For many, Hawaii is the ultimate bucket-list destination. The golden sand beaches, the adorable green sea turtles basking in the sun, the looming volcanos and of course the immense spirit of the islands. That said, actually planning a trip to Hawaii can be quite overwhelming. There are so many options on each of the islands, countless hotels, restaurants and activities to choose from that information overload comes on quickly. And this my friends is the allure of going on a cruise in Hawaii.
That said, if you have been around here for a while you know I am not a traditional cruiser. But one cruise company that has always called out to me are the small ship sailings with Uncruise Adventures . Just the name alone is like a beacon signaling to me. I’ve always been super independent minded and spirited which is how I travel as well. When I hear “uncruise” it says “Welcome independent minded, anti-cruiser, we have a home for you right here.”
Friends, this trip was nothing short of spectacular. Cruising with Uncruise Adventures opened up my eyes to how and why so many people have fallen in love with this company. Half of the people on our sailing were former Uncruise patrons who have sailed on their other trips, with several having even done the Hawaii trip previously. This is what Uncruise does. It lures you in and gives you a home, whether you are a long time fan of cruises or just wetting your appetite.
Read on to find out why Uncruise Hawaii needs to be your next adventure!
Who is Uncruise Adventures?
Uncruise Adventures is a small ship expedition cruise company specializing in immersive and adventurous travel in a variety of destinations, such as Hawaii, Alaska, Baja California and the Galapagos. Since 1996, Uncruise Adventures has provided access to remote and off-the-beaten-path destinations that larger cruise ships cannot reach.
Uncruise focuses on offering trips with a deep sense of adventure, exploration and authentic cultural experiences, which is accomplished on ships with less than 100 passengers. Some of the things you can expect on an Uncruise Adventure include snorkeling, kayaking, hiking, wildlife viewing, and interacting with local communities.
We absolutely love that Uncruise Adventures is one of the few companies catering to travelers of all ages with unique and off-the-beaten-path experiences in popular tourist destinations.
Uncruise Big Island to Moloka’i Itinerary Summary
The Uncruise Hawaii itineraries either start on the Big Island and end in Moloka’i or do the reverse. For our trip, it was easiest for us to arrive to the Big Island and return from Moloka’i so that is the itinerary that we chose. Ideally you should arrive a full day before the departure of your boat. We weren’t able to, which worked out fine, but was a bit stressful to be honest!
Below is a rundown of our proposed itinerary and what we actually did. As this is an expedition cruise, things are weather dependent and sometimes, things get changed or removed from the itinerary so it is best to not get too set on anything in particular.
Day 1: Departure from the Big Island
Today we arrived to the Big Island where we were picked up at the airport and transported to the hotel where our group was meeting. We checked in to the Uncruise table, set our bags down and headed out to the beach for a quick lunch and snowcones. As it got closer to departure time, our bags were sent to the boat as we were escorted over to board. After boarding, seeing our room and getting settled, we had the mandatory safety briefing before sitting down for our first dinner on board.
Day 2: Big Island Hualalai Volcano Hike
Today we are still anchored close to the Big Island, but we ventured to a different destination than where we boarded yesterday. For our trip, the second day was New Year’s Eve and we opted for the volcano hike. This 3 mile hike was the perfect way to get out in the morning, stretch our legs and get some expansive views over the ocean and the volcanic rocks around the Big Island.
We were led onto private property by our guide with Hawaii Forest & Trail who knew the flora and fauna like the back of his hand. We were able to explore an old lava tube and see how the lava flows shaped this island.
For those that weren’t up for the adventurous hike, they were offered time to explore the Kona coastline seeking out sunbathing sea turtles.
Upon returning to our boat we were given a short amount of time to refresh and get ready for our next adventure – snorkeling!
Day 3: Kona Coast & Manta Ray Snorkel
Since there is no time for sleeping in, even on New Years Day, we headed out early for a 7:30 a.m. snorkel session. After swimming for a few hours with all of the amazing underwater wildlife, we headed back to the boat for a post snorkel brunch with delicious pastries and pizza on the top deck of the boat. It was such a wonderful way to welcome in the new year!
Since we didn’t have to be anywhere until dark, we spent the rest of the afternoon swimming off the back of the boat, SUPing and lazing around in the gorgeous sun.
Unfortunately due to a large earthquake in Japan, which sent tsunami warnings towards Hawaii, we were unable to do our much awaited manta ray snorkel in the evening. It was a great disappointment for all, but as we know on expedition cruises, you just never know what you will get. Instead our captain and crew decided to take everyone out for a sunset skiff ride. While it was no manta ray experience, it offered a wonderful time of bonding between all of the passengers.
Day 4: Captains’s Choice: Maui Coast
During the night, the captains ushered us across the wide open ocean to reach our next destination off of Maui. The plan for the day was a kayak/skiff ride on the coast as well as a snorkel session at Turtle Town. It was so wonderful to get out on the kayaks. We saw an endangered Hawaiian Monk seal on the shore, tons of fish through the clear waters and had time to really take in the famous Maui coastline.
Between our return and lunch we had time for more free swimming off the back of the boat along with the coolest experience ever. We were able to listen to whales communicate under the water with a hydrophone. If you have never heard whales underwater, you need to. It is so interesting!
And our last excursion for the day was a snorkel at Turtle Town. As you can see the day is full of water adventures and activities to really get you closer to nature.
As is common on expedition boats is our nightly post dinner discussion and lecture about what we have seen or a lesson on the wildlife. This was one of our favorite parts of every day!
Day 5: Captains’s Choice: Lanai Coast
Today we woke up to a beautiful sunrise and got ready for an early morning snorkel. We loved the abundance of diverse colorful fish in these cooler waters right on the rugged coast of the island.
This afternoon we were supposed to head on land for a variety of activity options including mountain biking, visiting a cat sanctuary and hiking. However due to a bit of rough weather we were not able to dock on the island. Instead our captain relocated us to another area where we were able to take an afternoon skiff ride around the island.
This is one of the most important parts of an expedition type cruise is to always be ready for adaptations based on the weather.
Day 5: En Route to Moloka’i
Today we woke up with another beautiful sunrise outside of our window as we prepared for a morning snorkel session with turtles! We hadn’t seen very many thus far in our journey, so everyone was very excited for this morning’s adventure. As soon as we hopped out of our skiff boats to snorkel someone had already spotted some majestic turtles.
After our amazing morning with some of Hawaii’s most beautiful wildlife, we spent the afternoon cruising the waters in route to Moloka’i looking for humpback whales, which we saw an amazing amount of, often right off the side of the boat!
Day 6: Moloka’i
Today was a special day for us on the boat as it was our first time in the new year that we were on land again! Since our previous landing was cancelled due to weather, we hadn’t been on land since our volcano hike.
As usual, we had a few options for our day activities while on land. One option was a guided hike to the Halawa Waterfall, or you could attend a cultural demonstration and discussion with a local family.
My son and I opted for the hike as we always do! It was a beautiful day hike, heading up the hills deeper into seclusion in the lush valley. When we arrived, we had the entire pool of water and waterfall to ourselves to swim and have our packed lunches. It was perfect and a wonderful way to end our trip in Hawaii.
Upon returning, we were able to visit a local sandy beach for a bit before heading back to the boat to freshen up for our last nights dinner. Our dinner was set in the Kualapuss Cultural center where locals played live music for us and served us an amazing array of local dishes for us to try.
These are the type of experiences that you would never get on a solo trip to Hawaii. The ending of our trip in this way was so special and really exemplified how unique and culturally conscious Uncruise Adventures trips are.
Day 7: Departure
Today we woke up early, had our last breakfast on the boat before disembarking around 9 a.m. Since we still had a good bit of time before our flights off the island, we were able to spend time at a local hotel around the pool or go for a tour in town before our airport transfer.
Review:
This itinerary offers a diverse and immersive experience, allowing travelers to explore some of the lesser-known gems of Hawaii, from the remote beaches of Lana’i to the cultural heritage of Moloka’i. With opportunities for snorkeling, hiking, and cultural enrichment, this journey provides a well-rounded exploration of the natural and cultural wonders of the Hawaiian Islands. Additionally, the small expedition ship size and focus on sustainability ensure a personalized and eco-friendly travel experience. Overall, it’s a fantastic option for travelers seeking adventure, relaxation, and authentic cultural encounters in Hawaii.
Arrive in Hana, a picturesque town on the eastern coast of Maui known for its lush rainforests, cascading waterfalls, and rugged coastline. Explore the town’s cultural sites, go for a hike in the nearby Haleakalā National Park, or relax on one of Hana’s pristine beaches.
Explore Molokini Crater, a crescent-shaped volcanic caldera located between the islands of Maui and Kaho’olawe. Snorkel in the crystal-clear waters surrounding the crater and encounter an abundance of marine life, including colorful fish, sea turtles, and reef sharks.
Safari Explorer Review
The Safari Explorer is a fantastic ship, or yacht as it is often called due to how small it is. The Safari Explorer has the capacity for 36 passengers, but on our sailing there were only 25, which was just perfect. That said, it would have been great with the maximum as well.
The ship has essentially 3 levels – the main level where you tend to embark and disembark for excursions. This level also has the lounge and dining area as well as a few of the suites.
On the next level up, there is the bow to view wildlife, a small back deck area and most of the accomodation for the ship laid out on either side of the boat. There are no balcony rooms here, but essentially these rooms open up to the walkway aka a balcony!
The final level is where the bridge is located, a few additional rooms, as well as the back sun deck which also has a small exercise area.
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