Uncover the Spirit of Aloha Aboard Golden Princess

Hawaii is the United States’ most magical cruise destination--a state, and state of mind, infused with the soul of Polynesia, a tradition of independence and royalty, and a culture of overwhelming warmth. A cruise is the ideal way to visit the Hawaiian Islands. You unpack once and visit numerous ports without the hassle of inter-island flights. And, surely, the most satisfying way to arrive in Hawaii is the same way the first Polynesians did—by sea.

As Princess Cruises’ Golden Princess begins a new season of sailings to the Hawaiian Islands, passengers will find themselves immersed in all things Hawaii, with the culture, traditions, arts and tastes of the island paradise highlighted throughout their cruise. Whether attending demonstrations by local artisans, learning to play the ukulele, exploring historic attractions, or savoring regional cuisine in the dining room, the ship’s Hawaii travelers will enjoy the aloha spirit each day.

"Our goal is to captivate our passengers with onboard experiences that capture the heart and soul of Hawaii," said Jan Swartz, Princess’ senior vice president. "We want to make sure that our guests go home with a deeper understanding of the islands and the people who live there."

This year, Princess’ Hawaiian programs have been enhanced with a variety of cultural presentations and demonstrations, interpretive lectures, folkloric performances, hands-on activities, Hawaiian cuisine, and a number of new Adventures Ashore excursion options throughout the islands. Among these Hawaiian experiences are:

• In-Port Guest Artists
• Kaua‘i: Ni‘ihau Shell Artists
• Hilo: Selected Artisans
• Honolulu: Hula Show
• Naturalists and Lecturers
• Regional Hawaiian Cuisine
• New Adventures Ashore

Additionally, for passengers who want to immerse themselves further in Hawaiian culture, onboard instructors teach a number of classes throughout the cruise, including the opportunity to learn such local skills as orchid lei making, hula dancing (both traditional and contemporary), sarong tying, Hawaiian language, and ukulele playing. Ukulele aficionados can even show off their new skills at the end of the cruise with a passenger talent show.

The ship’s movie and television programs will also put passengers in the island mood with Hawaiian topics and stories. Princess partnered with the National Park Service to produce an exclusive video presentation on Hawaii Volcanoes National Park that gives passengers a comprehensive preview of this spectacular attraction. Hawaiian-themed films have been added to the ships’ selection of recent Hollywood movies as well, with classics such as "From Here to Eternity" and documentaries such as "Riding Giants," profiling the world’s top surfers. In addition, a selection of travel videos and documentaries give passengers a feel for the islands. Among them are a series of National Geographic presentations covering the islands’ unique species, Pearl Harbor and Hawaiian culture, as well as a variety of specials on local-interest topics.

For the 2008-09 season, Golden Princess sails to the Hawaiian Islands on 14 departures. The ship offers 14-day round-trip Hawaii cruises from Los Angeles that include calls at Hilo, Honolulu, Kauai (Nāwiliwili), and Maui. The ship sails between Oct 1, 2008 and April 1, 2009. Additional information about Princess Cruises is available by visiting the company's website at Princess.com.

For specifics about the Hawaiian experiences listed above, check CruiseDiva.com’s detailed reort in Cruise News.