What time can you get off the boat?

[Mogwai_Mog]

We're heading on the Pride of America around Hawaii next month and I'm slightly confused about the arrival time listed for each of the ports. For example - when they say that the arrival time is 8am does that mean that's the time that we can get off the boat or is that the arrival time of the boat to that port and we have to wait another 2 hours to disembark?

[LindaD22]

Usually, arrival time is not the actual time of disembarkation. The ship docks, clears customs and then releases passengers. Typically this takes about 30 minutes. 

[CDNPolar]

LindaD22 is correct, however we have found that often we have arrived and docked sooner than the arrival time and then you can actually disembark at the posted arrival time.  Our experience is that you are not really waiting that long.

 

Why are you asking?  Are you booking independent excursions that you have to disembark to meet at a certain time?

[Essiesmom]

With Pride of America there will not be any customs or immigration.  EM

[CruiserBruce]

9 hours ago, Mogwai_Mog said:

We're heading on the Pride of America around Hawaii next month and I'm slightly confused about the arrival time listed for each of the ports. For example - when they say that the arrival time is 8am does that mean that's the time that we can get off the boat or is that the arrival time of the boat to that port and we have to wait another 2 hours to disembark?

The two hours thing is you need to be on board 2 hours prior to sailing from at the starting port, and it can be up to two hours before disembarking at the FINAL port. This confuses a lot of people. At ports along the way on your cruise, you will be able to get off within 10-20 minutes of docking.

 

And, as POA sails exclusively within the state of Hawaii there is no Immigration or Customs. At foreign ports, Immigration might be an issue, Customs unlikely.

[Mogwai_Mog]

@CDNPolar - Kind of - we are looking to book a car rental to do the road to Hana (or at least half of it) - we come from NZ and the road sounds like a standard NZ road so we figure we'll be able to manage it haha!  So I'm just trying to figure out how long we have and what time to book the car.  The excursions through the POA are pretty expensive, especially when you convert to NZD.