Aloha and welcome to the Hawaiian Islands! Cruising is a popular way to combine enjoyable travel with visiting several of the islands. If you want to see as much as possible, a cruise ship might be more convenient for you than landing on each island by plane.
Many cruise ship passengers enjoy exploring the islands with rental cars once their ship has docked at the pier. Renting a car gives you great flexibility for individual sightseeing and is easy to incorporate into your vacation plan. Simply reserve a car when your cruise schedule allows you some time on an island.
We are delighted to assist cruise ship passengers exploring Hawaii. We can easily help you arrange your one or two-day car rentals to explore our beautiful islands. In our FAQ section, you will find answers to many questions frequently asked by cruise ship passengers. Please take a look there for a well-prepared trip.
Please make a separate reservation for each Island. If you are staying overnight,yes, there is designated parking available at the pier, no we don't know how much it costs.
To avoid stress, carefully consider whether you actually need a rental car during your stay on each island.
For pick-up, we recommend taking a taxi to the Airport eg. the agency and arranging it around 9 AM (as the exact time may vary).
Plan ahead to ensure that you drop off your rental car with enough time to reach your ship.
Read our FAQ for cruise ship passengers.
Book a rental car from the airport and take a taxi there to pick it up!
For Honolulu, there are downtown agencies located in Waikiki that offer complimentary shuttle pick-up services. To arrange for your rental car and make use of the free shuttle, please select the "Honolulu City" location.
However, it's worth noting that in Waikiki, rental car prices are generally higher, and you may experience longer wait times due to the demand. On the contrary, the nearby airport hosts a larger rental agency, making the process more efficient. As a result, many informed travelers choose to pre-book their rental cars from the airport pick-up location and take a taxi to get there when their cruise ship docks at the pier. This approach often offers better value and convenience.
If you have any more questions or require further information, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We are here to assist you.
Safe travels!
Unless there is an urgent reason, abstain from car rental!
There is no free pick-up and drop-off shuttle bus at the Kona Harbor. Since Kona is the only place where the drive from the pier to the agency at the Kona International Airport (KOA) takes more than 30 minutes and the road is often loaded with cars (bumper to bumper), no company wants to take on the responsibility of delivering clients too late back to the ship and then have to pay for accommodation if the ship is already gone. Therefore, we suggest to not rent a car while you are in Kona.
Save time by taking a taxi to your rental car pick-up location!
Most cruise ships dock at Kahului. Rental car pick-up locations are at the Kahului Airport (OGG), only a 5-minute taxi ride away. We recommend taking a taxi to save time as you will arrive for car rental pick-up ahead of all those who are taking the shuttle.
For Lahaina, you need to use the “Maui-Kaanapali” location when you book a rental car. In Lahaina, the free shuttle pick-up is not guaranteed. We suggest you save time by taking a taxi. However, if you want to try to get a “free shuttle”, check our rates with Budget or Avis.
Get your rental car at the nearby airport, Lihue Airport (LIH)
There is only one place to pick up cars in Kauai, and that is at the Lihue Airport (LIH)(about a 5-minute ride). To book the car for Nawiliwili Harbor in Kauai, please use the “Kauai-Lihue” location. If you stay several days, book the car for all the days needed and park it during the nights in a designated area near the pier. Ask the steward or the security agent when you leave the ship where to park the car overnight.
Since COVID, none of the major rental car companies offer free Shuttle Service from the pier to the Agency anymore. We recommend considering alternative transportation options such as taking a Taxi or Uber/Lift to the rental location at the nearby airport.
The Lihue, Kahului and Hilo agencies are located at the respective nearby airport to the pier where you dock.
Our Tip for Honolulu: WE recommend booking your car for pick up at the Honolulu Airport. The Waikiki location, despite being seemingly closer, often takes longer to reach due to heavy traffic. Additionally rental rates are higher and the operating hours are shorter than at the airport.
We recommend not to rent a car in Kona, since there is no nearby rental agency
No, it's not necessary. Many agencies lack local phone customer service, and speaking to an agent in another country might not be helpful. The crucial factor is picking up the car on the same day as your booking.
According to feedback of other cruise ship customers we suggest you rent one car for 2 days. There is a designated parking area where you can park the car at the pier or nearby. Ask the steward or the security agent when you leave the ship where to park the car overnight. Some of our customers have reported that someone tried to steal gas out of the car overnight when parking outside the designated parking— so if you have a choice to have it parked in a secured parking area for a fee, we recommend doing so. Sorry, we don't know the current parking fee.
If you reserve the car for 2 days and you return the car after 1 day, you only pay for the time you had the car.
No problem. You can easily play with plus-or-minus one hour.