Honolulu’s cruise ships tie up at one of two terminals inside Honolulu Harbor, Pier 2 or the Aloha Tower terminal at Pier 11. Most sailings use Pier 2, with Pier 11 stepping in as backup when two ships turn up on the same day. Both sit a short taxi ride from Waikiki and Pearl Harbor.
Finding Your Ship: A Map of Honolulu Cruise Port
Honolulu Harbor has run cruise ships through these two adjoining terminals for years, and the map below pins Pier 2 Cruise Terminal exactly, handy if you’re trying to get your bearings the night before you fly out.
On any given day, what’s in port at Honolulu could mean one ship or two. Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America, the only ship based in Hawaii year round, sails from Pier 2 on a regular rotation. Visiting ships from lines such as Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Carnival, Disney Cruise Line, Seabourn Cruises, Ponant Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, P&O Cruises and Explora Journeys use whichever pier happens to be free that day.
Honolulu Cruise Port at a Glance
Both terminals sit inside the same working harbour and serve the same roster of cruise lines, so there’s no strict rule about which ship gets which pier. The table below is the quickest way to see how the two stack up.
| Terminal | Pier | Nearby landmark | Typically used by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pier 2 Cruise Terminal | Pier 2 | About a quarter mile south of Aloha Tower Marketplace | Most cruise lines, including Pride of America |
| Aloha Tower Cruise Terminal | Pier 11 | Right next to Aloha Tower Marketplace | The second ship on days when more than one is in port |
Sources don’t agree on which terminal sees more traffic. The state’s own port information and most cruise line pages name Pier 2 as the main terminal, while some travel sites put most ships at Piers 10 and 11, by the Aloha Tower. If you’re sailing with a specific line, your embarkation documents settle it on the day. For the wider picture of island hopping around the archipelago, the full guide to Hawaii’s cruise ports is worth a look, since many itineraries calling at Honolulu also stop at the cruise port guide for Kahului, Maui and the cruise port guide for Nawiliwili, Kauai, or make a shorter hop to the port guide for Manele Bay, Lanai.
Getting from Honolulu Airport to the Pier
Honolulu’s airport sits a few miles northwest of both cruise terminals, roughly ten to thirty minutes away depending on which source you believe and how the traffic’s behaving. TheBus, the island’s public transit network, runs routes 19, 20 and 42 from the airport, Waikiki and Pearl Harbor to within a short walk of Pier 2 and Pier 11, for a flat fare that won’t dent your holiday budget.
- TheBus stops at Ala Moana Boulevard, leaving a walk of a couple of hundred yards to Pier 2
- Independent shuttle operators including LeaLea, Speedi Shuttle and Honolulu Airport Transfer run door to door services
- Go Airport Shuttle and Shuttlefare offer shared transfers from the airport and most Waikiki hotels direct to Pier 2
There’s no Wi-Fi at the terminal itself, so keep your phone topped up with a portable charger before you set off. You’ll likely be leaning on it for bus times and directions all morning.
Luggage Storage at Honolulu Cruise Port
Luggage storage is the detail most people want sorted before anything else, and the sources flatly disagree. Cruise Critic’s own port notes say you can store bags in the port buildings during the morning check-in period, while several luggage storage networks and a Cruise Critic forum thread from a previous visitor both say no such facility exists at either terminal. We can’t settle that argument for you, so treat any on-site storage as unconfirmed and have a backup plan.
- Ask your cruise line directly, since Norwegian partners with the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa and the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort to collect luggage in advance of embarkation
- Book a paid slot with a third party network such as Stasher or Qeepl, both of which list storage points within a short walk or drive of downtown Honolulu
- A past visitor on Cruise Critic’s forum mentioned a UPS Store on Bishop Street as an option they found, though this hasn’t been independently confirmed
- Don’t bank on the port buildings taking your bags on the day, confirm with terminal staff as soon as you arrive instead
Oahu Cruise Ship Terminal Luggage Storage, Step by Step
If you’re stepping off the ship with hours to kill before a flight, or arriving early before check-in opens, here’s a sensible order of operations rather than hoping for the best at the kerb.
- Check your cruise line’s pre-cruise documents first, some hand luggage collection to partner hotels in Waikiki before you even reach the pier
- If nothing’s offered, book ahead with Stasher or a similar network near downtown or Kaka’ako, most list collection points nine to sixteen minutes from the terminal
- On arrival, ask the check-in desk whether informal storage is available that day, policy seems to shift
- Keep anything valuable on you rather than in checked storage, a secure day bag is a sensible choice if you’re exploring Honolulu without your main luggage
The Google Maps Pier 2 Mix Up
Here’s a local quirk that trips people up before they’ve even left home. Royal Caribbean specifically warns that Google Maps has mistakenly tagged a second, unrelated “Pier 2” about four miles from the actual cruise terminal. The fix is simple, search “Pier 2 Cruise Ship Terminal” by name rather than just the pier number, and double check the pin lands on Ala Moana Boulevard before you book a taxi or confirm a shuttle pickup point.
Honolulu or Hilo? Don’t Confuse the Two
If you’ve landed here hunting for Hawaii’s cruise ports in general, it’s worth flagging a mix up that catches people out. Honolulu sits on Oahu, while Hilo is a separate working port on the Big Island with its own terminal and its own character. If your itinerary mentions the Big Island rather than Oahu, the separate port guide for Hilo is the one you want.
Making the Most of a Few Hours Ashore
The port itself has restrooms and seating but no Wi-Fi and no wheelchair assistance laid on, so sort your own connectivity and mobility support before you walk off the ship. The Aloha Tower Marketplace, a short walk from Pier 11, does have free Wi-Fi if you need to get online once you’re ashore.
- Aloha Tower itself is free to climb, with an observation deck open daily from 9am to 5pm, and was the tallest building in Honolulu when it went up, nearly a century ago now
- Pearl Harbor is roughly eight miles from Pier 2, easily reached by taxi or rideshare for a half day visit
- Waikiki’s beaches and shopping are a short ride from either terminal if you’d rather stay close to the ship
- On our day in Honolulu we did the Diamond Head walk. We caught the local bus there, no problem. The views from the top are awesome.
Common Questions
Which pier will my cruise use, Pier 2 or Pier 11?
It depends on your cruise line and how many ships are in port that day. Both terminals serve the same lines, so check your embarkation documents rather than guessing.
Is there Wi-Fi at the Honolulu cruise terminal?
No, neither Pier 2 nor Pier 11 offers public Wi-Fi. The nearby Aloha Tower Marketplace does, if you need to get online.
Can I store my luggage at the port before a flight home?
Sources disagree on this one. Some say port buildings allow storage during check-in, others say no such facility exists. Confirm with staff on the day and have a backup plan ready.
How far is Pearl Harbor from the cruise terminal?
Around eight miles from Pier 2, an easy half day trip by taxi or rideshare if you fancy it on your port day.
What’s the quickest way from the airport to the ship?
A taxi or rideshare is fastest, though TheBus and several private shuttle operators also run directly between the airport, Waikiki and the pier.
Is Honolulu the same port as Hilo?
No, they’re different islands entirely. Honolulu is on Oahu, Hilo is on the Big Island, and each has its own cruise terminal.
Where can I see the Aloha Tower?
It stands right by Pier 11 and is free to visit, with an observation deck open daily that gives a clear view over the harbour.
Does Carnival use the same terminal as other cruise lines in Honolulu?
Yes, Carnival and most other major lines use the same two terminals, Pier 2 and Pier 11, rather than having a dedicated terminal of their own.
What if Google Maps sends me to the wrong Pier 2?
Search “Pier 2 Cruise Ship Terminal” by name, not just the pier number. An unrelated location has been mistakenly tagged a few miles away.
Why Trust About2Cruise
This guide was put together from official port information, cruise line directions pages and recent traveller reports, cross checked wherever sources disagreed rather than picking whichever answer sounded tidiest. We haven’t sailed from Honolulu ourselves, and we say so plainly rather than pretending otherwise. You can read more about how we put these guides together on our about us page.
Last Updated: 5 October 2026