Where To Stay Before Or After A Seattle Cruise
If youre coming into the SeaTac airport late and not expecting to do much sightseeing around Seattle, staying at one of the hotels near the airport is a good option, as it will be less expensive than staying downtown. The best hotel near SeaTac airport is Cedarbrook Lodge they have an incredible spa and award-winning farm-to-table restaurant. Other good options are the SeaTac Crowne Plaza and Hilton both offer cruise packages with complimentary shuttle service to the cruise terminals.
Staying in downtown Seattle will give you the best opportunity to see the city, and offers easy access to Seattles best attractions. Hotel rates are at their highest during cruise season, however, so dont expect to find many cheap options. Some hotels offer cruise packages that include transport to the terminal, but these are generally not big money-savers, as taxi or Uber fare to the pier is fairly inexpensive and Shuttle Express offers scheduled transport from many downtown hotels to the cruise terminals at a rate of just $12 per person.
If youre sailing on a Norwegian or Oceana cruise that departs from the Bell Street Terminal , The Edgewater and are both within a short walk of the pier.
How Can I Easily Get Around The City I Dont Want To Miss My Boarding Call
Getting around Seattle is easy. Check out our Getting Around page with tons of information and contact information for taxis, car shares, limos, METRO buses and Link Light Rail. Whats more, the city is pretty compact for the global powerhouse that it is. From the Space Needle to the Smith Tower, our downtown core is just a mile and a half long, so youll never be too far from your ship.
Pier 46 Cruise Terminal
In mid-November 2018, Port Seattle Commission unveiled plans for a USD 348 million project for waterfront upgrades and building a new cruise terminal.
- City’s new seaport levy growth brings in USD 74,2 million per year and helped paying for the new projects. It also funded environmental programs. It is expected to be approved a 3% property tax increase, which means the owner of USD 590,000 property would pay around $70 in 2019, and $79 in 2023.
- Port’s capital improvement plan includes upgraded to Fishermen’s Terminal, new light industrial space in Interbay , modernization of Bell Harbor’s conference center, new cruise terminal .
Construction works on the new Pier 46 Terminal started on March 13, 2019. The new “Terminal 5” can handle ULCV , supports ~6600 direct jobs and generates USD 2+ billion in annual business activities. From the US$ 340M, the private company SSA Terminals contributed US$ 160M. The 185-acre terminal will be open in 2 phases – one berth in 2021-Q1, and the other in 2023. Terminal 5 can handle simultaneously 2 large boxships . Port Seattle’s North and South harbor container terminals can handle ships with max capacity 14,000 TEUs.
Since 2019, Terminal 46 is no longer used for international container shipping. Cruise terminal’s completion is scheduled for 2020. The new facility will also have shoreside power capabilities.
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Cruises Leaving From Seattle
Seattle is a delightful departure point for a cruise it’s home to two cruise ports served by seven major cruise lines and used by over 1 million passengers a year. The city’s setting in the beautiful Pacific Northwest means cruise ships can set a straight, scenic course north for Alaska, down the west coast of the continent, or even on epic voyages across the Pacific. Furthermore, both of the cruise ports are close enough to many of Seattle’s top attractions to make a day exploring the city pre- or post-cruise an easy and worthwhile addition to your vacation.
Seattle Cruise Parking Fordisabled Passengers
Cruisers with limited mobility can use the 25 handicap parking spaces available for cruise parking at Pier 66 Bell St Pier Garage. There are currently no price concessions for veterans or disabled drivers.
- Location: Bell Street Pier Garage, 9 Wall St, Seattle
- Hours: Sun-Thurs 6am to midnight, Fri-Sat 6.30am to 1am
- Cost: $24 per day $23 when booked and prepaid online
- Distance from port: Short walk to cruise terminal via a Skybridge
- Shuttle: No
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Cruise Ships Returning To Seattle As Pandemic Restrictions Ease
The big tourism business may give the city an economic boost, but it also reopens a clash between business and the environment.
Signage welcomes would-be passengers down an escalator into the Port of Seattle’s cruise ship terminal at Pier 66 in downtown Seattle on April 29, 2021.
The floor-to-ceiling windows in the Olympic Room at the Bell Street Cruise Terminal at Pier 66 frame a postcard view of the Olympic Mountains set against Elliott Bay. In March 2020, Port of Seattle cruise operations director Mike McLaughlin wasnt admiring the view. Instead he was conducting a tabletop exercise with local and federal officials to game out possible scenarios if a cruise ship suffering an outbreak of the novel coronavirus docked in Elliott Bay.
No ships struck by illness ended up in Seattle. Indeed, no cruise ships sailed into local waters in 2020, as the Alaska cruise season was canceled by a No Sail Order from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But in late April 2021, McLaughlin found himself back in an otherwise dormant facility as Congress prepared to rejuvenate the Seattle-to-Alaska cruise business.
Theres a sense of excitement, he said. This door is partly opening up.
The door opened fully on May 24, when President Joe Biden signed the bipartisan Alaska Tourism Restoration Act, which provides a temporary exemption for cruise ships to sail from Washington to Alaska without making a stop in Canada, as required in an 1886 law.
Pacific Coast Cruises From Seattle
Cruises up the coast from Seattle to British Columbia, Canada, or down to Oregon, California, start at two to five days in duration. These mini-cruises offered by Holland America, Royal Caribbean and Princess visit Vancouver and Victoria, two intriguing coastal cities in British Columbia, Canada. Royal Caribbean has a four-night round trip that calls at Victoria and Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. Southbound voyages are mostly seven-day cruises to Astoria, Oregon, San Francisco, California and often Victoria, BC, as well. Princess’ California Coast Cruise also calls at Monterey, California.
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Norwegian Cruise Line Destinations
The Norwegian Cruise Lines offers Alaskan cruises and cruises to the Panama Canal from the Port of Seattle. Alaskan cruises offers a variety of adventure itinerates including dogsled rides in Juneau, jet-powered catamarans in Ketchikan, and the Skagway White Pass Scenic Railway, as well as authentic Alaskan experiences.
What Time Should I Schedule My Pickup For The Shuttle Back To The Airport/hotel
Passenger disembark usually begins at 7:30 a.m. at the earliest. After baggage retrieval, passengers begin exiting the cruise terminal approximately 10 – 15 minutes later. Debark is over around 10:30 a.m. when the last passenger is off the vessel. The number of passengers varies from vessel to vessel, making debark end time a variable. A cell phone will become handy during disembark. The shuttle drivers are very experienced with cruise pickups and should be able to tell you the best time.
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Republic Parking Northwest Cruise Parking At Pier 91
Pier 91 parking is the closest cruise parking option for those departing on cruises with Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Carnival, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean cruise lines. Owned by Republic Parking Northwest, it has 1100 parking spaces and availability for RVs and oversize vehicles that exceed the 66 height limit at other cruise parking garages. Prebooking is essential. Cancelations up to 72 hours before departure are subject to a 30% cancelation fee. After that, there is no refund.
- Location: Pier 91, 2001 West Garfield St Lot D, Seattle
- Hours: 7am to 4pm cruise days only. After hours there is an additional $40 fee
- Cost: $27 per day $26 when booked and prepaid online
- Distance from port: 500 yards
- Shuttle: Yes
Bell Street Pier 66 Cruise Terminal
Terminal 66 was inaugurated in May 2000. In 2017 was completed the USD 30 million terminal expansion project.
NCL’s USD 30 million investment into Pier 66 allowed in Seattle to be homeported the ever-largest Alaskan ship – Norwegian Bliss. The liner started turnaround operations in June 2018 with 7-day Inside Passage cruises. To handle new ship’s capacity , Terminal 66 was expanded from 44,000 ft2 to 151,000 ft2 . On May 23, 2017, representatives from Port Seattle and NCLH-Norwegian celebrated the opening of the newly renovated Pier 66 Terminal. Upgrades included a mobile gangway , renovated check-in area and VIP lounge.
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Multiple Sailings Canceled For Msc Cruise Ship Due To Restrictions
MSC Cruises cancels Northern Europe sailings for MSC Magnifica from December 19, 2021, through January 14, 2022.
Because of changing restrictions along European itineraries, MSC Cruises has decided to cancel upcoming sailings of MSC Magnifica, giving booked guests who have already paid in full several options to change their plans. From December 19, 2021 through January 14, 2022, all of the ships sailings have been canceled.
Where Can I Store My Bags If I Want To Explore The City
Both cruise terminals provide luggage storage before and after cruises as well as onboard airline check-in and luggage handling. The cost is $3.00 per bag and bags must be reclaimed by 3:30 p.m. Cruise days only, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
If you want to store your luggage at Sea-Tac Airport, contact Smarte Carte at 206-431-0844 for assistance. They are located inside the airport, on the Baggage Claim level.
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Longer Cruises From Seattle
A handful of cruises departing from Seattle last longer than two weeks. Cruise west to the Hawaiian Islands on Holland America’s 18-day Circle Hawaii, which also stops in Victoria along its way, or on Royal Caribbean’s 21-night Transpacific Hawaii Cruise, which calls at Maui and Honolulu, then island-hops across the South Pacific to Sydney. Other epic voyages head south from Seattle, including Norwegian Cruise Line’s 18-day Panama Canal cruise. Continuing south from San Francisco, it docks in two ports in Mexico, Puntarenas in Costa Rica, transits the Panama Canal and visits Cartagena in Colombia before ending in Florida. Holland America’s 24-day Inca Discovery parallels the west coast of the continent, calling at ports in California, Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, Ecuador, Peru and Chile. Some world cruises lasting 40 to 90 days also depart from Seattle.
Where To Park During A Seattle Cruise
Seattle cruise terminals offer secured long-term parking at a rate of $20-25/day about half as much as youll pay for hotel parking downtown. Youll want to book online in advance, as the parking areas regularly fill up. Alternately, park at the SeaTac airport garage for about the same price and take light rail or other transport into the city.
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Cruise Ship Terminal Directions And Parking
- From Interstate 5 Southbound – use Mercer Street Exit from I-5 . Continue on westbound onto Elliott Ave. Follow the signs to Pier 91.
- From Interstate 5 Southbound – exit on Union St , continue to 4th Ave. Turn right on 4th Ave. Turn left onto Wall St. Turn right on Western Ave. Follow the signs to Pier 91.
- From Interstate 5 Northbound – use Mercer Street Exit from I-5 , continue westbound onto Elliott Ave. Follow the signs to Pier 91.
- There is a 1700-cars secure parking garage located across the street including 25 handicap lots 783-
- There is a 1000-cars secure parking garage and free of charge shuttle service to the terminal.
Cruise parking prices are:
- At Seattle Cruise Park , parking costs USD 157 USD or USD 2000 .
- HomeTowne Studios costs USD 5/day, Quality Inn Seatac Airport Parking costs USD 4,50/day.
Port Seattle, along with its 2 cruise terminals also has cargo terminals and drydock facilities for marine vessel refurbishments and repairs.
- UN-LOCODE – USSEA
- two dedicated cruise terminals
Special Assistance For Cruisers With Mobility Issues
There are 25handicap parking spaces available at the Bell Street Pier garage. These need tobe prebooked if you are leaving your car there for the duration of the cruise.There is a Sky Bridge directly connecting the garage with the cruise terminalmaking it easy to reach your cruise on foot or by wheelchair.
If you need equipment rentals for your cruise, Special Needs at Sea is located at Pier 91. It offers wheelchair, scooter and oxygen rentals for those passengers going on a cruise. Once booked, this equipment will be delivered directly to your stateroom for use throughout your cruise. Other equipment is also available. Reservations should be made online for Special Needs at Sea.com or by calling at 585-0575.
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Port Of Seattle Location
As mentioned above, Seattle has two different terminals. Unlike other cruise ports, the terminals arent located at one single spot. Instead, the terminals are separated by a few miles.
That said, both terminals are located near downtown in the heart of Seattle. Pier 66 is within walking distance of downtown and the famous Pike Place Market. Pier 91 is just about three miles up the waterfront.
Both terminals are about 15 miles from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The ride will take about 20-30 minutes to get to the ship from the airport.
If you are driving to the port, here is the address to use for both Pier 66 and Pier 91:
Pier 66:2225 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98121
Pier 91:2001 W Garfield Way, Seattle, WA 98199
Many people come into Seattle before their cruise to explore the area for a day or two. Theres a chance you might be coming from somewhere other than the airport. In that case, here are the distances from a number of areas around town:
- Sea-Tac Airport: 15 miles | 20-30 minutes
- Tacoma: 35 miles | 45-60 minutes
- Olympia: 60 miles | 1 hour 15 minutes
- West Seattle: 6 miles | 15 minutes
- Capitol Hill: 3 miles | 10 minutes
- Bellvue: 11 miles | 20-25 minutes
- Kent: 22 miles | 35 minutes
Cruise From Seattle Washington
Seattle is the gateway to the Pacific Northwest and Alaska! Practically all the major cruise lines such as Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean offer a variety of Alaskan cruise itineraries departing from Seattle, Washington. Typically these Alaska cruises from Seattle are offered during the months of May through September.
The team at Direct Line Cruises specializes in Alaska cruise vacations departing from Seattle, Washington. Consumers booking their cruise departing from Seattle can SAVE hundreds of dollars in some cases by simply booking through Direct Line Cruises’ pre-purchased bulk inventory. In addition, travel insurance is INCLUDED with all cruises 5-nights or longer.
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What Cruises Leave Out Of Seattle
- #1. Celebrity Solstice. Celebrity Cruises.
- #1. Eurodam. Holland America Line.
- #1. Regatta. Oceania Cruises.
- #4. Emerald Princess. Princess Cruises.
- #5. Norwegian Bliss. Norwegian Cruise Line.
- #6. Carnival Freedom. Carnival Cruise Line.
- #6. Norwegian Sun. Norwegian Cruise Line.
- #6. Majestic Princess. Princess Cruises.
Things To Do Near The Port
One of the big benefits of cruising from Seattle is that there is a ton to do right nearby. Within minutes you have a number of world-class attractions. For that reason, we suggest thinking of Seattle as your first port of call and spend at least a day exploring, instead of just arriving and getting on the ship.
Space Needle ComplexOf course the most famous landmark in Seattle is the Space Needle. Its only a short distance from the cruise ports. In addition to seeing the building, theres also lots more to do at the complex, including the Pacific Science Center, Seattle Childrens Museum, and the Museum of Pop Culture.
Pike Place MarketPike Place Market is a tourist hotspot. The open-air market features all sorts of specialty shopping and it one of the most visited spots in the city. Its a short 10-minute walk from Pier 66, but youll need a ride from Pier 91. There are also a number of hotels nearby if you want to stay in downtown Seattle.
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. Its all a short walk from Pier 66 and an easy way to spend a day. Thats not evening mentioning the great views of the water afforded from these spots.
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Driving To Seattle Cruiseport
If you are driving to Seattle cruise port from outside thecity, you will probably use the I-5 Interstate which runs north from San Diego,CA and south from the US/Canadian border.
For Pier 66 from the I-5 Interstatetake exit 164A then follow signs for Madison St and Alaskan Way to reach thecruise terminal.
For Smith Cove cruise terminal, from the I-5 Interstate takeexit 167 and continue along Mercer St to Elliot Ave W and Garfield Street toreach the cruise terminal.
Cruise Lines Sailing From Port Of Seattle
Althoughcruise sailings and ships vary from year to year, in 2019 Seattle was the homeport for the following cruise lines and ships:
- Carnival Cruise Line Carnival Legend Pier 91
- Celebrity Cruises Celebrity Solstice Pier 91
- Holland America Line Eurodam, Oosterdam and Amsterdam Pier 91
- Princess Cruises Ruby Princess and Star Princess Pier 91
- Royal Caribbean Ovation of the Seas Pier 91
- Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Bliss Pier 66
- Oceania Cruises Oceania Regatta Pier 66
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