Maui is known as “The Valley Isle” as it sits between two mountains, Haleakala and West Maui. It is the second largest Hawaiian island and is famous for its numerous microclimates which creates diverse recreation options.
Whether or not you are cruising or staying on land, the island of Maui has a lot to offer. However, if you decide to take the Norwegian cruise from Honolulu, you are in luck as you will have two whole days to explore this island.
There are multiple activities to do like biking down Haleakala, a waterfall and rain forest hike, helicopter ride, snorkeling, Road to Hana, visiting a vodka distillery or lavender farm, zip lining, surfing, whale watching (in December to April), scuba diving, or just relaxing on one of the 30 plus beaches.
Day 1
On the first port day on our cruise, we drove along the slightly scary Road to Hana. Along the way, we stopped to take a hike in Haleakala National Park. We highly recommend not self-driving as the you will miss the stunning scenery while you concentrate on driving. A local guide can explain the botany, history, and culture of the island. Guides also know all the best places to stop along the way!
Please note this is a long day (8.5 hours) and if you get motion sickness this might not be the best excursion for you as the Road to Hana is very winding with 617 curves and 56 one lane bridges.
Day 2
On the second day in Maui, we chose to snorkel as we love to discover the life under the water. Unfortunately, the sea was too rough to visit Molokini Crater — a collapsed underwater volcano. However, we did get to swim with sea turtles and see a whale.
Whether you’re visiting Maui on a cruise or flying-in for a longer stay (there are amazing resorts too!), let us help you make your Hawaii experience a trip to remember!