularly, as availability and pricing move as departure dates approach. Our Best Price Guarantee means that if you find the same sailing cheaper elsewhere after booking with us, we will match it.

Shore excursions and things to do in port

Because most of these voyages are one-way passages calling at islands en route, shore time is a real part of the experience rather than a bonus. The ports along the Polynesia route in particular are known for snorkelling, diving, hiking and cultural visits that are simply not reachable on a round-trip itinerary. Norwegian Spirit’s NCL At Sea fare includes shore excursion credits (valued in US dollars per port) as part of the package, which helps with planning costs in advance. For independent excursion bookings, our team can advise on what is available at the ports your sailing visits, and include tours in the same holiday booking as your cruise and flights.

Make it a complete holiday

Every sailing here departs from Honolulu, which means a flight from Australia is part of the trip. That is not a complication — it is an opportunity to turn the cruise into a proper holiday with a Hawaii stay either side. As cruise specialists, our team at Cruise1st can build a Cruise1st Package that puts flights, pre- or post-cruise hotels, transfers and tours on the same booking as your cruise fare. There is no need to juggle separate suppliers or worry about connections — we handle the whole thing, and our Australian cruise experts are available seven days a week to talk it through.

If you are based in Sydney, our Sydney cruises page shows departures closer to home. For deals sailing from Brisbane, see Brisbane 2027 cruises or short cruises from Brisbane. If you are weighing up the Princess Cruises around Australia 2027 season or a Royal Caribbean Christmas cruise for 2026, those pages are worth a look alongside the Hawaii options. Browse our full range of cruise deals or the wider Australia cruise collection for more inspiration.

*Prices are per person based on 2 people sharing, and are subject to change. This price is not kept up to date and therefore does not reflect live pricing and availability. Prices and any discounts shown were checked on 14 October 2026.

Where a discount is shown, it is a reduction from the price previously listed for that cabin grade on that sailing, not a comparison between cabin grades or against a brochure rate. Discounts and prices shown are not kept up to date: the reduction available now may be smaller, or may have ended, and prices may have changed.