Cruises from Seattle 2027
The simplest way into an Alaska cruise: fly in, ride to the pier, and sail the Inside Passage.
Photo: Joe Mabel, CC BY-SA 4.0
Seattle is the main US departure point for Alaska cruises. The season is short, running roughly from late April or May to the end of September, and during that window the two cruise piers are busy every week. For most travelers it is the simplest way to reach Alaska: you fly into one airport, ride to the pier, and sail round trip with no need to cross a border by land.
The one thing to understand about Seattle is that US cabotage law requires foreign-flagged ships to call at a foreign port on a round trip from a US port, so nearly every sailing includes a stop in Victoria, British Columbia. That is why a passport is strongly recommended even though the cruise begins and ends in the United States.
Getting to the Seattle cruise port
Flying into Seattle-Tacoma
Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) is roughly 15 to 20 miles from the piers, usually 25 to 40 minutes by car depending on traffic. Taxis, ride-hailing and cruise-line transfers serve the piers. Link light rail runs from the airport to downtown in around 40 minutes, from where Pier 66 is a short ride or walk.
Getting to the pier
Pier 66 is on the downtown waterfront and is walkable from many downtown hotels. Pier 91 is about 3 miles north of downtown at Smith Cove and needs a car, taxi or ride-hail, as there is no easy walking route from downtown.
By car
Seattle is reached by Interstate 5 from the north and south. Parking near the piers is limited and charged by the day, so check which pier your ship uses before booking. Many people use a downtown hotel package or a pier-side garage.
Terminals
Seattle has two cruise piers: Pier 66, also called the Bell Street Cruise Terminal, on the downtown waterfront, and Pier 91 at Smith Cove, a few miles north. Cruise lines use one or the other, and some switch between them, so confirm your pier in your boarding documents. They are not close to each other.
Parking
Pier 91 has an on-site garage and Pier 66 relies on nearby garages, both charged by the day, and parking can be tight on turnaround days. Pre-booking helps. Our cruise port parking guide covers the options, and for many people a ride from a downtown hotel is simpler and cheaper than parking for a week.
What to do before you board
If you arrive the day before, these are the easy wins.
Pike Place Market
The famous waterfront market with fish stalls, bakeries and street musicians, a short walk from Pier 66.
Space Needle and Seattle Center
The landmark observation tower, a museum quarter and a park, reached by monorail from downtown.
Seattle Waterfront
A rebuilt waterfront promenade, with an aquarium and a Ferris wheel.
Bainbridge Island ferry
A cheap 35-minute ferry ride across Puget Sound with views of the skyline.
Where cruises from Seattle go
The usual route styles, and what each one suits.
Inside Passage round trip
7 nightsJuneau, Skagway and Ketchikan, with a Canadian stop at Victoria and a scenic glacier day.
Glacier Bay round trip
7 nightsSome lines include Glacier Bay or Tracy Arm, depending on ship and permits.
One-way to Alaska
7 nightsSome sailings run one way to Whittier or Seward, with a flight home from Anchorage.
For season, booking timing and route choices, see Alaska Cruises 2027.
Cruise lines sailing from Seattle
Lines change their ships and seasons, so confirm the details with your line.
Royal Caribbean
Large, modern ships out of Seattle with big onboard activity lists.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Freestyle dining on a large ship, popular with families and groups.
Princess Cruises
A long Alaska history, with its own lodges for land tours.
Holland America Line
A well-established Alaska program on mid-sized ships.
Virgin Voyages
Adults-only, with a more modern, resort-style feel.
Carnival Cruise Line
Casual, value-focused Alaska sailings in the summer season.
Ports your ship may visit
Common stops on sailings from Seattle, with our guides to each.
Victoria, BC
A garden city stop on Alaska round-trip itineraries — afternoon tea, Butchart Gardens, and a walkable harbour.
Juneau
Alaska's capital city — glaciers, bears, whale watching, and wilderness right from the pier.
Skagway
A Gold Rush ghost town frozen in time — with some of the most spectacular train rides in North America.
Ketchikan
The Salmon Capital of the World — totems, rainforest trails, and floatplanes over misty fjords.
Sitka
Russian-America history, totem poles, and easy wildlife encounters on Alaska's outer coast.
Icy Strait Point
Alaska's most reliable whale-watching stop, run by and for the Tlingit village of Hoonah.
Ships that sail from Seattle
Ships our guides list as using Seattle as a homeport. Deployments change each season, so confirm yours.
Norwegian Bliss
Purpose-built for Alaska. Brilliant everywhere else too.
Norwegian Encore
NCL's largest ship with top-deck thrills and freestyle flexibility.
Quantum of the Seas
Royal Caribbean's tech-forward game-changer — skydiving, bumper cars and a jaw-dropping observation capsule.
Ovation of the Seas
Alaska in summer, Australia in winter — one of the widest itinerary swings in the fleet.
Voyager of the Seas
The trailblazing original Voyager-class ship, now splitting her seasons between Alaska and the Mexican Riviera.
Royal Princess
The ship that started Princess's Royal-class era.
Eurodam
The original Signature-class ship — Dutch Golden Age art and classic cruising from Seattle to Fort Lauderdale.
Brilliant Lady
Virgin Voyages' newest Lady — a fourth adults-only ship debuting exclusive Spanish tapas and a 1920s dinner show.
When to sail from Seattle
The Alaska season runs roughly from late April or May to the end of September. Pacific Northwest weather is at its best from June to September, and May and September are cooler and wetter. The Seattle piers are very quiet outside the season.
Cruising from Seattle: questions
Do I need a passport for a cruise from Seattle?+
A passport is strongly recommended. Almost every round trip from Seattle calls at a Canadian port, and if you need to fly home from an Alaskan or Canadian port because of illness or a missed ship, you will need one. US citizens can in some cases sail round trip with other documents, but a passport removes the risk.
What is the difference between Pier 66 and Pier 91?+
Pier 66 is on the downtown waterfront, within walking distance of many hotels and Pike Place Market. Pier 91 is about 3 miles north and is reached by car or ride-hail. The pier your ship uses is in your boarding documents, so check it before you book a hotel.
Is Seattle or Vancouver better for an Alaska cruise?+
Seattle is usually easier for travelers from the US, because you fly domestically and sail round trip. Vancouver has one-way routes to Whittier or Seward that include Glacier Bay, which Seattle round trips often do not. See our Alaska planning page for more on choosing.
Should I fly into Seattle the day before my cruise?+
Yes, if you can. Seattle's weather and flight delays can cause disruption, and the cruise leaves on a fixed schedule. A hotel in downtown Seattle the night before also lets you see the city before you sail.
Other departure ports
Cruises from Vancouver
Canada Place: a downtown terminal with one-way Alaska sailings and a walkable city on your doorstep.
Cruises from Miami
The biggest choice of ships and routes in the world, a short ride from the airport.
Cruises from Galveston
Texas's cruise gateway: drive-to, easy from Houston, and built for the Western Caribbean.