Hawaii Cruises: Excursions

This award-winning, fast-paced adventure tour is the only one that takes you to beautiful Kealakekua Bay, the only marine sanctuary on the Big Island of Hawai'i and site of the Captain Cook Monument. A 24-foot Zodiac raft provides an exciting shore-hugging ride along the Kona coast. Keep your eyes open for spinner dolphins, pilot whales, sea turtles, manta rays, and humpback whales which frequent these waters from December-April. Upon arrival at Kealakekua Bay, you can swim and snorkel in protected waters. On the return ride, you'll explore sea caves, lava tubes and learn more about the geology of the island. Note: Participants must be at least 4 years of age and weigh no more than 320 lbs. Wear a swimsuit and bring a towel. This tour is not for guests who are pregnant, who have chronic back or neck problems, or who have had previous back or neck surgery. For more details about this tour please visit: http://captainzodiac.com/ncl less

From the pier you'll head to the 'wild west' town of Pahoa with its boardwalks, and Lava Tree State Park with its towering trees, on the eastern rift zone of Kilauea Volcano. Visit Ahalanui’s warm springs, with its volcanically heated water. Along the way and during brief stops, view the dramatic and beautiful scenery formed when lava meets the sea: cliffs, lava tubes and blow holes. At Kaimu, once the site of a famous black-sand beach and a small town, both destroyed by a 1990 lava flow, a stop is made where you can walk on the 'frozen fire' and view the active volcanic vent in the distance. Visit a survivor of the eruption, Uncle Robert's Hawaiian Village with a nearby snack shop where you can make purchases. View a picture exhibit of the area you just walked on and see how it looked prior to the 1990 lava flow. Note: Participants must wear closed-toe shoes and be able to walk short distances unaided. less

Experience life on the planet’s most active volcano during this deluxe tour to Kilauea. Meet your guide for the day and board your tour vehicle. The drive to the volcano will take you through Banyan Drive where visiting dignitaries such as Babe Ruth, Cecil B. DeMille, and then-Senator Richard Nixon planted the famed Banyan trees. The drive also takes you past the waterfront Japanese Gardens of Queen Liliuokalani. The lush greenery of Hilo gives way to stark black basalt lava flows in Kalapana, a village completely destroyed by the advancing lava flows just a few years ago. Your first stop is the Painted Church. Now decommissioned, it was moved by determined villagers not once but twice to evade the molten lava flows. Next, you'll walk across the recent lava flows to the newest black sand beach on the island. You'll witness how the volcano engulfed everything in it’s path, even completely filling in Kaimu Bay with molten lava. This walk takes you over what once was the best swimming beach on Hawaii Island. Continue along the scenic Puna coastline to view the jagged lava cliffs of MacKenzie State Park. Then your guide will share a volcanically heated lava cove where you can take a refreshing dip or snorkel looking for tropical fish and the occasional giant green sea turtle. Finally, you'll visit Lava Tree State Park to view the incredible lava formations found here. Left behind in a sudden lava flow in 1790, the hot lava cooled around the native Ohia trees in black rock formations that must be seen to be believed. Your return drive will take you through Hilo. A Hawaiian-style barbecue lunch, which includes complimentary beer and French Champagne, is prepared by your guide along the way, and special dietary needs are happily accommodated with advance notice. There are opportunities to purchase local products and souvenirs along the way. Note: Wear comfortable closed-toe shoes, and bring a swimsuit and towel. Tour capacity is limited, molten lava will not be seen, and order of itinerary may change. Participants must be at least 4 years of age. less