Complete Guide to Cruising From the Port of Seattle

Table Of Content

• Getting to the Port of Seattle (Transportation)
• Can I take Public Transportation from Downtown Seattle to Pier 91
• Quantum of the Seas 7-Day Alaska
• HAL-Holland America opens bookings for 2025-2026 Panama Canal and Hawaii cruises
• Start your own travel blog with hosting from Bluehost!
• Port Seattle starts 2024 Alaskan cruise season with Norwegian Bliss ship
• Norwegian (NCL) Cruises From Seattle

There are many ways to get to Seattle for your cruise depending on your unique circumstances – train, bus, car, ferry, plane or, in my very fortunate case, foot. In fact, I run this route frequently and have walked from my downtown apartment to embark on a cruise from Pier 91 numerous times. However, this depends on a few factors like your fitness level and how much luggage you’ll have with you.

Getting to the Port of Seattle (Transportation)

Please visit our most frequently asked questions page on cruise preparation, transportation, safety and security, and more. What should I expect boarding to like for my cruise departing Seattle, WA? Please visit our cruise preparation FAQ for information on how to access or print boarding passes, how to check in online, and to see if you need a passport.

Can I take Public Transportation from Downtown Seattle to Pier 91

For that reason, we’d suggest never booking a flight before noon. Yes, its possible to breeze through and get to the airport earlier, but that can also cause a lot of stress. TaxisOf course, if rideshare isn’t for you then you can always take a taxi. Expect the general prices to be a bit higher than a comparable ride with Uber/Lyft. Still, for those that don’t have an account with a rideshare company, getting a cab can be more convenient than having to download an app and start an account when you want a ride.

Quantum of the Seas 7-Day Alaska

Which is to say I’m not picky (sidewalk pizza crust anyone?) – I’m more of a quantity over quality kind of gal. Combine a cruise + train + lodge + Denali for an in-depth Alaska experience. Check out our helpful checklist so that you know exactly what to pack for an Alaska cruise with Princess. No one does seafood quite like Alaska—which is why we brought the best of the Great Land on board, so you can experience it all with Princess. They groan, creak and shudder on their march to the sea, punctuated by the booms and crashes of "white thunder" — a sound that echoes across the water when ice calves into the ocean below.

HAL-Holland America opens bookings for 2025-2026 Panama Canal and Hawaii cruises

Pier 91 (Smith Cove Terminal) is just about three miles up the waterfront. Today the two terminals (with a third on the way) serve more than 1.2 million passengers in a typical year — most of that during the busy summer Alaskan cruise season. Don't just visit this famous land, live it on Alaska excursions. Rush across the snow on a dog sled with a professional musher, fly fish for salmon in fresh rivers and soar over miles of glacial tundra in a helicopter. Watch migrating humpback whales from the deck of a catamaran or Native craftsman carve a traditional totem pole, and expand your Alaska cruise experience.

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It’s all a short walk from Pier 66 and an easy way to spend a day. That’s not even mentioning the great views of the water afforded from these spots. On a cruise to Alaska, live a nature lover's dream in the land where guests can catch postcard-worthy sights. Seattle is known as "The Emerald City" thanks to its green forests and lush surroundings. Pike Place Market buzzes with merchants while coffee shops house locals drinking espresso in America's coffee capital.

Both Eurodam and Westerdam mostly sail seven-night trips to Alaska out of Seattle. However, for 2024, Westerdam has added an epic new 28-night Alaska itinerary out of Seattle that will include calls in remote areas that most cruise ships never visit. The new itinerary is one reason we give Westerdam the edge among ships when rating the best Alaska cruises out of Seattle for seniors. While Holland America draws some families with younger children, the passengers on its ships skew heavily toward middle-aged and older travelers, including many retirees.

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Cruise ship terminal directions and parking

The Marriott is located across the street and the Edgewater about a block to the north. You might have heard about the Port Valet service from the Port of Seattle. This service is great for those headed to the airport, but who don’t want to deal with lugging bags around.

Norwegian (NCL) Cruises From Seattle

The open-air market features all sorts of specialty shopping and it one of the most visited spots in the city. It’s a short 10-minute walk from Pier 66, but you’ll need a ride from Pier 91. There are also a number of hotels nearby if you want to stay in downtown Seattle.

Space Needle ComplexOf course, the most famous landmark in Seattle is the Space Needle. In addition to seeing the building, there’s also lots more to do at the complex, including the Pacific Science Center, Seattle Children’s Museum, and the Museum of Pop Culture. Both terminals are about 15 miles from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The ride will take about minutes to get to the ship from the airport. That said, both terminals are located near downtown in the heart of Seattle. Pier 66 (Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal) is within walking distance of downtown and the famous Pike Place Market.

In addition, the ship’s crew can also provide your boarding passes for your flight. So when you arrive at the airport, you can just head directly to the gate. You’re already checked-in and your luggage is taken care of. If so, then you’ve got to find somewhere to park your car during your trip. The good news is that there are convenient parking options right near the port.

But when flying into Seattle, we’d suggest everyone arrive an extra day or two, simply because there is a lot to see and do in the area, which is one of the most beautiful regions in the United States. Seattle WaterfrontThe waterfront right near Pier 66 and downtown Seattle is walkable with a large number of things to do. There is the Seattle Aquarium, Ye Olde Curiosity Shop, the Great Wheel and more.

You can also book an organized tour that includes Pike Place Market. The distance from the Olympic Sculpture Park to Pier 91 is 1.8 miles (and once you’re on the trail, you’re basically committed as there aren’t many easy exit points). Be sure to use Google Maps or another map app to determine the exact distance from your starting point downtown. Pier 66 is located along the Seattle waterfront, very convenient to all things downtown.

The top decks of Holland America vessels, notably, lack many of the kid-focused attractions found on the top decks of more family-focused ships operated by the likes of Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Norwegian. That often keeps families with younger kids from booking the ships. The best Alaska cruises out of Seattle for retirees, in our view, are the sailings offered by Holland America on both the 1,964-passenger Westerdam and 2,104-passenger Eurodam. We give Westerdam the slight edge for reasons we will explain below. That makes these ships more appealing to an older demographic that doesn't necessarily want to be on a vessel that's loaded to the gills with children's fun zones and the younger family travelers drawn to that.

This port district runs both the airport and the seaport of Seattle. In early-March 2018, the schedules for ferries leaving from Seattle were changed due to the demolition of the old Washington State Ferries terminal to make space for a new (smaller-sized) facility. Half of Colman Dock (ferry terminal) building was closed off to the public. The wood-piling supported terminal building was considered seismically vulnerable, with many pilings riddled with marine termites. The demolition and construction works were scheduled for completion in 2023. The new/expanded building connects all the 4 ferry slips.