Kona cruise port: excursion prices and pier guide
Kona, USA (Hawaii). Kona is a tender port. Volcano tours are much easier from Hilo if your ship calls there too.
Pier
Tender port
Kailua-Kona pier (tender)
Lines calling
Royal Caribbean, Carnival, NCL
ship prices recorded for Carnival, NCL
Nearest sight
Ali'i Drive
~10 min walk
All cruise lines side by side
| Tour type | Royal Caribbean | Carnival | NCL | Independent | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dolphin & marine encounter | – | – | $266 | – | 4/5 |
| Submarine / glass-bottom | – | $152 | $197 | $160 | 4/5 |
| Whale watching | – | $140 | $177 | $109 | 4/5 |
| Fishing | – | – | $256 | – | 4/5 |
| Catamaran / sail & snorkel | – | – | $296 | $105 | 4/5 |
| Snorkel tour | – | $165 | $227 | $115 | 4/5 |
| Ruins / history | – | $105 | $197 | $138 | 4/5 |
| Food & tasting | – | $220 | $207 | – | 4/5 |
| Beach break / beach club | – | – | $325 | – | 4/5 |
| Nature / waterfall / park | – | $230 | $247 | $276 | 2/5 |
| City / island tour | – | – | $306 | $202 | 4/5 |
Median adult price per tour type. A dash means that line's prices for Kona were not shown publicly when we checked, or there was no close independent match.
Royal Caribbean in Kona Carnival in Kona NCL in Kona
Distance from the pier
| From the pier to | Straight line | Approx. travel time |
|---|---|---|
| Ali'i Drive | 433 m | ~10 min walk |
| Kealakekua Bay | 19.6 km | ~45 min by road |
| Pu'uhonua o Honaunau | 26.0 km | ~60 min by road |
| Hawaii Volcanoes National Park | 78.3 km | ~170 min by road |
Distances are measured from Kailua-Kona pier (tender). Travel times are estimates for normal traffic, not including ferries or tender queues.
All-aboard and buffer rules
This is a tender port. The last tender back to the ship usually leaves 30 to 60 minutes before departure, and the queue for the last few tenders can be long. Plan to be back at the tender pier at least 90 minutes before the ship sails.
Tours that need extra margin here
- Nature / waterfall / park: Volcanoes National Park is about 2h30 each way from Kona.