The Guide to the Ports of Call in the Marshall Islands

Most cruise itineraries in the Marshall Islands call at Majuro Atoll, the country’s capital and easiest destination to explore during a day ashore. Its neighbourhoods, museums, shops and waterfront venues stretch along one narrow road between the Pacific Ocean and the enormous Majuro Lagoon.

A port day can be as cultural or as beachy as you like. Stay around Delap, Uliga and Djarrit for museums, markets and traditional canoe building, travel west to Laura for a quieter side of the atoll or arrange a boat trip to one of the lagoon’s palm-covered islets.

For a complete overview, see The Complete Travel Guide to Majuro.

The Best Things to Do in Majuro for Cruise Ship Passengers

There is more to Majuro than its slender strip of land first suggests. Some of the best experiences for a day ashore include:

• Explore Marshallese history, navigation and culture at the Alele Museum, including its national library and archives
• Visit WAAN Aelõñ in Majel to learn about traditional canoe building and, when arranged in advance, sail across Majuro Lagoon in a Marshallese outrigger canoe
• Browse woven baskets, fans, wall hangings, jewellery and other Marshallese handicrafts
• Take a road trip to Laura Beach, stopping at the Japanese Memorial Peace Park and other sites along the way
• Tour the working coconut-oil refinery at Tobolar
• Swim in the natural saltwater reef pool at Airport Beach Park
• Escape to Eneko Island for snorkelling, swimming and beach time when your port schedule allows

For more ideas, check out the 30 Best Things to Do on Majuro.

The Best Majuro Tours for Cruise Ship Passengers

Take the stress out of planning your limited time ashore by booking a local tour before the ship arrives. Many operators have small teams and limited vehicles or boats, so last-minute availability should never be taken for granted.

Some of the best Majuro tours for cruise passengers include:

• Wutilomar Tours: The "Majuro Half-Day Sightseeing Tour" visits the Alele Museum, local markets and traditional canoe houses. The "Majuro Full-Day Sightseeing Tour" continues west to the Japanese Memorial Peace Park, Tobolar’s coconut refinery and Laura Beach, with local guide Romi sharing stories about Marshallese life, food, dress and wartime history along the way.
• Hang Loose: Customisable lagoon trips can include island-hopping, snorkelling, fishing, beach barbecues or a sunset cruise. The crew can also contact island owners and arrange access fees, although passengers should bring their own snorkelling gear.
• Salty Services: Choose a full-day island-hopping excursion with snorkelling, reef fishing or both, or arrange a simple transfer to a lagoon islet for a relaxed day of swimming and picnicking. Snorkelling equipment may be available to hire, while food and other supplies should be brought with you.

For more options, see the 10 Best Tours in Majuro & the Marshall Islands.

How to Tour Majuro Independently

Hiring a car is the most practical option for exploring Majuro independently, especially when travelling from the central districts to Laura Beach at the western end of the atoll. Rental fleets are limited, so reserve well before the cruise and ask whether the vehicle can be delivered near your ship’s landing point.

Compare operators in The Best Car Rentals in Majuro & the Marshall Islands.

Scooter hire is also available, giving confident riders an easy way to follow Lagoon Road at their own pace. Availability is even more limited than car hire, so book early rather than relying on finding a scooter after stepping ashore. You can also learn more about this in the car rental article linked above.

Bicycle hire suits shorter journeys through Delap, Uliga, Djarrit and nearby communities. Cycling all the way to Laura is less realistic during a short port call, particularly in the midday heat, unless your idea of a relaxing cruise includes an endurance event.

For rental options, see Bike Hire in Majuro: Where to Rent Bicycles.

Finally, follow A Self-Guided Day Trip Around Majuro: One-Day Itinerary to Laura Beach for a practical route combining cultural attractions, local food, sightseeing and time beside the lagoon.

Few cruise passengers ever reach Mili Atoll, which is precisely what makes this remote Ratak Chain port so special. Expect a genuine expedition stop shaped by village life, bright lagoon water and coral islets rather than souvenir shops or conventional shore excursions.

Mili also played an important role during the Second World War, when Japanese forces developed the atoll as a military base. Depending on the landing site and local arrangements, visitors may see remnants such as bunkers, gun positions, aircraft wreckage and traces of the former airfield slowly being reclaimed by tropical vegetation.

Away from the wartime history, the appeal lies in meeting local residents and experiencing everyday life on an outer atoll. Swimming, snorkelling and beach walks may also be possible when conditions and permissions allow.

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises visits Mili on selected expedition voyages, generally using Zodiac boats for shore landings. As with any remote expedition stop, the final programme depends on weather, sea conditions and local approval, so flexibility is part of the adventure.

Jaluit Atoll combines a vast lagoon and relaxed outer-island atmosphere with some of the most layered history in the Marshall Islands. The settlement of Jabor was once an important centre of trade and colonial administration, leaving the atoll with connections to the German and Japanese periods as well as the Second World War.

A cruise visit may include a community welcome, walks through the village and interpretation of surviving historical sites. Ruins, memorials and wartime remains sit alongside churches, homes and schools, making Jaluit feel less like an open-air museum and more like a living community with an extraordinary past.

The natural surroundings are just as memorable, with mangroves, reefs, lagoon passages and low coral islands stretching towards the horizon. There is little formal tourism infrastructure, so expedition staff and local hosts usually shape the day’s activities.

Again, selected Hapag-Lloyd Cruises itineraries call at Jaluit after visiting Mili and Majuro. Zodiac landings and shore activities remain subject to local permission and conditions, but reaching this seldom-visited atoll is likely to be one of the voyage’s most distinctive experiences.