An un-cruise cruise in Hawaii?
Jul 14th, 2014, 11:15 AM
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An un-cruise cruise in Hawaii?
Hi there. My husband and I are looking into an atypical cruise of Hawaii. Small ship, like around 40 passengers. The focus is on nature. http://www.un-cruise.com/hawaiian-islands-cruises
I prefer a land-based vacations, and if we did this cuise, I would tack on 4 or 5 more days on the front and end of this 8 day cruise to that end. However, this small ship provides all the things we like to do EXCEPT stay on land! We like to kayak and snorkel, and nature watch and are not at ALL interested in glitzy touristy things or really even night life. What duds we are! I always plan everything and we end up with great vacations that suit us, but for once, it would be so nice to have someone (other than me) do all the work in seeking out and planning excursions, getting the gear together, planning the nature trips & nature watching and we could just go! Everything, all excursions, alcohol, EVERYTHING is included in the cruise price.
However, and I know nothing (yet) of Hawaii, but based on the cruise website it looks as though they are trying to keep it simple. I have started reading about high winter winds. The cruises are only November - April, so I am slightly concerned with a rocking rolling boat, but I guess they have it then so you can see the whales. I used to be quite a sail boater, but I've noticed some seasickness recently. I'll get a patch or something. Age.
Islands they visit: Molokaʻi, Lanaʻi, Olowalu / West Maui, Honomalino Bay, Kailua-Kona, then disembark Hawaiʻi, the Big Island.
What do you think?
I prefer a land-based vacations, and if we did this cuise, I would tack on 4 or 5 more days on the front and end of this 8 day cruise to that end. However, this small ship provides all the things we like to do EXCEPT stay on land! We like to kayak and snorkel, and nature watch and are not at ALL interested in glitzy touristy things or really even night life. What duds we are! I always plan everything and we end up with great vacations that suit us, but for once, it would be so nice to have someone (other than me) do all the work in seeking out and planning excursions, getting the gear together, planning the nature trips & nature watching and we could just go! Everything, all excursions, alcohol, EVERYTHING is included in the cruise price.
However, and I know nothing (yet) of Hawaii, but based on the cruise website it looks as though they are trying to keep it simple. I have started reading about high winter winds. The cruises are only November - April, so I am slightly concerned with a rocking rolling boat, but I guess they have it then so you can see the whales. I used to be quite a sail boater, but I've noticed some seasickness recently. I'll get a patch or something. Age.
Islands they visit: Molokaʻi, Lanaʻi, Olowalu / West Maui, Honomalino Bay, Kailua-Kona, then disembark Hawaiʻi, the Big Island.
What do you think?
Jul 14th, 2014, 01:56 PM
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I guess I'm also kind of a dud because nightlife doesn't offer much allure to me anymore, though I do kind of like some glitzy tourist stuff from time to time.
So this cruise is on a large yacht-like vessel rather than a bit cruise ship. I do think that it will give you a distinctly different kind of experience from a big-ship cruise. In that respect I think you won't be disappointed. This is a good company that generally offers well-planned trips, but I am more familiar with their offerings in Alaska than Hawaii.
Given the difficulty of getting to Molokai, you may very well have to spend at least one night both going and coming. That's not a huge impediment if you have the time. I'd plan on spending time on the Big Island, and then you can rent a car and go exploring and see the volcano. I probably wouldn't bother spending multiple days on Molokai, though you could.
I did a small-ship cruise in Costa Rica and Panama a few years ago, and for the most part I didn't have problems with motion except on the last night coming back from the San Blas Islands, and that was horrific, and I had only been seasick once to that point in my life. If you do get seasick, there are definitely good remedies these days, both non-medicinal (seabands, ginger) and medicinal (non-drowsy Bonine). I find all these to be somewhat effective. I think if you prepare yourself, you may be ok, but these small ships don't have stabilizers.
Bit I really did love the small-ship experience. If you want a similar kind of tour but more land-based, Tauck offers a Hawaii program that might fit the bill. This is also a company who can take care of everything, and I think the costs would be similar to those of the Un-Cruise.
So this cruise is on a large yacht-like vessel rather than a bit cruise ship. I do think that it will give you a distinctly different kind of experience from a big-ship cruise. In that respect I think you won't be disappointed. This is a good company that generally offers well-planned trips, but I am more familiar with their offerings in Alaska than Hawaii.
Given the difficulty of getting to Molokai, you may very well have to spend at least one night both going and coming. That's not a huge impediment if you have the time. I'd plan on spending time on the Big Island, and then you can rent a car and go exploring and see the volcano. I probably wouldn't bother spending multiple days on Molokai, though you could.
I did a small-ship cruise in Costa Rica and Panama a few years ago, and for the most part I didn't have problems with motion except on the last night coming back from the San Blas Islands, and that was horrific, and I had only been seasick once to that point in my life. If you do get seasick, there are definitely good remedies these days, both non-medicinal (seabands, ginger) and medicinal (non-drowsy Bonine). I find all these to be somewhat effective. I think if you prepare yourself, you may be ok, but these small ships don't have stabilizers.
Bit I really did love the small-ship experience. If you want a similar kind of tour but more land-based, Tauck offers a Hawaii program that might fit the bill. This is also a company who can take care of everything, and I think the costs would be similar to those of the Un-Cruise.
Jul 14th, 2014, 02:13 PM
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I did a small ship cruise in Alaska a few years ago and was bored out of my mind. Yes, the excursions were nice, but they used up only a fraction of my time. Granted, it was still chilly, so just hanging out on the deck wasn't possible for long stretches of time. Obviously, you'll encounter more pleasant conditions. And I do think being able to see several islands would be nice. Before committing, I'd just encourage you to access how much (or how little) you will enjoy the ship itself.
Jul 14th, 2014, 04:56 PM
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sounds wonderful. It might be a bit rocky on the seas but if you have either a patch or the elastic bands on your wrist it will help. I think you will enjoy it. Since you will be on the BI at the end of your sea journey, u could spend the rest of your time there. It is huge, wonderful variation of landscape. You can go large hotels, small boutique hotels, rocky volcanic side or green lush side of Hilo. Hilo tends to be wetter than the Kona side. Lots of hotels and condos to choose from VRBO is a good one. Personally my favorite island is Kauai but not sure you are interested in flying from BI to Kauai. Kauai is low key, lush, basically 1-2 small shopping centers so really no NY style shopping there., no high rises as nothing can be taller than a coconut tree....
