Cruise Guide for Seattle, Washington
Seattle's combination of water, hills and lush greenery in a mountain setting on the shores of Puget Sound makes it one of the most beautiful urban areas in the U.S. Seattle
is also user-friendly. Seattleites have plenty to brag about: There’s the Space Needle and Pike Place Market, plus the Mariners and Seahawks sports teams. There are fine restaurants, good museums and a vigorous arts scene.
Even Seattle's infamous rainy winter weather has a good side. All that rain helps make Seattle the evergreen "Emerald City" and produces wonderful flowers. And Seattle is where Starbucks got its start, in 1971, at Pike Place Market.
Location
Major cruise lines offer weekly service out of Seattle to British Columbia and Alaska. Most dock at the Terminal 30 Cruise Facility, south of downtown (2431 E. Marginal Way S.). Norwegian Cruise Line and Celebrity Cruises depart from Pier 66, also known as Bell Street Pier, on the Seattle waterfront (2225 Alaskan Way). Find concierge assistance, taxi service, car rental and parking at the cruise terminals. For more information, phone 206-615-3900 or visit http://www.portseattle.org.
Just down the hill from the Pike Place Market, the terminal has seafood restaurants with sweeping views of the harbor, a marina full of yachts and the Odyssey Maritime Discovery Center, where you can dress up in a survival suit or board a virtual kayak for the San Juan Islands.
Shore Excursions
Consider signing up for the excursions offered by your ship. They may not be the least expensive way to see the city, but you won't have to waste your limited time making arrangements yourself—and you won't have to worry about missing the ship. Shore excursions—and their prices—vary from cruise line to cruise line. Typical tours include Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, the Experience Music Project, Woodinville Wine Country and other sites; cruises of the downtown waterfront, the locks or lakes; or a visit to the Boeing plant in Everett. Check with your ship's shore-excursion staff or your travel agent for additional information.
