Port of Seattle Cruise Terminals — Information Guide

The Port of Seattle is the primary U.S. homeport for Alaska cruises, operating two cruise terminals on the city's central waterfront: the Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal at Pier 66 and the Smith Cove Cruise Terminal at Pier 91.

• Official name: Port of Seattle Cruise Terminals
• Pier 66 (Bell Street Pier) address: 2225 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98121
• Pier 91 (Smith Cove) address: 3021 13th Ave W, Seattle, WA 98119
• Main telephone: (206) 787-3000
• Location: Seattle, Washington (central waterfront)
• Primary cruise lines: Princess, Holland America, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Carnival
• Cruise season: May through September
• Nearest airport: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
• Typical itineraries: Alaska Inside Passage, Pacific Coast, and repositioning cruises

View Pier 66 (Bell Street Pier) on Google Maps

View Pier 91 (Smith Cove) on Google Maps

One of the most important things to understand about cruising from Seattle is that there are two separate cruise terminals, and they are not close to each other. Pier 66 is on the downtown waterfront near Pike Place Market, while Pier 91 is about two miles north in the Magnolia/Interbay area. If you put a generic "Seattle cruise terminal" into your GPS, you could easily end up at the wrong one.

What are the terminals like?

The Port of Seattle operates two purpose-built cruise passenger terminals. Both are designed to move passengers from curb to ship efficiently, but they have different locations and a different feel.

Pier 66 (Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal) is right on the downtown Seattle waterfront, within easy walking distance of Pike Place Market, the Seattle Aquarium, and the downtown hotel district. It's the more convenient terminal for cruisers staying downtown.

Pier 91 (Smith Cove Cruise Terminal) is the larger of the two and handles more ships, but it's farther from downtown Seattle and requires a taxi, rideshare, or shuttle to reach from most hotels.

The big advantage of cruising from Seattle is the scenery. Sailing out of Elliott Bay is one of the more scenic cruise departures in the United States. Depending on your itinerary and the weather, you may get views of:

• The Seattle skyline and Space Needle
• The Olympic Mountains to the west
• Mount Rainier on a clear day
• The Puget Sound and Bainbridge Island

Cruise lines that use the Port of Seattle

Seattle is the primary U.S. homeport for Alaska cruises. The main lines sailing from the port are:

• Princess Cruises — Alaska Inside Passage
• Holland America Line — Alaska Inside Passage
• Norwegian Cruise Line — Alaska Inside Passage
• Royal Caribbean International — Alaska Inside Passage
• Celebrity Cruises — Alaska Inside Passage
• Carnival Cruise Line — select Alaska sailings

Most Alaska cruises from Seattle are round-trip seven-night Inside Passage sailings that call at ports such as Juneau, Ketchikan, and Skagway, with a scenic cruise through Tracy Arm or Glacier Bay.

Always check your cruise documents to confirm your exact departure terminal — Pier 66 or Pier 91 — because the two terminals are not interchangeable.

Parking at the Port of Seattle

Both terminals offer on-site cruise parking, but the arrangements differ. It helps to understand how each works before you arrive.

On-site terminal parking

Each terminal has its own surface parking lot. At Pier 91, the lot is large and located close to the terminal building. At Pier 66, parking is more limited because the terminal is in the heart of downtown Seattle, so reservations are strongly recommended.

Parking style

This is open-air surface parking rather than an enclosed garage.

Advantages:

• You don't have to take a taxi or shuttle from an off-site lot.
• Your vehicle is close to the terminal for the duration of the cruise.
• Short walk between your car and the ship at Pier 91.
• Very convenient if you're traveling with children, elderly passengers or lots of luggage.

Disadvantages:

• Your vehicle is exposed to the weather for the duration of the cruise.
• Pier 66 parking is limited and can sell out, especially in peak July–August.
• You're driving into downtown Seattle traffic.

Payment

On-site parking is generally credit-card only. Confirm accepted payment methods before you travel, and don't count on paying cash at the lot.

Off-site parking alternatives

Because the on-site rate is reasonable, most cruisers simply park at the terminal. If you want to save money, there are private parking lots in the Interbay and SoDo areas with cruise parking rates and shuttle service to the terminals.

Some travelers park near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and take the Link light rail or a rideshare to the terminal. This can make sense if you're combining a cruise with a longer Pacific Northwest vacation, but it adds a transfer step that isn't necessary if you use the on-site lot.

My parking recommendation

For most first-time cruisers sailing from Seattle, I'd simply use the on-site terminal parking — and reserve it in advance, especially at Pier 66. The rate is reasonable and you avoid the hassle of arranging a separate transfer.

If you're sailing from Pier 91 and the on-site lot is full, investigate an off-site lot in Interbay with a guaranteed cruise-parking rate and confirmed shuttle service to the terminal.

Hotels near the Port of Seattle

There are many hotels within a short distance of both terminals, particularly in downtown Seattle and the Belltown neighborhood.

Very close options

Edgewater Hotel
Seattle, WA (Pier 66 area)

This is a popular pre-cruise hotel choice because it's the only downtown Seattle waterfront hotel, located on Pier 67 just a short walk from the Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal at Pier 66.

Hotel Guides

Downtown Seattle / Belltown hotels

There are many chain and boutique hotels in downtown Seattle and Belltown, all within a short taxi or rideshare ride of Pier 66 and a 10–15 minute ride to Pier 91. These pair well with sightseeing at Pike Place Market and the Seattle Center.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) hotels

There are many hotels near SEA, roughly 30–45 minutes from the cruise terminals by car. These are often less expensive than downtown hotels and are a practical choice if you're flying in the night before your cruise.

Why I recommend staying the night before

If you're flying or driving a substantial distance to Seattle, I strongly recommend arriving the day before your cruise rather than trying to reach the ship the morning it departs.

Seattle traffic and Pacific Northwest weather can be unpredictable, and you don't want a delayed flight, I-5 accident, or weather problem to jeopardize your cruise.

Staying near the terminal gives you:

• Much less stress on embarkation morning
• More time to explore Seattle — Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, and the waterfront
• A short taxi/rideshare ride to the terminal
• A backup if transportation gets delayed
• More flexibility with your cruise's assigned check-in time

Transportation to the terminal

Taxi / Uber / Lyft

For most travelers, this is probably the easiest option.

Tell the driver: "Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal at Pier 66, 2225 Alaskan Way" or "Smith Cove Cruise Terminal at Pier 91, 3021 13th Ave W."

Don't simply say "the cruise port," because there are two terminals and they are not close to each other.

Public transportation

Seattle's Link light rail runs from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Westlake Station downtown, about a 15-minute walk or a short rideshare from Pier 66. Pier 91 is not directly served by rail and requires a taxi or rideshare for the final leg. If you're carrying substantial luggage, I'd generally recommend a taxi/rideshare from your hotel.

From the airport

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is the closest airport, about 13–15 miles south of the cruise terminals, typically 30–45 minutes depending on traffic.

Terminal amenities

Both Seattle cruise terminals are functional rather than luxurious.

You can expect:

• Restrooms
• Passenger check-in areas
• Security screening
• Customs/immigration facilities for arriving passengers
• Some seating
• Limited food/snack options
• Wi-Fi

Don't expect a major airport-style shopping or dining experience. The real dining and sightseeing options are on the Seattle waterfront, a short walk or ride from the terminals.

One important detail: there is no luggage-storage facility at the terminals. If you arrive early or want to spend several hours sightseeing after your cruise, you'll need to make separate luggage-storage arrangements.

Things to do nearby

The Port of Seattle's location is excellent for combining a cruise with sightseeing.

Within the surrounding area you have:

• Pike Place Market (walking distance from Pier 66)
• Seattle Aquarium and the downtown waterfront
• Seattle Center, the Space Needle, and Chihuly Garden and Glass
• Seattle Great Wheel on the waterfront
• Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP)
• Ferries across Puget Sound to Bainbridge Island and Bremerton
• Pioneer Square and the underground tour

Pike Place Market is particularly close to Pier 66 and is one of the most popular pre-cruise activities in Seattle. If you arrive a day early, it's worth a visit.

Important tips for cruise passengers

1. Confirm your terminal before leaving your hotel. Don't assume every Seattle cruise departs from the same place. Pier 66 and Pier 91 are separate facilities about two miles apart.
2. Don't confuse Pier 66 with Pier 91. This is probably the single biggest mistake to avoid. Pier 66 is downtown; Pier 91 is in Smith Cove to the north.
3. Arrive the day before if you're flying. I wouldn't recommend flying into Seattle on the morning your cruise departs unless you have a very substantial buffer.
4. Don't underestimate Seattle traffic. I-5 and the downtown waterfront can be congested, especially on busy sailing days.
5. Reserve parking in advance, especially at Pier 66. The downtown terminal's lot is limited and can sell out in peak season.
6. Don't leave your luggage unattended. Because the terminals do not provide luggage storage, arrange a hotel or independent luggage-storage service if you have time to kill before or after your cruise.
7. Keep your cruise documents accessible. Have your cruise-line app, boarding documents, passports/identification and luggage tags readily available when you arrive.
8. Book Alaska cruises early. The Seattle cruise season is short (May–September), and the best July–August sailings sell out well in advance.

Overall assessment

• Location: Excellent. On Elliott Bay with spectacular sail-away views of the Seattle skyline and mountains.
• Convenience: Very good at Pier 66 (downtown); good at Pier 91 (requires a ride from downtown).
• Parking: Convenient at approximately $25–$30/night; reserve ahead at Pier 66.
• Terminal facilities: Functional rather than luxurious.
• Sightseeing potential: Outstanding. You can easily turn a cruise departure into a Seattle vacation.

Best feature: The scenic departure across Elliott Bay with the Seattle skyline and Olympic Mountains.

Biggest drawback: Two separate terminals that are easy to confuse, and a short cruise season.

Best strategy for most cruisers: Stay in downtown Seattle or Belltown the night before, use a taxi/rideshare to the terminal, and park on-site if you're driving.

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