Pearl Harbor: USS Arizona & Battleship Missouri with Boat Ride

Where Japan Signed Its Surrender: Pearl Harbor's Two Warships Tell the Whole Story

You're picked up from Waikiki and spend six hours moving through Pearl Harbor's two defining ships: the USS Arizona, resting place of 1,177 sailors, and the USS Missouri, where Japan signed its surrender. You get a briefing, a boat ride to the memorial, admission to both ships, and a stop at Punchbowl Cemetery. Transport and all entry fees are included, so you show up and the logistics are handled.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Battleship Missouri Memorial2h · entry included
2. National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacificpassing by

Visit Pearl Harbor and USS Missouri

• Learn about USS Arizona Memorial
• Watch WWII exhibit galleries
• Watch short film on Pearl Harbor
• Boat ride to USS Arizona Memorial
• Visit battleship USS Missouri
• Explore life aboard battleship
• Pass by Punchbowl Crater memorial

The experience

"So we're actually going to stand on the deck where they signed?" That's the question most people ask when they realize the USS Missouri isn't just a museum. It's the exact spot where Japan's surrender documents were signed in 1945. The tour picks you up from Waikiki and takes you straight into the heart of Pearl Harbor, where you'll spend the morning moving between two ships that bookend the entire Pacific War. The USS Arizona sits underwater as a memorial to the 1,177 crewmen who went down with her on December 7, 1941. The Missouri, launched from Brooklyn in 1944, fought through the final year against Japan and then became the stage for surrender itself.

You start at the Pearl Harbor Visitor's Center with an in-person briefing and short film that walks you through what happened that morning and why it mattered. The "Road to War" and "Attack" galleries show recovered items and photographs: the kind of objects that make the date feel less like history and more like something that happened to real people. Then comes the boat ride out to the USS Arizona Memorial, a white structure floating above the wreck. It's quiet there, and deliberate. After that, you move to the Battleship Missouri, where you can actually walk the decks, see the gun turrets, and get a sense of what life aboard a battleship was like: the cramped quarters, the scale of the machinery, the weight of 51 years of service through three wars.

The tour also includes a stop at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, built inside Punchbowl Crater, an extinct volcanic cone in Honolulu that now honors those who served and died. It's a different kind of memorial: open air, with rows of white markers and a view across the city. The whole thing runs six hours from pickup to drop-off, and the travel time is built into that, so you're not sitting in a van for hours. Small bags are allowed (nothing bigger than 1.5" × 2.25" × 5.5"), and if you have mobility concerns, call right after booking to confirm your vehicle can accommodate you, not all of them can handle wheelchairs or scooters. One thing to know: if the US Navy suspends boat operations on the day you go, you still get the full tour of the visitor center, museums, and the Battleship Missouri, and your tickets stay valid for seven days if you want to come back and try the boat ride again.

What’s included

• Your day includes round-trip transport from Waikiki, an in-person briefing at the Pearl Harbor Visitor's Center, admission to the USS Battleship Missouri, a boat ride to the USS Arizona Memorial, entry to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl Crater, and access to the "Road to War" and "Attack" exhibit galleries.
• A short film explaining the events of December 7, 1941 is also part of the experience.
• Travel time is counted within the six-hour duration.

Options for this experience

2 options

Pickup begins between 6:30 AM and 7:30 AMGuide in English · 06:30Pickup is included by bus, coach, or van

Pickup begins between 7:30 AM and 9:30 AMGuide in English · 08:30Lasts 6 hours, includes pickup

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 06:30 and 08:30

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 24

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by Pearl Harbor Tour

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see both the beginning and end of America's Pacific War in one morning without arranging separate transport and tickets: the fixed schedule and included boat ride are what make it possible to move between three memorials in a single tour.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3).

What time does the tour start?

Pickup is from designated Waikiki zones. Specific times depend on your hotel location. Contact the operator after booking to confirm your pickup window.

Is the boat ride to USS Arizona always included?

Yes, but if the US Navy suspends boat operations, you still tour the visitor center, museums, and Battleship Missouri. Your Arizona tickets remain valid for seven days to use later.

Can I bring a bag?

Small bags only, with a maximum size of 1.5" × 2.25" × 5.5". Larger bags are not permitted at Pearl Harbor.

Can I use a wheelchair on this tour?

Not all tour vehicles accommodate wheelchairs or scooters. Call immediately after booking to arrange a suitable vehicle.

How long is the tour?

Six hours total, including travel time from Waikiki and back.

What if I can't make it on the scheduled day?

If you don't use your USS Arizona ticket, it remains valid for seven days. You can arrange your own transport to the memorial and use it then.

Is lunch included?

No. The tour includes transport, briefings, boat ride, and admission to both memorials, but not meals.