Hawaii Cruises: Excursions

Experience plantation life and learn about Kauai agriculture as you explore almost 100 acres on this authentic narrow-gauge train. Once you board the King Kalakaua-style wooden cars at the turn-of-the-century station in Kilohana camp, you'll begin an informative 30-minute journey back through time touring fields of sugar, pineapple, banana, papaya, coffee, tropical flowers and hardwood trees that illustrate plantation history as well as the story of commercial farming on Kauai today. After exploring the magnificent plantation, enjoy all that is included in the Luau Kalamaku package. Note: Must be at least 21 years of age and provide a valid ID to consume alcohol. Participants between the ages of 3 and 17 years of age will be charged the child rate. Price reflected on NCL.com is inclusive of the $7 Pre-book savings. less

Take an exclusive journey through the history of Kilohana, the Manor House, train and Kalamaku show. This specially created evening begins with a ride on the Kauai Plantation Railway. This is an authentic narrow-gauge railroad that conducts tours of working tropical agriculture crops within the Kilohana estate and on surrounding lands. Powered by a diesel-engine locomotive, passengers ride in four restored King Kalakaua-style wooden cars. Your next stop will be at 22 North, a perfectly restored manor house at Kilohana which was the most expensive and beautiful home ever built on Kauai. You’ll delight in a unique meal featuring Kauai-grown meats, fish and produce, including fruits and vegetables from Kilohana Plantation’s 60-acre orchard and agricultural park. The manor house has been designated as a state historic landmark and has been restored to its vintage 1930 style. After dinner, you’ll be escorted to the Kalamaku show and your preferred performance seating. This is the story of a family journey across the vast blue waters of the Pacific with the spirit of the ocean as their guide. Our narrator recounts this epic tale through old Hawaiian chants and song while the dancers keep their rhythms against the strong beat of the drums. The story climaxes with a fantastic fire dream featuring fire poi balls and traditional fire knife dancing. Note: Beverages at 22 North are available for purchase. Beverages and premium seating is included at the Kalamaku show. Must be at least 21 years of age and provide a valid ID to consume alcohol. Participants between the ages of 3 and 17 years of age will be charged the child rate. Price reflected on NCL.com is inclusive of the $10 Pre-book savings. less

All aboard to Pawai Bay, a snorkeler's paradise! This remote area offers visibility up to 150 feet and enchanting coral gardens that are home to over 600 species of brightly-colored tropical fish. Dolphins often follow us as we cruise to our destination. This 4 1/2 hour cruise includes 2 1/2 hours of water time. Snorkel gear, instruction, Rx masks, flotation toys, fresh water showers, a 20-foot water slide, 15-foot high dive platform, his and her restrooms, continental breakfast, buffet sandwich and salad bar, sodas, juices and a no-host premium bar are included. Two extra wide swim platforms make it a cinch to get in and out of the water. This is fun for the entire family, and might just be the best day you'll spend in Hawaii. Note: To purchase alcoholic beverages, guests must be at least 21 years of age. A valid ID is required by law. less

Enjoy three activities in one – snorkeling, sailing on a top-of-the-line catamaran, and dolphin watching. While onboard, you'll receive your snorkel gear and personalized instruction, then once in the water, look for rainbow-colored reef fish, endangered sea turtles, and elusive manta and eagle rays. The underwater topography is amazing, filled with corals, lava cliffs, valley arches and caves. After snorkeling, sit back and enjoy a full lunch and complimentary beer and wine as the tranquil light winds fill Kamanu's sails as she glides over Kona's brilliant blue waters. less

Kayak along four miles of the scenic Kona coastline and black lava sea cliffs to Kuamoo Bay. Along the way, see great sea caves and giant lava tubes; you may even spot a playful dolphin or a green sea turtle! Then, jump into the waters of a protected cove to snorkel and see some of Hawaii's marine life up-close. Don't worry beginners, a friendly and knowledgeable guide will greet you and provide you with basic paddling and snorkeling instructions and safety information. Note: Participants must be at least 10 years of age. We recommend you wear a swimsuit and bring a towel. This tour is not recommended for those with back problems or heart conditions. less

Flowers & Coffee showcases small farms in the district of Puna that constitute the agricultural backbone of Hawaii. If you’re a flower lover and coffee aficionado, this excursion is for you! First you’ll start with a visit to a colorful anthodium farm that is also a clearing house for other tropical flowers like Heleconias and foliage such as Ti leaf. Walk into shade houses where the anthodium’s are grown in beds on the ground and learn their history and lore. Explore a modern orchid nursery with a great variety of spectacular orchids in bloom and learn about the biology, history and economics of orchids. Walk through greenhouses viewing thousands of potted orchids on benches and see the million-gallon reservoir of rain water. Last, savor the aroma at a coffee mill where local varieties of beans, recently rated the best in the world, roasted to different stages, will be tasted. Learn about processing methods and ask any questions you have about coffee. The fragrance in the bean roasting room must be experienced to be believed. less

Harness up and zip across valleys and gulches. Soar over streams and view places more spectacular than you could ever imagine! This exclusive zip experience takes place on private lands that have never before been open to the public. It's a backcountry adventure that will take you deep into and above Kauai's interior as you traverse down a mountainside into the lush valley below. The tour starts with a historic and scenic drive to the start of the zip course. Descend the mountainside sailing along a series of seven zip lines. At the end of the zipping, enjoy a delicious snack and a refreshing swim. Relax, bask in the sun or just soak in a natural swimming pool. Note: Participants must be at least 12 years of age and weigh between 100 lbs. to 250 lbs. Not recommended for guests who are prone to seizures, uncomfortable with heights, pregnant, or those with neck, back, shoulder, hip, or knee problems. Wear a swimsuit and bring a towel and hair ties to secure long hair. less

Tour the slopes of Hulalalai Volcano from the mountain to the sea. This is a rare chance to visit the endangered tropical cloud forests high above Kona, experience one of the most prestigious Kona Coffee farms, and explore the ancient fish traps of Kaloko Honokohau National Historical Park. Your trained ranger guide will explore and share a private 70 acre cloud forest sanctuary. Walking under a canopy of 30 foot tall tree ferns, Ohia trees, and bamboo, learn about the tropical flora, birds and the endangered cloud forest itself before traveling to the award-winning Mountain Thunder Coffee Farm. Tour the coffee mill and then get ready to taste one of the most sought after coffees in the world grown on the volcanic slopes of Kona. Next take a scenic drive to the Kaloko Honokohau National Historical Park. Enjoy a short hike to visit the ancient heiau, or sacred temples, see the petroglyphs carved by the native Hawaiians who once lived here, and walk to the sandy shore where ancient Hawaiians stored their stocks of fish in traps and ponds. Hawaiian green sea turtles (Honu), the very rare Hawaiian monk seal, dolphins and whales may be seen here. Note: Closed-toe shoes and long shorts/pants required. less

Soar high above towering trees and beside breathtaking mountains. Splash into a secluded, waterfall-fed jungle pool from Kauai’s only water zip line. Join us and experience the wonder of Kauai’s tropical paradise on a series of unique and distinctly different zip lines, located on the private Kipu Ranch, made famous in films like Raiders of the Lost Ark and Jurassic Park. The adventure begins as you cross aerial walkways hidden within exotic Banyan Trees. The adrenaline starts pumping with two zips above a mountain-stream fed waterfall. You’ll marvel at giant tree ferns and take in the beautiful scenery from a suspension bridge 80 feet above the rainforest floor. You’ll fly 800 feet from a lush valley summit to a picturesque grassy meadow. Then…zip! The 1,800 feet tandem zip lines are the ultimate rush. Share a shriek with a buddy as you soar side by side for a quarter mile. A short hike through a swaying bamboo forest will bring you to a picnic lunch at the spectacular Blue Pool and the Water Zip. Hold on, zip across the pool, and splash in the cool, clear water or just float and enjoy the view. Note: Participants must be at least 7 years of age and weigh less than 275 lbs. Closed-toe shoes required. less

This unique tubing adventure takes you back in time to private lands never before open to the public. Your adventure starts with a short drive to the headwaters of the four-mile-long Hanamaulu Ditch system where you'll begin your two-mile tubing journey. Grab a tube and jump in for a leisurely tubing expedition. Witness Kauai's spectacular flora as you float down the tropical waterway of open ditches and tunnels, all of which were engineered and hand dug in 1870. At the end of your adventure, you'll enjoy delicious snacks beside a pristine swimming hole. Note: Participants must be at least 5 years of age, weigh no more than 300 lbs. and be at least 43 inches in height. Not recommended for guests who are claustrophobic, pregnant or those with back problems. Wear a swimsuit and bring a towel. less

Take a fun downwind kayak trip through the beautiful Huleia National Wildlife Refuge in a comfy, stable, sit-on-top double kayak. Hear the incredible legend of the Menehune Fishpond from a knowledgeable guide as you paddle past it. Take a one-mile guided nature walk through the rainforest and learn about the unique plant and animal life of the area, and how the ancient Hawaiians lived in harmony with nature. See actual film locations from "Raiders of the Lost Ark" then take a leap off a rope swing for a refreshing dip in a cool mountain pool, just like Indiana Jones himself! Snacks and cold drinks at a fern-surrounded waterfall, and a return trip on a super-cool, twin-hulled, powered Hawaiian canoe round out this adventure. Note: Participants must be at least 3 years of age and weigh no more than 280 lbs. Wear a swimsuit, sport sandals or water shoes, and bring a towel. less

Imagine yourself flying through a tropical rainforest canopy over splashing streams and waterfalls with a view of the crystal blue Pacific Ocean in the distance. That’s only the beginning on this amazing adventure that combines a seven stage zip line course, a stroll through the famous World Botanical Gardens and a beautiful waterfall viewing in an exclusive area of the island. You’ll be surrounded by beauty as you hike from one line to the next in this tropical wonderland. A portion of the hike is on a suspension bridge that cuts through the jungle with several small waterfalls below your feet. This course was created to fill the senses with anticipation and excitement in a safe and fun environment for the entire family. All lines are ground to ground making it easier for all to participate. Note: Participants must be at least 10 years of age and weight between 70 to 270lbs. and must be comfortable with heights. If you have back problems, existing heart conditions or are pregnant, this tour is not for you. Must wear closed-toe shoes, pants or long shorts, long hair tied back, and no dangly jewelry. less

No visit to Hawaii would be complete without some fun in the surf. Learn to surf at Chava Greenlee's Surfing School. One of Kauai's most famous professional surfers will have you 'shooting the curl' in no time. Upon your arrival at the Poipu Beach area, expert instructors will first instruct you on land before you paddle out to ride your first wave. Instructors will be in the water with you for one hour, then you get to practice on your own for 45 additional minutes with your instructor supervising from shore. You couldn't pick a better time to experience the thrill and excitement of surfing. Be sure to purchase your personalized photo before returning to your ship. Note: Participants must be at least 8 years of age and able to swim. Wear a swimsuit and bring a towel. less