How much does Princess cruise to Hawaii cost?

Last updated: April 11, 2026 · By Dave Giovacchini

A Princess cruise to Hawaii typically costs $1,800–$6,500+ per person for the cruise fare alone, depending on cabin type and sailing length, with total trip costs (flights, drinks, excursions, gratuities) often running $3,500–$10,000+ per person for a 15-night round-trip voyage.

Photo: Royal Caribbean International

Hawaii is one of the most expensive cruise itineraries on the market — and Princess knows it. Before you get dazzled by a headline fare, understand that the base price is just the opening act. Gratuities, a beverage package, shore excursions in Maui, Kona, and Honolulu, and getting yourself to the embarkation port can easily double your all-in cost.

What a Princess Hawaii Cruise Actually Costs in 2025–2026

Princess operates Hawaii cruises primarily on the Grand Princess and Emerald Princess, running either round-trip from San Francisco or Los Angeles (15–16 nights) or one-way with a Honolulu embarkation/disembarkation. The round-trip sailings are the most popular since they satisfy the Jones Act — no flights between islands required.

Here's a realistic per-person cost breakdown by cabin category:

Fares based on double occupancy, per person. 2025–2026 sailing windows. Solo travelers pay a supplement (typically 150–200% of double-occupancy fare).

The "all-in" estimate above includes a realistic gratuity budget, one shore excursion per port, and a mid-range beverage package. It does not include flights to San Francisco or LA, which can add $300–$1,200+ per person depending on where you live.

Photo: Carnival Cruise Line

Key Factors That Drive Your Hawaii Cruise Cost

1. Round-Trip vs. One-Way Itinerary Round-trip departures from the US mainland (San Francisco or LA) are often cheaper in headline fare because you avoid airfare to Hawaii. One-way sailings that end in Honolulu look cheaper per night but require a $400–$900 flight home.

2. Sailing Length Most Princess Hawaii cruises run 14–16 nights — longer than a typical Caribbean cruise. That's more nights to pay for gratuities ($16/person/day standard = ~$240–$256 total per person), more port days to spend on excursions, and more sea days to hit the bar.

3. Princess Plus vs. Princess Premier Packages Princess aggressively bundles packages into Hawaii sailings. Here's what they cost and what you get:

For a 15-night sailing, Princess Plus adds $900/person and Premier adds $1,200/person. If you drink more than 5 drinks a day or want Wi-Fi, Plus usually pays for itself.

4. Port Fees and Taxes Expect $250–$400 per person in port charges and government taxes on top of your base fare. These are non-negotiable and often not included in the advertised price.

5. Shore Excursions Hawaii excursions are pricier than the Caribbean. Budget realistically:

• Road to Hana (Maui): $120–$180/person
• Helicopter tour (Big Island or Maui): $250–$550/person
• Snorkel/catamaran (any island): $80–$150/person
• Pearl Harbor (Honolulu): $60–$120/person

If you do one excursion per port across 4–5 Hawaiian ports, you're looking at $400–$900/person in shore excursion spend.

6. Specialty Dining Princess ships have specialty restaurants (Crown Grill, Sabatini's) that run $29–$39/person per visit on top of your fare. Budget 2–3 specialty dinners on a 15-night sailing and add $60–$120/person.

Photo: Carnival Cruise Line

Practical Tips to Save Money on a Princess Hawaii Cruise

Book Early — or Book Late, But Know the Risk Hawaii sailings sell out faster than most itineraries. Early Saver fares (booked 6+ months out) lock in the best cabin selection. Last-minute deals exist but Hawaii is rarely deeply discounted — Princess knows demand is high.

Round-Trip from the Mainland Saves on Flights A 15-night round-trip from San Francisco eliminates the need for inter-island airfare home. If you live near SFO or LAX, this is the obvious money-saving play.

Run the Math on Princess Plus Before Auto-Adding It At $60/person/day, Plus costs $900 on a 15-night cruise. Gratuities alone are ~$240. Add a Wi-Fi plan ($25–$30/day retail) and you only need to drink $5–$6 of included beverages per day to break even. For most passengers, Plus is worth it. Premier is only worth it if you'll use the specialty dining credits and the photo package.

Book Shore Excursions Independently Princess-booked excursions carry a 20–40% premium over local operators. In Hawaii, independent operators are reliable, English-speaking, and easy to book. Just don't cut it so close that a delayed excursion causes you to miss the ship — always allow a 90-minute buffer.

Target Shoulder Season Sailings May–June and September–October sailings tend to be $300–$800/person cheaper than peak holiday departures (December–January, Spring Break in March). Weather in Hawaii is mild year-round, so there's little sacrifice in experience.

Watch for Free or Reduced Package Promotions Princess runs promotions where Princess Plus is included at reduced cost or the second passenger sails at a reduced rate. Signing up for Princess fare alerts or checking with a cruise specialist through CruiseHub can surface these deals before they disappear.

What a Realistic Hawaii Cruise Budget Looks Like

Here's what a couple spending 15 nights on a Princess Hawaii cruise should actually budget:

These numbers don't lie — a Princess Hawaii cruise is a premium vacation with a premium price tag. Anyone telling you they did Hawaii on Princess for $1,500 all-in per person is either lying or left out a lot of details.

Use CruiseMutiny to plug in your specific sailing dates and cabin preferences to get a personalized cost breakdown — no guesswork, no sales spin, just the real numbers before you commit.