Seattle is the undisputed gateway for Alaska cruises — a city where you can start the day with fresh Dungeness crab at a century-old market, gaze down at your ship from the Space Needle, and still make sailaway with time to spare.
Both terminals are modern and efficient — Pier 66 is famously walkable to downtown, while Pier 91 is a quick rideshare or free shuttle ride away.
💡 Pro move: Port Valet — Seattle's complimentary luggage service — transfers checked bags directly from the ship to SeaTac Airport, freeing you to explore city-bags-free on debarkation day. Handled 200,000+ bags in 2025.
Seattle operates two dedicated cruise terminals; check your booking confirmation for which pier your ship uses.
| Cruise Line | Typical Berth / Arrival | Dock or Tender |
|---|---|---|
| Carnival, Celebrity, Holland America, MSC, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Virgin Voyages, Cunard (select sailings) | Pier 91 — Smith Cove Cruise Terminal, 2001 W Garfield St📍 | Docked |
| Norwegian, Oceania, Windstar, Cunard (select sailings) | Pier 66 — Bell Street Cruise Terminal, 2225 Alaskan Way📍 | Docked |
Whether embark day, debark day, or a rare in-port call, Seattle fits a world-class itinerary into a compact, very walkable area.
Ride to the revolving glass floor at 605 feet for panoramic views of Puget Sound, Mount Rainier, and the city skyline. Pair it with the Chihuly Garden and Glass museum next door — one of the best glass art installations anywhere.
Book Space Needle tickets →America's oldest continuously operating public market is a sensory feast — flying fish, fresh flower bouquets, artisan cheese, and the original Starbucks. Arrive before 10am for breathing room; the fish toss happens daily around noon.
Join a Pike Place food tour →Walk the buried city beneath Pioneer Square — original 1889 storefronts preserved one level below modern streets after the Great Seattle Fire. A quirky, genuinely fascinating 75-minute guided tour that runs year-round.
Book Underground Seattle →Frank Gehry's wild titanium building houses hands-on exhibits on rock 'n' roll history, Nirvana, Jimi Hendrix, sci-fi film, and horror. Located at Seattle Center, right next to the Space Needle — easy to combine into one visit.
Get MoPOP tickets →Orcas, minke whales, and harbor porpoise are regularly spotted in Puget Sound. Boats depart from the downtown waterfront — a perfect excursion for a pre-cruise day when you have more time.
Find whale watching tours →Seattle's waterfront is lined with Pacific Northwest seafood. Try Dungeness crab, clam chowder in sourdough, and smoked salmon. Ivar's Acres of Clams on the waterfront has been serving fish & chips since 1938. Pair with a Capitol Hill craft beer.
Browse Seattle food tours →Seattle's waterfront and downtown are very walkable — two easy routes cover the best highlights on foot from either pier.
Start at the Seattle Aquarium, walk north along Alaskan Way, climb the Pike Place Market hillclimb escalators, wander the market stalls and Post Alley, then loop back via First Avenue past Ye Olde Curiosity Shop.
Explore cobblestone Pioneer Square, duck into the hidden Waterfall Garden Park (built on the birthplace of UPS), check out the totem poles at Occidental Square, and peek at the ornate Victorian Pioneer Building.
Climate normals for Seattle, Washington, USA (2014–2023 averages). Pack for the month you sail — highs, lows, and how many rainy days to expect.
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Rainy Days | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°F / 8°C | 37°F / 3°C | 17 | 7:52 AM | 4:45 PM |
| Feb | 46°F / 8°C | 36°F / 2°C | 16 | 7:14 AM | 5:33 PM |
| Mar | 52°F / 11°C | 39°F / 4°C | 16 | 7:21 AM | 7:15 PM |
| Apr | 57°F / 14°C | 42°F / 6°C | 15 | 6:19 AM | 7:59 PM |
| May | 64°F / 18°C | 49°F / 9°C | 10 | 5:31 AM | 8:40 PM |
| Jun | 70°F / 21°C | 54°F / 12°C | 9 | 5:11 AM | 9:08 PM |
| Jul | 76°F / 24°C | 58°F / 14°C | 4 | 5:27 AM | 9:02 PM |
| Aug | 77°F / 25°C | 59°F / 15°C | 5 | 6:06 AM | 8:20 PM |
| Sep | 69°F / 21°C | 55°F / 13°C | 11 | 6:47 AM | 7:20 PM |
| Oct | 59°F / 15°C | 48°F / 9°C | 14 | 7:29 AM | 6:20 PM |
| Nov | 50°F / 10°C | 41°F / 5°C | 17 | 7:15 AM | 4:32 PM |
| Dec | 45°F / 7°C | 37°F / 3°C | 19 | 7:51 AM | 4:17 PM |
Source: Open-Meteo ERA5 (10-yr daily averages)
Transport options from the pier — taxis, shuttles, transit passes, and whether ride-share apps work here.
Pier 91 passengers can get a VIP City Sightseeing ticket with included transfer to the downtown HOHO route via Port Valet program.
Taxis available curbside at both Pier 66 (downtown waterfront) and Pier 91 (Interbay). Pier 66 fares to downtown run $20–45; Pier 91 fares are slightly higher at $25–55.
Both Uber and Lyft are confirmed available at Seattle cruise terminals. Prices are higher than most U.S. cities due to local regulations; expect surge pricing on embarkation days.
Shared shuttle services like Seattle Shuttle and Premier Airport Shuttle connect the cruise terminals to downtown and Sea-Tac Airport. Best booked in advance.
Pier 66 sits right on the downtown Seattle waterfront — Pike Place Market, the waterfront, and downtown attractions are walkable within 5–15 minutes.
Upcoming cruises that call at Seattle, Washington, USA. Dates, prices, and ports of call change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking.
Itineraries and prices change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking. Some links are affiliate links that may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.