Royal Caribbean offers Alaska cruises from the Port of Seattle each summer season, as thousands of passengers depart the city en route to the Last Frontier.
Alaska cruises depart from both Seattle, Washington and Vancouver, British Columbia each year, with the fleet’s Quantum Class cruise ships sailing almost exclusively from Seattle.
If you have an Alaska cruise booked on a Quantum Class ship next summer, here’s what you need to know about cruises from the Port of Seattle.
In this guide:
Royal Caribbean ships depart from Pier 91 in Seattle. Located just three miles from downtown and sixteen miles from the airport, the Port of Seattle is conveniently located near many of the city’s main attractions.
Royal Caribbean Seattle cruise port address:
- Smith Cove Cruise Terminal 91, 2001 West Garfield Street, Seattle, WA 98199
How to get to the Port of Seattle
If traveling by air, you’ll want to book a flight to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), otherwise known as Sea-Tac.
Seattle’s airport is a major US airport, offering direct flights to 91 domestic and 28 international destinations. The airport serves as a hub airport for both Alaska Airlines and Delta Airlines, but all major US carriers offer flights to Seattle.
If arriving via car, you can follow the driving directions on Royal Caribbean’s website here.
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is located 30 minutes by car from the Pier 91 cruise terminal. There are many ways to travel from the airport to the cruise port, from rideshare services to taxis and the light rail.
Rideshare services & taxis
Uber and Lyft are both accessible from the Seattle airport. Expect to pay around $60 each way for an Uber or Lyft from the airport to port. If you’re traveling from the airport to downtown, fares should cost around $50 each way.
Taxi service is also available, with fares priced at $40 from Sea-Tac airport to downtown Seattle. If traveling directly from the airport to Pier 91, expect to pay around $60 one way.
Rideshare and taxi services are priced per ride, not per person, so they can be an economical way to travel to the Seattle cruise port if with a larger group.
Light rail
Seattle’s light rail system connects the airport to downtown, and tickets cost between $2.25 and $3.25 depending on how far you ride.
Trains depart every day of the week, leaving every 6 to 15 minutes from 5AM to 1AM (12AM on Sundays). This makes the light rail a convenient and cheap way to reach downtown from the airport.
Please note that the light rail does not correct directly to the Pier 91 cruise terminal. Therefore, it’s better used for those travelers arriving the day before their cruise en route to a hotel in downtown Seattle.
Alternatively, you can ride the light rail to Pioneer Square station and then order a rideshare service to reach the cruise terminal.
Shuttles through Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean offers shuttle service to and from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport with seats priced at around $25 per person each way. Using a rideshare service or taxi is recommended over a Royal Caribbean shuttle, as the price will be cheaper for larger groups and you’ll have more flexibility over departure times.
What time should I schedule my return flight after the cruise?
We recommend booking flights from Seattle’s airport no earlier than 12 PM on disembarkation day. As the airport is located 30 minutes from the cruise port, you’ll want to provide extra wiggle room for traffic and other delays.
If you’re driving to Pier 91, the most convenient parking option is at the terminal’s official parking lot. There are 1,000 spaces available at the lot for $27 per day. You can book a spot in advance here.
Because the ports are located right downtown, there are few other options available. You can choose to park at a lot near the airport for as low as $13-15 per day, but the cost of transportation from the airport to the cruise port may negate any savings.
Seattle is a dynamic city, combining urban life with picturesque scenery in every direction. While we always recommend arriving in your cruise departure port the day before your cruise, this is especially true in Seattle.
Arriving the day before your cruise provides ample time in case of any travel delays, but it also gives more time to visit Seattle’s attractions including the Space Needle and Pike Place Market.Â
We recommend staying at a hotel in downtown Seattle before your cruise. Staying in the area between downtown and the Space Needle is convenient for sightseeing.
Royal Caribbean Blog readers have suggested the following hotels on our message boards:
- Four Points by Sheraton Downtown Seattle Center
- The Edgewater Hotel
- Crowne Plaza Seattle Downtown
- Mayflower Park Hotel
Seattle is currently the only cruise port to offer Luggage Valet. This is a service offered onboard Royal Caribbean ships in which guests can bypass the check-in process at Seattle’s airport.
Through the Luggage Valet program, guests receive the following benefits:
- Check-in for flights onboard
- Airline boarding passes and luggage tags delivered to stateroom
- Luggage transported directly from stateroom to the airport and onto the flight
Through Luggage Valet, travelers can save time by avoiding long lines to check in at the airport.Â
Luggage Valet is currently offered on flights through Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta (domestic flights only), JetBlue, Southwest, and United. The service comes with a minimal fee in addition to any airline baggage fees. The fee is waived for guests in Grand Suites and above.
Two Royal Caribbean cruise ships, Quantum of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas, sail from the Port of Seattle. They sail only during the Alaska cruise season, which runs from April to September.
Quantum of the Seas departs the Port of Seattle each Monday whereas Ovation of the Seas offers cruises starting on Fridays. Both sail roundtrip 7-night cruises to Alaska each week, with destinations including Juneau, Sitka, Skagway, Ketchikan, and Victoria.
Related:Â All about Quantum Class ships
These two ships are both in the Quantum Class, which are some of the largest, most modern vessels in Royal Caribbean’s fleet. Highlights of the Quantum Class include an indoor SeaPlex sports arena, Two70 lounge and entertainment space, indoor skydiving, and more. These ships make great choices for families and passengers of all ages.
