Sitting back relaxed, sipping your cocktail and enjoying the sight of a spectacular Hawaiian sunset, with a pleasant breeze and the sight of palm trees along the coastline of islands, complete all the ingredients to a dream tropical vacation. To some people, it is one of the most amazing experiences in the world that they could think of.

If you are an American or a Canadian citizen living near the West Coast, cruises to Hawaii frequently depart from different seaports there. Mostly, the centers of departure of these cruises are the ports of Vancouver, Seattle and San Diego. There are also a number of other coasts all along the West Coast that offer such cruises.

Most of these Hawaiian cruises are round trips lasting 15 to 18 days and involve a visit to ports across the different Hawaiian islands. There are cruises available for longer periods, such as Hawaiian cruise vacations could also be taken, which are of a duration of 25 to 30 days. One-way cruises are available, after taking which you could take a flight back home.

The greater the period of your cruise, the more you will be able to enjoy and live the beauty of the Hawaiian islands. It certainly thrills those with adventurous souls, but who would refuse an opportunity to spend as much time as possible in Oahu, Kauai, Lanai and Maui in a single trip, not to mention the Big Island itself.

A cruise to Hawaii has more to offer than just lying around the pool deck, or basking in the sun on a Hawaiian beach. Those with a flare for adventure will make the most of the opportunity to marvel at the natural forces in the shape of the spectacular volcanoes of the Big Island. The spectacle of erupting lava from the Kilauea is one of its kind, and if you dont feel comfortable with a hike to the volcano sites, maybe you could use a birds eye view, through a helicopter Circle of Fire tour.

On the southern end of the Big Island, the Kona Cloud Forest Botanical Walk, near the port of Kona, is a soothing interaction with nature. The Kona district offers a plenty of water sports activities, and speaking of water, the experience of exploring the 25 acres of coral reef in a passenger submarine tour must never be missed.

As you approach Oahu on your cruise, you can admire the beautiful coast and beaches of the city of Honolulu. You could also get in touch with a little history at Pearl Harbor and commemorate the tragic World War II incident at the USS Arizona Memorial. As you move on to the island of Lanai, you could try to take some nice shots of migrating whales, or may thrill yourself with a 4×4 ride in the dense rainforests in the island of Kauai. Whether you want to do it to relax, or just to have a lot of fun and adventure, nothing offers you more in one package than a cruise to Hawaii. Try it if you still havent.

You could enrich your taste of Hawaiian cultures by visiting Luaus, and watching Hula Dance to the tunes of native music. Hawaii also offers you an opportunity to pay your pilgrimage to one of the most important sites in the History of the United States: Pearl Harbor.

Pay your tribute to the 2,345 military personnel and civilians, who lost their lives in an unprecedented act of war from the Empire of Japan, by visiting the USS Arizona Memorial, along with a museum dedicated to the memory of this tragic incident.

Witness the splendor of nature in the interestingly shaped rocks like the Lion Rock and the Turtle Island, and witness the fury of nature in the magnificent volcanoes of the Big Island. Go shopping for macadamia nuts and pineapples, or spend your day sunbathing at the beautiful beaches of Hanauma Bay in the Oahu island. Hanauma Bay is also rich in marine life and features beautiful coral reefs. It is a natural preserve and a marine life conservation district, and has centers offering you a lot of knowledge about its marine life. You could find a lot of surfing activities on the island, as its famous North Shore provides surfers with tidal waves as high as 5 meters. You will always find the famous Waikiki Beach of Oahu crowded with visitors, who cannot resist its beauty.

With such a great variety of landscape and activities, you will feel that visiting Hawaii once is just not enough to truly explore it to the core. You would want to come back again and again.

There can hardly be a better look at Hawaii, then looking at four of its islands, with a comparative eye, in one go. With the unique and respective colors and scenes of each Island, nothing gives you a more encompassing picture of the archipelago of Hawaii. For the enhancement of this rare pleasure, here are a few things which each of these Islands are known for, as we move on our cruise from Kauai to the Big Island.

Kauai is the little paradise within a paradise; that is why it is dubbed as the Garden Island. It is probably the best preserved natural environment among all of the Hawaiian Islands. That is why Kauai is famous for its nature-centered activities such as whale watching, snorkeling, tubing, kayaking, biking, off-road sightseeing, eco tours, picnicking and the most amazing of all, an airplane view of the island.

It features some amazing white sand beaches and has by far the most natural and best preserved environment of all the islands. The island is so famous for its repute of having an unadulterated natural environment that it is often featured in Hollywood movies for portraying the natural environment of Hawaii and wildlife of jungles.
A day long tour of the island from its beaches to the Waimea Canyon is a treat for anyone who takes time out to witness it.

Your next stop will be Oahu, as you inch towards the Big Island. It is one of the largest islands and houses the capital Honolulu, since its declaration about two centuries ago. Oahu means the gathering place in the native language, and isnt that name fitting for the place. It is famous for its Waikiki Beach Resort, which is a gathering place in itself.

You can find atmosphere like that of your home on this well built part of the Hawaiian Islands, but Oahu also has to offer a lot for those who want to stay close to nature. You could also enjoy snorkeling, swimming and scuba diving along the coast during your stay.

Oahu can offer you a touch of a historical refresher by allowing you to pay a visit to the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor, or you could experience the richness and beauty of the native art and culture through the Polynesian Cultural Center.

Maui, your next stop on the cruise offers you as much outdoor fun as any of the other Hawaiian Islands. Let it be parasailing, biking, kayaking or ATV tours, Maui has a little bit of everything for those with a taste of adventure. Maui also boasts one of the most spectacular beaches and golf courses in the world, which really makes visiting the island a treat. Moreover, the Haleakala volcano is also one of the trademark sites of Maui that attract tourists.

Finally we arrive to the Big Island itself, the largest volcanic wonder on Earth. The Big Island is named so because it is actually larger than the rest of the Hawaiian land mass combined, and is actually growing. The Big Island enables you to admire the furious side of nature, with the Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park. You can also enjoy day trips on the island, surfing and could also take eco tours. It has plenty of sites to keep you captivated like the Mauna Loa and the Kilauea.

Taking such a cruise will be a dream tour of Hawaii, and if you find a chance to take it, make sure that you dont miss this opportunity.
You may or may not find one again.