Your cruise excursion begins with a once in a lifetime, dramatic drive through upcountry Maui on your way to the Haleakala National Park. The Park is an area of astounding diversity and beauty, covering over 30,000 acres of wilderness. It preserves the distinctive volcanic landscape of the summit area and protects the pristine Kipahulu Valley and scenic pools at Oheo Gulch. Haleakala is home to many of the world's 13 ecosystems including: alpine cinder desert, subalpine shrubland and grassland, montage bogs, dryland forest, high elevation cloud forest, low elevation rainforest and coastal. Take in the sights of the sugar-cained plains and protea farms of Kula as you travel beyond the tree line to where cacti and rare Hawaiian silver swords grow right up to the volcano’s crest.

Upon arrival at the summit, located at 10,023 feet above sea level, you will have incredible views of Maui and the inside of the crater which is 3,000 feet deep, 7.5 miles long and 2.5 miles wide. Haleakala is an active, but not currently erupting volcano. Its last eruption occurred more than 200 years ago in 1790. Many cinder cones rise from the crater’s floor, the tallest being Pu’u o Maui measuring 500 feet tall. After a chance for photos from the summit, you will begin the scenic drive back to the pier. During your drive, a stop will also be made to see the local black coral crafted into art work. Based on weather and crowds, the itinerary may be changed.