Honolulu Oahu,HI

Cruise vessels berth immediately beside Aloha Tower in the centre of Honolulu.

Aloha Tower Marketplace is a waterfront attraction in a convenient position at historic Honolulu Harbor. It is 15 minutes from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport and 10 minutes from the world-famous Waikiki Beach, with access by car, the red line trolley or the City Bus. Its distinctive shops, waterside restaurants and daily mix of music and entertainment offer plenty of options for dining, shopping and having fun.

The observation deck on the top floor has an impressive outlook across Honolulu Harbor. Admission is free, and it opens daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

NCL berths at pier 2, approximately 400 yards farther south.

Take a printable map with you for the visit.

Oahu brings together the many sides of Hawaii on one island and is often described as its heart. It contains the state capital, Honolulu, and is nicknamed "The Gathering Place", welcoming people from around the world to experience its culture, natural scenery and Aloha Spirit. Explore the green Windward Coast, follow a scenic route to the celebrated North Shore, enjoy Waikiki's shopping and dining, or discover the arts and culture of Hip and Historic Honolulu.

Tourism centres on Waikiki Beach, one of the world's great resort playgrounds and home to exceptionally beautiful beaches and hotels. People travel from across the world to enjoy its sunshine, sand and lively nightlife.

Hawaii's varied history reflects the many different people long drawn to the islands. Iolani Palace was the home of the final Hawaiian monarchs, while Honolulu's Chinatown feels more authentic than many counterparts on the mainland. The Arizona Memorial commemorates the battleship Arizona, destroyed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that brought America into World War II.

One of the area's most photographed sights is the Statue of King Kamehameha I, about 15 minutes from the port on foot.

The Red Line Trolley, also known as the "Honolulu City Line", links Aloha Tower Marketplace with 8 other locations, including Waikiki. It calls every 40 minutes, 7 days a week including holidays, between 9.21 a.m. and 5:21 p.m. A one-day pass covering all three lines costs $32.00 from the DFS Galleria trolley ticket booth in Waikiki and at Ala Moana Center.

If Pearl Harbor and especially the USS Arizona are priorities, disembark promptly and take one of the waiting cabs to Pearl Harbor. Arriving before the tour buses have assembled their passengers may help you secure earlier tickets. With enough time, visit USS Arizona followed by Bowfin, USS Missouri or Pacific Aviation Museum, then return towards the pier, perhaps stopping in Chinatown or continuing to Waikiki. Joining a bus tour does not guarantee USS Arizona admission: tickets are issued first come, first served and become unavailable once they have all gone...

Beyond the beaches, tours from Honolulu explore the surrounding countryside, including remarkable rain forests and volcanoes. Rich plant and animal life complements the scenery, and a five-minute drive from the city reaches some of nature's most striking landscapes. Museums such as the Bishop Museum combine Hawaiian natural-history displays with the history and culture of the islands' diverse peoples. The Waikiki Aquarium is the third oldest public aquarium in the United States...

Shoppers could previously take complimentary transport from Aloha Tower to Walmart and Hilo Hatties. ***NOTE- Advice received in January 2026 says these free shuttles have stopped running, so make alternative plans***

Ala Moana Shopping Center is an international collection of more than 200 shops and restaurants, renowned as one of the world's largest open-air shopping centres. National and international names including Banana Republic, Tiffany, Neiman Marcus, Cartier, YSL, Louis Vuitton and Burberry sit alongside individual surfwear and gift shops that celebrate "Hawaiian style". More than two million people visit Ala Moana Center each month.

Honolulu's 200-year-old Chinatown has shops selling herbs and fresh produce, fish markets, restaurants and colourful fresh-flower leis. Several Asian cultures meet here, where exotic spices scent the air and acupuncture and herbalists offer routes to good health.

The United States dollar, shown by the symbol $, is the official U.S. currency. ATMs are widespread.

Visa, MasterCard and other major credit cards are accepted widely, even for purchases costing only a few dollars, and can sometimes be the sole payment option. Overseas visitors should remember that displayed prices can appear lower because tax and gratuities are rarely included.

Sales tax in most states ranges from 2.9% to almost 10% of the retail price, with 4-6% typical. It is almost never part of the displayed price and is added when payment is made, except on gasoline and, in most states, alcoholic drinks consumed on-premises.

Tipping is customary and expected in America. Although Americans debate the right amount and which services merit a tip, these rates are generally accepted:

• At full-service restaurants, tip 15-20%; this is often the waiter's or waitress's only income. Leave cash or add the amount to the credit-card slip. Few restaurants apply an automatic service charge; where one appears, any extra tip is your choice. Check the bill.
• Allow 10-15% for taxi drivers, hairdressers and other personal services.
• For bartenders, leave $1 per inexpensive drink or 15% of the total.
• Bellhops generally receive $1-2 for each bag, with a $3-5 minimum regardless.
• Give a hotel doorman $1 per bag when they help and $1 for calling a cab.
• Tips for tour guides depend on the tour's length, group size and overall quality: allow $5-10 per person for half-day tours or shorter, and $10-20 per person for longer trips.
• Private-car and limousine drivers generally receive 15-20%.
• For hotel housekeeping, an optional tip is $1-2 per day on a long stay or a $5 minimum for a very short stay.
• For food delivery such as pizza, tip $2-5, with more for very large orders.

WiFi is available at many cafés and malls in the area.

Call 911 in an emergency.

In large cities such as New York and Los Angeles, many supermarkets and drugstores routinely trade 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Department stores, shopping centres and most other major retailers typically open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday, with shorter Sunday hours, generally from 11 a.m. or noon until 5 or 6 p.m. Stores tend to remain open on holidays, although most close for major occasions such as Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.