Pearl Harbor Tour Review: USS Arizona Memorial & USS Missouri
Review by Krystal | Experienced: June 2026
Tour Company: Booked through Viator (Company was: Go Tours Hawaii)
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| 📍 Overall Experience | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 🚌 Transportation & Logistics | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 🎤 Tour Guide | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ |
| 📚 Educational Value | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 💰 Value | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| ❤️ Overall Tour | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
👨👩👦 Best For: First-time visitors • History lovers • Families • Anyone wanting a stress-free Pearl Harbor experience
Would We Book Again? Absolutely.
Overview
Visiting Pearl Harbor was one of the experiences we were looking forward to most during our time on Oahu, and it absolutely lived up to our expectations.
Rather than planning everything ourselves, we booked a guided tour through Viator (Company was: Go Tours Hawaii), which included transportation, the USS Arizona Memorial, the USS Missouri, and Hawaiian history throughout the day.
Looking back, we're glad we chose a guided tour. It allowed us to focus on the experience rather than worrying about logistics, parking, or navigating the schedule ourselves.
Booking & Arrival
We booked our tour through Viator before our trip.
The process was straightforward, and everything ran smoothly from pickup through the end of the day.
Having transportation included made the experience much less stressful, especially since we were only spending a couple of days on Oahu and wanted to maximize our time.
The Experience
Pearl Harbor itself was powerful, emotional, and one of the most meaningful experiences of our Hawaii vacation.
Taking the Navy boat across the harbor to the USS Arizona Memorial was something we'll never forget. Standing above the remains of the battleship and reflecting on the events of December 7, 1941, was both humbling and moving.
Touring the USS Missouri provided a completely different perspective. Walking the decks where World War II officially came to an end added another layer to the experience and made for an unforgettable day.
These two sites, side by side, are moving and absolutely worth seeing.
Tour Guide
Our guide was organized, knowledgeable, and did an excellent job keeping the group on schedule throughout the day.
We appreciated the historical information shared along the way, as well as the guidance on where to go and what to expect at each stop. Having someone handle the logistics made the entire experience feel relaxed and well-organized.
Our only minor critique was that the guide seemed to feel the need to fill every quiet moment on the bus with commentary, sometimes drifting into topics unrelated to the tour. A little downtime between stops would have been welcome, but it was a very small issue in an otherwise excellent experience.
Price & Value
For us, this tour was worth the cost. While it is certainly possible to visit Pearl Harbor on your own, we appreciated having transportation, scheduling, and logistics handled for us. That allowed us to simply enjoy the experience without worrying about the details.
If you're visiting Oahu for the first time, we think a guided tour is an excellent option.
What We Loved
- Visiting the USS Arizona Memorial
- Touring the USS Missouri
- Knowledgeable and organized guide
- Stress-free transportation
- Learning more about Hawaiian and World War II history
- Well-organized itinerary
Would We Book Again?
Absolutely.
Pearl Harbor was one of the highlights of our entire Hawaii trip, and booking a guided tour allowed us to experience it without worrying about transportation or timing.
The tour was informative, well-organized, and gave us a much deeper appreciation for one of the most significant historic sites in the United States.
We would happily book with Go Tours Hawaii again.
Windows of Travel Tips
- Book your Pearl Harbor tour well in advance, especially during busy travel seasons. Tickets and times to the USS Arizona Memorial sell out.
- Wear comfortable walking shoes; there is more walking than you might expect.
- Arrive with an open mind. This is a place of remembrance, and it's a deeply moving experience.
- If you're deciding between visiting on your own or taking a guided tour, we found the guided experience made the day much less stressful.
Continue Planning Your Hawaii Trip
🏝️ Read our Complete Hawaii Trip Report
🏨 Read our Royal Hawaiian Hotel Review
🍽️ Read our Best Restaurants We Tried in Hawaii
🎥 Watch our Oahu YouTube Vlog (Videos coming soon!)