14 Incredible Honolulu Shore Excursions (cruise ship ready)

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Honolulu is the gateway for cruise ships sailing to and around the Hawaiian islands. If you have time before, during, or after your cruise, Oahu offers an array of fun experiences to enjoy your tropical vacation to the fullest.

Here is a shortlist of our favorite Honolulu shore excursions for cruise ship passengers.

Plan the rest of your Hawaii cruise details with ease
1. Find a place to stay on Oahu before and/or after your cruise (we definitely recommend staying before if you’re on the Pride of America)
2. Read our FREE Hawaii Cruise Guide to get familiar with cruising Hawaii.
3. Exclusive Grand Circle Island Tour for Pride of America passengers! They store your luggage while you tour Oahu.
4. Do you need itinerary days to explore the islands during your cruise? Grab our Cruising Hawaii Guide for in-depth itinerary days, rental car information, port details, and more, all tailored to cruise passengers’ needs!
7. Great prices, the best tours, and these operators cater to your cruise ship schedule! Explore all the best tours for the Pride of America!

Can’t-Miss Honolulu Shore Excursions

As the most visited island in Hawaii, Oahu has no shortage of activities to keep you entertained during your stopover. But cruise ship passengers only have a limited time to explore, which is why it’s essential to prioritize these must-do activities.

Here are the Honolulu shore excursions Erica and I believe you should put on your list.

• Pearl Harbor: You can visit Pearl Harbor on your own or with a tour group. However, keep in mind that there are four museums you can visit, and most tours will only cover one or two of these sights. If you want more flexibility, we recommend going on your own or booking a private, customized tour.
• Circle Island Tour Exclusively for PoA Passengers: Explore the best of Oahu in comfort and with a local expert on this full-day tour that covers the entire eastern half of the island. From an impressive blowhole to postcard-perfect vistas to history and culture, and more. Enjoy long stops to explore the North Shore surf town of Haleiwa for shopping and lunch, and a stop at the famous Dole Plantation. For the convenience of Pride of America cruise ship guests, this excursion is dedicated to the ship upon its return on Saturday morning, with secure luggage storage on the coach bus and drop-off at either Honolulu Airport (3:30-45 pm) or Waikiki (4:15–30 pm). Learn details here: Oahu Grand Circle Island Excursion
• Circle Island Tour: This epic sightseeing tour packs in all the best attractions of Oahu in 8 to 10 hours. Highlights include Dole pineapple plantation, coffee & macadamia nut farms, North Shore beaches, mountains, and more! There is an option for a Pearl Harbor add-on.
• Waikiki Surfing Lessons: Whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to improve your skills, surfing is a quintessential Hawaiian activity. There are multiple surf shops and schools around the island, but we recommend Ohana Surf Project as it’s in Waikiki, close to where the cruise terminal is.
• Hawaiian Catamaran Sail: This is more than just a sightseeing cruise – it’s an entire cultural experience! On your two-hour tour of the ocean on a traditional wooden sailing canoe, you’ll learn all about Hawaiian culture and history while also enjoying refreshments and snacks.

If you have yet to book your cruise, browse Hawaii cruises here. If you prefer not to stop at international ports, NCL’s Pride of America is your best bet. It stops at all of Hawaii’s ports, departing from Honolulu so we recommend spending a few days on Oahu before your cruise if you choose NCL.

Honolulu Shore Excursion Tips

Planning an excursion in Honolulu is a bit different than your other ports of call, as Oahu is likely the starting and ending point if you’re on Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America. Pride of America is the only ship that does a loop of the major Hawaiian Islands every week.

Therefore, the time you spend on land depends on your personal schedule. Instead of just having a day on shore, you can have several days to do what you want! Get to know Oahu, so you’re ready for all it has to offer.

Ideally, you should plan to spend at least 3 or 4 days exploring Oahu. While you can do this once your cruise is over, we recommend taking time before the ship departs, as it’ll give you a few days to get over jet lag. Find a great place to stay in Honolulu before and after your trip!

We also dive into the best time to cruise Hawaii and break down when other cruise lines go, so you can make the best decision for you.

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the Hawaii cruise ports, so you know what to expect at each stop. Some ports are central to a downtown area where you could spend all day (Kailua Pier), and others are far from anything you’ll want to do (Kahului Harbor).

On your first take, head out on the Circle Island Tour to see a handful of sights at once and to get a feel for the island. You can then spend the next few days going back to places you enjoyed the most, like the North Shore or the Windward Coast.

Alternatively, you can always rent a car to explore the island on your own. This is a cost-effective way to get around without relying on tour schedules or expensive Ubers. Here is How To Get Around Oahu Without a Rental Car and Oahu Transport Options for more details.

Grab the Oahu Wayfinder Itinerary for an in-depth guide to all the best beaches, restaurants, and sights (with driving directions!) for your self-guided days. Plus you can save $7 by bundling the Cruising Hawaii Guide with the Oahu Wayfinder Itinerary by using CRUISE at checkout.

Here are a couple of popular sights you can reach in a short drive from Waikiki:

• Ala Moana Regional Park: 7 minutes
• Pearl Harbor: 22 minutes
• Haleiwa: 50 minutes
• Kailua: 25 minutes

Even though there are a lot of fun activities to do with your family during the day, make sure to save your energy for an evening luau. There are so many great options on Oahu, so you’re in for a real treat if you love live music, Polynesian dancing, and delicious buffet dinners.

If you’re hoping for a full-day cultural experience, then head to the Polynesian Cultural Center, an all-day immersive experience that ends with a live luau show.

Where to Book Honolulu Shore Excursions

Booking Honolulu Shore Excursions with the Ship

Booking an excursion with your cruise operator is an easy and stress-free way to plan out your port of call stops. You’ll also find that they have tons of fun activities for you to do in Honolulu before or after your trip!

Here are a few reasons to book with the ship:

• Guaranteed Return: All shore excursions organized by the ship are designed to come back before the ship leaves port. With a schedule that works with the ship’s timing, you can enjoy your activity without worry.
• Transportation: A nice perk of booking with the ship is that it includes transportation. That way, you won’t have to worry about hailing a cab or taking public transportation to and from the dock.
• Cost: Although the excursion cost may be higher than if you were to organize it independently, the extra price is justified because it usually includes transportation. Not having to worry about timing or booking a cab is priceless!
• Refunds: Tours booked with the ship will have refund policies in case you are unable to dock due to weather or strong currents.
• Booking Flexibility: If you don’t want to book your Honolulu shore excursion before the trip, you don’t have to! Ship-organized tours can be booked online, but they can also be arranged onboard once you have a better idea of your schedule and what you want to do. Just know these do fill up fast, so you may not get the pick of the lot once you’re on the boat.

Booking Honolulu Shore Excursions with the Tour Operator

If the ship excursions are too expensive (or you just can’t find one to your liking), you can always book directly with the tour operator on Oahu. Although they probably won’t guarantee an on-time return to the ship, you can always call the cruise line ahead of time if you’re running late.

While there are many types of tours out there, it’s best to book with a reputable and trusted company. We’ve spent countless hours vetting tour operators and going out with them, so you can feel comfortable knowing you’re booking a tour that prioritizes safety as well as a good time!

• Supporting Local Businesses: When booking directly with the tour operator, you’ll be supporting a local Hawaiian business, which is great for the island community!
• Cost Savings: Local tours tend to be cheaper than the ones offered by the cruise line, sometimes as much as 30% cheaper. Therefore, it’s a better option if you’re looking to stick to a budget on your trip.
• Availability: Only a limited number of cruise-ship organized tours are available. If you see that your top choice is sold out, you can always check with a tour operator to book a local excursion instead.
• Small Groups: Tours organized by local businesses offer a smaller, more intimate setting with usually no more than 12 guests.
• Cancellation Policy: Before you book your excursion, check the operator’s cancellation and refund policy. In case your ship can’t dock or you cannot go on the tour, you’ll be thankful to have that 24 to 72-hour cancellation policy.

The Best Honolulu Shore Excursions

As promised, here is a list of some of the best Honolulu shore excursions you can do before or after your cruise. Even if you don’t have that many extra days on land, most of these trusted providers will pick you up directly from the cruise terminal, so you don’t have to waste any time!

1. Circle Island Tour

The Ultimate Island Circle Tour is one of the most popular Honolulu shore excursions as it takes you to some of the most beautiful attractions around the island! Over the course of 9 hours, you’ll be driven by your guide to Oahu’s best beaches, farms, parks, and towns (this is a small-group tour).

Visit the island’s best surfing spots on the North Shore, learn about how macadamia nuts and pineapples are grown on farm tours, and marvel at the lush, jaw-dropping landscapes that Oahu is known for.

See #14 for details on the Circle Island Tour Exclusively for Pride of America passengers on Saturday.

2. Private Island Tour

Do you have specific sightseeing bucket list items you want to tick off? On this private island tour, you can fully customize your entire journey around Oahu. You can spend the whole day driving or stop off at any attractions or landmarks that you have been dying to see.

You and up to 5 other guests will have 8 hours with your driver, who can also make recommendations on where to go. Best of all, they’ll pick you up (with your luggage) from the cruise terminal and drop you back at the airport!

3. USS Arizona & Visitor’s Center

A trip to the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor is a historically significant and moving experience. Since it’s a bit outside of the city, we have two options for you to add Pearl Harbor to your day.

This tour makes it easy to see the memorial during your time in Oahu. You’ll be picked up directly at the cruise terminal and driven to Pearl Harbor. While there is a guide for the ride, they do not go with you into the memorial. After you tour the museums, you’ll be driven back so you can continue with your trip. There are multiple pickup times available to fit the cruise ship’s schedule.

Looking for a little more? This small-group tour combines time at Pearl Harbor with a Honolulu city tour, while keeping to a half-day (5 to 6-hour) schedule. In addition to the USS Arizona and the Pearl Harbor Visitor’s Center, you’ll get to experience Mt. Tantalus, Pali lookout, downtown Honolulu, and even more.

If you prefer to drive yourself (or take a taxi, Uber, or Lyft), you can reserve your own Pearl Harbor tickets here.

4. Pearl Harbor Small Group All Sites

There’s so much more to Pearl Harbor than the USS Arizona Memorial. If you’re interested in a more comprehensive experience, then this small group tour is an excellent choice. Accompanied by a veteran guide, it includes a trip to the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center and the USS Arizona Memorial, as well as a tour through the USS Bowfin and USS Battleship Missouri.

It is perfect for cruise ship passengers with a later start, 9 AM pickup from the cruise port, and it is roughly 7 hours long, getting you back to the pier in time for departure.

If you want to explore Pearl Harbor on another day before or after your cruise, when you’re not crunched for time, see the Best Pearl Harbor Tours.

5. North Shore Half Day

The North Shore of Oahu is famous for its world-class surfing, laid-back atmosphere, and spectacular natural beauty – so it’s easy to see why many people would want to make the journey up the island to visit! If you have a couple of hours free, then book this North Shore tour with a private guide.

They will pick you up in a Jeep and take you to all the popular sights (as well as a few secret spots that tourists don’t usually see!).

6. Turtle Canyon Snorkeling

Swimming with green sea turtles is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure! At Turtle Canyon, you can snorkel with these majestic creatures and see how they clean themselves using reef fish at the cleaning station. And if you’re lucky, you’ll get to see other marine life like dolphins, spotted eagle rays, monk seals, and maybe even a humpback whale (Dec-March)!

The departure point for the tour is Kewalo Harbor, just a 30-minute walk or 6-minute drive from the cruise terminal.

There are two types of Turtle Canyon Snorkeling tours available. One is in a small group of 6 people, and the other is a cheaper tour on a larger boat with 40 guests.

7. Waikiki Beach Loading Catamaran Sail

If you can’t get enough of being out on the water, then this scenic catamaran trip is for you! Departing from downtown Waikiki (in front of the Moana Surfrider Hotel), this 1-hour cruise boasts panoramic views of the beach, Diamond Head, and downtown Honolulu.

There are 5 departures daily, including an evening sunset cruise. They also have a bar on board for drinks, though you’re more than welcome to BYOB.

8. Hawaiian Catamaran Sail

This is one of the most unique shore excursions that you can do when you’re in Honolulu! Unlike most sailing tours, the Hawaiian Catamaran tour is an educational journey where you’ll learn all about Hawaiian history and culture. It’s a really immersive experience that we thought was even better than going to a luau!

The 2-hour trip sets sail on a traditional wooden catamaran with a small group of only 6 guests. But if you’re looking for a more intimate trip, you can charter the boat privately.

There are four departures throughout the day from Kewalo Harbor, so it’s easy to work around your cruise ship timing.

9. Whale Watching from Honolulu

If you’re in Hawaii from December to March, you’ll have the opportunity to see humpback whales off the coast of Oahu! Get up bright and early and head out onto the waters at 7:00 am for your chance to see these breathtaking creatures!

They regularly offer sales on their standard tour pricing, so look out for a discount code on the booking page.

10. Honolulu Helicopter Tours

You’ve seen Oahu by land and sea, but a Honolulu Helicopter Tour allows you to see the island from an entirely new perspective! Choose from a scenic 18-, 30-, or 60-minute tour of the skies (which we guarantee will be one of the more unique experiences you’ll have here!).

Tours depart from Honolulu Airport, which is a 15-minute drive from the terminal. Use code HVG to score 5% off on this tour, too!

11. Surf Lessons from Waikiki

Hawaii is one of the best places in the world for surfing. If you’ve ever wanted to hang 10 on Waikiki Beach, then take a private, semi-private, or group lesson with Ohana Surf Project. This is how we learned to surf, and we can’t recommend them enough!

When booking your lesson, request a pickup to their surf school. They have their own transportation service and can arrange pickup close to where the cruise ship docks.

12. Private Custom Oahu Tours

If none of these tours spark your interest, then maybe this customizable Honolulu shore excursion will! Whether you want to hike through the jungle or snorkel with turtles, the folks at Mahina Hawaii can make your Oahu dreams come true.

13. SCUBA Diving

While Oahu is beautiful above land, it’s even more breathtaking underneath the ocean’s surface! Book a scuba dive excursion and discover an entire world of natural beauty waiting to be explored. From colorful coral reefs to WWII shipwrecks, there are dive trips for all types of skill levels.

For a complete list of Oahu activities, check out our Cruising Hawaii Guide and Oahu Wayfinder Itinerary.

14. Pride of America Passengers’ Circle Island Tour

Bonus: Pride of America passengers have an exclusive option available, which is perfect for the ship’s return on Saturday.

This Pride of America Circle Island Tour will hold your luggage and drop you off in Waikiki or the Honolulu Airport upon completion. This tour is designed for anyone extending their Hawaii vacation or with an evening flight after the cruise.

This all-day circle island tour will have you explore the whole eastern side of Oahu.

• Full day sightseeing Oahu’s highlights with an expert local guide
• Stunning natural landscapes along the eastern coast include sweeping vistas, picturesque bays, lush jagged mountains, and postcard-perfect beaches
• Visits to pineapple, coffee, and macadamia farms for tropical tastings and Hawaiian history
• Convenient pickup from the Pride of America cruise ship with luggage and drop-off at the airport or in Waikiki

If you’re looking for even more to do while you’re in the area, we have a huge list of things to do in Honolulu.

Check out shore excursions for the other islands too!
11 Incredible Kauai Shore Excursions (perfect for a cruise schedule)
Can’t Miss Big Island Shore Excursions for Your Hawaii Cruise
The Best Maui Shore Excursions for Your Hawaii Cruise

Honolulu Excursion FAQs

Where do Honolulu cruise ships dock for shore excursions?

Cruise ships arrive at the Pier 2 Cruise Terminal. This is approximately a 10-minute drive from Waikiki and a 15-minute drive from the airport.

Can I get picked up by taxi, Uber, or Lyft from the dock for my Oahu shore excursion?

If transportation is not included, you can hire a taxi or call an Uber or Lyft straight to the dock. If you want more flexibility to explore, it’s also possible to rent a car (we have more info on all the different transportation options in our Cruising Hawaii Guide).

Do tour operators offer pickup at the dock?

Most of the tours we have listed include transportation to and from the dock. If you don’t see this option when booking online, give the operator a call and tell them you’ll be disembarking at Pier 2, they may be able to arrange transport.

What should I know about booking tours in Hawaii?

Here are a few important pieces of information to keep in mind when booking your excursions:

• Tipping your guide $10 to $20 a person is standard, although you should ultimately decide how much to give depending on your experience.
• Oahu does have lots of sunshine, but rain and wind are not uncommon. If there is bad weather, it’s possible your tour may be canceled.
• If you’re going on a boat excursion, don’t forget to bring motion sickness medication! Smaller boats tend to be rockier compared to the larger cruise ships.
• Double-check the age restrictions for your tours. While some excursions are family-friendly, others require your kids to be at least 5 years of age.

By now, you should have a good idea about what you can do in Honolulu and Oahu. But for more information about cruising the islands, our Cruising Hawaii Guide is a huge help!