9 Day Tour

February 21–March 1, 2009

Day 1: February 21                 Honolulu

Arrive in Honolulu and transfer to your luxury liner, the Pride of America.  Her colorful island décor brings the Aloha spirit to every deck of this ship.  Enjoy awesome views from the restaurants, pools, lounges and balconies, and check out the Kumu Cultural Center on board for real Hawaiian history.  Throughout the cruise there are many entertainment options - Broadway and Vegas-style shows, comedians, singers, and acrobats.  If you like, you may dance the night away in one of the many fabulous night clubs, or enjoy a nightcap in one of the ship's romantic lounges.  On this cruise you'll find adventure, cultural activities, golf, horseback riding, kayaking, luaus, scuba diving, snorkeling, and much more!

Day 2: February 22                 Kahului (Maui) 8:00 AM  

There is something impossibly romantic about Maui. Bordered by the West Maui Mountains to the west and Haleakala to the east, Central Maui is home to Maui's largest town, Kahului and its neighboring town of Wailuku.  Spend the day enjoying the fragrance of the plumeria, orchids, hibiscus and sweet ginger that grow wild throughout the island.  You may decide to explore the 10,000 foot volcanic crater of Haleakala, watch sea turtles make their way to nesting sites, or feel the energy of a thundering waterfall as it cascades into a tranquil mountain pool. The Maui Ocean Center and Pacific Paradise Luau are just two of many must-see attractions here. The Pacific Paradise Luau, renowned worldwide as one of the best, features feasting and Polynesian dancing with a dramatic climax - the Samoan fire knife dance.

Day 3: February 23                 Kahului (Maui) 2:00 PM

Wow!  Another day in paradise!  Life doesn’t get any better than this.  Meander the streets of Maui with shops and great restaurants, lavishing in the Hawaiian sunshine. If whale watching intrigues you, there's an opportunity to view North Pacific whales that migrate to Hawaii during the winter. With a certified marine naturalist at your side, you can hear their ethereal songs, learn about recent discoveries related to these giant mammals, and experience the thrill of getting close to them. Choose your daytime adventure and enjoy free-style dining aboard ship. Experience Hawaii with a sense of spontaneity!

Day 4: February 24                 Hilo                              8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Our day begins at 8:00 a.m. on the big island of Hawaii in the main port of Hilo.  Also known as the Orchid Island, Hilo contains a wealth of gardens and greenhouses, from which masses of orchids are shipped to the mainland.  Hilo is also the gateway to one of our stops - Volcanoes National Park.  Learn about two of the world's most active volcanoes and how the Hawaiian islands were formed.   This evening, take pleasure as we sail by Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii's youngest and the world's most active volcano, in its twenty-fourth year of continuous eruption.

Day 5: February 25                 Kona                            7:00 AM - 6:00 PM  

As we visit Kona, explore their beautiful tidal pools. The sun always seems to shine on this part of the west side of the Big Island.  We visit the 150,000 acre Parker Ranch, one of the country's largest cattle ranches.  With more than 160 years of operation, it is also one of the country's oldest ranches.  You may also enjoy visiting the Captain Cook Monument (explorer James Cook), or the sacred Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historic Park, which preserves the site where, up until the early 19th century, Hawaiians who broke an ancient law against the gods, could be absolved.

Day 6: February 26                 Nawiliwili (Kauai)         8:00 AM

Sailing through the night, we arrive in Nawiliwili on the island of Kauai at 8:00 AM.  Many visitors are tempted to think of Kauai as their favorite of the Hawaiian Islands. It is home to the wettest spot on earth, Mt. Wai’ale’ale, which averages 485 inches of rain each year. This makes the island a lush, verdant paradise. Residents here embody the true “Aloha Spirit”. Waimea Canyon, dubbed by Mark Twain as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, is an unforgettable, dramatic sight. Nothing can prepare you for the sight of the Fern Grotto or spectacular waterfalls that dot the island. Here you find the Allerton Gardens, considered one of the world’s premiere botanical research locations, and Kipu Ranch, a paradise of tropical fern grottos, mango, guava, papaya, and other exotic fruits.

Day 7: February 27                 Nawiliwili (Kauai)         12:00 PM

Nawiliwili, Kauai is really the name of the harbor rather than the name of a town. The port lies outside of Lihue, the main town on Kauai. While the port resides in Nawiliwili Bay, so does Kalapaki Beach.  You may want to drive around to the north shore of Kauai and visit spots along the way. The Wailua River boat trip to the Fern Grotto is something first time visitors enjoy. There is great shopping at Coconut Plantation, just beyond the river, and the scenery as you make your way around the island just gets better and better. The town of Hanalei (just beyond the first one-lane bridge that prohibits motor coaches from getting to this part of the island), is a wonderful little community with eclectic boutiques, shops and small, wonderfully rustic restaurants.

Day 8: February 28                 Honolulu

Arriving in Honolulu at 7:00 am you’ll say goodbye to the new Pride of America cruise ship and transfer to the beautiful Marriott Beach Hotel just off Waikiki Beach.  Located on the island of Oahu, Honolulu is home to the world famous Waikiki Beach and one of the most memorable sights, Pearl Harbor.  Visit the USS Arizona Memorial, the final resting place for the USS Arizona's 1,177 crewmen who died on December 7, 1941.  You  also have an opportunity to enjoy an authentic Hawaiian luau.  Another “must see” is the Polynesian Center the famous pageant with over 100 performers, fire, waterfalls and a volcanic eruption. 

Day 9: March 1                       Honolulu

Today enjoy another relaxing day in Honolulu where you can visit the Botanical Gardens, check out Diamond Head volcano or just stroll along the world famous Waikiki Beach. Our hotel is very close to the famous market where you can shop for almost anything before heading to the airport and your flight back home.