Hawaiian cruises that visit the island of Oahu will most likely use the port of Honolulu as the embarkation port, disembarkation port, or both. Cruises starting or ending in Honolulu offer passengers opportunities to visit Waikiki Beach, the North Shore, Pearl Harbor and much more. Here's how to get to and from the Honolulu International Airport (HNL) cruise port as well as other transportation tips for Honolulu.
Facts About Honolulu Cruise Terminal
Located partway between the Honolulu International Airport (HNL) and Waikiki Beach, the cruise terminal is about six miles from the HNL and about three miles from Waikiki Beach. Most cruise ships dock at Piers 10 and 11, adjacent to the Aloha Tower Marketplace which is in downtown Honolulu. The Aloha Tower has an observation deck with views of the harbor as well as about 50 stores, services and restaurants.
Cruise Transportation and Transfers From Honolulu Airport
Taxis from HNL Airport – Taxis are available from the Honolulu Airport to the cruise terminal and to Waikiki Beach hotels. Taxis run by the meter and passengers can expect to pay between $35 and $40 (up to four passengers) during non-rush hour periods. There is also a $0.35 per bag charge.
Private Car – When booking a car in advance, passengers can expect to pay less than they would for a taxi, based on four persons.
Honolulu Airport Shuttle – At $9 per person, this is the cheapest option for getting from the Honolulu airport to the cruise terminal and Waikiki hotels. Unfortunately, the bus won't leave the airport until it is full. And, it could also take 45 minutes to an hour for the bus to make all of its stops.
Rental Cars from Honolulu Airport – There are six car rental agencies with reservation desks within the airport located near the baggage claim area. Another four agencies are located off the airport property.
Getting Around Honolulu
The Bus – This is one of the cheapest transportation options for getting around Honolulu. A one way adult pass costs $2.50 (children aged 6 to 17 cost $1.25 each). For a discount, purchase a Visitor Pass for $25 that covers four consecutive days for unlimited rides.
Waikiki Trolley – There are three different routes ("lines"), covering 30 different stops throughout Honolulu. The Red Line stops at Aloha Tower Marketplace, Chinatown, DFS Galleria, Royal Hawaiian Center and Ala Moana Center. The Green Line stops at the Honolulu Zoo and Waikiki Aquarium whereas the Pink Line offers stops at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Waikiki Beach Walk and others. The cost for a one-day pass is $30 for unlimited lines access.
Although the cruise lines offer their own transfers and transportation options from the airport to the cruise port or to Honolulu hotels, passengers can choose to book these independently. When considering a Hawaiian cruise that includes Honolulu, consider that NCL America is the only cruise line that offers year round 7-day roundtrip cruises from Honolulu. Other cruise lines that include Honolulu as a port of call are most often on a repositioning cruise or on a cruise that includes the French Polynesia.
Renee Ruggero - Renee is a published travel writer and cruise industry insider with more than 1,000 days on cruise ships, visiting over 50 countries.
