DAY 1 - Thursday, October 10, 2024

Depart from the Burlington, Vermont airport with your Champlain Tours Tour Manager who will be there to greet and assist you every step of the way. Check in at your centrally located hotel in the heart of Waikiki Beach for the next three nights. Traveling from a different airport?  No problem!  Let us make the arrangements, and We will be at the Honolulu airport to transfer you to the hotel.

 

Freshen up and meet your tour manager for suggestions and idea’s before you begin to explore this beautiful area.

 

This evening is at your leisure to relax and enjoy what Waikiki Beach has to offer. Enjoy a stroll along the beach or sip on a cocktail while listening to local traditional music of the islands. 

​

DAY 2 - Friday, October 11, 2024:  Pearl Harbor Experience & City Tour

 

Enjoy a full breakfast served at your hotel before meeting your Tour Manager and depart by private motor coach with a professional local guide for the next five hours to visit Pearl Harbor. This Hawaiian experience features time to browse the museums of the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center and a shuttle boat ride to the USS Arizona Memorial. Conclude your tour with a drive through the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific and Downtown Honolulu for up close views of Iolani Palace, the King Kamehameha statue and more.

 

• Pearl Harbor Visitor Center – Experience world-class museums, waterfront exhibits, the bookstore and more.

• USS Arizona Memorial – View a 23-minute documentary about December 7, 1941, then take a shuttle boat ride to board the USS Arizona Memorial, a timeless landmark in American history.

• National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific* – Drive through the dramatic natural setting of Punchbowl crater, now a peaceful memorial honoring the brave who served in the United States Armed Forces

• Hawaii State Capitol District* – View the unique architecture of Hawaii’s state capitol building, the Eternal Flame, Washington Place and more.

• Downtown Honolulu* – Discover Hawaii’s unique cultural heritage as we drive through Oahu’s Chinatown and Maunakea Street lined with colorful lei shops and cafes.

• Iolani Palace & King Kamehameha Statue* – Delve into Hawaiian history as you view Iolani Palace, the only royal residence in the United States, the statue of King Kamehameha, Kawaiahao Church and more.

 

         * Window view

 

Following the tour, the rest of the day and evening is for you to enjoy at your leisure and prepare for embarkation day tomorrow afternoon onboard the Pride of America Cruise Ship.

 

DAY 3 - Saturday, October 12, 2024

 

Take the time for a leisurely breakfast before checking out of the hotel and boarding the motor coach with your Tour Manager for your transfers to the Pride of America Cruise Ship, your home for the next seven nights.

 

Immerse yourself in the rich culture, incredible landscapes, and delicious cuisine of Hawai`i on this one-of-a-kind 7-day cruise from Honolulu. Explore an island every day of your vacation – from the lush, fragrant vegetation of Kaua`i to the Big Island’s dramatic volcanoes and the famous surfing beaches of Oahu. Where you can enjoy overnight stays in Maui and Kaua`i, giving you even more time to discover the best of island living. Where each day is spectacular, and every night is legendary. This is how you Hawai`i.

 

Your tour manager will be on hand to offer suggestions and assist as needed during your time onboard the Pride of America.

 

7:00PM      Depart Honolulu for Kahului, Maui. Enjoy your first dinner onboard ship, get to know your way around and meet some of your fellow cruisers. 

 

A surplus of natural splendor and the genuine hospitality of its people have helped to make Maui Hawaii's second most popular island. Explore the fascinating history of the town of Lahaina. Plant yourself on a pristine beach or play one of the world's most beautiful golf courses.

 

DAY 4 - Sunday, October 13, 2024:  Kahului, Maui

 

8:00 AM     Depart this morning on one of the many tour options the cruise line offers. You may decide to go on their two- and half-hour Maui Ocean Center & 3D Whale Experience excursion, where you’ll discover Hawaii’s extraordinary marine life with a special emphasis on humpback whales. Browse exhibits such as the Living Reef and Turtle Lagoon, where you will see green sea turtles, or honu, gracefully gliding through the sea. More wonders will await you at the Open Ocean display as you walk through its clear acrylic tunnel and look up at the multitude of sharks, stingrays, and colorful fish. Yet another area of the Ocean Center depicts how the sacred island of Kaho’olawe has been restored after being used for military target practice and training. Still, the Humpbacks of Hawaii is the highlight, as it presents the complex world of humpback whales through an immersive, cutting-edge audio-video experience. It’s like being transported to the depths of the ocean and encountering these massive behemoths face-to-face.

 

Or take their four-hour Haleakala Crater at sunset tour and catch a glimpse of Haleakala, Maui’s massive dormant volcano. You will go all the way to the top on this scenic journey – from sea level to 10,000 feet. At the summit is a vast crater seven and a half miles long by two and a half miles wide, and 3,000 feet deep. You'll marvel at the crater's eerie landscape of cinder cones and ancient lava formations. It last erupted in 1790 and has slumbered ever since, though that does not mean it won’t one day wake up.

 

Following this tour return to the ship for the rest of the day and overnight stay in Maui.

 

DAY 5 - Monday, October 14, 2024:  Kahului, Maui

 

The whole day is on your own to experience life on the Island of Maui, enjoy life onboard ship or choose an excursion of your choice before setting sail for Hilo, Hawaii at 6PM.

 

DAY 6 - Tuesday, October 15, 2024:  Hilo, Hawaii

 

8:00 AM - 6:00 PM: The entire city of Hilo is like one giant greenhouse with spectacular tropical flowers at every turn. Visit the town's well-preserved historic buildings, which date back to the turn of the century and showcase Hawaii's unique architecture. Just 30 miles away the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is the home of the active Kilauea Volcano.

 

An optional shore excursion could be “The Best of Hilo”, Start your full day tour with a leisurely drive through the "Hilo Walk of Fame” known for all the banyan trees that have been planted by celebrities. Drive by Liliuokalani Gardens, the largest ornamental Japanese garden outside of Japan. Your experienced guide will provide commentary of Hilo Town as you make your way to Wailuku State Park and Rainbow Falls.

While visiting Akaka State Park, you can see two gorgeous waterfalls- 100-foot Kahuna Falls and towering Akaka Falls which plummets 422 feet into an eroded gorge. Stop at Pana’ewa Zoo the only naturally occurring rainforest zoo in the United States. Next, visit the Big Island Candies Store. Established in 1977, each of its delectable candies and cookies are hand-crafted in this factory store. View the production process and see what goes into making these world-famous Hawaiian treats. All products are made from only freshly roasted Big Island macadamia nuts and pure Kona and Ka‘u coffee from farms on the Big Island. Since its founding, Big Island Candies has continuously introduced new and imaginative products that "wow" both the eyes and taste buds of its growing legion of fans.

 

Return to the Pride of America in preparation for the ship’s departure and our next port of call in Kona, Hawaii.

​

DAY 7 - Wednesday, October 16, 2024:  Kona, Hawaii

 

7:00 AM - 5:30 PM: Kona offers the quintessential Hawaii experience. Sunny, warm weather and crystal blue waters entice visitors to partake in a variety of surfside fun. Snorkel amongst a kaleidoscope of tropical marine life. Take a surfing lesson, a kayaking trip, or head out to deeper waters for some deep-sea fishing.  

 

If you choose to participate, the “Historic Kona Cruise” is a three-hour excursion. Prepare to board your powered catamaran for a once in a lifetime cruise of Kona’s history. Step aboard and step back in time, when ancient kings ruled the islands to the arrival of Captain Cook in Kealakekua Bay. Witness many points of interest including Hawaiian temples known as Heiau, the Holua slide, battlefields, and the birthplace of King Kamehameha to mention a few. Enjoy a deli-style lunch upon boarding.  

 

Any tour you register with through the cruise line will return you to the ship so you can enjoy the rest of your stay at your leisure.

 

DAY 8 - Thursday, October 17, 2024:  Nawiliwili, Kauai

 

8:00 AM: Named after the Wiliwili trees, which once lined its picturesque harbor, this lovely port of Kaua`i is your gateway to what many believe to be Hawaii's most beautiful island. On "The Garden Island," nature is truly the star, from the dramatic mountains of Kokee to the cool rainforests of Haena. And the tradition of the luau adds lively entertainment unique to Hawaii.

 

Most of today is at your leisure before gathering with your fellow travelers for another included tour. The luau is an essential part of the Hawaiian experience, and the cultural extravaganza at the historic Kilohana Plantation is a feast for all the senses.  You’ll have the option to gather around the traditional fire pit and watch the roast pig emerge, a special treat to accompany the already lavish buffet of local delicacies and desserts. While torches blaze, graceful hulas and energetic fire dances will entertain you, and the ancient sea voyages that brought the original Hawaiians to these islands from Polynesia will be brought to life in story and song.

 

DAY 9 - Friday, October 18, 2024:  Nawiliwili, Kauai

 

2:00 PM: This afternoon  set sail for Honolulu. 

 

At approximately 5pm make sure you have your camera ready for those “Wish You Were Here” photo opportunities of the Napali Coast.  

 

The coastline stretches fifteen miles along the north west coast of Kauai between Ke`e Beach in Haena State Park to Polihale State Park in Mana. This rugged coast will leave you breathless as you gaze upon the pali (high cliffs) that  rise as much as 4,000 feet (1,200 m) above the Pacific Ocean, sea caves, lush green valleys and cascading waterfalls that journey to the shores from from thousands of feet above.

 

This evening you will gather for dinner with your fellow travelers one last time to share some memories of this once in a lifetime bucket list tour. Following dinner, enjoy a show  or take a walk around the deck before packing your belongings for the morning  departure from The Pride of America Cruise Ship!

 

DAY 10 - Saturday, October 19, 2024:  Honolulu, Hawaii

 

7:00 AM: After breakfast, your Notch Above Tour Manager will assist you with your transfers to the airport but not before we take in one more included shore excursion!

 

Discover Oahu's North Shore – surf mecca and home to the perfect wave. Travel past pineapple and sugar cane fields to the island's well-known surfing beaches, stretching for seven miles along this coast. They include Waimea Bay, a prominent spot in the early days of big wave surfing in the 1950’s, two-mile-long Sunset Beach, and the Banzai Pipeline, where waves breaking over a sharp reef make it one of the world’s most dangerous surfing scenes.

Continue past shrimp farms and catch a glimpse of the small island known as Chinaman's Hat for its interesting shape. Shop for irresistible macadamia nuts and other local products at the Macadamia Nut Farm Outlet. On our way to the airport, we’ll drop by the Byodo Temple, a scale replica of a temple in Japan constructed entirely without nails and surrounded by a lovely and tranquil garden.

 

Depart late afternoon from Honolulu Airport for your overnight flight home, again your Tour Manage will be on hand to assist with check in. 

 

Welcome home!