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Cruise port guideUSSEA

Seattle

Seattle is the busiest home port for Alaska cruises, from Pier 91 at Smith Cove and Pier 66 at Bell Street on the downtown waterfront.

5 things to do1 airport connections4 ships

Your day ashore, at a glance

Find something worth your timePlan the airport transferRead the safety guidance

Peak season: Jun, Jul, Aug

Make the most of your stop

Things to do in Seattle

5 recommendations

Choose an easy wander, a local highlight or a bigger day out. Compare practical details before you head ashore.

Getting to your ship

Airport to cruise port

Pier 66 is about 14 miles (22 km) from Seattle-Tacoma International, and Pier 91 about 17 miles (27 km); both are 25 to 45 minutes by taxi or rideshare. Light rail runs to downtown, a short taxi from either pier. Cruise lines sell shuttles, and some offer airport bag check on disembarkation.

SEA

Seattle-Tacoma International

To Seattle · one way

Airport lounges

Verified transfer prices from SEA have not been published yet. Check the transport operator before booking.

Rental cars: Available at SeaTac's rental facility, though most cruisers don't need one.

Book your trip · Kiwitaxi

Arrange your transfer to Seattle

Choose your arrival airport and exact cruise terminal, then check a quote for your party. Confirm pickup details, luggage and accessibility with the provider.

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Book your trip · EconomyBookings

Find a rental car for your visit to Seattle

Choose your pickup location and dates below. Airport and city offices may require a separate transfer from the cruise terminal. Check opening hours, insurance, deposit and return time before booking.

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Know before you go

Safety ashore

Women travelers

Routine precautions

Editorial baseline for a daytime port visit, based on country-level government advice rather than a women-specific local incident rate. Canada advises normal security precautions in the United States; theft occurs in tourist areas and violent crime varies by neighbourhood, particularly after dark. Check the route locally, keep valuables secure and arrange transport for unfamiliar areas at night. This rating does not establish that every terminal or neighbourhood is safe.

Reviewed 2026-10-25

LGBTQ+ travelers

Extra caution advised

Government advice highlights changing federal gender-marker processes and state or local rules affecting LGBTQ+ travelers. Check the relevant state and your travel documents; this is not a port-specific incident score. Assessment uses country-level government advice; port-specific conditions may differ.

Reviewed 2026-10-25

Editorial guidance reflects the cited advice and review date. Laws, attitudes and conditions can differ within a destination. No rating guarantees personal safety.

Pick your moment

When to go

  1. Jan: Low season
  2. Feb: Low season
  3. Mar: Low season
  4. Apr: Shoulder season
  5. May: Shoulder season
  6. Jun: High season
  7. Jul: High season
  8. Aug: High season
  9. Sep: Shoulder season
  10. Oct: Low season
  11. Nov: Low season
  12. Dec: Low season
● High season○ Shoulder season◌ Low season

The Alaska season runs from late April to early October and peaks in midsummer. Outside it, only the odd repositioning sailing leaves.

Who else is in port?

Port crowding index

100 is average. 150 means 50% more ship passenger capacity than this port’s observed hourly average over the past 30 days; 50 means half the average.

Checking ships in port…

Estimate for tracked catalog ships, based on published passenger capacity, not actual passengers ashore. Port areas are approximate circles around published port coordinates. Only positions reported within an hour at 1 knot or less are counted; ships at anchor may be included. Missing AIS reports and untracked ships can understate crowding. Quiet observed hours count toward the average; collection outages do not.

Set sail

Ships sailing from Seattle

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Carnival Legend near Hoek van Holland, August 20243.7 ★Carnival Cruise LineCarnival Legend2002 · 88,500 GT · 2,124 guests · Alaska · CaribbeanCarnival Legend is a Spirit-class ship that Dame Judi Dench christened at Harwich, England, in August 2002; her maiden voyage was Carnival's first cruise in Europe. She was also…Carnival Spirit at Ogden Point, Victoria, British Columbia, May 20253.7 ★Carnival Cruise LineCarnival Spirit2001 · 88,500 GT · 2,124 guests · Alaska · BahamasCarnival Spirit was the first Spirit-class ship to join Carnival, delivered from Kværner Masa-Yards in Helsinki in 2001. At about 88,500 gross tons with around 2,120 guests, she…Eurodam alongside in San Juan, Puerto Rico, January 20093.8 ★Holland America LineEurodam2008 · 86,273 GT · 2,104 guests · Alaska · CaribbeanEurodam is the first of Holland America's two Signature-class ships, an enlarged version of the Vista design, at about 86,300 gross tons with some 2,100 guests. She entered…Noordam at Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos, March 20073.8 ★Holland America LineNoordam2006 · 82,318 GT · 1,916 guests · Alaska · AsiaNoordam is the fourth and last of Holland America's Vista-class ships and the fourth Holland America ship of the name, which joins the Dutch word for north with the fleet's -dam…

Related news about Seattle

All cruise news
  1. Seattle closes a record cruise season, with shore power use reaching 66%

    The port reports 330 calls and nearly 2 million revenue passengers. MSC and Virgin plan to return for the 2027 season.

    Ports

  2. Do you need a passport to go on a cruise? The closed-loop rule, explained

    US citizens can sail some cruises on a birth certificate and a driver's license. Here is when that works, when it does not, and why the State Department still wants you to bring the passport book.

    Itineraries

  3. Solo cruising on Holland America Line: single oceanview cabins with no supplement

    Holland America's three Pinnacle-class ships carry solo oceanview staterooms with no single supplement, plus hosted solo meetups. Here is how to use them.

    Cruise lines

  4. After Carnival Spirit’s delay, rethink the flight you book after a cruise

    The recent Carnival Spirit delay is a useful reminder that a ship's scheduled return is not the time you will be standing at an airport gate. I would build the flight home around the cruise line's guidance and the full transfer, with extra margin where the cost of…

    Ports

  5. Victoria passes one million cruise passengers in a season for the first time, with a record 332 calls

    The British Columbia capital marked the milestone with Norwegian Encore. The season ends October 18, and Norwegian returns in 2027 with three ships.

    Ports

  6. Carnival Spirit returned to Seattle a day late after repairs, and its canal cruise dropped Cabo

    A problem at sea cut a 15-night Hawaii cruise short by a day. Guests get a pro-rated refund and $250 in onboard credit per cabin.

    Ships

  7. 5 things Quark Expeditions does well—and 1 it doesn’t

    Five strengths of Quark Expeditions, one clear drawback, and the travelers most likely to enjoy its cruise style.

    Cruise lines

  8. Carnival opens 2028–29 West Coast sailings on three ships

    Carnival Adventure, Carnival Legend and Carnival Spirit feature in new Alaska, Hawaii and Mexico programs.

    Itineraries

Seattle cruise port: activities, safety & transfers