Seattle Shore Excursions
USA · 20 independent tours
Across USA — laws, safety & health
National rules and risks that apply anywhere in USA — relayed from official sources, not our verdict. We pass on what the authority says and leave the judgement to you.
Laws that catch visitors out
- The national legal age for buying and drinking alcohol is 21.
- Illegal drugs, including cannabis, carry severe penalties — a long jail sentence and heavy fines, including when transiting through airports. (US federal law applies even where a state has legalised cannabis.)
- Always carry a passport showing you have permission to enter or remain in the US.
- US law prohibits importing, exporting, making, selling or transporting drug paraphernalia.
Drones
Visitors flying a drone recreationally in the US must take the FAA’s free online TRUST safety test and carry proof. A drone of 250 g or more must have Remote ID and be registered — on the FAA DroneZone, or by filing a Notice of Identification if it is already registered in your home country. Fly at or below 400 ft in uncontrolled (Class G) airspace, keep it within sight, and do not fly over people.
via US FAA — Recreational Flyers & Community-Based Organizations · 25 Jun 2026
Scams to watch
Do not leave passports in rental cars (especially the boot) — vehicles driven by people who look like tourists may be targeted.
Health hazards
The FCDO health page lists Zika virus, West Nile virus and altitude sickness (in parts of the country) among the health risks in the US. There is no reciprocal healthcare agreement — treatment is expensive, so comprehensive travel insurance is essential. Check current detail and vaccine recommendations on TravelHealthPro before you travel. The FCDO safety and security page adds that the Atlantic hurricane season normally runs June to November and the Pacific season May to November, and that hurricanes can affect coastal regions, Hawaii and Guam. Its instruction is to monitor approaching storms on the US National Hurricane Center website and follow instructions from local authorities, including evacuation orders.
via UK FCDO travel advice — USA (health + safety and security) · 22 Aug 2026
Relayed from UK FCDO travel advice — USA · checked 18 Jul 2026
Traffic drives on the right. Look left first when you cross the road.
Docking & terminals in Seattle
- Bell Street Cruise Terminal (Pier 66) — On the city-centre waterfront. An easy, level walk to Pike Place Market, the Seattle Aquarium and the Great Wheel. (Walk — the terminal sits on the central waterfront; city-centre attractions are on foot.)
- Smith Cove Cruise Terminal (Pier 91) — About 10 minutes by car north of the city centre and the Space Needle. (Taxi or rideshare — no public transit serves this pier; cruise-line coach transfers are also offered.)
Mobility & step-free access
Getting around between the pier and town:
- Walk — From Pier 66, a short, level walk reaches Pike Place Market, the Seattle Aquarium and the Great Wheel.
- Taxi / rideshare — The reliable choice from Pier 91 (no public transit) and for the Space Needle / Seattle Center; pickup zones are signed at both terminals.
Step-free options vary by pier and by the day — confirm the specifics with your operator and the ship’s guest-services desk before booking.
Heading back at the end of the day: Seattle has two cruise terminals — Bell Street (Pier 66) on the city-centre waterfront and Smith Cove (Pier 91) about three miles north. They are not walkable to each other, so check which one your ship uses before arranging transport.
Cruise lines don’t always tell you which pier you’re on, and it’s easy to forget once you’re ashore. As you leave the ship, note or photograph your pier’s name — then give your taxi that exact pier (or your ship’s name) for the trip back.
Your exact terminal is assigned per sailing — confirm it on the ship’s daily programme or gangway signage before heading ashore.
Getting around & must-sees in Seattle
Getting around
Central Seattle is compact and flat: from Bell Street (Pier 66) the waterfront, Pike Place Market and the Seattle Aquarium are all on foot. Smith Cove (Pier 91) is about 10 minutes north by car with no transit to the pier, so taxis and rideshare are the practical way in and out. The Link light rail and the waterfront streetcar serve the wider city but reach neither cruise terminal directly.
- Walk — From Pier 66, a short, level walk reaches Pike Place Market, the Seattle Aquarium and the Great Wheel.
- Taxi / rideshare — The reliable choice from Pier 91 (no public transit) and for the Space Needle / Seattle Center; pickup zones are signed at both terminals.
Must-see sights
- Pike Place Market — Historic market with diverse food and retail options
- Space Needle
Taxis & ride-hailing — Uber and Lyft operate throughout Seattle with signed pickup zones at both cruise terminals.
Getting back to the pier
Neither cruise terminal is served by a bus or train route to the door, so plan to return by taxi or rideshare and allow extra time on busy summer turnaround afternoons.
- Taxi / rideshare — The dependable way back to Pier 66 or Pier 91; use the signed rideshare pickup areas at each terminal.
Key facts only — confirm times, fares and seasonal openings locally.
Operator policies we’ve checked in Seattle
Before a tour earns its trust pills, we read the operator’s own site — their terms, cancellation and accessibility pages — and relay what they state. These are the operators’ own terms, not our verdicts; confirm when booking.
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Argosy Cruises
- Cancellation — varies across this operator’s tours. Argosy Cruises offers a full refund up to 48 hours before departure, but only if you've purchased their optional Trip Protection add-on at the time of booking; without it, a missed or cancelled cruise isn't refunded. Separately: Without Trip Protection, cancelling 10 or more days ahead gets a 50% refund of the booking total (excluding the non-refundable ticketing fee); combo ticket packages are non-refundable outright. Guests can instead rebook for a credit valid up to a year, with no rebooking fee.
- Accessibility — Argosy Cruises says its crew is trained to help guests using wheelchairs, walkers and canes get to its docks, facilities and vessels, with ramp slopes of up to 20 degrees at one pier and a flat, smooth walk to the boat at their AGC Marina dock.
- Group size — Argosy Cruises caps bookings at a maximum of 15 tickets.
Checked 19 Jul 2026 · covers 2 tours listed on this page
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Beneath the Streets
- Accessibility — Beneath the Streets note that, due to the historic nature of the buildings, the tour is not wheelchair/ADA accessible, involving six flights of stairs with no lift access.
- Group size — Beneath the Streets run private tours seven days a week, priced from $270 for groups of up to 15 guests and $320 for groups of 16 to 30; private tours for schools and non-profits start from $210.
Checked 16 Jul 2026 · covers 1 tour listed on this page
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Blue Kingdom Whale and Wildlife Tours
- Cancellation policy — Cancelling 48 hours ahead refunds the price less a $5-per-person card fee, so never the full amount. The operator does not guarantee whale sightings.
Checked 10 Aug 2026 · covers 1 tour listed on this page
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Center Art LLC (dba Chihuly Garden and Glass)
- Cancellation policy — Tickets are valid only for the date and time shown, non-transferable and non-refundable, with no cancellations. The venue also honours only tickets bought from it or a seller it has authorised.
Checked 10 Aug 2026 · covers 1 tour listed on this page
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City Sightseeing Worldwide
- Free cancellation — verified with conditions: City Sightseeing Seattle allows free changes or cancellation up to 24 hours before your scheduled departure, giving a full refund; after that 24-hour cut-off, the booking becomes non-refundable.
- Accessibility — City Sightseeing Seattle can provide folding wheelchair-, walker- and stroller-accessible buses (strollers must be no larger than a collapsible umbrella style), but motorised scooters cannot be accommodated on board; call the office directly on 206-829-9267 to arrange ADA accommodations.
- Group size — Guests travelling as part of a large group are asked to call City Sightseeing Seattle's Contact Center in advance to let them know who they're travelling with.
Checked 16 Jul 2026 · covers 1 tour listed on this page
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Clipper Vacations
- Cancellation policy — For group bookings, Clipper Vacations offers a 50% refund on cancellations made more than 15 days ahead, but no refund for cancellations within 14 days or no-shows; charter tickets and unused portions of a reservation are non-refundable. Hotel packages carry a 10% non-refundable deposit at booking, with cancellation terms set by the group contract.
- Accessibility — Clipper Vacations says it is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible travel experience for all guests, though its Vista Class and Comfort Class sections sit on the upper deck and require walking up stairs.
- Group size — Clipper Vacations defines a group booking as 20 or more adult passengers.
Checked 16 Jul 2026 · covers 1 tour listed on this page
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Eat Seattle
- Cancellation policy — Eat Seattle states on its FAQ page that all ticket sales are final and non-refundable.
- Accessibility — Eat Seattle notes that a medium level of physical fitness is recommended for this tour.
Checked 16 Jul 2026 · covers 1 tour listed on this page
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Emerald City Charters Inc. (trading as Sailing Seattle)
- Cancellation policy — The operator publishes a cancellation policy only for private charters, not for this public sail, and says its schedule is not built around the weather.
Checked 10 Aug 2026 · covers 1 tour listed on this page
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Jupiter Legend Corporation (of Universal Vision)
- Cancellation policy — The only cancellation terms this operator publishes are written for its multi-day package tours and run 30 days before departure, and it says terms vary by package — so no cancellation window is stated for this day trip.
Checked 10 Aug 2026 · covers 1 tour listed on this page
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Outer Island Excursions
- Cancellation policy — Outer Island Excursions charges a 25% non-refundable cancellation fee, though bookings can be transferred up to 48 hours before departure; cancellations or no-shows within 48 hours are not refunded or rescheduled. If the operator itself cancels a trip for weather or other unforeseen circumstances, guests are refunded in full.
Checked 10 Aug 2026 · covers 2 tours listed on this page
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Sailing Seattle
- Cancellation policy — Sailing Seattle refund your deposit minus a 3% processing fee if you cancel more than seven days before your trip, but deposits become non-refundable within seven days of departure. If weather, mechanical failure or another condition beyond their control stops the trip going ahead, they offer a credit for a future date or a refund.
- Accessibility — Sailing Seattle say their captain and crew can help almost anybody board the boat and get comfortable, and they have bench seating set aside for those who need it.
Checked 16 Jul 2026 · covers 1 tour listed on this page
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Show Me Seattle
- Free cancellation — verified with conditions: Show Me Seattle gives a full refund or credit if you cancel at least 24 hours before the tour (the same applies if they cancel it), but no-shows are not refunded. Also stated: No-shows are not eligible for a refund.
- Accessibility — Show Me Seattle say they have space at the back of the bus for wheelchairs, though they do not offer a lift.
- Group size — Tours need a minimum of four guests to run; if that number isn't reached, Show Me Seattle will offer a reschedule or a full, prompt refund.
Checked 16 Jul 2026 · covers 1 tour listed on this page
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Space Needle & Chihuly Garden and Glass
- Cancellation policy — Space Needle admission is non-refundable: the operator states there are no cancellations, refunds, rain checks or exchanges, and a ticket will not be replaced if lost, stolen or unused; it also notes that any amount already charged before a modification or cancellation request may not be refunded.
- Accessibility — The venue provides lifts to the observation deck and rotating glass floor and permits mobility scooters on site, though it notes that, owing to the building's historical nature, not all areas are accessible.
Checked 16 Jul 2026 · covers 1 tour listed on this page
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Tours Northwest
- Free cancellation — verified with conditions: Tours Northwest gives a full refund for cancellations made at least 24 hours before the tour starts (private tours require 48 hours' notice); cancellations made within 24 hours of the tour are not refunded.
- Accessibility — Tours Northwest runs a 12-passenger wheelchair-accessible bus, bookable with at least 7 days' notice and available only on their City Tours; folding wheelchairs can be stowed on any bus with advance notice, but motorised wheelchairs and scooters cannot be accommodated.
- Group size — Tours Northwest groups travellers by vehicle size: 1-5 passengers travel by SUV, and 6 or more by transit vehicle.
Checked 10 Aug 2026 · covers 2 tours listed on this page
Local know-hows in Seattle
Money
- Currency
- United States dollar (USD)
- Cards
- Credit and debit cards are accepted almost everywhere, including for dining, hotels and transport.
- ATMs
- ATMs are widely available.
- Tipping
- Tipping is customary in the U.S. — typically 15–20% at restaurants, and a few dollars for taxis, porters and housekeeping.
Practicalities
- Language
- English.
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink. Seattle Public Utilities reports the city’s water meets all drinking-water standards and is among the best in the nation for purity and taste; it comes from two protected mountain watersheds — the Cedar River (about 70% of supply) and the Tolt River in the Cascade foothills.
- Plugs
- Type A / Type B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz (North American standard). Non-US appliances may need a voltage converter.
Key facts to know before you step off — confirm anything time-sensitive locally.
Port busyness in Seattle
Usually quiet
Seattle is a large city that comfortably absorbs cruise crowds. The Alaska season runs roughly May to September with most turnarounds on weekends; the city-centre waterfront near Pier 66 is at its busiest on peak summer changeover days, but the city and its attractions rarely feel overwhelmed.
- large city
- weekend turnarounds
- seasonal Alaska sailings May–September
This shows a typical day for the time of year — actual crowds vary on your date, and it isn’t a guarantee.
What we’ve checked in Seattle — and when
We last checked the facts on this page on 13 Jul 2026. Live travel advisories refresh automatically from the official sources.
- Docking & getting ashore
- Verified by The Excursion Edit against official sources · 13 Jul 2026
- Getting around
- Verified by The Excursion Edit against official sources · 13 Jul 2026
- How busy it gets
- Verified by The Excursion Edit against official sources · 13 Jul 2026
- Operator policies
- From each operator’s own site and terms · 10 Aug 2026
- Travel advisories
- FCDO (GOV.UK) & US State Department · refreshed automatically