Aloha Kellie, it's so great to see you back here at planDisney!
Looking back, it's incredible to think that you
first came to our Panel of experts for their recommendations over a decade ago for your daughter's third birthday and have since taken on Disney Cruise Line voyages with the kids who would likely be teenagers by the time of your
10-Night Hawaiian Cruise from Vancouver ending in Honolulu! Throughout my years working on the ocean since I first lived on the
Disney Wonder, I spent a considerable amount of my free time experiencing and evaluating quite a few
Port Adventures every month, so I'm happy to lend you some of my personal Princely tips ahead of your voyage:
- I've found that for destinations in the middle of the Pacific that only seldom see the Disney Cruise Line fleet visit on their itineraries, the selection of Port Adventures can be much more limited compared to the offerings found on more frequented islands in the Bahamas. There's always a chance that more options may be added closer to your sailing - especially as offerings are subject to change without prior notice, and in my experience the best and most informed folks you'll find are the ones on board (compared to someone you may speak with over the phone who may have neither visited nor sailed to these destinations).
- I highly recommend speaking with the helpful Crew Members at the Port Adventures Desk on the Disney Wonder who communicate and work directly with the tour operators on each island destination. (Waiting to speak with a Guest Services Crew Member may result in them directing you over to the Port Adventures folks in the end, so it may be more time efficient to head to them directly once you're on board.) Though these tour operators who partner with Disney Cruise Line may not have a shore excursion bookable through the ship, they are often reputable and vetted resources who may be better equipped to give recommendations for the experience you're looking for.
- There's always a risk that you take when you book any excursions or experiences outside of Disney Cruise Line, especially when you're up against a limited amount of time before you have to return to the ship and the chance that the itinerary may change in the event of deviations due to sea conditions or the weather.
That said, I would personally explore the scuba diving options found across on the islands of
Kaua'i,
Maui,
Hawai'i (Big Island) and even
Oahu and ask the Port Adventures team what they think based on their experience and distance from the Port. (Your overnight stop in Nawiliwili after a string of Sea Days may be your best and safest bet to see what you can book and accomplish during your voyage!) I hope this helps, Kellie and we look forward to seeing you again soon for any other tips or advice here at planDisney!
Here's to all of the magnificent marine life across the islands of Hawai'i!
Prince