Hawaii Superferry to begin this summer

OK, so it's not exactly a cruise -- but for those of us who prefer sea travel to air travel in general, the Hawaii Superferry Alakai promises a pleasant, inexpensive way to travel between the most popular Hawaiian islands.

Now en route from Mobile, Alabama, to Hawaii, the Alakai is expected to enter service later this summer, offering daily catamaran trips between Oahu and Maui and six-day-a-week service between Oahu and Kauai. Travel time will be three hours each way on these routes -- probably not much more (if any) time than it would take to fly, if you include trips to and from the airport, going through security, waiting for luggage, and any flight delays.

A second ferry is scheduled for 2009, offering four-hour service between Oahu and the Big Island, as well as a second Oahu-Maui voyage daily.

Fares for the Alakai will range from $17 to $62 one way, depending on the passenger's age and time of travel. Most fares range from $41 to $54. The Superferry will also transport cars, vans, trucks, motorcycles, and bicycles, for additional fees. So while it won't have all the relaxation and amenities of a cruise ship, it's a way to spend time on the water in Hawaii at an affordable price.

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Cruise News Tidbits

*** Disney is doubling the size of its cruise line. Its current two ships, the Disney Wonder and the Disney Magic, will be joined by two new ones in 2001 and 2012, the Disney Dream and the Disney Fantasy. The two ships are being built in Germany. (And yes, there is a Carnival Fantasy and an upcoming Carnival Dream, but there's no word on whether there will soon be a Carnival Mickey and Carnival Goofy.)

*** The Hawaii Superferry, whose beginning we chronicled back in June 2007, has suspended operations, at least for the time being. It has been ferrying passengers and cars between Oahu and Maui and, after today, will no longer make the run. The reason: the Hawaii Supreme Court has ruled that the company can't operate until an environmental review is finished, to determine its effect on whales and other wildlife. The case is under appeal.

*** Carnival's Alaska cruises will sail out of Seattle starting in 2010, rather than Vancouver, BC. This is part of a trend: Seattle passed Vancouver this year for the first time as the leading departure point for all Inside Passage cruises. Carnival's one ship in Alaskan waters, the Spirit, will make 17 seven-day sailings from mid-May through August in 2010; port calls will include Skagway, Ketchikan, Juneau, and Victoria, BC; Tracy Arm Fjord is also on the itineraries.

Photo of Carnival Spirit from Carnival.