Norwegian Cruise Lines, the megacruise line that runs two boats around the Hawaiian Islands, intends to start running 10 and 11-night Hawaii cruises come September 2007. If you want to really get a chance to enjoy Hawaii, this is reasonable. I usually reccomend one island per week, if possible, as there is plenty to see and do on all the major islands and staying for only a day or two usually comes up short. Oddly, some of these cruises will go to Fanning Island -- which is, essentially, in the middle of nowhere.

NCL actually arranged for a change to Federal law to permit them to cruise within Hawaii in ships not made by a U.S. shipyard (the law is a protective bane to Hawaii supported by incumbent pols and shippers). The only real reason I can think of shipping out to Fanning is to allow for gambling, something that is not allowed in Hawaiian waters to my knowledge, but is allowed in international waters.

—Alex, 12/20/06