Seattle Cruise Port Guide
USA · in-depth port guide, sources shown throughout
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.
via UK FCDO travel advice — USA (health) · 25 Jun 2026
Relayed from UK FCDO travel advice — USA · checked 24 Jun 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 downtown waterfront. An easy, level walk to Pike Place Market, the Seattle Aquarium and the Great Wheel. (Walk — the terminal sits on the central waterfront; downtown attractions are on foot.)
- Smith Cove Cruise Terminal (Pier 91) — About 10 minutes by car north of the downtown core 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 downtown 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
Downtown 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
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.
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 downtown 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
- Travel advisories
- FCDO (GOV.UK) & US State Department · refreshed automatically