It’s been a challenging year for the city of Seattle and for those of us who live downtown. The very first case of Covid-19 identified in the United States was just outside of Seattle. Lock downs happened early for us and the Seattle Public School District was one of the first large school districts in the country to close. You probably also saw Seattle on the news due to regular protests following the murder of George Floyd and for the self-declared autonomous zone (known as “CHAZ” or “CHOP”) in the Capitol Hill area just east of downtown.
As for me, I spent the summer of 2020 working a real job from home and photographing boarded up buildings (most of which featured beautiful and thought provoking murals by local artists), instead of doing what I love most: cruising! And writing about cruising!
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But Seattle is back! And cruising from Seattle is back! And I’m back (for better or worse) too! The state of Washington is scheduled to fully reopen on June 30, in plenty of time to welcome passengers on the very first (large) cruise ship to depart from Seattle on July 19. Like always, I’ll be watching, and crying, from my apartment as that first ship comes into port. But this year is different. We did it. We pulled together. We sacrificed. Some of us lost a lot. But we survived. And we will cruise again!
So what do you need to know before arriving in Seattle for your cruise? Read on!
Currently there are two cruise ship terminals in Seattle – one at Pier 66 and the other at Pier 91. It was also announced last year that plans for a third terminal at Pier 46 are underway – it seems my prolific lobbying efforts have paid off.
Before we move on, it’s important to establish which cruise terminal you’ll be sailing out of.
Pier 66: Celebrity Millennium, Norwegian Encore, all Oceania ships
Pier 91: Carnival Miracle, Majestic Princess, Holland America’s Nieuw Amsterdam, Ovation Of The Seas (RCCL), Serenade Of The Seas (RCCL)
Address: 2225 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98121
Pier 66 is located along the Seattle waterfront, very convenient to all things downtown.
There are two hotels within shouting distance to Pier 66, the Seattle Marriott Waterfront and the historic Edgewater Hotel. The Marriott is located across the street and the Edgewater about a block to the north.
Parking for Pier 66 is located directly across the street on Alaskan Way. Vehicle entry is from Wall Street. Cost for parking at Pier 66 is $24 per day with a small discount available if you prepay online. Go here for detailed directions and additional information.
Your best options to get from the airport to Pier 66 (and from Pier 66 to the Seattle airport) include cruise line transfers, private shuttles, a taxi, ride shares (Lyft/Uber), and for hearty folks, the light rail.
Every cruise line operating out of Seattle offers both one-way and round trip transfers to/from Sea-Tac to/from Pier 66. These can be convenient and a good value if you’re traveling solo or in a small party, but can become costly for a larger group.
Norwegian: $20-$30 per person one-way. Go here or to your online booking for more information.
Oceania: Call (855) 623-2642 or consult your online booking to confirm price and book.
Shuttle Express: This shared shuttle service is the most popular private shuttle option at $24.99 (double check this price – fares for 2021 haven’t been published yet) per person each way. Shuttles are available to/from Sea-Tac to/from Pier 66. Call 425-981-7000 for more information or to book (you can also download and use their app to book).
Taxi’s are readily available at Sea-Tac and at the cruise terminal after your cruise. A metered ride to the airport will likely cost you between $40-$70, depending on traffic. Some companies also offer a $40 flat rate to the airport. This is a good option if you don’t want to wait for a shuttle to arrive and load or have three or four people traveling in your party. More information for Yellow Cab can be found here.
A ride share such as Uber or Lyft is a great option, and often the most economical. The Lyft estimator suggests a cost of $25-$35 from the airport to Pier 66. This is less expensive than a taxi and much more economical than a shuttle if you’re traveling with two or more people.
*Note: the street in front of Pier 66 is very congested on cruise days and there isn’t a great spot for ride share drivers to drop off/pick up. Consider walking a block to the north to the Edgewater Hotel and request they pick you up (or drop you off) there.
Yes. But be warned, this options involves a good deal of walking. While there is a light rail stop right at the Seattle airport, it’s a fairly long walk from the baggage claim area to the boarding station. Then, once you exit the light rail at your downtown stop, the Westlake Station, it’s another mile to Pier 66 (downhill on the way to the cruise terminal, uphill on the way from the cruise terminal back to the light rail station).
If you feel like you’re up for it, it’s the most cost effective option at $3.00 one-way per person ($1 for seniors). Travel time on the light rail (12 stops) is 38 minutes and you won’t risk sitting in traffic.
Address: 2001 West Garfield St.
Seattle, WA 98119
Pier 91 is located in Seattle’s Magnolia neighborhood near downtown.
While there are no hotels within easy walking distance to Pier 91, there are several that are close and convenient by car, taxi, or ride share. I would recommend these four located in the Queen Ann neighborhood near Magnolia:
Inn at Queen Ann (for a less expensive option)
Yes! I’d recommend the historic Moore Hotel. It’s located just two blocks from Pike Place Market, gets good reviews (people especially love the location for the price), and is fairly inexpensive for Seattle. You can check it out or book here.
Pier 91 Smith Cove Cruise Terminal Parking
2001 West Garfield St., Lot D, Seattle, WA 98119
Parking is available at Pier 91 for $27 per day with a small discount if you prepay online. The parking lot is located a long walk away from the terminal, but a free shuttle is available to transport you and your luggage.
Carnival, Celebrity, Holland America, Princess, and Royal Caribbean all offer transfer shuttle services to/from the airport to/from Pier 91. Check your online booking or call the cruise line for cost and additional information. This can be an expensive option for a larger group, but can be cost effective if you’re a party of one or two.
Shuttle Express: This shared shuttle service is the most popular option at $34.99 per person (double check this price as 2021 pricing hadn’t yet been posted at the time of post publication) each way. Shuttles are available to/from Sea-Tac to/from Pier 91. Call 425-981-7000 for more information or to book (you can also download and use their app to book).
Taxis are readily available at Sea-Tac and at the cruise terminal after your cruise. A metered ride to the airport will likely cost you between $45-$80, depending on traffic. This is a good option if you don’t want to wait for a shuttle to fill or have three or four people traveling in your party. More information for Yellow Cab can be found here.
A ride share is likely the most economical route if your travel party is two or more. The Lyft estimator quotes a price of $35-$42 to Pier 91 from the Seattle airport.
Unfortunately, no. It’s possible to get there by light rail and then a bus transfer, but I wouldn’t recommend that option.
Technically, yes. In fact, I run this route frequently and have walked from my downtown apartment to embark on a cruise from Pier 91 many times. However, this depends on a few factors like your fitness level and how much luggage you’ll have with you. I wouldn’t recommend it for the average traveler.
But if you’re fit and looking to burn off a few hundred final calories before fully embracing “all you can eat” or want a beautiful walk that will save you the cost of transportation to the pier, then go for it!
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.
Check out my video with instructions on how to walk from downtown Seattle to the cruise terminal. If you try this, keep your eye out for sea lions, harbor seals, and bald eagles. I’ve spotted all of them along this trail.
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. However you choose to travel, I’d strongly recommend you arrive at least the day before your cruise departs, unless you have travel insurance that would cover any possible travel delays (including getting stuck in traffic).
Seattle, and especially I-5, is notorious for traffic snarls. Even though I live downtown and avoid I-5 like the salad bar on the lido buffet, I’ve found myself parked in gridlock contemplating vehicle abandonment, “maybe a kind new owner will come along and give her a better life anyway,” dozens of times with, “at least I’m not trying to make a flight or a cruise,” as my only consolation. Don’t sacrifice your cruise to I-5, he’s a jerk and totally not worth it!
Besides, the earlier you arrive, the more time you have to explore my beautiful city and the surrounding region and the more opportunities you’ll have to run into Prof. Cruise. Let me warn you though, you might discover me later as a stowaway when unpacking your luggage: “surprise!” Don’t worry, I’m small and won’t take up too much room in the bed. At least before I order my standard two to three desserts in the MDR every night.
Or after! If you can spare the time and expense, consider spending some days in or around Seattle before or after your cruise. There’s so much to see and do.
If you only have a day or two and want to hit the main tourist attractions near downtown, I’d strongly suggest purchasing a CityPASS. At just $109 for adults and $84 for children 5-12, it will save you a significant amount (nearly 50%) and is good for admission to the following popular attractions:
You can buy the Seattle CityPASS here. We find this such a good value, we’ve purchased it several times ourselves to hit the sights with our out-of-town guests. They’re starting to recognize me at the Space Needle: “Oh, you again. You’re the one who passed gas in the elevator and then made a joke about it propelling us into space.”
If you didn’t spend all your money on DOD’s (drinks of the day) like I normally do on a cruise, there are hundreds of shops, restaurants, seafood, flower, bakery, and produce stands, and local artisans available to separate you from your remaining dollars at the vast nine acre Pike Place Market historic district. And if you’re out of cash, stop by just for the people watching and street performers. We have some characters (in addition to Prof. Cruise)!
You can also book an organized tour that includes Pike Place Market. Here are some fun options.
You’ve probably seen and heard things about downtown Seattle on the news or on social media and may be wondering if it’s safe. As someone who’s lived downtown for 5 years and walked all over downtown Seattle for hours each day throughout the course of the pandemic, I’m here to reassure you that downtown Seattle is generally clean and safe. We have a dedicated team of Downtown Ambassadors identified in bright yellow shirts or vests who you will see keeping our streets and sidewalks clear of trash and your shoes clear of dog poop. They are also able to assist you with directions or answer your questions.
Do keep in mind that Seattle is a big city and take the same precautions you’d take in any large city (don’t leave anything in your car, stay alert and avoid anyone who seems sketchy, don’t let anyone hand you anything, etc). It’s true, we do have a homeless population and you will see some tents. You may also see signs of the opioid epidemic. But overall, I bet you’ll be pleasantly surprised at what a beautiful, vibrant, generally clean and safe city Seattle is.
Pro Tip: Avoid 3rd Ave (especially between Union Street and Pine Street). Much of the crime that takes place downtown is confined to this stretch.
Port Valet! This awesome and almost too good to be true service offered by the Port of Seattle will transfer all your luggage to your airline after your cruise for FREE. It’s available at both Pier 66 and Pier 91 and applies to the following airlines if you’re traveling domestically:
Go here for more information and instructions on how to participate.
If you’re looking for a place to store your luggage before or after your cruise (and port valet doesn’t work for you), there are a number of luggage storage services in Seattle that can help. Here are my two favorites:
Fair warning, the popular tourist areas around downtown and the Seattle Center will be mobbed seven days a week during the cruise season. Arrive to attractions early to beat some of the crowds. But if you’d prefer a more peaceful and serene activity, consider spending some time at one of our beautiful parks or beaches. You can find my recommendations for great beaches near downtown Seattle (several of which are accessible via public transit from downtown) here.
Or if you have longer, I’d strongly encourage a side trip to one of the nearby national parks, either Mt. Rainier or Olympic National Park. Go here for my guide to Mt. Rainier National Park and here for my guide to Olympic National Park. You can also book a tour to Mt. Rainier here or Olympic National Park here.
This is a tricky one as there are many factors at play, such as how early you’re able to get off the ship (they usually have to drag me off), your transportation plans to the airport, and the day of the week (weekdays will take a lot longer than weekends). As a general rule, I wouldn’t book a flight before noon at the absolute earliest unless you’re flexible and on an airline that will re-book you for free in the event you miss your flight. Keep in mind that the security line at Sea-Tac can sometimes take over an hour. It’s a VERY busy airport.
I would also strongly suggest you enroll in TSA Pre✓ if you’re flying out of Seattle. It will save you a tremendous amount of time and hassle. It’s a simple process and lasts for 5 years.
Say hello if you see me around downtown Seattle and please feel free to post any additional questions you may have in the comments or on my Facebook page and I’ll do my best to answer them. Most of all, enjoy your cruise from Seattle to Alaska (or wherever else your voyage may take you)! Seattle is my favorite place to live and Alaska is my favorite place to cruise (you can check out my Alaska port posts here). I hope you love them both as much as I do. Happy Cruising!
Class Dismissed.
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