Contemplating this for a future trip and wondering if anyone on this forum has done it in the not too distant-past and can offer their thoughts and opinions. It departs Honolulu and makes two/three other island/port stops and returns to Honolulu upon completion. There is also a Honolulu ground option at some times of year. Any information would be sincerely appreciated. We're not really huge cruise fans but thought this might be a good way to see a few other of the Hawaiian islands this trip as opposed to flying to each one, since we definitely want some more time in Honolulu, too.

We did the POA cruise a couple of years ago -- was a great way to see several islands. Would strongly recommend renting a car wherever you can -- great way to explore on your own. Very good maps are available at Barnes & Noble
Regards, Paul

Thank you for the suggestion. We will keep it on the list of possibilities as we get into really planning the details of this trip. So far, we've booked hotel and the cruise itself but we have a few more details to work on, like a hotel for the time between arrival in Oahu and departing on the POA. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

My wife and I did this cruise in January 2015 for our 30th anniversary. We stayed at Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach for 3 nights before the cruise departed. Very nice hotel, right on the beach, plenty of dining options nearby. We chose Outrigger on the recommendation of friends and because they offered a wedding vow renewal ceremony, which we did. Very nice ceremony on the beach with 3 other couples. As far as the cruise, as was already mentioned, it's a great way to see several islands in a week's time. We didn't rent a car, just because I didn't want to hassle with the rental procedure at every stop, and the 1st time I visit a new place like this I prefer to let someone else drive while I sight-see. We had pre booked tours at pretty much every stop, but I can see where having your own transportation and being on your schedule instead of the tour guide's would have it's advantages. We looked at the cruise as a way to see the highlights on each island, then pick the island we liked best and go back there on our own. We're planning a return trip to Maui either late 2016 or early 2017.

Thank you.......

We stayed at the Outrigger Reef for the first few days of our first trip (our 40th....) and enjoyed the stay and the fact we could catch all the tours right there. It's on our list of 'maybes' for the next trip.

And I'm pretty much with you re the car thing - until I know the lay of the land, and thinking we probably won't be going back to HI after this trip! we don't want to miss the highlights.

For our first trip we rented a car for the whole time we were in Oahu but this time around, we won't bother since the bus system is great and convenient. When we moved out to Turtle Bay, having a car was awesome but again, by then we'd been there for a while and had figured it all out. Sort of..... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />.

Not sure yet what we'll do on the various cruise stops but as we get older, it is nicer to let someone else show us the sites without the concerns of getting lost or missing something we'll later regret.

Is there any one tour you would recommend over all the others, (not counting the helicopter ride, which there's no way in this world I'm gonna' do), but anything else that really still stands out in your mind as something you were and still are thrilled with? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

We really liked the Haleakala Summit / Lavender Farm tour on Maui. The crater is really beautiful. It's actually the main reason we're going back to Maui. I'm a hiker, and it's on my bucket list now to hike across the crater to the other side and back. From the summit on a clear day you can see the snow capped peaks of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on the Big Island off in the distance. The Road to Hana Tour on Maui was also very good.

As far as what we didn't like - the Hawaii Volcanoes Tour was very disappointing. You just get to see steam coming out of a crater off in the distance. Our guide was awful which probably didn't help our enjoyment of the tour. The Kualoa Ranch Tour on Oahu was also not one of our favorites. Here's a link to my review of it on Trip Advisor if you're interested. (I'm GUMO1 on Trip Advisor) http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Re...ii.html#REVIEWS
Overall it gets good reviews so maybe we just had a bad experience.

Also, Waimea Canyon on Kauai is very pretty and worth seeing. Maui and Kauai are our favorite islands, but they're all very beautiful and I think you'll enjoy your cruise.

Probably our biggest disappointment of the whole trip was we didn't get to see the Na Pali Coast on Kauai because it was pouring rain when the cruise ship did it's sail-by. So, I guess that means we have to go back to see that too. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" />

I hope the rainout doesn't happen on our trip as its one of the things I'm really looking forward to. I can't imagine seeing it through rain day conditions.

We haven't booked any tours yet and even when we stayed on Oahu the last trip, we thoroughly enjoyed the cultural center but didn't try the ranch and thought me might this time. We have three days before the cruise to finish up the things we still want to see and perhaps return to the Arizona Memorial again. To me, that was one of the most moving things I've ever experienced.

Again, thanks for your thoughts and suggestions, particularly those re Maui and also the volcano tour. That was one we were seriously considering....and may now rethink, too.