🚢 Alaska Cruise Season — Seattle Gateway
📢 Pier 91 Tip: No direct light rail. Use Metro Bus 19/24, rideshare, or car. Pier 66 is walkable from downtown or one Light Rail stop from the airport. See all options →
🚢 Alaska Cruise Season

Seattle Cruise Terminal Guide

Seattle is Alaska's primary cruise gateway. Over 1.5 million passengers depart from Pier 91 and Pier 66 each season. Complete parking, transit, and pre-cruise information.

🚢 Terminal Info 🅿️ Parking 🚌 Getting There ← Back to Home
🚢 Alaska Cruise Gateway

Seattle: Where Alaska Begins

Seattle is North America's premier homeport for Alaska cruises, with a record 2.1 million passengers expected in 2026. Both main terminals are just minutes from downtown — and in summer 2026, they'll be operating at full capacity alongside the World Cup.

🛳️ 2026 Cruise Season: May – September

Two Terminals, One Stunning Departure

Cruise passengers should be aware that summer 2026 brings extraordinary demand on Seattle's infrastructure. Plan to arrive a day early, book ground transport in advance, and expect elevated hotel rates and traffic in the terminal areas — especially on days that coincide with FIFA matches.

⚠️
Summer 2026 heads-up: FIFA match days affect both terminals
If your embarkation date falls on Jun 15, 19, 24, 26 or Jul 1, 6, expect severe downtown traffic. Budget 2–3 extra hours and pre-book ground transport. Pier 91 is less affected than Pier 66 on match days.

Quick Facts

Address 2001 W Garfield St, Seattle 98199
Neighborhood Magnolia (industrial waterfront)
From Downtown ~3 miles · 10–20 min by car
From Sea-Tac ~17 miles · 25–40 min by car
Parking On-site paid parking available
Port Info portseattle.org →
Norwegian Princess Holland America Royal Caribbean Celebrity

🚶 What's Walkable from Pier 91

⚠️ Pier 91 is in an industrial area. There are no shops, restaurants, or attractions within walking distance. You will need transportation for everything.

📍 Nearest Attractions (by car/rideshare)

🛍️ Ballard (10 min) 🏛️ Seattle Center (10 min) 🐟 Pike Place (15 min) 🌿 Capitol Hill (20 min) 🏟️ Lumen Field (20 min)

🚌 Getting to Pier 91

🚗 Rideshare (Uber/Lyft)
Drop-off at terminal entrance. Surge pricing likely on FIFA match days — book early or use fixed-rate services.
10–20 min from downtown
🚌 Metro Bus
Route 19 or 24 from downtown (3rd Ave stop). Limited frequency — check King County Metro schedule day-of.
25–35 min from downtown
🚐 Cruise Shuttle
Shuttle Express and other dedicated cruise shuttles serve Pier 91 from Sea-Tac and downtown hotels. Book in advance.
From ~$20/person
🚕 Taxi
Yellow Cab and other metered taxis. Fixed-rate taxis are a good option during match days when Uber/Lyft surge.
~$25–35 from downtown
🅿️ Self-Drive & Park
On-site parking is available at the terminal. Reserve in advance — lots fill quickly on busy sail days.
~$25/day on-site
❌ Link Light Rail
No direct Light Rail access to Pier 91. Do not rely on Link for this terminal — you'll need a connecting ride from the nearest station.
Not recommended

✈️ Sea-Tac Airport → Pier 91

🚗 Rideshare / Taxi
Direct to terminal. ~30–45 min · $45–65
🚐 Cruise Shuttle
Shuttle Express picks up at baggage claim. ~45 min · book ahead
🚇 Link + Rideshare
Link to Westlake, then Uber/Lyft to terminal. ~50 min total

Quick Facts

Address 2203 Alaskan Way, Seattle 98121
Neighborhood Downtown Waterfront
From Downtown <1 mile · 5–10 min walk or 3 min by car
From Sea-Tac ~14 miles · 20–35 min by car
Parking No on-site parking — use nearby garages
Port Info portseattle.org →
Celebrity Oceania Windstar Silversea

🚶 What's Walkable from Pier 66

🐟 Pike Place Market — 5 min 🌊 Seattle Waterfront — 2 min 🎡 Seattle Great Wheel — 3 min 🏛️ Seattle Art Museum — 8 min 🧅 Space Needle — 20 min (or monorail) ☕ Capitol Hill — 25 min 🏘️ Pioneer Square — 15 min 🏟️ Lumen Field — 35 min walk or 10 min by Link

🚌 Getting to Pier 66

🚶 Walk from Downtown
If you're staying in a downtown hotel, you can often walk directly to Pier 66. Easiest option if you have manageable luggage.
5–15 min from most hotels
🚇 Link Light Rail
Take Link to Westlake Station, then walk 12 min to the waterfront or take a quick rideshare.
35 min from Sea-Tac
🚌 Metro Bus
Multiple routes along 1st Ave and the waterfront. Routes 1, 2, 13 stop near the terminal.
Frequent service
🚗 Rideshare (Uber/Lyft)
Drop-off at Alaskan Way. Note: on FIFA match days, downtown traffic will be severe. Build in extra time.
5 min from downtown (off-peak)
🅿️ Nearest Parking
Pike Place Market Garage (1531 Western Ave), Harbor Steps Garage, or waterfront street parking (metered). No terminal parking.
3–5 min walk to terminal
🚐 Cruise Shuttle
Shuttle Express and hotel shuttles serve Pier 66 from Sea-Tac. Check your cruise line — many offer transfers.
From ~$18/person

✈️ Sea-Tac Airport → Pier 66

🚇 Link Light Rail
Link to Westlake Station, walk 12 min or quick rideshare to pier. ~40 min · $3.50
🚗 Rideshare / Taxi
Direct to Alaskan Way. ~25–35 min · $40–55
🚐 Cruise Shuttle
Shuttle Express at baggage claim Level 1 door. ~45 min · book ahead

🗓️ Typical Embarkation Day Timeline

✅ Tips for Cruise Passengers in Summer 2026

🚢 Port of Seattle — Cruise Info 🌲 Visit Seattle
🅿️ Cruise Parking

Where to Park for Your Cruise

Both terminals have dedicated parking. Book in advance during peak season (May–September) — spaces fill fast on busy cruise weekends.

🚢 Pier 91 — Smith Cove Terminal
Smith Cove Terminal Garage
1 min walk · On-site, Port of Seattle
$25–30/day
Pier 91 Surface Lot
3–5 min walk · W Commodore Way
$20–25/day
Magnolia / W Garfield Lots
8–10 min walk · Street + private lots
$18–22/day
💡 Pre-book through portseattle.org for guaranteed space and sometimes lower rates. Garage fills fast on peak Alaska cruise days (Sat/Sun, May–Sept).
🛳️ Pier 66 — Bell Street Terminal
Bell Street Pier Garage
2 min walk · 2203 Alaskan Way
$22–28/day
Pier 62/63 Waterfront Lot
8 min walk · Alaskan Way
$18–24/day
Belltown Garage (2nd & Bell)
12 min walk · Downtown Belltown
$15–20/day
💡 Pier 66 is the most walkable terminal — many downtown hotels are 10–15 min on foot. Consider leaving the car at the hotel and walking with luggage.
🚌 Getting to the Piers

Getting to Your Terminal

The two terminals have very different transit options. Pier 66 is walkable from downtown. Pier 91 requires a bus or car.

🛳️ Pier 66 — Bell Street

🚇
Link Light Rail
University Street Station — 10-minute walk to Pier 66 via the waterfront path. Runs from Sea-Tac every 8–10 min.
🚶
Walkable from Downtown
Most downtown hotels are 10–15 min on foot. Walk down Pike St or Bell St to the waterfront — mostly flat, luggage-friendly.

🚢 Pier 91 — Smith Cove

🚌
Metro Bus 19 or 24
From downtown Seattle to W Garfield St / Pier 91. About 20–25 min. Runs every 20–30 min. Check Metro trip planner for current schedules.
🚗
Car or Rideshare
15–20 min from downtown in normal traffic. Allow extra time during peak cruise season. Pre-book car service the night before to guarantee timing.
✈️ From Sea-Tac Airport
🚇 Link → Pier 66
Take Link to University Street Station (~38 min, $3.50), then 10-min walk or Uber to Pier 66.
🚗 Car → Pier 91
Rideshare or rental from Sea-Tac directly to Pier 91 — about 20–30 min, $35–55 depending on traffic.
🚇 Link → Bus → Pier 91
Link to Westlake (~35 min), transfer to Bus 19 toward Pier 91 (~25 min). Total ~60–70 min. Cheapest: ~$5–6.
🗺️ Interactive Map

Seattle Cruise Terminals & Waterfront

Both terminals, parking, and transit connections — click markers for details.