Hawaiian Cruises
For most cruise regions there are periods of peak demand (high season), moderate demand (shoulder season) and low demand (low season).
Several years ago, high season tended to be when the weather was best in a particular area (and when all the northerners flocked to the sun), but as more and more families take to cruising, the summer months have become a peak-demand period regardless of the weather (at home or in the region).
As is the case in the Caribbean, if kids are out of school, it's high season. Norwegian Cruise Line's NCL America spin-off company offers the only Honolulu-based, week-long cruises (all year around) on Pride of America . Other lines offer more sporadic sailings, usually influenced by the repositioning of ships. For example, Carnival offers two April and two fall sailings. Royal Caribbean offers March, May, September and October dates.
Taking a Hawaiin Cruise at low season means the Cruise Ship is less crowded. If you have children, and are able to take them out of school, autumn sailings are a great time to get more individualized attention in the children's programs since there are far fewer children onboard.
Keep in mind: January is one of the coolest and wettest times of the year in Hawaii (yet land and sea water temperatures still average in the 70's); sometimes you can even see snowfall on higher peaks! At the same time, the winter months are prime whale watching times.
Hurricanes rarely affect the islands; August and September are when they come the closest, stirring up hot, humid weather and tropical storms.
Just remember that the best time to go to each destination is usually the most expensive.
Large passenger ships regularly dock in Hawaii on their way through the Pacific, PLUS several beautiful ships offer weekly itineraries only visiting ports on the major Hawaiian Islands: Oahu (Honolulu port), Maui (Kahului or Lahaina), Kauai (Lihue) and the Big Island (Hilo and Kailua-Kona)a. According to those who have made the trip, it is one of the most spectacular ways to sample what each Island has to offer.
