Deluxe Arizona Memorial Bowfin Submarine and Honolulu City Tour

Pearl Harbor is the heart of this tour, and the most valuable part is the reserved Arizona Memorial boat ride. You see the visitor center, two museums, wartime film footage, and the memorial itself without trying to organize several separate tickets. I also like the small-group pickup and the chance to tour the USS Bowfin, a hands-on counterpoint to the solemn Arizona Memorial.

The trade-off is time. The day lasts about seven hours, but traffic, pickup delays, and fixed boat times can make Pearl Harbor feel rushed. The Honolulu portion is a quick drive-by tour, not a full city visit, so you should book this for efficient coverage rather than a slow, flexible day.

Key points to know before booking

• Reserved Arizona Memorial access: The tour includes the Navy shuttle boat to the memorial, subject to Navy and federal operating conditions.
• USS Bowfin is the hands-on highlight: You tour the submarine and museum with an audio set, giving you a close look at life aboard a wartime vessel.
• Small group, up to 14 people: This is more personal than a large coach excursion, with hotel pickup and return to Waikiki.
• Honolulu is a short drive-through: You see Iolani Palace, the Capitol, King Kamehameha’s statue, Washington Place, and Punchbowl from the vehicle or during brief stops.
• Bring no bag: Pearl Harbor Visitor Center does not permit bags, and storage costs money and can cost you valuable tour time.
• Airport pickup needs careful planning: The airport is near Pearl Harbor, so airport pickup may happen later than the Waikiki pickup and the return can be direct to the airport.

Why the Arizona Memorial ticket matters

The Arizona Memorial is the reason to consider this tour. The reservation gives you access to the U.S. Navy shuttle boat, which carries you across the harbor to the memorial over the sunken battleship USS Arizona.

That reservation has practical value. The boat operates on a fixed schedule, and access can be difficult to arrange at short notice. With this tour, the operator handles the reservation and places the ticket in your hands. You still need to arrive on time, but you avoid building your day around a long ticket line.

Your Pearl Harbor visit begins at the visitor center. The included Road to War and Attack museums frame the events of December 7, 1941. Together, they help you follow the story before you reach the memorial: rising tension in the Pacific, the attack itself, and the immediate consequences.

You also watch original footage of the Japanese surprise attack. This is not a light sightseeing stop. Give the subject the attention it deserves, and expect a serious atmosphere.

The memorial visit itself is brief and controlled by the Navy schedule. You ride the shuttle boat, spend time at the memorial, and return to the visitor center. The boat service can be canceled because of rough weather, mechanical trouble, or other safety concerns. Ford Island is part of an active military base, so access can also change without notice.

If the Navy cancels the boat, the operator says the tour is non-refundable when the cancellation results from those federal or military decisions. That is an important point to understand before paying for a fixed-date visit.

The Bowfin gives Pearl Harbor a physical sense of place

The USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park adds a very different mood. The Arizona Memorial asks you to reflect. The Bowfin lets you examine machinery, cramped passageways, and the practical demands of submarine service.

You receive admission to the submarine, the submarine museum, and an audio set tour. The audio guide lets you move through the exhibit at your own pace, which is useful because the submarine rewards close attention. Displays explain how the vessel functioned and what conditions were like for its crew.

I particularly like the contrast between the two Pearl Harbor attractions. The Arizona Memorial is quiet and symbolic. The Bowfin is compact, technical, and physical. You do not simply look at a ship from the outside. You move through its interior and get a clearer sense of how limited the space was.

The scheduled time at Pearl Harbor is about two and a half hours for the first stop and another two and a half hours for the Bowfin portion. In practice, these attractions are connected within the Pearl Harbor complex, but the fixed schedule can still feel short if you read every display.

You can ask about extending your time, but doing so may affect the rest of the day. The operator’s timing is built around the reserved Arizona boat and the return transfer. If your priority is military history, you may wish the Honolulu drive were shorter. If you prefer a broad first look at Oahu, the existing balance may suit you.

What the Honolulu drive-through actually includes

After Pearl Harbor, the tour offers about ninety minutes of sightseeing around Honolulu. Think of this as an orientation drive, not a walking tour or a detailed visit to each landmark.

You pass through historic downtown Honolulu and view:

• Iolani Palace
• The Hawaii State Capitol
• The golden statue of King Kamehameha the Great
• Washington Place
• Punchbowl National Memorial Cemetery

This portion helps connect Pearl Harbor with the wider story of Hawaii’s government, monarchy, military memory, and modern capital. I like it as a first look, especially if you have just arrived and want to recognize key places before exploring Honolulu on your own.

The limit is clear: much of the city tour takes place from the vehicle, and there may not be enough time for a full visit at every site. Punchbowl access can also be restricted by the Veterans Administration or holiday preparations. On one reported itinerary, commercial vehicles could not enter the cemetery, so the route had to change.

The tour then returns you to your Waikiki hotel. If you are being dropped at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, the schedule works differently. The airport is close to Pearl Harbor and comes before downtown Honolulu and Waikiki, so airport passengers are returned directly there after Pearl Harbor rather than continuing through the city.

Small-group transport is a real part of the value

The tour is capped at 14 people and includes round-trip pickup from designated Waikiki hotels. That is a useful middle ground. You avoid arranging separate transportation to Pearl Harbor, but you are not committed to a large bus filled with dozens of people.

The small-group format also gives the guide more room to answer questions and adjust the explanation to the group. Guides assigned to this experience have included Vanessa, Akbar, and Roland, who were praised for friendly service, Hawaiian background, and historical commentary during the drive.

Vehicle quality can vary by day. The operator sometimes uses a luxury SUV as an upgrade, but a small SUV can still feel tight when several people share it. One party of four found the seating uncomfortable after additional pickup passengers joined them, while another group found the vehicle comfortable and the cruise-terminal pickup easy.

I would treat the small group as a benefit, not a promise of limousine-style space. If you need generous legroom or have bulky belongings, ask about the vehicle before booking. The company does not carry luggage, and luggage will not fit in the vehicle.

Pickup rules can make or break the morning

You need to be ready a few minutes before the stated pickup time. Late arrival means missing the tour, with no rescheduling. Keep your phone charged and switched on, since the operator may contact you about the exact pickup details.

The company confirms pickup information the day before. If you use an international phone number, you are asked to contact the operator after 5:00 p.m. the day before. If you are arriving by ship, contact the company the day before as well.

Airport pickup deserves special care. The Waikiki pickup generally begins earlier, while the airport is a later pickup point near Pearl Harbor. That difference can make the airport pickup appear late if you compare it with the Waikiki departure time. Confirm your own pickup time instead of assuming the earliest time applies to every location.

If you have a flight after the tour, leave a sensible cushion. The company gives an approximate return schedule, but traffic, federal restrictions, and changes at Pearl Harbor can affect the day. An airport drop-off may be useful, but this is not a good tour to pair with a tightly timed evening departure.

The no-bag rule is strict

Bring no bag of any kind to Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. That means purses, backpacks, camera bags, shopping bags, and other containers. Clear, see-through bags are permitted.

You cannot leave a bag inside the tour vehicle. If you arrive with one, you may need to use paid storage at the visitor center, and the line can cost you time. Missing part of the museum visit or risking an expired Arizona boat ticket is a poor trade for carrying a small bag.

Carry only what you can keep in your pockets. The supplied bottle of water is useful, but the operator says food and drinks are not allowed inside the vehicle, so eat breakfast before pickup. Lunch is not included, and you should not count on a long meal break during the fixed Pearl Harbor schedule.

Is $155 a fair price?

At $155 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see Pearl Harbor. The price includes hotel transport, a reserved Arizona Memorial ticket, entry to the visitor center museums, Bowfin admission, an audio set, the Honolulu drive-through, and a bottle of water.

The main value is convenience and coordination. You avoid finding your own way to Pearl Harbor, competing for Arizona Memorial reservations, arranging Bowfin admission, and planning the transfer back to Waikiki. For a first visit, that can be worth more than a lower ticket price.

The price is less appealing if you already have reliable transportation and can secure the Arizona Memorial reservation yourself. In that case, you may prefer to spend a full day at Pearl Harbor and set your own pace. This tour is best understood as a time-saving package, not as a private guide at every exhibit.

The guide’s role also varies. Some guides provide historical commentary during the drive and help organize the day. At Pearl Harbor, the attraction staff, Navy boat crew, museum displays, and audio tour carry much of the interpretation. If you expect the guide to escort you through every room, clarify that expectation before booking.

The right kind of day for this tour

I would recommend this experience to you if you want Pearl Harbor to be the main event but also want a brief Honolulu introduction. It suits first-time visitors, people without rental cars, and anyone who values reserved tickets and door-to-door transport.

It also works well if the Bowfin interests you. Many visitors focus only on the Arizona Memorial, but the submarine is the more tactile part of the day. The audio tour and interior displays give you something concrete to examine after the emotional weight of the memorial.

I would be more cautious if you like unhurried museum visits. You may want extra time with the exhibits, and the fixed boat departure leaves little room for delays. The short Honolulu drive may also feel like time taken away from Pearl Harbor.

Families should note the subject matter and the walking involved at the visitor center and submarine. The tour says most people can participate, but the available details do not provide specific accessibility information. Ask the operator directly if mobility support or special seating matters to you.

Practical booking advice

Book early if the Arizona Memorial is central to your plans. The tour is often reserved well ahead, and the boat schedule is the part least suited to last-minute planning.

Read the pickup message the day before and confirm your hotel, phone number, and pickup time. Eat before leaving, carry no bag, and keep your schedule open enough to absorb traffic or a change in the route.

Free cancellation is available when you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund. Bad weather or a minimum group requirement can also cause the operator to offer another date, another experience, or a refund.

Should you book this Pearl Harbor and Honolulu tour?

Book it if you want the Arizona Memorial reservation, Bowfin entry, and transportation handled in one half-day-plus package. The small group and guides such as Vanessa, Akbar, and Roland can make the road time more pleasant, and the combination gives you both reflection and close-up military history.

Skip it if you want to spend the entire day at Pearl Harbor, explore every display slowly, or control each stop yourself. The city portion is brief, the schedule can feel tight, and the Navy can cancel the memorial boat for reasons outside the operator’s control.

For most first-time Honolulu visitors without a car, I see this as a practical choice. Just arrive early, bring no bag, eat breakfast, and treat the Honolulu section as a useful introduction rather than a full city tour.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts about seven hours, including Pearl Harbor, the USS Bowfin, the Honolulu drive-through, and transportation to and from Waikiki hotels.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Round-trip pickup is included from designated Waikiki hotel areas. Pickup details are confirmed the day before.

Can I meet the tour at Pearl Harbor?

No. The operator does not meet passengers at Pearl Harbor or at other locations outside the designated pickup areas.

Is the Arizona Memorial ticket included?

Yes. The tour provides a reserved Arizona Memorial ticket and the U.S. Navy shuttle boat ride to the memorial, subject to Navy and federal operating conditions.

What happens if the Navy cancels the Arizona boat?

The Navy can cancel the shuttle because of mechanical issues, dangerous weather, or other safety concerns. The operator states that tours are non-refundable when the National Park Service or Navy cancels the boat program for these reasons.

Is the USS Bowfin included?

Yes. Admission to the USS Bowfin submarine, the submarine museum, and an audio set tour is included.

Are meals included?

No. Breakfast and lunch are not included. You are advised to eat breakfast before pickup.

Can I bring a bag?

No ordinary bags are allowed inside Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. Clear, see-through bags are permitted. Bags cannot be left in the tour vehicle, and paid storage may involve a long line.

Is airport pickup available?

The provided information includes Daniel K. Inouye International Airport as a pickup location. Airport passengers are returned directly to the airport after Pearl Harbor and do not continue with the downtown Honolulu and Waikiki drive-through.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted.