Seattle cruise port guide
Which terminal is yours?
Two cruise terminals three miles apart, sixteen ships sailing to Alaska from April to October, and parking that has to be booked ahead at Pier 91. Here is which pier is yours, how to get there from Sea-Tac and where to stay.
Terminals, prices, and schedules checked . How we check
Departure day, in order
- Step 1
Get to the port
Flying in? Sea-Tac Airport (SEA) to Pier 91 is about 17.5 miles away, 30 to 45 minutes by car.
Airport transfer options - Step 2
Park or stay the night before
9 parking options. With a shuttle or a walk to the terminal, 7 days costs $121.90 to $278.40. 16 hotels on our list run a port shuttle.
Compare parking - Step 3
Drop your bags at the terminal
Porters take checked luggage at the curb. Keep medication, documents, and a change of clothes with you.
Find your terminal
Arriving a day early?
Flying in the day before gives you a buffer for delays and a free afternoon in Seattle. Tours, boat trips and attractions there can be booked on Viator.
Things to do in SeattleSeattle is the biggest homeport for Alaska cruises: the port expected a record 2.1 million passengers in 2026, and 16 ships sail from it on a regular schedule from late April to early October 2027. Almost all of them are 7-night round trips through the Inside Passage, with a stop in Victoria, British Columbia.
There are two terminals about 3 miles apart. Smith Cove at Pier 91, north of downtown, handles most lines. Bell Street at Pier 66, on the downtown waterfront, is Norwegian's and Oceania's. Pier 91 has no public transit, so most people arrive by taxi, rideshare, shuttle or their own car.
Cruise lines sailing from Seattle
| Cruise line | Ships | Terminal |
|---|---|---|
| Holland America Line | Eurodam, Noordam, Westerdam | Smith Cove Cruise Terminal (Pier 91) |
| Princess Cruises | Royal Princess, Star Princess | Smith Cove Cruise Terminal (Pier 91) |
| Royal Caribbean | Quantum of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas | Smith Cove Cruise Terminal (Pier 91) |
| Celebrity Cruises | Celebrity Edge | Smith Cove Cruise Terminal (Pier 91) |
| Carnival Cruise Line | Carnival Spirit, Carnival Legend | Smith Cove Cruise Terminal (Pier 91) |
| MSC Cruises | MSC Poesia | Smith Cove Cruise Terminal (Pier 91) |
| Virgin Voyages | Brilliant Lady | Smith Cove Cruise Terminal (Pier 91) |
| Norwegian Cruise Line | Norwegian Jade | Smith Cove Cruise Terminal (Pier 91) |
| Norwegian Cruise Line | Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Joy | Bell Street Cruise Terminal (Pier 66) |
| Oceania Cruises | Oceania Riviera | Bell Street Cruise Terminal (Pier 66) |
Arrival tips
- Check which pier is on your boarding pass. Pier 91 and Pier 66 are about 3 miles apart, and taxis, shuttles and parking differ for each.
- Port parking at Pier 91 is booked ahead online at seattleportparking.com. Pier 66's garage across the street is $30 a day.
- Avoid arriving between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. unless that's your check-in time; the port says it's the busiest window at both terminals.
- U.S. citizens on a round trip from Seattle can sail with a birth certificate and government photo ID, but a passport is recommended, and one-way sailings to or from Vancouver need one. Every round trip stops in Canada, almost always Victoria.
- Fly in the day before. The port's own survey says more than half of cruise passengers stay overnight in Seattle first.
Common questions
Which Seattle cruise terminal does my ship use?
Norwegian Bliss, Encore and Joy and Oceania Riviera use Pier 66 (Bell Street). Holland America, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Carnival, MSC and Virgin Voyages use Pier 91 (Smith Cove), as do Norwegian Jade's three September 2027 sailings. Go by your boarding pass.
How far is the Seattle cruise port from the airport?
About 15 miles to Pier 66 and 17.5 miles to Pier 91, or 30 to 45 minutes by car depending on traffic. Light rail runs from the airport to downtown for $3, which works for Pier 66 but not Pier 91.
Do I need a passport for an Alaska cruise from Seattle?
Not for a round trip that starts and ends in Seattle, if you're a U.S. citizen: a birth certificate plus government photo ID works. The cruise lines still recommend a passport, and you need one for one-way sailings to or from Vancouver.
When is the Seattle cruise season?
The first 2027 homeport sailings leave in mid-April and the last in mid-October. July is the busiest month, and Saturday and Sunday are the busiest days, with three ships most weekends from May to mid-September.