SEATTLE CRUISE TERMINALS

There are two terminals at the Port of Seattle, and they are not next to each other, so it is important to know which terminal your cruise ship will be using or you might try to join your cruise at the wrong one and have a mad dash to your ship.

If you are using a GPS or map program (we use Here WeGo), input the following addresses to find your terminal:

Pier 66 (Bell Street): 2209 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98121

Pier 91 (Smith Cove): 2001 W Garfield St, Seattle, WA 98119

View a map of the cruise terminals from the Port of Seattle.

PASSENGER & LUGGAGE DROP OFF

EMBARKATION: Luggage drop-off at parking lots is provided on a limited basis (indicated on the parking lot signage). For faster service, you can drop off your luggage and companions at the terminal first.

DISEMBARKATION: When returning you can either retrieve your vehicle and return to the terminal to pick up your companions and luggage in the loading area, or take your luggage and companions to your parking lot to retrieve your vehicle.

The area next to the cruise terminal is for loading and unloading only so you should be prepared to unload/load quickly to allow others to do the same.

TAXIS: As to be expected there is a high demand for taxis during peak disembarkation hours and they may not be readily available. Please account for this wait time in your plans for departure day, especially when booking a flight home.

PORTS OF CALL FOR SHIPS DEPARTING SEATTLE

For 2019 Carnival, Celebrity, Holland America, Norwegian, Princess, Oceania, and Royal Caribbean cruise lines will offer several ships with itineraries scheduled to include:

Anchorage, USA | Apia, Samoa | Astoria, USA | Benoa, Indonesia | Buenos Aires, Argentina | Cairns, Australia | Callao, Peru | Coquimbo, Chile | Corinto, Nicaragua | Darwin, Australia | Dutch Habor, USA | Easo, New Caledonia | Fuerto Amador, Panama | Fukuoka, Japan | Haines, USA | Hilo, USA | Homer, USA | Hong Kong, China | Honolulu, USA | Huatulco, Mexico | Icy Strait Point, USA | Ishigaki, Japan | Juneau, USA | Keelung, Taiwan | Ketchikan, USA | Kodiak, USA | Komodo Island, Indonesia | Kushiro, Japan | Lahaina, USA | Los Angeles, USA | Manta, Ecuador | Manzanillo, Mexico | Monterey, USA |  Nanaimo, Canada | Nawiliwili, USA |  Prince Rupert, Canada | Puerto Montt, Chile | Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala | Punta Arenas, Chile | San Antonio, Chile | San Diego, USA | San Francisco, USA | Santa Barbara, USA |  Seward, USA | Shanghai, China | Shimizu, Japan | Singapore | Sitka, USA | Skagway, USA | Stanley, Falkland Islands | Suva, Fiji | Sydney, Australia | Tianjin, China | Ushuaia, Argentina | Vancouver, Canada | Victoria, Canada | Vila, Vanuatu | Wrangell, USA | Yokohama, Japan

*Please Note: These scheduled ports of call are not guaranteed as the cruise line may make changes to their itineraries due to weather or other reasons. 

MONEY MATTERS

CURRENCY

The currency of the United States is the US Dollar (USD) which is divided into 100 cents. It is printed on paper bills in the following denominations: $1, $2 (uncommon), $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100. It also includes the following coins: 1¢ (penny), 5¢ (nickel), 10¢ (dime), and 25¢ (quarter). There are 50¢ pieces and dollar coins but they aren’t common.

TIPPING

Although it’s not mandatory, tipping is customary in the United States and some service industries will expect a tip for a job well done. Visitors from outside the country may also be surprised at how much is tipped as it can be quite a bit more than in, for example, European countries.

RESTAURANTS: It is customary to offer your waiter or waitress a tip between 15-20% depending on the level of service they provided. Usually, you will find the service is very attentive (refilling your drinking, checking on your party etc.) but if the service isn’t great you can leave a smaller tip or even no tip. Typically service that doesn’t warrant a tip does warrant speaking with a manager to voice your dissatisfaction. If you are dining with a large group (usually 8 or more) the restaurant may add an 18% service charge to your bill automatically so check for this before you add your tip. This is usually indicated at the bottom of a menu if the restaurant does this, or it will be indicated on your bill.

BARS: A tip of 10-15% is appropriate at a bar. In some places, you’ll find a “tip jar” on the bar and others you can give the tip to your server directly.

TAXIS: A tip of 10-15% of your fare is customary, especially if your driver helps you with your luggage.

Paying with a credit or debit card is very common and in most restaurants, bars, and even taxis,  you’ll be able to add a tip to the total on the machine when you settle the bill if you don’t have cash. This is so common that many credit card machines now even have buttons with 15% / 18% / 20% on them so it will calculate the tip for you if you choose that option. You are always given the option to select the amount you’d like to tip, or you can opt not to put the tip on your card and give a cash tip instead.

BANKS & ATMS

Finding an ATM (Automated Teller Machine) will not be too difficult in Seattle, with several within a few blocks of Pier 66 and one a short distance from Pier 91. We’ve also pinned several other banks and ATMs that are near the terminals to the map below.

Generally, in the US, you will find ATMs at banks (some may have drive-thru ATMs), in grocery stores, gas stations, and in pharmacies (of which two common ones are CVS and Walgreens).

GETTING AROUND SEATTLE

Seattle is a pretty walkable city, especially if you cruising from Pier 66 which is close to the downtown area. Pike Place Market and several other attractions are within a few blocks of this terminal.

To go a little further, perhaps to explore the Fremont, you can grab an Uber, Lyft, or a taxi. There will typically be taxis waiting at the terminal, especially during peak embarkation and disembarkation times but if not you can give one of our recommendations a call.

For getting between the Seattle Center and Westlake Center, the Seattle Monorail can’t be beaten and is a fun way to zip between these two areas. There are also light rail, bus and streetcar services to get around if you haven’t driven into the city.

SEATTLE WEATHER

Seattle has a temperate maritime climate, this means winters are generally cool, though wet and summers are mild but dry. The best times to visit Seattle for warm-weather outdoor activities are from late May to mid-September.

The hottest part of the year is July and August with average daily high temperatures around a pleasant 75°F (24°C). The cooler part of the year is the beginning of December to the end of February with average daily high temperatures below 50°F (10°C).

SEATTLE VISITOR’S CENTER

The Seattle Visitor’s Center is a great place for even more, in-depth, information about many treasures found in Seattle.

LOCATION: Upper Pike Street Lobby of the Washington State Convention Center, at Seventh Avenue and Pike Street

PHONE: 1-206-461-5840 or toll-free in the USA 1-888-732-2695

HOURS OF OPERATION: Open 5 days a week from 0900 – 1700 and at weekends during the summer – Please note though hours may be seasonal and subject to change so best to give them a call before visiting to confirm they are open.

For the Official SEATTLE Visitor’s Guide click here to sign up to receive one by mail or instant download.

FESTIVALS & EVENTS

Almost every day in Seattle there are events and activities taking place so you’re bound to find some fun things to do while you’re in town. Big annual events include Bumbershoot on Labour Day Weekend, Seattle International Film Festival in June, and Washington State Fair in August/September.

If you are visiting during a big event for Seattle and are planning a cruise during these times it is best to book any hotels as far in advance as possible to get your desired accommodations.

Also, keep these dates in mind if you want to join in the fun, or come another time to enjoy a quieter Seattle.

DINING

While you’ll have plenty to eat aboard your cruise, you shouldn’t give up the chance to try some of the great things Seattle has to offer.

Being on the coast, fresh seafood is a given and there are several places to enjoy it if you’re a seafood lover. For those of you that aren’t, or you just want to try something else, Seattle offers great food choices from around the world.

A few that come highly recommended are:

El Gaucho – Candlelight dining and live jazz on a piano goes great with fresh seafood or maybe 28-day dry-aged Angus Beef.

Tanakasan – Delicious Asian-American food such as twice-fried chicken wings, Osaka pancakes and caramelized coconut beef.

Dahlia Lounge – Enjoy the smell of the wood-burning grill as you wait for delicacies such as Dungeness crab or coffee braised beef short rib.

SHOPPING

As the largest city in the north-west, Seattle has you covered if you love to shop, or just need a last-minute essential for your cruise.

Downtown malls such as Pacific Place and Westlake Center offer all the shops you’d expect, including Nordstrom, Macy’s and luxury brands like Tiffany & Co.

Pike Place Market provides over 500 options for buying everything from fresh food to artisan products from local craftspeople offering homemade soap to souvenirs of your time in Seattle.

MAP

The map below shows the points of interest mentioned above in relation to the cruise terminal.