Cruise FAQ

What measures are the Port of Seattle and individual cruise lines taking as they resume service?

The Port of Seattle has been working with closely with individual cruise lines, and local and national health authorities on Port Agreements, which will outline protocols that will protect public safety during cruise operations. These agreements will cover things that both prevent the spread of COVID, as well as outlining response if there are COVID cases. Cruise lines will need to have agreements in place with local providers for both treatment and quarantining passengers, if necessary. Agreements will cover things like vaccination, testing, mask requirements, including physical distancing. Please visit their Cruise Healthy website for more details.

Each cruise line updates their website frequently with their specific travel advisory information and customer service policies. Check their pages for updates:

• Carnival Cruise Line
• Celebrity Cruise Line
• Holland America Line
• Norwegian Cruise Line 
• Oceania Cruises
• Princess Cruises 
• Royal Caribbean

Learn more about the Port’s overall COVID-19 Response and get updates on operations at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

Where is my cruise ship?

Passengers cruising with Oceania Cruises or Norwegian Cruise Lines will embark/disembark from the Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal at Pier 66, located directly on our central waterfront. At this cruise terminal, you are within walking distance of Pike Place Market, Seattle Aquarium, Seattle Great Wheel, and Olympic Sculpture Park. Seattle Center and the Space Needle are also nearby.

Passengers cruising aboard Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises or Royal Caribbean Cruises will embark/disembark from Smith Cove Cruise Terminal at Pier 91. Smith Cove is located at the north end of the Elliott Bay waterfront, at the base of the beautiful Magnolia neighborhood, just 10-minutes from the city’s retail core. This is one of the world’s only facilities where ships can connect to the city’s power grid, greatly reducing air emissions.

For more information on the cruise terminals, reference the Port of Seattle’s Cruise Passenger Information page.

What is the parking situation near the cruise terminals?

The Port of Seattle has partnered with Republic Parking to provide convenient parking locations with special week-long cruise parking rates. Check here for details and rates.

You can find more affordable parking garages nearby at downtownseattle.org/parking or through SpotHero, the nation’s leading parking reservations app. With SpotHero, search for daily, weekly, or monthly parking facilities and enjoy the convenience of booking a parking spot at your destination ahead of time, ensuring you have a space when you arrive.

I am flying into Sea-Tac Airport and do not have a car. How do I get to my ship?

Sea-Tac Airport is just 15 miles from downtown. The Link Light Rail provides transportation between the airport and Downtown Seattle. Alternatively, taxis and ride shares provide transportation to both ports. Your cruise line also provides bus transfers to the ship. Check out our Getting Around page for more information.

How can I easily get around the city? I don’t want to miss my boarding call.

Getting around Seattle is easy. Check out our Getting Around page with tons of information and contact information for taxis, car shares, limos, METRO buses and Link Light Rail. What’s more, the city is pretty compact for the global powerhouse that it is. From the Space Needle to the Smith Tower, our downtown core is just a mile and a half long, so you’ll never be too far from your ship.

What can I do in Seattle before and/or after my cruise?

If you’re cruising out of Seattle, you couldn’t be luckier. There’s so much to see and do, you’ll want as much time as possible to explore. Whether you have a a few hours or a few days, check out our Pre & Post Cruise Activities page to discover how to enjoy your time on land in the Emerald City.

What about my luggage? Are there any options for luggage storage while I explore Seattle?

Even better! The Port of Seattle offers complimentary luggage transfer from the ship directly to Sea-Tac Airport, allowing you to explore the home port hassle-free! Learn more about Port Valet and feel immediately unburdened.

If for some reason the Port Valet program does not work for you, consider looking into these luggage storage companies can help you identify storage facilities throughout the city: Luggage Hero, Bounce, Stasher.

We’ve done our best to outline answers to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding cruising from Seattle.

Looking for more? Don’t hesitate to reach out to our extraordinary concierge team before your trip or while you’re on the ground.