Seattle Cruise Port
Seattle, United States · Pacific
Cruise ships dock at Pier 91 — Smith Cove Cruise Terminal, Seattle.
Plan my port daysTwo-terminal cruise port: Pier 66 walks into downtown; Pier 91 needs a 10–15 min taxi or shuttle.
At a glance
Port summary
Seattle is one of the two main Alaska cruise home ports. Pier 66 (Bell Street) sits on the downtown waterfront and you can walk straight to Pike Place Market. Pier 91 (Smith Cove) is ~5 km north of downtown in an industrial area — you cannot walk into the city from there. Always confirm your terminal before planning the day.
Cruise docks
Pier 91 — Smith Cove Cruise Terminal
The main Seattle cruise berth in the Smith Cove industrial area ~5 km north of downtown. Hosts most large Alaska-bound ships (Princess, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean). Not walkable to downtown — taxi or shuttle required.
Latitude: 47.628056, Longitude: -122.383754
See dock on port map →Pier 66 — Bell Street Cruise Terminal
The downtown Seattle cruise berth on the waterfront at the foot of Bell Street. Hosts Holland America and Oceania calls. Walkable to Pike Place Market and the Aquarium.
Latitude: 47.611318, Longitude: -122.35061
See dock on port map →Getting to Seattle
From the cruise terminal to the city centre
Map & things to do
Money & payments
Cards or phone work for everything; small USD cash only useful for tips
Build your perfect day in Seattle
Tell us your cruise line, ship and departure date and we'll give you a complete set of full port information and playbooks of how to spend your day.
Inside the US West Coast & Pacific Coast collection
Here's a peek at everything waiting for your Seattle cruise day.
Typical weather
Emergency & contacts
Excursions compared
4 comparedBest of Seattle: Space Needle, Pike Place Market and city tour
≈ 4 h · sold by 6 cruise lines
Cruise line
€120$134
Do it yourself
€105$117
Save ≈ €15Save ≈ $17 (13% off)
Pier 91 (Smith Cove) is the main turnaround terminal and has no public transit; use the rideshare pickup zone at the terminal entrance. An Uber/Lyft to Pike Place Market or Seattle Center is ~€15 and runs 12-18 min depending on traffic. From downtown, the Seattle Center Monorail ($3.50 / €3 one way) links Westlake Center to the Space Needle in 2 min — easier than walking. Space Needle observation tickets are $35-45 and timed entries sell out for 11:00-14:00 slots on cruise days.
See the DIY plan →
Chihuly Garden and Glass with Space Needle observation deck
≈ 3.5 h · sold by 5 cruise lines
Cruise line
€115$129
Do it yourself
€115$129
Similar cost — pick on convenience
Take an Uber/Lyft from Pier 91 directly to Seattle Center — it's a 12 min ride for ~€15. Chihuly and the Space Needle share the Seattle Center campus and a combo ticket (~€60 total) sold on each operator's site is typically a few euros cheaper than buying separately. Both have timed entry; allow at least 75 min for Chihuly and 60 min for the Space Needle.
See the DIY plan →
Ready-made port days
13 plansSeattle Center Icons: Space Needle, Chihuly & MoPOP
The city's postcard in one compact campus: up the rotating-floor Space Needle, through Chihuly's glowing glasshouse, and into Frank Gehry's crumpled-metal pop-culture museum — no coach, no sprawl, all a monorail ride from downtown.
Pike Place Market & the New Waterfront
The classic Seattle morning, remade: the fish-flinging market and the original Starbucks, then down the brand-new Overlook Walk to a reborn car-free waterfront, the Aquarium's Ocean Pavilion and a spin on the Great Wheel.
Pioneer Square & the Seattle Underground
Seattle's birthplace, above and below: red-brick Gold Rush blocks and totem-poled squares, a guided tour through the ghost storefronts buried under the sidewalks, and the open-air deck of the 1914 Smith Tower for the view.
Seattle for Free (Almost)
The market, a waterfront sculpture park, the Overlook Walk's panorama, Pioneer Square's brick and totems and a Gold Rush museum — the whole shape of the city for the price of a coffee and a piroshky.
Frequently asked questions
- Where does my cruise ship dock in Seattle?
- Your ship docks at one of the cruise terminals in Seattle, United States. The specific berth is assigned by the port a few days before arrival.
- Can I walk from the cruise port into Seattle?
- Walking into Seattle from the cruise port isn't practical. Plan to use a shuttle, taxi, or public transport.
- How do I get from the cruise port to Seattle centre?
- Typical options include Shuttle bus, Taxi, Ride-hail (Uber/Bolt), On foot, Local bus. Durations and costs are listed in the transport section above.
- How much time do I need in Seattle?
- Plan for at least 3.5 hours ashore to see Seattle independently and return to the ship with a safe buffer.
- What currency is used in Seattle and are cards accepted?
- Seattle uses the US Dollar. Carry some cash for markets, taxis, and smaller vendors — cards aren't accepted everywhere.
- Is there Wi-Fi at the cruise port?
- Free Wi-Fi is available at the Seattle cruise terminal.
- When should I be back at the ship?
- Cruise lines usually require all passengers on board about 30 minutes before scheduled departure. Confirm the exact all-aboard time on your daily programme.
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