Andrew Harper editors recently returned from Hawaii, where we experienced the islands aboard UnCruise’s 36-passenger Safari Explorer. His seven-night journey from the Big Island to Molokai, with short layovers in Maui and Lanai, proved memorable in every way.

Like its Inside Passage expedition in Alaska, the UnCruise Adventures Hawaiian itinerary includes ports of call inaccessible to larger vessels — notably Molokai, which is forbidden to other cruise ships — so it allows guests to experience adventures they might not otherwise have access to: night snorkeling with giant manta rays, exploration of coral reefs and a sea turtle habitat, a feast and jam session with locals, cultural lessons and hiking amid historic places.