Hilo cruise port guide
One of the most popular exotic destinations in the United States where ocean and nature meet transforming the landscape into a breathtaking panorama. Hawaii is all of this and much more, beautiful wild islands led by the "Big Island", whose capital is the charming city of Hilo. It is here that you will fall in love with an old authentic culture. It is here that your MSC World Cruise will take you. Hilo is one of the most interesting and diverse cities of the archipelago, a special place for an unforgettable holiday that gives the gift of strong emotions both to those who are looking for peace and those who prefer adventurous excursions in a pristine habitat. Here the sea, sunny beaches, surf and magical local hospitality come together with the breathtaking beauty of rough trails, rain forests, secret bays, coffee plantations and small rural towns light years away from frenetic tourism. In this land, you will discover the magic of traveling with MSC Cruises. On Big Island, you can also find Volcanoes National Park, home of Kilauea, an active volcano for the past 30 years that continues to pour lava into the sea, gradually increasing and changing the island's outward appearance. There are two possible paths for visitors, one that goes around the Caldera and the other that descends towards the area of the lava flows. There is another marvel that awaits you during your vacation with MSC Cruises - Rainbow Falls, the waterfalls in Hilo that are 24 meters high and which offer visitors the spectacle of multiple rainbows in the morning mist. The gorge is filled with lush forest and the natural turquoise pool that the Wailuku River flows into is surrounded by wild ginger. The waterfalls flow over a natural lava cave, home to Hina, an ancient Hawaiian goddess.
About Hilo
Hilo is the largest settlement on Hawaii Island (the Big Island), set on Hilo Bay at the foot of the dormant Mauna Kea and active Mauna Loa volcanoes. Cruise ships dock at a terminal approximately 3 km from downtown, where a walkable route leads to the Farmers Market, tsunami museum, and Panaewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens. Effective January 2026, Hawaii's 11% Transient Accommodations Tax applies to cruise passengers for nights spent in Hawaiian waters.
Downtown Hilo centers on a historic district with a Farmers Market, the Tsunami Museum (notable for celebrity-planted banyan trees), the Panaewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens, movie theaters, and numerous restaurants and cafes. For a longer excursion, the Mauna Loa macadamia nut processing plant near Keaau — operated by Hawaiian Host Inc. — offers a self-guided factory tour viewed from a second-floor walkway, plus a gift shop with fresh macadamia ice cream. The first macadamia plantation on the island dates to 1946, with the first crop harvested in 1956.
Quick facts
Cruises visiting Hilo
Prices per person · incl. taxes & fees.
Sailing soonest
7-Day Hawaii Inter-Island from Honolulu
Pride of America · Hawaii · 7 nights
from $1,623
$231 / night
12-Day South Pacific from Papeete to Honolulu: Kauai & Moorea
Norwegian Spirit · Hawaii · 12 nights
from $1,119
$93 / night
7-Day Hawaii Inter-Island from Honolulu
Pride of America · Hawaii · 7 nights
from $1,676
$239 / night
7-Day Hawaii Inter-Island from Honolulu
Pride of America · Hawaii · 7 nights
from $1,623
$231 / night
16-Day Hawaii from Honolulu to Vancouver: Skagway, Kauai & Juneau
Norwegian Spirit · Alaska · 16 nights
from $1,469
$91 / night
7-Day Hawaii Inter-Island from Honolulu
Pride of America · Hawaii · 7 nights
from $1,497
$213 / night
Showing the 20 least-expensive of 277 sailings.
Showing 277 Hilo cruises
Open in full search