Aloha Derek and welcome back aboard planDisney!
As a bit of an excursion enthusiast myself, the longer I've spent sailing around the world to various locales, the more I've appreciated these Post-Debarkation
Port Adventures that allow you to extend the journey just a little bit longer before heading home.
You're absolutely correct in your observations that the two Port Adventures currently listed as
Pearl Harbor and City Ending at Airport (HO46) and
Pearl Harbor and City Ending at Aulani (HO47) are both designed to take you from the ship and onward to your next destination. Think of it like a way to
book Ground Transportation with the added perk of having an extra bit of exploration factored into your Debarkation day as you head out from the
Port of Honolulu Cruise Terminal. Here's what my most recent personal experience was like:
- On the last night of our voyage I was provided with special luggage tags and information detailing our designated meeting location in the morning; it's always a good idea to confirm with the Guest Services team and the Crew Members at the Port Adventures Desk just to make sure whether you'll need to walk off with your luggage or if it will be delivered directly to your final destination at the end of the Port Adventure. (In our case, the luggage was all loaded directly under the motorcoach as we departed where they remained for the duration of the day.) If you're heading onward to Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, you may be asked to confirm that you have a reservation to stay there in the event that they're able to convey your luggage directly to your room.
- It's important to note that they will strongly recommend that you confirm whether your departure flight from the airport is late enough, as they may not be able to guarantee a specific drop-off time if it is too tight - especially considering what traffic can be like in and around Honolulu.
While the timing and availability of these offerings may always be subject to change without prior notice by the time of your voyage, this is something I would absolutely recommend if you've got an extra amount of time to spend on the island as you prepare for what I like to call "bonus vacation" after your cruise. Be mindful that your group will only ever be as swift as the slowest member on the motorcoach and in my personal experience this did mean some waiting around to depart for some tardy tour-goers. There were also many folks who fell asleep from the early morning as well as the excitement from the previous voyage and ended up missing out on the sights, so hopefully you'll be ready and raring to go! Hope this helps Derek, I can't wait to see you back here at planDisney for any more tips and tricks ahead of your adventures sailing the Pacific!
As Lightning McQueen says: Life's a beach, and then you Drive!
Prince