Hawaii Volcanoes National Park from Hilo: ship excursion or on your own?
Booking Hawaii Volcanoes National Park independently from Hilo saves about $126 per person compared with NCL's excursion (Carnival $202, NCL $296 vs $170 independent, November 2026). Safety for going on your own: 3/5. Be back at the pier 60 minutes before departure.
What ships sell
- Carnival: 2 excursions that include Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, median $202 per adult, e.g. "Hilo & Volcanoes Nationa".
- NCL: 7 excursions that include Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, median $296 per adult, e.g. "Volcanoes National Park".
Ship excursions that include Hawaii Volcanoes National Park often bundle other stops or lunch, so compare what each tour includes. NCL prices were read from NCL's European website in euros on 2026-11-02 and converted at the ECB reference rate of 1 EUR = 1.1172 USD (2026-10-30). NCL's US site may show slightly different dollar prices.
Independent Hawaii Volcanoes National Park tours we compared
- From Hilo: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Tour · $189 · 4.9★ (117 reviews)
- Big Island: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Hilo Tour · $170 · 5.0★ (185 reviews)
- Hilo: Tour of Volcanoes National Park & Black Sand Beach · $169 · 4.6★ (122 reviews)
- Big Island: Volcano, Black Sand Beach, Waterfall, with Lunch · $189 · 5.0★ (69 reviews)
- Hilo: Volcano & Waterfalls Morning Tour · $151 · 4.9★ (15 reviews)
See all Hawaii Volcanoes National Park tours
Getting back to the ship
Ships here dock alongside. All-aboard is normally 30 minutes before departure on Royal Caribbean, Carnival, NCL and MSC (check your daily planner). Plan to be back at the pier at least 60 minutes before the ship sails.
- Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is a long transfer from the Hilo cruise port, so traffic or a late ferry eats directly into your buffer.
Questions
How much is the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park excursion from Hilo on Carnival?
Carnival's Hawaii Volcanoes National Park excursions start at a median of $202 per adult (2 options, $120 to $285).
How much is the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park excursion from Hilo on NCL?
NCL's Hawaii Volcanoes National Park excursions start at a median of $296 per adult (7 options, $177 to $393), converted from €265.
Can you visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on your own from the Hilo cruise port?
Yes. Independent tours cost a median of $170 per person (5 tours compared, from $151). It is a long transfer, so book a tour that starts at the cruise port and finishes at least 60 minutes before departure.
Is it cheaper to book Hawaii Volcanoes National Park independently?
Usually: the gap is about $126 per person, or $503 for a family of four, against NCL's price.
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