Deluxe Arizona Memorial Bowfin Submarine and Honolulu City Tour

The most valuable part of this day is the reserved USS Arizona Memorial access. You visit the Pearl Harbor museums, watch original footage of the December 7, 1941 attack, then ride a U.S. Navy shuttle boat to the memorial instead of hoping a last-minute ticket appears.

I like two things here: the small maximum group of 14, and the chance to tour the USS Bowfin submarine with an audio set. The practical catch is timing. The Pearl Harbor portion can feel rushed, and the Honolulu sightseeing is a brief drive-through rather than a full city tour.

Key points to know before booking

• Reserved Arizona Memorial ticket: The tour includes a prearranged ticket and Navy shuttle boat ride, subject to Navy and federal restrictions.
• Two-and-a-half hours at Pearl Harbor: You have time for the visitor center, the Road to War and Attack museums, the film, and the memorial.
• USS Bowfin access included: Walk into the submarine museum area with admission and an audio tour.
• Small-group transportation: Waikiki pickup and return are provided, with a maximum of 14 people.
• Honolulu sights from the vehicle: You see Iolani Palace, the Capitol, King Kamehameha’s statue, Washington Place, and Punchbowl.
• Strict bag rules: Bring no bag to Pearl Harbor. Even small bags must be stored, which can cost money and eat into your scheduled time.

Why the Arizona Memorial ticket matters

Pearl Harbor is not a place where you should simply show up and expect to see everything. The USS Arizona Memorial requires a boat transfer, and access can be limited by demand, weather, mechanical problems, or government rules.

This tour handles the most difficult part by reserving an Arizona Memorial ticket for you. You still enter through the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, but you are not relying entirely on the day’s remaining availability. The Navy shuttle carries you across the harbor to the white memorial structure above the sunken USS Arizona.

That boat ride is a major reason to consider this tour. The memorial marks the battleship and the sailors who remain beneath the water. It is a quiet, serious stop, and the setting gives the visit a weight that the exhibits alone cannot provide.

The memorial boat is not guaranteed under every condition. The Navy can cancel the ride for dangerous weather, mechanical trouble, public safety concerns, or other restrictions. Access to Ford Island can also change without notice because it is part of an active military base. If the boat is canceled by the National Park Service or Navy, the tour does not promise a refund.

Starting at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center

The first part of the day lasts about two hours and 30 minutes. You begin at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, where the tour includes the two main museum galleries, Road to War and Attack.

Road to War sets the scene before December 7. Attack focuses on the surprise assault and its immediate consequences. You also watch original footage of the Japanese attack. That film gives the visit a direct visual connection to the events, rather than leaving you with only dates and labels.

I would allow yourself to be fully present here. The displays are not filler before the boat ride. They explain the political and military setting, show how the attack unfolded, and help you understand what the Arizona Memorial represents.

The guide or driver may provide context around the visit, but this is not a traditional guided museum tour in which someone walks beside you through every display. One disappointing experience described the service as mainly transportation and tickets. That criticism points to an important expectation: you are buying access, transport, and a limited guided day, not a private historian-led tour inside every exhibit.

Touring the USS Bowfin submarine

The USS Bowfin stop also lasts about two hours and 30 minutes, though the total time is shared with the Pearl Harbor visit and transportation. Your admission includes the submarine, the Submarine Museum, and an audio set.

For many people, this becomes the most memorable part of the day. The Bowfin gives you a physical sense of submarine service that a museum case cannot match. You move through tight interior spaces and see how equipment and living areas were arranged in a working boat.

The audio set helps explain what you are seeing and how the submarine operated. You can take the information at your own pace instead of following a guide’s fixed speech. If you enjoy machinery, military technology, or firsthand details of daily life at sea, this stop may be the strongest part of the tour.

The schedule can make the Bowfin feel hurried, especially if your memorial time runs late or your pickup has been delayed. One practical advantage is that your admission is already arranged. You do not need to join a separate ticket line, and you can go directly into the exhibit area.

The Honolulu drive from Iolani Palace to Punchbowl

After Pearl Harbor, the vehicle makes a short drive through central Honolulu. The route includes historical downtown, Iolani Palace, the Hawaii State Capitol, the gold statue of King Kamehameha the Great, Washington Place, and Punchbowl National Memorial Cemetery.

You should think of this as an orientation drive, not a walking tour. You see important sites from the vehicle and receive a quick introduction while returning toward Waikiki. The city portion is scheduled for about one hour and 30 minutes, but the actual stops can change with traffic, road rules, access restrictions, and the needs of the group.

I like this addition because it gives the day a wider setting. Pearl Harbor is tied to one defining moment, while downtown Honolulu shows the political and royal center of Hawaii. Iolani Palace and Washington Place help connect the modern city to the islands’ monarchy and government.

Punchbowl can also be a meaningful stop, but access is not always certain. Commercial vehicles were once barred from entering during preparations for Memorial Day, forcing a shorter city route. That sort of change is outside the operator’s control, so do not book this experience expecting guaranteed time inside every location.

Pickup, vehicle size, and the real timing issue

Round-trip pickup is offered from designated Waikiki hotels, and the group is limited to 14 people. That is smaller than many Pearl Harbor excursions, where vehicles can carry 20 to 60 people. A smaller group usually means less waiting for people to board and a more personal ride.

Drivers named in feedback include Vanessa, Akbar, and Roland. Vanessa was praised for a friendly historical talk on the way to Pearl Harbor. Akbar was singled out for his Hawaiian knowledge, while Roland was praised for a comfortable vehicle and a strong presentation of Pearl Harbor, the Arizona Memorial, and the Bowfin.

The transport experience is not perfectly consistent. One party of four objected to being placed in a large SUV with two additional passengers, even though the operator described it as an upgrade from a van. If seating space matters greatly to you, ask about the vehicle rather than assuming an upgrade means four separate captain’s chairs.

Pickup accuracy also matters. You are told to be ready a few minutes early, keep your phone charged and turned on, and answer calls from the operator. If you miss the pickup, there is no rescheduling. Airport pickup has its own timing: the airport is near Pearl Harbor and is handled after the Waikiki pickups, so the overall schedule can look different from a Waikiki departure.

If you are flying later that day, leave a wide margin. One airport pickup became stressful because the schedule changed and the passenger had a flight later in the afternoon. The operator says tour times can shift because of traffic, federal rules, and Pearl Harbor restrictions. I would avoid booking a tight connection after this seven-hour experience.

What the $155 price buys you

At $155 per person, this is not the cheapest way to reach Pearl Harbor. You are paying for round-trip hotel transportation, a small group, the reserved Arizona Memorial ticket, visitor center access, Bowfin admission, the audio set, the Honolulu drive, and a bottle of water.

The value depends on what you would otherwise arrange yourself. If you can secure the Arizona Memorial ticket on your own and have reliable transportation, a self-guided visit may cost less. But the hardest ticket is the memorial boat, and securing it well ahead of time can be difficult.

The tour also saves you from driving, parking, and working out the order of Pearl Harbor’s attractions. That matters on a first visit, especially when you are staying in Waikiki and want the day to include central Honolulu afterward.

Food is not included. You are told to eat breakfast before pickup, and no food or drink is allowed inside the vehicle. The operator may provide water, and some service experiences included juice or snacks, but the listed inclusions guarantee a bottle of water, not a meal. Bring breakfast before leaving and plan accordingly.

The strict Pearl Harbor bag rule

This is the detail most likely to affect your day. No bags of any kind are allowed inside the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, including small purses and backpacks. Clear see-through bags are permitted.

Do not leave a bag in the tour vehicle. The operator says vehicles cannot store luggage, and checked bags at the visitor center cost money and may require a long wait. That line can make you miss part of the museum visit or cause your Arizona boat ticket to expire.

Bring only what you can carry openly in your pockets, along with your phone. Do not arrive with luggage, even if you think it can stay under a seat. This rule is simple, strict, and worth planning around.

Who should book this Pearl Harbor day

I would recommend this tour if you want the Arizona Memorial and Bowfin in one organized day, prefer hotel pickup, and like having a driver explain Honolulu along the way. It is also a good fit if you do not want to manage Pearl Harbor tickets and transport on your own.

The tour suits first-time visitors who value convenience over a fully independent schedule. The small group and prearranged tickets are real advantages, especially during busy periods.

I would hesitate if you want long, unhurried museum time or a detailed walking tour of downtown Honolulu. The city portion is brief, and the Pearl Harbor schedule can feel tight. You should also avoid it if you need guaranteed access to the memorial boat or if your flight connection leaves little room for delays.

The cancellation policy allows a full refund when you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes made inside that window are not accepted. Poor weather or a failure to reach the minimum number of participants can lead to another date, another experience, or a refund, but Navy or National Park Service cancellation of the memorial boat may not produce a refund.

Should you book it?

Book this experience for access and convenience, not for an extensive guided tour. The Arizona Memorial ticket, Bowfin admission, Waikiki pickup, and small group make $155 reasonable for a tightly organized day.

Go in with the right plan: eat before pickup, carry no bag, keep your phone on, and leave extra time after the tour if you are flying. If those conditions work for you, this is a useful way to connect Pearl Harbor’s central memorial with the Bowfin and a quick look at Honolulu’s historic core.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately seven hours, including Pearl Harbor, the USS Bowfin submarine, the Honolulu drive, transportation, and return to Waikiki hotels.

Is pickup from Waikiki included?

Yes. Round-trip pickup from designated Waikiki hotel areas is included. You must be ready a few minutes before the stated pickup time.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 14 people.

Does the tour include the USS Arizona Memorial ticket?

Yes. The tour provides a reserved Arizona Memorial ticket and the U.S. Navy shuttle boat ride, subject to Navy, weather, mechanical, and federal restrictions.

Is the USS Bowfin admission included?

Yes. Admission to the USS Bowfin submarine and Submarine Museum is included, along with an audio set tour.

Can I bring a bag to Pearl Harbor?

No bags of any kind are allowed inside the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, except clear see-through bags. Bag storage costs money and may involve a long wait, so it is best to bring no bag.

Is food included?

No. Breakfast and lunch are not included. You should eat breakfast before pickup, and food or drink is not allowed inside the tour vehicle. A bottle of water is provided.

What happens if the Arizona Memorial boat is canceled?

The Navy may cancel the boat for safety, dangerous weather, mechanical issues, or other restrictions. Access to Ford Island can also change. The tour states that cancellations by the National Park Service or Navy for these reasons are non-refundable.