Cruises to Honolulu

598 Reviews
Honolulu (Photo:mffoto/Shutterstock)

About Cruising to Honolulu

With a cosmopolitan population of 950,000, Honolulu is Hawaii's largest city. It also is the hub of cultural, educational, political, dining, shopping, business and entertainment activities in the Aloha State. It is no surprise to find a stop in Honolulu on many cruise itineraries to Hawaii.

After Captain James Cook put the Hawaiian Islands on the map of the world in 1778, Honolulu became an increasingly important stop for ships traveling between America and Asia. First came fur traders, who made fortunes exchanging otter pelts from the Pacific Northwest for teas, spices and silks from China. Later, fragrant sandalwood became such a prized commodity that Island forests were nearly stripped clean of it. Then came the whalers, who plied the seas relentlessly in search of the gentle giants that were the source of rich oil.

Around 1843, recognizing the importance of the harbor to local commerce, King Kamehameha III moved the capital of Hawaii from Lahaina, Maui to Honolulu, and it has held that designation ever since.

Honolulu Harbor bustles with activity every day of the week. Fishing boats, tugboats, tour boats, container ships, cruise vessels and barges berth at its piers. A mega-ship, NCL's Pride of America, even homeports year-round in the harbor (at Pier 2). Its centerpiece, Aloha Tower Marketplace, is a trendy shopping, dining and entertainment complex that sprawls over 11 waterfront acres. This is your jumping-off place for an unforgettable Oahu stay.

  • More about Honolulu

  • Why Cruise to Honolulu?

  • Honolulu Cruise Port Facilities?

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Brilliance of the Seas
Brilliance of the Seas

8 Night
Hawaii Cruise

1,563 Reviews
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Celebrity Solstice
Celebrity Solstice (Photo: Celebrity)

9 Night
Hawaii Cruise

2,220 Reviews
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Celebrity Edge
E G18  Deluxe Oceanview R (1)

10 Night
Hawaii Cruise

732 Reviews
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Grand Princess
Grand Princess (Photo: Princess Cruises)

33 Night
South Pacific Cruise

1,601 Reviews
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11 Night
Hawaii Cruise

2,220 Reviews
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16 Night
Hawaii Cruise

1,974 Reviews
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7 Night
Hawaii Hnl Inter Island

2,361 Reviews
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21 Night
Transpacific Cruise

729 Reviews
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15 Night
Tahiti Cruise

423 Reviews
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13 Night
Hawaii Cruise

732 Reviews
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32 Night
South Pacific Cruise

1,020 Reviews
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16 Night
Alaska - Other

2,122 Reviews
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Cruise Critic Favorite

17 Night
Tahitian Treasures Cruise

2,220 Reviews
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Cruise Critic Favorite

11 Night
Hawaii Cruise

2,220 Reviews
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17 Night
Circle Hawaii

866 Reviews
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More about Honolulu

Why Cruise to Honolulu?

Pros:

Waikiki Beach is chock-a-block with restaurants, shops and miles of stunning sand

Cons:

As in any major city, beware of pickpockets, scams and unsavory characters

Bottom Line:

The Hawaiian capital doesn't disappoint; Pearl Harbor and Diamond Head are located nearby

Honolulu Cruise Port Facilities?

With almost 30 stores and 8 restaurants, Aloha Tower Marketplace is a great place to pass some leisure hours. In addition, you can check out the following activities and attractions, all located at Honolulu Harbor, just a short stroll from your ship.

Aloha Tower: The 10-story tower was the highest building in Honolulu when it opened in 1926. On the top floor, the observation deck reveals a breathtaking view of Honolulu Harbor. It's open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and admission is free. Piers 10 and 11 (808-566-2337).

If you're up for more cruising, The Majestic (800-548-6262) and Star of Honolulu (808-427-1637) offer memorable excursions off the coast of Waikiki. From December through April, humpback whales are an additional attraction. The boats are docked at Piers 6 and 8, respectively.

Getting Around?

Taxis line up curbside at Aloha Tower Marketplace adjacent to Piers 8 and 9. Rental cars are available, too. Companies that run shuttles between the pier and their lot include Enterprise, Thrifty, Dollar, Hertz and others.

TheBus, Oahu's excellent mass transit system, covers just about the entire island of Oahu. Fares are $2.75 for adults, $1 for seniors (65-plus) and $1.25 for kids from age 6 through 17 (older teens may be asked to show their high school identification card as proof of age). Visitor passes, allowing unlimited travel for four consecutive days, cost $25. Transfers discontinued in 2017; if you need to transfer to another bus you must buy a day pass ticket for $5.50. Boarding locations will vary, depending on your destination; call for more information (808-848-4444).

Reminiscent of San Francisco's famed cable cars, the Waikiki Trolley operates more than 50 trolleys on three lines. The Red Line stops at 13 sights in Honolulu, including Chinatown, Iolani Palace and the Aloha Tower Marketplace. The Green Line travels along the eastern coast to Waikkiki Aquarium, Diamond Head Surf Lookout and other scenic stops. Green and Red sandwich the smaller Pink Line, which emphasizes shopping and dining. Free brochures detailing the routes are available online or at the Waikiki Trolley's information kiosks at the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center and Ward Warehouse. Daily fares are $41 for adults and $23 for children aged 4 through 11, including unlimited reboarding. Four- and seven-day passes are also available (808-593-2822).

Currency & Best Way to Get Money?

Numerous banks are located in downtown Honolulu. Hours are generally 7:30 or 8:30 a.m. to 3 or 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, with hours extended to 6 p.m. on Friday. Most offer foreign exchange services.

Language?

English is spoken everywhere.

Where You're Docked?

Honolulu Cruise Port Address: Pier 2 Cruise Terminal, 521 Ala Moana Boulevard, Honolulu, HI 96813

Most cruise ships visiting Honolulu dock at Piers 10-11, adjacent to Aloha Tower Marketplace. Norwegian Cruise Line's Pride of America, which is based year-round in Honolulu, cruises from Pier 2, about a quarter mile south of the marketplace. As a general policy, Aloha Tower Marketplace management will provide courtesy shuttle (trolley) service to port call visits at Pier 2.


Honolulu Cruise Reviews
Took a Princess excursion to shore and then the Pali. Had been raining hard but ceased when we got there. Went into Diamond Head. Did not know this was possible. Always wanted to hike up to top. Would have been diRead More
MikCar
The third port was Oahu. Again, the standard car agencies showed no availability of any vehicles sufficient to hold our group of six. Fortunately, we found Lucky Owl on the web and they had a six-passenger van. LuckyRead More
cboyle
We got a hotel for one night before and different (better) hotel for one night after. We stayed at Polynesian Residences the first night and were not very impressed. It was adequate, clean, but the beds were small anRead More
hero78
Honolulu Hawaii is a beautiful place to visit. There are so many things to do there. A wide assortment of activities. The beach is super fantastic fun!!Read More
hokiecop

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