Despite the efforts of cruise shipping companies, Hawaii left tourists wondering about the industry's restart in 2022.
According to Jai Cunningham, public information officer for the HDOT (Hawaii Department of Transportation), "the earliest resumption of cruises to Hawaii would be January of 2022."
He added no local port agreements, considering COVID-related health & safety protocols had been signed so far.
The delay currently impacts mainly the US-flagged lines NCL's Pride of America ship and UnCruise Adventures.
Viking OCEAN canceled two 16-night voyages on Viking Orion that were scheduled out of Los Angeles California in December 2021, one of which was Christmas & New Year’s-themed. Replacing Hawaii is Mexico's La Paz, Puerto Vallarta (Jalisco), and Cabo San Lucas.
UnCruise Adventures was to start homeporting in Hawaii in November 2021 with the 36-passenger boat Safari Explorer spending the winter season between Kaunakakai (Molokai Island) and Kailua-Kona. The season-launching November 20th departure was canceled due to weather delays/during the boat's repositioning across the Pacific.