Seattle Cruise Port: Terminals, Transport and Things to Do

Seattle is one of my favorite Alaska embarkation cities, and it rewards an early arrival. You will sail from one of two waterfront terminals, with the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, and Puget Sound all within easy reach.

Last Visited: July 2017 aboard Norwegian Pearl. I sailed from here on a seven-night Alaska cruise that included Glacier Bay.

My quick take

Seattle is a genuinely fun place to start a cruise, and the walkable downtown makes a pre-cruise night worth it. If you are weighing Pacific Northwest departure cities, I compare the options in my West Coast cruise ports guide and the nearby Vancouver cruise port guide.

First cruise from here? My first-timer cruise ports guide covers the habits that keep embarkation day calm.

The quick facts

• Two terminals: Bell Street Cruise Terminal at Pier 66 (2225 Alaskan Way) and Smith Cove Cruise Terminal at Pier 91 (2001 West Garfield Street).
• Dock, not tender: both terminals are alongside berths, so you walk off the ship.
• Into town: Pier 66 sits in downtown; Pier 91 is roughly 10 minutes from downtown by road.
• Airport: Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) is about a 30 to 40 minute drive from either terminal.
• Currency: US dollar.
• Accessibility: both terminals have accessible facilities; confirm gangway assistance with your cruise line.

How I would confirm my own terminal

Your terminal depends entirely on your cruise line, so always check your documents before booking transport. Per the Port of Seattle, the two terminals split the lines as follows.

Pier 66 (Bell Street Cruise Terminal)

Bell Street sits right on the downtown waterfront at 2225 Alaskan Way. The Port of Seattle lists Norwegian Cruise Line and Oceania Cruises here.

This is the walkable option. Pike Place Market, the Seattle Aquarium, and the Seattle Great Wheel are all a short stroll away.

Pier 91 (Smith Cove Cruise Terminal)

Smith Cove sits at the north end of the waterfront at 2001 West Garfield Street. The Port of Seattle lists Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, and Royal Caribbean here.

One important note from the Port: public transit does not reach Pier 91, so plan on a taxi, rideshare, or a cruise-line transfer. It is about 10 minutes from downtown shopping and the Space Needle.

Getting around

From SEA airport by Link light rail

Sound Transit runs the 1 Line light rail directly from the airport into downtown. It reaches Westlake Station in the heart of downtown in about 38 minutes, with trains every 8 to 10 minutes for most of the day.

The adult one-way fare is a flat $3.00. From baggage claim you follow signs to the SeaTac/Airport Station through the parking garage.

Light rail is a great way to reach a downtown hotel or Pier 66 the day before. Remember that it does not serve Pier 91 directly.

Taxis, rideshare, and transfers

For either terminal, a taxi or rideshare from the airport runs about 30 to 40 minutes depending on traffic. Both terminals have dedicated ground transportation and rideshare zones out front.

Cruise-line motor coach transfers are also offered by many lines, which is the simplest option for Pier 91 given the lack of transit.

The stops I would actually spend time on

With a pre-cruise day, here is where I would spend my hours. Every stop below is a real, named Seattle attraction.

• Pike Place Market: the oldest continuously operated farmers market in the nation, full of produce stalls, fishmongers, and street performers. The catch is that it is busiest late morning.
• Space Needle: the 605-foot 1962 World’s Fair icon with 360-degree observation decks looking over the skyline, Puget Sound, and Mount Rainier.
• Chihuly Garden and Glass: Dale Chihuly’s glass artwork in indoor galleries and an outdoor garden, sitting right below the Space Needle.
• Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP): the Frank Gehry-designed museum of music, film, and pop culture at Seattle Center.
• Seattle Center: the 74-acre campus that ties together the Space Needle, Chihuly, MoPOP, and the Pacific Science Center in one walkable cluster.
• Pacific Science Center: a family-friendly science museum at Seattle Center, handy on a rainy afternoon.
• Seattle Aquarium: on Pier 59 downtown, now home to the Ocean Pavilion that opened in 2024. It is an easy walk from Pier 66.
• Seattle Great Wheel: the waterfront observation wheel a short stroll from Bell Street terminal.
• Pioneer Square: Seattle’s oldest neighborhood, with Victorian Romanesque architecture, galleries, and lively restaurants.
• Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park: the free Pioneer Square museum telling the story of Seattle’s role in the gold rush.

How I would plan the day

A few hours before boarding: if you dock at Pier 66, walk to Pike Place Market and the Seattle Great Wheel, then head back. It is all within a short stroll.

A pre-cruise afternoon: base yourself at Seattle Center for the Space Needle and Chihuly Garden and Glass, then add MoPOP if time allows.

A full pre-cruise day: combine the waterfront and Seattle Center in the morning, then spend the afternoon in Pioneer Square. Aim to be at your terminal in good time for check-in.

A realistic word on accessibility

The Port of Seattle notes that both terminals have accessible facilities, including accessible restrooms and elevators. Gangway steepness varies with the tide and the ship, so confirm boarding assistance with your cruise line ahead of time.

When to go, and the weather

Seattle’s Alaska cruise season generally runs from late spring through early fall, when Norwegian and Oceania sail weekly from Pier 66. Summer days tend to be the mildest and driest, but pack a light rain layer just in case.

Whatever month you sail, check the forecast the week before and dress in layers. Puget Sound weather shifts quickly.

Quick answers

Which Seattle terminal will I use? It depends on your line: the Port of Seattle lists Norwegian and Oceania at Pier 66, and Carnival, Celebrity, Cunard, Holland America, Princess, and Royal Caribbean at Pier 91.

Can I take light rail to the ship? The 1 Line serves downtown near Pier 66, but the Port confirms it does not reach Pier 91, so for Pier 91 you will want a taxi, rideshare, or cruise transfer.

How far is the airport? SEA is about 30 to 40 minutes by road from either terminal, or roughly 38 minutes to downtown on the 1 Line light rail.

Cruising from elsewhere on the coast? See my Los Angeles cruise ports guide for another popular Alaska and Mexico gateway.

Sources

• Port of Seattle: Bell Street Cruise Terminal at Pier 66
• Port of Seattle: Smith Cove Cruise Terminal at Pier 91
• Sound Transit: SEA airport and the 1 Line
• Visit Seattle: Seattle’s major attractions