Excursion to Pearl Harbour from Cruise Ship

[subaru94]

This may sound like a silly question, it is the first time to Hawaii for us and we are looking at tours to Pearl Harbour, do the tour guides come inside Pearl Harbour to give you a tour or purely provide transportation with some narration on the way, then let you enter Pearl Harbour with tickets needed?  Hope this makes sense

[trish1c]

You don't need an expensive tour guide for Pearl Harbor.  Go on line to the US Parks Service 60 days before you want to go & get your "free" tickets to the Arizona.  You have to pay a $3 transaction / convenience fee.  Walk off the cruise ship & hail a cab or use Uber / Lyft.  Go to Pearl & walk around.  Everything is labeled.  You don't need an expensive guide but you can rent audio.  You can't bring bags into Pearl so if you have stuff you will have to rent a locker for $5.   There's a wonderful restaurant on the far right side of the parking lot as you look at the entrance.  

[subaru94]

Thank you that helps a lot, we were also thinking of doing the hop on off bus, how much time recommended for Pearl Harbour?

[trish1c]

It depends on what time your Arizona trip is.  I think we spent about 3 hours there.  

[subaru94]

O.K. thank you, gives me an idea of time needed, you have been very helpful.

[TruckerDave]

You can EASLY spend an entire day there if you include a trip to the Missouri, Aviation museum (both on Ford Island and require a bus ride form the PH visitor center as it is on an active Navy base),  Bowfin and sub museum in addition to the Arizona and other Pearl Harbor stuff.  Just be advised there is NO guarantee that you will actually be able to get tickets at 60 days out, last year I was on line at exactly 60 days (within 5 minutes of the time) and there was NOTHING avail for even one person. I kept trying every few days until the day before and woke up at 6am HI time and grabbed 1 ticket and by 6:15 even they were all gone.  The day of tickets go fast as well, but you have to actually be in line at PH and when the limited number are gone...that is it.   Not trying to discourage you, just letting you know you might not get to actually visit the Arizona itself.  Everything else is no problem getting a ticket for.  All the info is on the national parks website.

[subaru94]

Hi TruckerDave, so we are unable to get tickets prior to the 60 days then?

 

[TruckerDave]

On 11/26/2018 at 6:45 AM, subaru94 said:

Hi TruckerDave, so we are unable to get tickets prior to the 60 days then?

 

The Arizona memorial  is still closed (I just checked) until March 2019 for repairs. You can still go to the other stuff, just can't actually take the boat out to and get on the actual memorial right now. The website won't even let you book Arizona trips at this time. The other things, Missouri, Bowfin etc etc are not capacity controlled and are open as normal.  You can get tickets for them they day/time you get there. 

[subaru94]

O.K. thank you Trucker Dave.

[JoRoy218]

We’ll be on Oahu for the day (April 12) and want to throw out a question and appreciate any opinions. We are (like everyone else) very interested in seeing Pearl Harbor but as mentioned above, due to the uncertainty of getting tickets from the Park Service, wonder if we’d be better off taking a ship excursion.  Our other tentative plan for the day is to rent a car and do a Circle Island tour (after Pearl Harbor). Our ship will be in Oahu until 11pm.

Appreciate opinions. Happy New Year! 

[SissyFace]

Jo - that fact is ... there are no tours of Pearl Harbor.  Only National Parks Service employees can assist visitors.  Tours are simply, and honestly, a VERY expensive bus ride that guarantees a time-slot for the Arizona Memorial.  That's it!  They rush you in and they rush you out.  

** Pearl Harbor is massive!  Familiarize yourself with the official website (National Parks Service).  You can tour a battleship or submarine ... there are museums ... and a very nice aviation museum as well.  Lovely area.  

So try to get a time reserved on-line ... for the Arizona Memorial.  The Arizona Memorial is the only feature that needs a time-slot ... and honestly, if you arrive super early sometimes you can get lucky.  

For better details - pull up the Island of Oahu Forum on TripAdvisor.  Look at the Top Questions off to the right-hand side of the page - or post questions.  There are some very dedicated responders who will do their best to help you. 

[JoRoy218]

Thanks Sissy! 

[SissyFace]

I need to clarify ... there are "tours" WITHIN the Pearl Harbor complex ... guided or not ... but they are under the purview of the National Parks Service - not part of any commercial bus tour.  Bus tours are simply transportation to and from the main entrance - and they don't give you much time.  You can easily spend all day at Pearl Harbor!  

[jordanaire]

On 1/10/2019 at 11:32 PM, SissyFace said:

Jo - that fact is ... there are no tours of Pearl Harbor.  Only National Parks Service employees can assist visitors.  Tours are simply, and honestly, a VERY expensive bus ride that guarantees a time-slot for the Arizona Memorial.  That's it!  They rush you in and they rush you out.  

** Pearl Harbor is massive!  Familiarize yourself with the official website (National Parks Service).  You can tour a battleship or submarine ... there are museums ... and a very nice aviation museum as well.  Lovely area.  

So try to get a time reserved on-line ... for the Arizona Memorial.  The Arizona Memorial is the only feature that needs a time-slot ... and honestly, if you arrive super early sometimes you can get lucky.  

For better details - pull up the Island of Oahu Forum on TripAdvisor.  Look at the Top Questions off to the right-hand side of the page - or post questions.  There are some very dedicated responders who will do their best to help you. 

 

I believe the USS Arizona Memorial is still closed, due to structural damage. The last date that I heard it would open back up is late April or early May.