Located on the island of Oahu, Honolulu is the capital of Hawaii. Visitors flock to Waikiki, a famous neighborhood of Honolulu, for dining, shopping, and exciting nightlife. The city also is home to the beloved Waikiki Beach, known for its crescent shape, high-rise hotels, and plentiful palm trees: It's a great place to surf, swim, or doze under a sun umbrella. This city is also home to a port where you'll find many cruises departing from Honolulu. If you're lucky enough to book a last minute cruise from Hawaii, be sure to give yourself and extra day to explore this beautiful area before you depart.

If you're a history buff, you'll find plenty of World War II attractions, such as the Battleship Missouri Memorial and USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor. For a look into the island's royal heritage, tour Honolulu's Iolani Palace, where Hawaii's last monarchs resided in the 1800s. The palace is filled with stunning gifts from all over the world. Hungry? Look no further than Honolulu's Chinatown, which has everything from dim sum to Vietnamese dishes and even Cuban fare. Taking cruises out of Honolulu offers a great chance to do a little bit of exploring in this beautiful and unique city before you depart.