Seattle, Washington ยท Departure port guide
Seattle Cruise Port Guide: Alaska Departures and Two Terminals
Short answer
What do you need to know before sailing from Seattle?
Seattle uses two cruise terminals: Pier 66 downtown and Pier 91 at Smith Cove, about four miles apart. Confirm which one your ship uses before booking anything. Parking costs $32 to $45 per day, the most expensive of any US cruise port, and the season runs late April to late September.
Key takeaways
- Two terminals four miles apart: Pier 66 downtown and Pier 91 at Smith Cove.
- Parking is $32 to $45 per day, the most expensive of any US cruise port.
- The season runs late April to late September; nothing sails outside it.
- Seattle Tacoma International is 30 minutes; the Link light rail is a cheap alternative.
- Round-trip Seattle Alaska sailings must call at a Canadian port, usually Victoria.
Overview
Seattle is the busiest Alaska home port and one of the most pleasant American cruise cities to spend time in. It also has the single most common planning error of any US port: two terminals, four miles apart, and passengers who go to the wrong one.
Pier 66 sits on the downtown waterfront within walking distance of Pike Place Market. Pier 91 is at Smith Cove in Magnolia, four miles northwest, and is not walkable from anywhere useful. Norwegian and Oceania use Pier 66; almost everyone else uses Pier 91.
The second thing to know is the cost. Seattle parking is the most expensive of any US cruise port at $32 to $45 per day, so a week costs $224 to $315. For most passengers, flying in and using a rideshare is genuinely cheaper than driving and parking.
The Alaska season runs from late April to late September, with the port busiest on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays when the seven-night round-trips turn around.
Seattle round-trip Alaska sailings are subject to US cabotage law, which requires foreign-flagged ships sailing between two US ports to call at a foreign port. That is why almost every Seattle Alaska itinerary includes a short evening call at Victoria, British Columbia, usually from about 6pm to 11pm.
Seattle is an excellent pre-cruise city. Two days covers Pike Place Market, the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit, the Museum of Pop Culture and a ferry to Bainbridge Island, and the weather in cruise season is far better than the city's reputation suggests.
- Season runs late April to late September only.
- Two terminals four miles apart; confirm yours before booking transport.
- Round-trip sailings must include a Canadian port call, usually Victoria.
- Seattle in July and August is dry and mild, contrary to its reputation.
Terminals
- Pier 66, Bell Street, Norwegian and Oceania
- Pier 91, Smith Cove, Royal Caribbean, Princess, Holland America, Celebrity, Carnival
Getting there
Seattle Tacoma International is about 30 minutes from either terminal by car, with a rideshare costing $45 to $70. Cruise line transfers run $35 to $50 per person.
The Link light rail runs from the airport to Westlake station downtown in 38 minutes for about $3.50. From Westlake, Pier 66 is a 15-minute walk downhill; Pier 91 needs a $15 to $22 rideshare. With luggage, the light rail works well for Pier 66 and less well for Pier 91.
Driving into Seattle is straightforward but parking is the issue rather than the journey.
- SEA to either terminal: 30 minutes, $45 to $70 rideshare.
- Link light rail to Westlake: 38 minutes, about $3.50.
- Pier 66 is a 15-minute walk from Westlake; Pier 91 is not walkable.
- Cruise line transfers: $35 to $50 per person.
Parking, priced honestly
Seattle parking is the most expensive in US cruising, and for most passengers it is not worth doing. If you are flying in anyway, a hotel plus rideshare beats driving and parking on cost.
| Option | Cost per day | Seven-night total | Walk to terminal | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pier 91 official lot | $32 to $38 | $224 to $266 | Two minutes | Reserve in advance; sells out on peak weekends |
| Pier 66 official garage | $38 to $45 | $266 to $315 | Three minutes | The most expensive cruise parking in the US |
| Downtown garage plus rideshare | $22 to $30 | $154 to $210 plus fares | Rideshare, 10 minutes | Cheaper but adds two transfers |
| Hotel park and cruise | Included in room rate | Room plus $90 to $160 | Hotel shuttle | Less common than in Florida |
| Fly in and use rideshare | No parking | $90 to $140 in fares | Curbside | Usually the cheapest option overall |
Where to stay the night before
Downtown Seattle near Pike Place and the waterfront runs $260 to $420 in cruise season and is walkable to Pier 66. It is the best base if your ship uses that terminal.
Belltown and South Lake Union are slightly cheaper at $220 to $350 and are a short rideshare from both terminals.
Airport-area hotels at $160 to $250 are the cheapest option but add a 30-minute transfer on cruise morning. Several offer park-and-fly-and-cruise packages.
- Downtown waterfront: $260 to $420, walkable to Pier 66.
- Belltown and South Lake Union: $220 to $350, short ride to both piers.
- Airport area: $160 to $250, 30-minute cruise-day transfer.
- Book early; Alaska season fills Seattle hotels from June to August.
- Cruise-season rates are 40 to 60 percent above winter rates.
Worth your pre-cruise day
Pike Place Market is the obvious one and is genuinely worth the crowds if you go before 9am. The original Starbucks queue is not worth it; the market's fishmongers, bakeries and the gum wall are.
The Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit next to the Space Needle is the best single attraction in the city and takes about 90 minutes.
A Washington State Ferry to Bainbridge Island costs about $10 return as a foot passenger and gives the best view of the Seattle skyline available anywhere.
- Pike Place Market, best before 9am.
- Chihuly Garden and Glass, about 90 minutes, the city's best attraction.
- Bainbridge Island ferry, about $10 return, the best skyline view.
- Museum of Pop Culture for music and science fiction exhibits.
- Discovery Park in Magnolia, close to Pier 91 and genuinely beautiful.
Embarkation day, step by step
Seattle embarkation is efficient, and the only thing that regularly goes wrong is passengers arriving at the wrong terminal.
Confirm Pier 66 or Pier 91
The two terminals are four miles apart. Norwegian and Oceania use Pier 66 downtown; Royal Caribbean, Princess, Holland America, Celebrity and Carnival use Pier 91 at Smith Cove. A wrong drop-off costs $18 and 20 minutes.
Complete online check-in when it opens
Boarding windows are allocated first come, first served, and Alaska sailings fill fast in July and August.
Reserve parking in advance if driving
Pier 91 parking sells out on peak weekends and online rates are lower than drive-up. If you are flying in anyway, skip parking entirely; rideshare is cheaper.
Allow 45 minutes from a downtown hotel
The drive is 15 minutes to Pier 91, but the terminal approach and porter queue add time on a three-ship Saturday.
Hand bags to a porter at the curb
Attach luggage tags before arriving. Tip $2 to $5 per bag. Keep a warm layer in your hand luggage; Seattle mornings in May are cold.
Clear security and check-in
Expect 10 to 25 minutes inside your window. Pier 91 has more capacity and processes large ships better than Pier 66.
Board and complete the muster check
Cabins usually open around 1pm. Complete the app-based muster and station check immediately.
Terms worth knowing
- Pier 91
- Seattle's Smith Cove cruise terminal in Magnolia, four miles northwest of downtown, used by most Alaska cruise lines.
- Pier 66
- Seattle's downtown Bell Street cruise terminal, walkable from Pike Place Market and used by Norwegian and Oceania.
- Cabotage
- US law requiring foreign-flagged ships sailing between two US ports to call at a foreign port, which is why Seattle Alaska round-trips include Victoria.
- Link light rail
- Seattle's rail line connecting the airport to downtown in 38 minutes for about $3.50, a cheap alternative to a $45 to $70 rideshare.
| Factor | Seattle | Vancouver |
|---|---|---|
| Itinerary type | Round-trip Inside Passage | Round-trip and one-way northbound |
| Canadian port call required | Yes, usually Victoria | No |
| Glacier Bay frequency | Lower | Higher |
| Parking per day | $32 to $45 | $25 to $35 Canadian |
| Airport transfer | 30 minutes | 35 minutes |
| Passport needed | Advised, Victoria call | Yes, required |
| Lead-in balcony fare | $1,155 | $1,290 |
Planning a Seattle departure
Seattle is easy once you have confirmed one thing. Get the terminal right and the rest follows.
Confirm your pier first
Choose it when: You are booking anything at all. Pier 66 and Pier 91 are four miles apart and the wrong assumption costs money and time.
Fly in and skip parking
Choose it when: You have any choice. At $32 to $45 a day, Seattle parking is the most expensive in US cruising and rideshare is usually cheaper overall.
Stay downtown
Choose it when: Your ship uses Pier 66. It is walkable, and downtown is the best part of Seattle to spend two days in.
Use the Link light rail from the airport
Choose it when: You are travelling light and heading downtown. It costs about $3.50 against $45 to $70 for a rideshare.
Consider Vancouver instead
Choose it when: You want a one-way Gulf of Alaska sailing or a Denali cruisetour. Seattle round-trips cannot offer either.
Seattle port questions
Which Seattle cruise terminal does my ship use?
Norwegian and Oceania use Pier 66 on the downtown Bell Street waterfront. Royal Caribbean, Princess, Holland America, Celebrity and Carnival use Pier 91 at Smith Cove, four miles northwest in Magnolia. The two are not walkable from each other and a wrong drop-off costs about $18 and 20 minutes, so confirm before booking transport or a hotel.
How much is parking at the Seattle cruise port?
Pier 91 costs $32 to $38 per day and Pier 66 costs $38 to $45, making Seattle the most expensive US cruise port for parking. A seven-night cruise runs $224 to $315. If you are flying in anyway, a hotel plus two rideshares at $90 to $140 total is genuinely cheaper than driving and parking.
Why do Seattle Alaska cruises stop in Victoria?
US cabotage law requires foreign-flagged ships sailing between two US ports to call at a foreign port. Since every large cruise ship is foreign-flagged, a Seattle round-trip must include a foreign call, and Victoria, British Columbia is the closest option. Calls are typically short, from about 6pm to 11pm, and function as a legal requirement rather than a destination.
How do you get from Seattle airport to the cruise port?
A rideshare takes about 30 minutes and costs $45 to $70 to either terminal. Cruise line transfers run $35 to $50 per person. The Link light rail reaches Westlake station downtown in 38 minutes for about $3.50, from which Pier 66 is a 15-minute walk downhill and Pier 91 needs a further $15 to $22 rideshare.
Is Seattle worth a pre-cruise stay?
Yes, and two days is the right amount. Pike Place Market before 9am, the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit, the Museum of Pop Culture and a $10 return ferry to Bainbridge Island for the skyline view fill the time well. Cruise-season weather in July and August is dry and mild despite the city's reputation.
Seattle or Vancouver for an Alaska cruise?
Seattle round-trips are cheaper and simpler for US travellers but must include a Victoria call and offer Glacier Bay less often. Vancouver serves both round-trips and one-way northbound Gulf of Alaska sailings, which reach further north, include Hubbard Glacier more often and connect to Denali cruisetours. If Glacier Bay or Denali matter, choose Vancouver.
About the author
Ports and Destinations Writer
Lena Hartley covers the parts of a cruise that happen off the ship: departure port logistics, shore excursions, weather windows and whether a port call is worth leaving the ship for at all.
48 sailings logged across 8 cruise lines.
This page was fact-checked by Captain Alberto Ruiz, marine and operations reviewer, on . Prices and policies are re-checked against cruise line sources at least every 90 days. Read our editorial policy.