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This lavish cruise sails round-trip Vancouver to Hawaii or San Diego for a steal

Travellers can also stay on the ship when it gets back to Vancouver then sail down to San Diego.

Metro Vancouverites can choose between lengths - and final destinations - of cheap Hawaiian cruises with Holland America Line this fall.

Holland America Line's (HAL) midsize vessels are popular with fans of traditional cruising, boasting elegant decor and classic designs.

Fans of HAL cruises typically enjoy sailing on ships they can become well acquainted with during the voyage and relish opportunities to speak with the captain and cruise director. 

On Oct. 5, HAL's five-star Koningsdam departs from Canada Place in Vancouver en route to Hawaii, where it will spend five days at sea before docking for an overnight in Honolulu, Oahu in Hawaii on Oct. 11. 

The vessel stays in port until late Oct. 12, departing for Nawiliwili, Kauai at 11 p.m. After an overnight in Kauai, the ship makes two separate stops on the Big Island in Kona and Hilo.

The cruise spends another five days at sea before passengers disembark at Canada Place or continue the voyage down the rugged Pacific Coast.  If they stay onboard, they'll spend two days at sea before stopping on California's Catalina Island and making a final stop in San Diego.

The ship is the five-star Koningsdam, which offers two swimming pools, a live theatre, a tennis court, renowned spa treatments, movies under the stars, a basketball court, a video arcade, a casino and much more. The "Pinnacle" class ship also allows guests to create their own wine blend from a selection of single vineyard red wines.

Date Port Arrive Depart
Sat., Oct. 5 Vancouver   3 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 6 At Sea    
Mon., Oct. 7 At Sea    
Tues., Oct. 8 At Sea    
Wed., Oct. 9 At Sea    
Thurs., Oct. 10 At Sea    
Fri., Oct. 11 Honolulu, Oahu, HI 8 a.m.  
Sat., Oct. 12 Honolulu, Oahu, HI   11 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 13 Nawiliwili, Kauai, HI 8 a.m.  
Mon., Oct. 14 Nawiliwili, Kauai, HI   5 p.m.
Tues., Oct. 15 Kona, Hawaii, HI 8 a.m. 6 p.m.
Wed., Oct. 16 Hilo, Hawaii, HI 7 a.m. 1 p.m.
Thurs., Oct. 17 At Sea    
Fri., Oct. 18 At Sea    
Sat., Oct. 19 At Sea    
Sun., Oct. 20 At Sea    
Mon., Oct. 21 At Sea    
Tues., Oct. 22 Vancouver 7 a.m. 3 p.m.
Wed., Oct. 23 At Sea    
Thurs., Oct. 24 At Sea    
Fri., Oct. 25 Catalina Island  10 a.m. 6 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 26 San Diego 7 a.m.

Cruises from Vancouver to Hawaii by Holland America Line

Locals can sail on HAL's slightly longer 21-Day Circle Hawaii and Pacific Coastal cruise or the 17-Day Circle Hawaii, which visits Hawaii without requiring a flight back home (see slide two).

An interior cabin on the 21-day option to San Diego costs $5,658.86 or $2,829.43 per person. This price works out to $134.73 per day, per diem (see slide three).

Not only does that cost include your transportation on a beautiful five-star vessel, but it also includes meals, entertainment, snacks, and lodging. The only thing it doesn’t factor in is alcohol, but you may opt to purchase a drink package that can reduce the cost of your spending.

Travellers must also get a flight home from San Diego at the end of the cruise. They can stay in the city for a night or two or fly out the day the cruise arrives. However, they shouldn't book flights that depart too early in the day to allow transit time to get off the ship and go through airport security.

Taking a flight in the evening provides time to get off the ship and make it to the airport several hours before the flight departs. For example, a Delta flight that departs San Diego on Oct. 26 and makes one stop in Los Angeles for two hours before it departs on a WestJet flight to Vancouver costs $190 (see slide four).

An interior cabin for two people on the 17-day Circle Hawaii costs $3,974.64 or $1,987.32 per person. This price works out to $116.90 per day, per diem (see slide five).

I sailed on the Koningsdam's first voyage to Vancouver after the pandemic-related cruising restrictions were lifted. Read my experience sailing from San Diego.

Book your trip with Holland America Line


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