Getting ashore
Hilo is usually a dock stop.
Most ships dock at Hilo, which usually makes the day simpler: walk off the ship, meet your tour, and get back on board without tender queues.
United States
Hilo Cruise Port
Hilo is a long port day with regular dockside arrivals and lighter cruise traffic throughout the year, but concentrated in January, February, April, October, and November.
Usually docks
Usually quiet
~10h typical visit
Mid-size ships
What to expect in Hilo
How much time will you have?
About 10h is typical
Most cruises spend 9h to 10h in Hilo, which makes it a relatively long port day compared with many stops.
How busy does Hilo get?
This is usually a quieter cruise stop.
Multiple ships overlap on roughly 1% of days, so most dates should feel manageable.
- Typical day: ~2,250 passengers
- Busy day: 3,050+ passengers
- Multiple ships on 1% of days
Check your date
October 2026
Jump
Quieter
Busier
Ships
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Where Hilo fits into a cruise
Hilo is most commonly visited on Hawaii itineraries, often alongside Kahului and Los Angeles .
Commonly arrives from
Hilo
Commonly continues to
When to cruise to Hilo
Cruises visit year-round, with the busiest season from January, February, April, October, and November.
Cruises visit year-round, with the busiest season from January, February, April, October, and November.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Visits
35
39
29
44
22
16
17
18
30
34
33
26
Who sails here?
Ships visiting Hilo typically carry around 2,252 guests, with Pride of America, Emerald Princess, and Koningsdam calling most often.
Most frequently visiting ships
- 1 Pride of America 52 calls
- 2 Emerald Princess 8 calls
- 3 Koningsdam 7 calls
- 4 Norwegian Spirit 7 calls
- 5 Queen Victoria 7 calls
- 6 Ruby Princess 7 calls
Next port calls
Nov 2 Norwegian Spirit
Nov 3 Pride of America
Nov 10 Pride of America
Nov 13 Ruby Princess
Nov 14 Emerald Princess
Cruises that visit Hilo
Emerald Princess
Los Angeles → Hilo → Ensenada → Los Angeles
Nov 28, 2026 · 16 nights
Visits Hilo on day 7
$2,819 suite · $176/night
25% below typical · Price trending down
Silver Whisper
Papeete → Huahine → Kahului → Honolulu
Apr 18, 2027 · 14 nights
Visits Hilo on day 13
$7,000 suite · $500/night
60% below typical · Price trending down
Silver Dawn
Los Angeles → Nawiliwili → Raiatea → Papeete
Jan 8, 2027 · 22 nights
Visits Hilo on day 9
$14,200 suite · $645/night
64% below typical · Price trending down
Silver Whisper
Honolulu → Nawiliwili → Hilo → Vancouver
May 2, 2027 · 11 nights
Visits Hilo on day 5
$5,750 suite · $523/night
49% below typical · Price trending down
Pride of America
Honolulu → Kahului → Nawiliwili → Honolulu
Jan 2, 2027 · 7 nights
Visits Hilo on day 4
$1,271 oceanview · $182/night
19% below typical · 3-month low
Pride of America
Honolulu → Kahului → Nawiliwili → Honolulu
Jan 23, 2027 · 7 nights
Visits Hilo on day 4
$1,249 interior · $178/night
23% below typical · 3-month lowCruise routes that include Hilo
These route families show how cruise lines usually package Hilo, so you can compare the whole trip instead of judging this stop by itself.
Hawaii · South Pacific
Kahului → Hilo → Kailua-Kona + 1 more
From Honolulu · 7 nights · Next Oct 31
From $940 interior · $134/night
Best departure: 33% below typical
52 upcoming departures · 1 ship
Hawaii · Mexican Riviera
Hilo → Honolulu → Nawiliwili + 2 more
From Los Angeles · 16 nights · Next Nov 28
From $1,899 oceanview · $119/night
Best departure: 25% below typical
2 upcoming departures · 1 ship
Tahiti & French Polynesia · Hawaii
Huahine → Moorea → Rangiroa + 3 more
From Papeete · 14 nights · Next Apr 18
From $7,000 suite · $500/night
Best departure: 60% below typical
1 upcoming departure · 1 ship
Hawaii · Tahiti & French Polynesia
Nawiliwili → Kahului → Hilo + 5 more
From Los Angeles · 22 nights · Next Jan 8
From $14,200 suite · $645/night
Best departure: 64% below typical
1 upcoming departure · 1 ship
Hawaii
Nawiliwili → Kailua → Hilo
From Honolulu · 11 nights · Next May 2
From $5,750 suite · $523/night
Best departure: 49% below typical
1 upcoming departure · 1 ship
Hawaii · Mexican Riviera
Itinerary MXCSL-MXLAP-MXLTO-USSAN-USHNL-USOGG-USNIJ-USITO-USKHH-MXESE
From San Diego · Next Jan 2
From $2,679 oceanview · $112/night
Best departure: 12% below typical
1 upcoming departure · 1 ship
Related ports near Hilo
Tap to view port guide, ship schedules, and best time to visit.
Tap to view port guide, ship schedules, and best time to visit.
Tap to view port guide, ship schedules, and best time to visit.
FAQ about cruises visiting Hilo
Which cruise itineraries usually include Hilo?
Cruises that call at Hilo often follow itineraries such as Hawaii Loop: Kahului & Hilo, Hawaii Loop via Hilo, Honolulu & Ensenada, and Tahiti & French Polynesia Repositioning: Huahine, Moorea & Hilo.
Plan your route
Explore cruises that visit Hilo
See itineraries, compare routes, and find the best way to include Hilo in your trip.