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Seattle

Seattle: Pike Place Market, the Space Needle and the Ships to Alaska

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Seattle handles the bulk of northbound Alaska sailings from May through September. Arrivals a day early get Pike Place Market in the morning, the Ballard seafood district in the evening, and a rideshare to the pier the next morning.

Good to know

What to Expect

Ships use one of two Port of Seattle terminals: the Bell Street Cruise Terminal at Pier 66, near the middle of the downtown waterfront, or the Smith Cove Cruise Terminal at Pier 91, at the north end of the waterfront. Your cruise documents say which one, and it decides whether you can walk into town.

  • Pier 66 is at 2225 Alaskan Way, on the same downtown waterfront as the Seattle Aquarium.
  • Pier 91 is at 2001 W. Garfield St., and larger ships that cannot use Pier 66 berth there. Check with your cruise line for shuttle or transfer options; a taxi or rideshare also works.
  • Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is less than 15 miles from Pier 66.

Seattle on Your Own

Seattle is a home port for cruises to Alaska, so a day on your own here is usually the day before or after your cruise. From the downtown waterfront you can walk to the aquarium and Pike Place Market, and the monorail takes you from downtown to the Space Needle.

  • The waterfront and the market: The Seattle Aquarium is at Pier 59 on the downtown waterfront, and the Pike Street Hill Climb leads from the aquarium up to Pike Place Market.
  • Seattle Center: The monorail runs non-stop from Westlake Center, at 5th Avenue and Pine Street, to Seattle Center in about two minutes, with trains about every ten minutes.
  • From the airport: The Link light rail 1 Line runs from Sea-Tac airport into downtown Seattle.
  • Boarding day: Your cruise documents give your check-in time. If your ship sails from Pier 91, allow for traffic on the drive there.
  • If your ship calls here: All-aboard is usually about 30 minutes before sailing, and your ship posts the exact time. A ship will not wait for passengers touring on their own.

Getting to the Port

The Link light rail 1 Line connects Sea-Tac airport with downtown Seattle, and the monorail links downtown with Seattle Center. For the cruise piers themselves, a taxi or rideshare is the simplest choice.

  • A one-way adult Link fare was $3.00 in October 2026, and riders 18 and under travel free on all Sound Transit buses and trains. Check before you go.
  • ORCA card readers accept contactless bank cards and phone wallets, and transfers within two hours are included.
  • The Seattle Center Monorail runs non-stop between Westlake Center, at 5th Avenue and Pine Street, and Seattle Center in about two minutes.

Where to Eat

Puget Sound shellfish is the local specialty: clams, mussels, oysters and Dungeness crab, with geoduck, pronounced GOO-ey-duck, for the curious. Salmon is the other thing to eat here, at its most plentiful in late summer.

  • Red sockeye salmon is cheapest in late summer.
  • Rainier cherries are in season from June to early August, and Washington apples in September and October.
  • Teriyaki, grilled chicken in a sweet-savory sauce over rice, has long been Seattle's cheap, filling standby.
  • At Pike Place Market, produce and seafood vendors open at 7 a.m.

Tipping and Currency

Tipping is expected in the United States. Expectations in full-service restaurants vary, but about 18 to 20 percent of the bill before tax is customary for good service.

  • Some restaurants add an automatic gratuity or service charge, often for large groups, so check the bill before you tip.
  • Taxi drivers usually get 10 to 20 percent of the fare.
  • Bartenders, hotel housekeeping and porters are usually tipped too.

Seattle Before You Sail

Seattle Center, left behind by the 1962 World's Fair, holds the Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass and the Museum of Pop Culture. The monorail from downtown, built for the same fair, is the easy way there.

  • General admission to the Space Needle ranged from $35 to $55 in October 2026, depending on season and time of day, and a combined ticket with Chihuly Garden and Glass and IMAX was $74. Check before you go.
  • The Space Needle is open year-round, with hours that change by season.
  • Olympic Sculpture Park is a short walk north of Pier 66.

A Brief History

Seattle grew from a settlers' landing in 1851 into the supply town for the Klondike gold rush and later the home of Boeing. Its 1962 World's Fair left the Space Needle and the monorail that still carry visitors today.

  • Founding, 1851: The founding of Seattle is usually dated to 25 September 1851, when scouts from the Denny Party arrived at Alki Point.
  • The Great Fire, 1889: The fire of 6 June 1889, started by a glue pot, burned 29 blocks and nearly all of the business district.
  • The Klondike, 1897: On 17 July 1897 the steamer Portland docked with gold from the Klondike, and Seattle became the main supply point for the rush.
  • Pike Place Market, 1907: The market opened in 1907 and now fills a nine-acre historic district.
  • The piers: The Bell Street Pier was renumbered Pier 66 in 1944, and the present pier was completed in 1996. At Smith Cove, the pier now numbered 91 was built 50 feet longer than its neighbor, which had been the largest pier in the world.
  • The World's Fair, 1962: The Century 21 Exposition was planned to leave behind a civic center, now Seattle Center. The Space Needle, about 605 feet tall, opened on 21 April 1962, and the monorail was built in eight months for the fair.
  • The Boeing bust: Boeing's commercial airplane division shrank from 83,700 employees in 1968 to 20,750 in 1971, and local unemployment reached 14 percent.
  • To learn more ashore: The Museum of History & Industry, at 860 Terry Ave N at the south end of Lake Union, covers the history of Seattle and the region. It is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Traveling with Family

With children, a Seattle day before or after the cruise can stay on the waterfront and at Seattle Center, linked by a two-minute monorail ride. Children and teens 18 and under ride Sound Transit buses and light rail free.

  • Younger children: The Seattle Aquarium, at Pier 59 on the waterfront, is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., with last entry at 5 p.m.
  • School age: The monorail from Westlake Center to Seattle Center takes about two minutes. Children 4 and under visit the Space Needle free, and youth aged 5 to 12 get a discounted ticket.
  • A museum for a rainy day: The Museum of History & Industry, at the south end of Lake Union, admits young people aged 14 and under free; adults paid $25 in October 2026, and it is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Check before you go.

Accessibility

Downtown Seattle rises above the waterfront and is linked to it by stairways such as the Harbor Steps and the Pike Street Hill Climb, so a taxi can save a climb. If your ship uses Pier 91, arrange an accessible vehicle ahead if you need one.

  • The Museum of History & Industry has a fully accessible entrance on the west side of its building, with accessible parking and drop-off beside it.
  • Ask the aquarium and the Space Needle about step-free routes before you go.

Shopping & Local Markets

Pike Place Market covers a nine-acre historic district with more than 220 independent shops and restaurants, 180 craftspeople and 70 farmers. For big brands, head instead to the Westlake shopping area along Pike, Pine and Union streets.

  • Most of the market is busy from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week, and it closes only on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
  • The Crafts Market runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • The Westlake area runs between 3rd and 7th avenues and has big fashion and activewear brands.
  • Pioneer Square, south of downtown, is cheaper, with more eclectic accessories.

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