Given the popularity of Hawaii and the number of people who don’t really like to fly, you’d think that there would be dozens of cruises from the west coast to Hawaii. But there aren’t, because the Jones Act makes it pretty impractical.

Passed in 1920 as the Merchant Marine Act, it prohibits foreign-flagged cruise ships from transporting passengers from one U.S.port to another unless they stop in a foreign country en route. That’s why NCL’s Pride of America is the only cruise ship sailing exclusively in the Hawaiian Islands. It’s registered in America and has an American crew, which is more expensive than registering a ship in the Bahamas and hiring Filipinos or Eastern Europeans as crew.

Kona, Hawaii

If you want to cruise from the west coast to Hawaii, you’ll either have to take a round trip cruise from Southern California that calls in Mexico at some point, or you’ll need to take a repositioning cruise that leaves from Canada at the end of the Alaska cruising season.

These cruises let passengers arrive in Hawaii rested and relaxed, with no jet lag. There’s usually plenty of elbow room with fewer passengers on board. And the ship serves as your resort in Hawaii, taking you to a beautiful new location every day, once you cross the Pacific.

Carnival Spirit has capacity and facilities for 2,667 passengers, so you’ll have plenty of activities and venues to enjoy during your days and nights at sea. She has four pools, a gym, a spa, and a huge casino, and a fun supper club for dinner and dancing. She sails from Vancouver on September 14 and spends five days at sea before arriving in Kona, on the Big Island of Hawaii. The next day she calls at Kauai and then sails for Hilo, on the other side of the Big Island. She overnights at both Kahului, Maui, and Honolulu, giving passengers the opportunity to sample island nightlife ashore.

The lovely, 710-passenger Royal Princess is one of the cruise ships that used to belong to Renaissance Cruises. The size is very appealing – she’s big enough to have all the amenities, but small enough to have minimal impact on the ports she visits. There’s a good spa and two alternative restaurants: Sabatini’s and Sterling Steakhouse. Cruisers can choose between a ten-night cruise to Hawaii and a fabulous 22-night voyage to Tahiti.

Royal Princess

Royal Princess sails from Vancouver on September 14 and arrives at Hilo on September 20. From there, she visits Lahaina, Maui, and Kauai before sailing to Hawaii. Passengers can disembark there or stay aboard and return to Kauai, Maui, and Hilo, before sailing for Bora Bora. Passengers overnight on board in Bora Bora and visit Raiatea and Moorea before leaving the ship in Papeete on October 6.

Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas is another mega cruise ship with all the bells and whistles of a 2,500-passenger ship. She leaves from Vancouver on September 17 and arrives off the coast of the Big Island on September 23, where she sails past Kilauea Volcano at night so passengers can watch the volcano spewing lava against the midnight sky. Fantastic! She spends a day in Hilo and Kona, overnights in Lahaina, and then spends a day in Kauai before overnighting in Honolulu. Cruisers leave the ship in Honolulu on September 29.

Read about other cruises from Vancouver here.

Kona, Hawaii Image Flickr: Hitchster
Royal Princess Image Flickr: lyng883

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Cruise ships that have spent the summer in Europe will start to head back to the United States in August. With fares as much as 65% off, now is a great time to book your trip.

The weather is still pleasant in Europe, many of these cruises include interesting ports in Europe and visits in Iceland, Greenland, and the Martime provinces of Canada along the way. So a repositioning cruise would be a lovely way to end the summer.

Holland America’s Eurodam sails from Amsterdam on August 19, then spends a day at sea before overnight in South Queensferry. This is the port for Edinburgh, Scotland, and Eurodam overnights so passengers will have the opportunity to attend the 59th annual Edinburgh Military Tatoo. Hundreds of pipers, drummers, and members of the Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland perform. It’s a thrilling spectacle you’ll never forget.

Newfoundland

After South Queensferry, Eurodam calls at Kirkwall, Scotland, and Torshavn, Denmark before spending a day at sea en route to Reykjavik, Iceland. Passengers will be able to learn more about the Eyjafjallajokull volcano during their visit. After two more days at sea, Eurodam arrives in Qaqortoq, Greenland, where passengers can tour the Norse ruins of Halsey.

The ship spends the next five days in Canada, calling at ports in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. Passengers arrive 19 days later in New York City on September 6. Big discounts are currently available on this sailing.

Travelers with more time can board Eurodam in Amsterdam on August 8 and visit Stockholm, Tallinn, St. Petersburg — where the ship overnights — Helsinki, and Copenhagen in addition to the ports described above. Passengers can choose from several evening activities in Saint Petersburg. The 29-night voyage offers a huge number of ports for a repositioning cruise.

Launched in 2008, Eurodam has the Culinary Arts Center sponsored by Food and Wine magazine, several excellent alternative restaurants, a large spa, and the largest gymnasium in the HAP fleet.

On August 22, Crown Princess sails roundtrip from Southampton and does a 13-night British Isles itinerary visiting Guernsey, Cork and Dublin, Irleand, Liverpool, Belfast in Northern Ireland, and Glasgow, Invergordon, and South Queensferry in Scotland. She calls at Le Havre before returning to Southampton on September 3. Those with less time can board Crown Princess then.

Edinburgh Castle at night

We did this cruise two years ago and really enjoyed Guersney and Liverpool, which was nothing like what we expected. When a strike prevented us from calling at Le Havre, we went to Dover instead, and spend a delightful day in Canterbury.

After leaving Southampton, passengers will visit Falmouth — the gateway to Cornwall — Dublin and Belfast, before sailing to Reykjavik. After leaving Iceland, she has two days at sea before arriving in Greenland, then two more days at sea before visiting St. John’s, Newfoundland. Passengers disembark in New York on September 17.

You can find more transatlantic repositioning cruises here.

Newfoundland Image Flickr: jurek d.
Edinburgh Castle at night Image Flickr: http2007

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Royal Caribbean is known for big, glamorous cruise ships that offer everything passengers need to stay happy and entertained.  They raised the bar in 1999 when they introduced the first Voyager-class vessel.  And by the time the fourth ship in the series, Navigator of the Seas, was launched in 2002, they had perfected the concept.

The hub of activity on Navigator is the four-story Royal Promenade, which is lined with shops, cafes, and bars.  One night of each voyage, there’s a Mardi Gras-style parade here shortly after midnight which is a real cruise highlight.  But this indoor mall is hopping 24 hours a day.

The Promenade

With terrific childrens’ programs and services that provide parents with some quality-time alone, Navigator is one of the best cruise ships for families.

Dining aboard Navigator of the Seas.

The three-story main dining room on Navigator is one of the most spectacular at sea.  Although it’s actually three rooms rolled into one, the multi-level affect is really striking.  Royal Caribbean still has two fixed-time dinner seatings, but a new program called My Family Time Dining gets the kids fed in 45 minutes and then escorted to Adventure Ocean for evening activities.

Parents are free to enjoy a leisurely dinner while the kids are entertained with others the same age.

Don’t rule out the dining room at lunch.  Tell them you’re in a hurry, and you’ll be served two menu items in under 30 minutes.  Since your lunch is prepared to order, it’s usually very good.

There are several other alternatives to the dining room.  Johnny Rocket’s has burgers, fries, and shakes available for a modest surcharge.  You can dine in or take out.

Portofino Italian restaurant serves five-course Northern Italian dinners in intimate surrounding.  And Chops Grille has steaks and chops, baked potatoes and other sides, and indulgent desserts. There’s a charge of around $25 per person to dine in either of these restaurants.

The Windjammer buffet is open for lunch and dinner, and the Jade buffet next to Windjammer has Thai, Chinese, and Japanese dishes.  The pizzeria and poolside grill are also open until late afternoon. And Ben & Jerry’s ice cream offers more than a dozen flavors.  If you prefer not to pay extra, there’s a free Sprinkle’s frozen yogurt dispenser next door.

When you’re thirsty, the Vintage Wine Bar, the Champagne Bar, Two Poets British-style pub, and Boleros Latin bar are popular spots.

Room service is free until midnight and $3.95 after that.  A variety of sandwiches and snacks are available around the clock.

Other activities aboard Navigator of the Seas.

Whether you’re active or just looking for a deck chair, there’s no shortage of things to do on Navigator.  If you’re daring, climb the rock wall and find yourself 175 feet above the sea.  Or for something more tame, try in-line skating, miniature golf, or a pick-up game of basketball or volleyball on the full-size court.

If you’re traveling with children, they’ll be well looked after whatever their ages.  At 22,000-square-feet, the Adventure Ocean is huge and has two clubs just for teens – the Living Room and the Fuel Dance Club.  And there are separate programs for kids in all age groups.

For adults, the Solarium is an appealing haven with an indoor pool, two Jacuzzis, and plenty of chaises for relaxing. The Spa has 14 massage and treatment rooms, a steam room, and a dry flotation room.

Entertainment on board is professional and varied.  The shows at Studio B – the Ice Skating rink – are a highlight.  There’s no charge, but seating is limited, so get tickets as soon as they’re offered.

Broadway-style reviews are performed in the 1,350-seat Metropolis Theater.  And there are musical acts in many of the dozen bars.

Navigator of the seas

Accommodations aboard Navigator of the Seas.

Most of Navigator’s cabins are outside, but some of the inside stateroom have views of the Promenade.  This is a great choice for the claustrophobic.

All cabins have a mini fridge, a safe, and a small sitting area.  But the 707 balcony staterooms are worth the splurge.

Families can choose from a 328-square-foot Family Oceanview cabin which has a second bedroom with bunk beds or a 512-square-foot Royal Family Suite that sleeps up to eight.

There are two Navigator of the Seas repositioning cruises in 2010.  On April 10, 2010, she sails from Miami and then spends eight days crossing the Atlantic.  She arrives at Tenerife, and then has two days at sea before calling at Barcelona, Nice, and Florence.  Passengers disembark in Rome on Saturday, April 24.

On Saturday, October 23, she sails from Rome and calls at Toulon, Barcelona, Cartagena, Malaga, and Tenerife before crossing the Atlantic.  She arrives in Fort Lauderdale, on Saturday, November 6.

Find more Royal Caribbean repositioning cruises here.

Read about Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas here.

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