Hi there!
There are 2 cruise terminals in Seattle, and they are not located near each other. So you want to make sure you know specifically which one you need to be at to start your cruise! I’ve started and ended cruises from both Seattle cruise ports.
Generally speaking…
If you are going on a cruise from Seattle with NCL (Norwegian Cruise Line) or Oceania, your cruise ship will dock in downtown Seattle at Pier 66. (This is an area where you can do some easy walking along the Seattle waterfront, no matter your cruise line!)
If you are on any other cruise line, then your cruise ship will dock at Smith Cove (Pier 91), which is around a 10 to 15 minute drive from downtown. This includes the cruise lines of Princess, Holland America, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Carnival, and Cunard.
This is how it is for the vast majority of cruises. Below I will show you how you can confirm for your specific cruise, along with Seattle cruise shuttle information.
An interactive Seattle cruise port map that I created is below! This includes Pier 66, Pier 91, and things to do before your cruise from Seattle… or after!
There are partner websites that are included below.
You can get to both Pier 66 and Pier 91 by taxi, uber, public transportation, and shuttle. It’s a personal choice, really.
Or, in the case of Pier 66 (NCL), you can even walk if you’re staying downtown and you don’t mind walking with luggage!
There are also shuttles, including a shuttle before your cruise from airport hotels to the cruise port, and in the opposite direction after your cruise from the cruise port to the airport.
Some people stay at a hotel near the airport to save money. I’ve stayed at the Red Roof Inn and Country Inn and Suites, which both offer free airport shuttles.
For downtown hotels, popular among cruisers is the Edgewater, which is a boutique waterfront hotel right near the Pier 66 (NCL) Seattle cruise port.
It’s easy to take the train (light rail) from the airport to downtown Seattle. (Again, as long you don’t mind carrying around your luggage!) There is an airport station and downtown station, so it’s direct. (The train does not go to near the further away Pier 91 Smith Cove cruise port, but a bus does get close enough.)
Use google maps to navigate public transportation in Seattle! I’ve been around Seattle a bunch by public transportation, and google maps makes it easy! I got an orca card which makes it easy to pay for the train and bus. It’s basically a cash card. You can get it at any train station. There’s a digital version too.
I’ve started a cruise from both Pier 66 and Pier 91. I’ve taken public transportation and/or walked to get to both, so yes, it’s possible!
Seattle cruise shuttle
One of the popular ways to get to and from the Seattle cruise port is by shuttle. Seattle Express offers shuttles between the airport and cruise port, as well as between airport hotels and the cruise port.
- Before a cruise from Seattle:
- airport to cruise port shuttle
- Read the reviews
- airport HOTELS to cruise port shuttle
- Read the reviews
- airport to cruise port shuttle
- After a cruise to Seattle:
The Seattle airport is SEATAC. (Seattle-Tacoma)
I tend to compare flights at kayak.com to see what my options are on different airlines (cost and timing), and then book direct.
Port of Seattle cruise ship schedule
The best way to confirm your cruise will dock at your cruise line’s normal pier is by checking the Port of Seattle cruise ship schedule. You will find this at the Port of Seattle website. Look for “view the 2025 cruise schedule”!
Official information:
- Ball Street Pier 66 cruise port (NCL)
- Smith Cove Pier 91 cruise port (Princess, Holland America, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Carnival)
👆 Seattle cruise port schedule in 2025 for April and May. See the Port of Seattle website for the most updated schedule!
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👆 Seattle cruise port schedule in 2025 for May, June, and July.
👆 Seattle cruise port schedule in 2025 for July and August.
Alaska excursions to consider for a classic Alaska experience!
- Juneau: Mendenhall Glacier, Nugget Falls, and whale watching combo tour
- Juneau is one of the best cruise ports for whale watching in Alaska, and it's the cruise port that is famous for being able to see a glacier from land. So basically, these are the 2 must-do things in Juneau! And you can do them as part of one excursion. Read the reviews on viator or getyourguide.
- You can also separately take the Mendenhall Glacier trolley tour for transportation to the glacier only, and you can also do a whale watching only tour.
- To get closer to the glacier, do the Mendenhall Glacier canoe tour!
- Skagway: Wild adventure to the Yukon tour
- Skagway is the gateway to the rugged wilderness of the Yukon territory through an Alaskan mountain pass that is all about the views!
- Your ONE splurge-worthy epic excursion: Taku wilderness lodge and glacier flightseeing tour
- So many Alaska things in one tour! Do a fly-over across several glaciers, have a wilderness landing on the water, eat classic Alaska food (salmon bake!) in the middle of the wilderness! And be sure to go for a walk in the forest too while you wait for your food! This has the potential to be the highlight of your cruise! Read the reviews.
👆 Seattle cruise port schedule in 2025 for August, September, and October.
If you have an evening flight after your cruise, you may also be interested in the FREE luggage transfer from cruise ship to airport.
This luggage transfer is available to the cruise lines of Princess, Holland America, NCL, Royal Caribbean, and Celebrity, if you are flying out on the airlines of Alaska, American, Delta, Horizon, Jetblue, Southwest, Spirit, or United. See official info for updated information.
Seattle cruise port map
Now here is the map I created. It includes Pier 66 (NCL), Pier 91 at Smith Cove (most other cruise lines), and some of the best things to do in Seattle without a car that I think you should consider doing!
Another thing you’ll want to consider is a day trip to Mount Rainier National Park! You can go on your own by renting a car from the airport or you can go through a Mount Rainier tour from Seattle. If you want to go on your own, read up on reservation requirements.
Search for the cheapest Seattle airport car rental prices and compare at discovercars and expedia.
👆 How to use this map: Click on the top left icon for a list of what’s on the map! Or, just start clicking the icons on the map! Each icon has more details, so click to expand! If the map isn’t loading well for you, you can also open it directly in google maps.
👆 Where do Norwegian cruise ships dock in Seattle? NCL Alaska cruises from Seattle leave from downtown Seattle at Pier 66. I stayed in downtown Seattle before my Alaska cruise on a Norwegian cruise ship, and I walked to the cruise port. From where I was staying it was a 15 minute walk or so. On the morning of your cruise, you can also drop off luggage at the cruise port and then walk the waterfront! See my post about Seattle waterfront walking. These are nice things to do if you’re staying downtown no matter your cruise line!
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👆 Where do most other cruise lines dock in Seattle? Most major cruise lines that have Alaska cruises from Seattle leave from Pier 91 at Smith Cove, which is 10 to 15 minutes from downtown Seattle by car. I stayed downtown when I had a cruise from Seattle on a Princess cruise ship, and I took the bus to get to the cruise port… and from the cruise port after the cruise.
Side note!
Things to buy on Amazon that you'll thank yourself for having for your Alaska cruise!
I am an Amazon Associate. I may earn a commission.
- Much of your cruise is in Southeast Alaska where it rains a lot so bring travel-friendly rain gear in case it rains
- Water resistant pants for walking in Alaska (lightweight comfortable pants that are good for movement and quick to dry!)
- for women: hiking/walking pants | for men: hiking/walking pants
- Lightweight waterproof binoculars (so you can see wildlife better on those scenic cruising days!)
- Merrell waterproof hiking shoes if you'll be doing rainforest hikes or if you'll be doing a lot of walking:
- Merrell is one of the best outdoor shoe brands
- Women's Merrell Moab 3 shoes
- Men's Merrell Moab 3 shoes
/end side note
👆 You can get to Pier 91 Smith Cove cruise port by bus.
👆 You can get to your Seattle cruise port by taxi.
👆 You can get to your Seattle cruise port by shuttle!
More for your Seattle cruise planning:
- Things to do in Seattle before a cruise
- Things to do in Victoria
- Ketchikan cruise port map
- Juneau cruise port map
- Skagway cruise port map
Happy cruising from Seattle cruise port!
More Alaska cruise travel planning tips you need to know!
Juneau | Ketchikan | Skagway | Icy Strait Point | Sitka | Victoria
Seattle | Vancouver
Whittier | Seward | Anchorage
👉 Best of Alaska
👉 Before you book
👉 PACKING LIST: waterproof shoes | rain jacket or poncho | puffer jacket
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Pinterest tip: Share the travel ideas you find on pinterest with your travel partners! Go to your Alaska cruise travel board, and look for the little + person icon! Or, you can go to "edit board" and "invite" your travel partners as a "collaborator"! This way you can all add pins to one shared board and you can all easily see what ideas others have found!