Pier 91 Seattle, officially the Smith Cove Cruise Terminal, is where most Alaska cruises from Seattle begin and end. It sits at 2001 West Garfield Street, at the north end of the waterfront below the Magnolia bluff, about 10 minutes by car from downtown and 30 to 40 minutes from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. In 2026 parking cost from $27 a day in an 800-space lot, there was a dedicated rideshare lot, and there was no public transit to the terminal at all.
This page is for travelers sailing from Pier 91 who want the practical details: how to get there, where to park or be dropped off, what to do with luggage, and what the terminal is like on the way home. The caveat that matters: Seattle has two cruise terminals a few miles apart, and Pier 91 is the one you can’t walk to, so check your boarding documents before you tell the driver. For the bigger picture, see our guide to an Alaska cruise from Seattle. Last updated November 4, 2026. Every price, fee and schedule below is dated, and the sources are listed at the end.
Pier 91 at a glance
| As of September 2026 | Details |
|---|---|
| Official name | Smith Cove Cruise Terminal at Pier 91 |
| Address | 2001 West Garfield Street, Seattle, WA 98119 |
| Lines listed by the Port | Carnival, Celebrity, Cunard, Holland America, MSC, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Virgin Voyages |
| From SEA airport | 30 to 40 minutes by car, depending on traffic |
| From downtown | About 10 minutes by car; not walkable with luggage |
| Public transit | None; the nearest bus stop was permanently closed |
| Parking | From $27 a day (800 spaces); RV and over-height from $47 a day |
| Rideshare | Dedicated app-based rideshare lot for drop-off and pickup |
| Luggage storage | $6 a bag, same day, collect by 3 p.m. |
| Flights home | Port Valet checks bags from the ship to participating airlines |
Which cruise lines sail from Pier 91 Seattle?
The Port of Seattle lists Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, MSC Cruises, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean and Virgin Voyages at Pier 91. In practice that’s most of Seattle’s Alaska traffic, and Seattle guides put Pier 91’s share of the city’s cruise volume at roughly 70 to 75 percent. One note on that list: Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth sailed what was reported as Cunard’s last scheduled Alaska season in 2026, and Cunard isn’t scheduled to return in 2027 or 2028.
The other terminal, Pier 66 (the Bell Street Cruise Terminal), is downtown on the central waterfront, and Norwegian’s Seattle ships (Encore, Bliss and Joy) sail from there in 2027. Our Pier 66 Seattle guide covers that terminal, and our Seattle cruise terminal page compares the two.
Verdict: don’t assume. Lines occasionally switch terminals for a season or a single sailing, and your boarding pass is the only source that counts. “Pier 91” and “Smith Cove” are the same place.
Seattle’s season is big and getting bigger. The Port forecast a record 330 vessel calls and about 2.1 million revenue passengers for 2026, with 16 ships homeported in the city, up from about 1.9 million passengers on 298 calls in 2025. On a summer Saturday or Sunday, expect Pier 91 to be busy from the first drop-off to the last.
Where is Pier 91, and what’s it like?
Pier 91 is on Smith Cove, where the Magnolia and Queen Anne neighborhoods meet at the north end of Elliott Bay. It’s part of the Port’s Terminal 91, an industrial complex of piers, rail lines and parking lots that also serves fishing vessels, so the approach is all trucks and chain-link rather than cafes and shops. The terminal itself is functional and modern inside, built to move thousands of people and their bags in a few hours.
The important thing to understand is what it isn’t. Pier 91 isn’t on the downtown waterfront, you can’t walk to Pike Place Market from it, and there’s nothing to do in the immediate area except look at ships. If you arrive early, there’s no neighborhood to kill time in. Plan to arrive near your assigned boarding time, or spend the morning downtown and come over by car.
How to get to Pier 91
Your options, from the airport or from a downtown hotel:
| Method | From SEA airport | From downtown | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rideshare (Uber, Lyft) | 30 to 40 minutes | About 10 minutes | Uses the dedicated rideshare lot; surge pricing on busy mornings |
| Taxi | 30 to 40 minutes | About 10 minutes | Drops at the ground transportation lot by the entrance |
| Cruise line transfer | Scheduled coach | Some lines sell hotel pickups | Book through your line; the easiest option with lots of bags |
| Light rail plus a car | About 40 minutes to Westlake, then about 15 minutes by car | About 15 minutes by car | Cheapest route from the airport; no transit reaches the pier |
| Your own car | Park at the terminal | Park at the terminal | From $27 a day in 2026 |
By car
The Port’s directions: from I-5, take the Mercer Street exit (167), continue 1.7 miles to Elliott Avenue West, then turn right at the West Galer Street Flyover, which is the Magnolia Bridge approach. Follow the cruise signs from there. On boarding day, allow extra time for the line of cars at the entrance, especially between late morning and early afternoon when most passengers arrive.
Driving down from British Columbia? Build in time for the land border, where summer weekend waits can be long, and carry the passport or NEXUS card you’ll need for the crossing and for the cruise itself. Coming up from Oregon, I-5 traffic through Tacoma and downtown Seattle is the wild card; on a Saturday or Sunday in July, leave an hour of slack. Either way, the terminal lot means you won’t have to find parking downtown, and your car is waiting a few minutes from the ship when you get back.
By light rail and rideshare
Sound Transit’s Link light rail runs from the airport to Westlake Station downtown in about 40 minutes. Sound Transit lists a flat $3 adult fare, with riders 18 and under free. From Westlake, Pier 91 is about 15 minutes by car. It’s the cheapest way to cover the long leg, and it avoids I-5 traffic, but it means hauling luggage on and off a train. Couples with a carry-on each will find it easy; a family of five with big suitcases won’t.
No public transit to the pier
The Port of Seattle says public transit isn’t available to Pier 91, and the bus stop that used to serve it (stop #20860, Magnolia Bridge and Pier 91) is permanently closed. Old blog posts that tell you to take the bus are out of date.
For every airport option in detail, including shuttles and hotel packages, see our SeaTac to Seattle cruise terminal guide.
Seattle cruise parking at Pier 91
The terminal has 800 secure parking spaces run for the Port, and in 2026 rates started at $27 a day for cars and $47 a day for RVs and over-height vehicles. The Port says both rates include service fees, taxes and a complimentary shuttle to the terminal. You can reserve a space online at seattleportparking.com, and the lot has a wheelchair transport zone for passengers who need help getting from the car to the terminal.
What does that mean for a typical cruise? Parking is charged by the day, so a seven-night sailing covers eight calendar days. At $27 a day that works out to about $189 to $216 depending on how your days are counted, before any price changes for 2027. For a family, that’s often cheaper than two round-trip rideshares from a suburb, and far simpler.
| Parking choice (2026) | Daily rate | 7-night cruise, approx. | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pier 91 terminal lot | From $27 | About $189 to $216 | Drivers from Washington, Oregon and British Columbia |
| Pier 91 RV and over-height | From $47 | About $329 to $376 | RV travelers and roof-box cars |
| Hotel park-and-cruise package | Varies | Varies | People staying the night before |
Verdict: if you’re driving in, park at the terminal. Reserve ahead in peak summer, arrive with your bags labeled, and drop your luggage with the porters before you park so you don’t have to wheel it from the lot. Our Seattle cruise parking guide compares the off-site lots and hotel deals.
Drop-off, rideshare and pickup
The Port has organized Pier 91 into zones, and knowing them saves a lot of circling:
- Ground transportation lot: near the terminal entrance, for buses, taxis, airport shuttles and private cars dropping off or picking up.
- Rideshare lot: a dedicated lot for app-based rides. The Port has described the rideshare drop-off as about a 10-minute walk from the terminal, with a free shuttle available.
- Cell phone waiting lot: for anyone collecting passengers on the last morning, so they’re not blocking the curb while the ship clears.
If you’re being dropped off by a friend, have them use the ground transportation lot, hand your big bags to a porter there, and say your goodbyes quickly. On a two-ship morning, the curb doesn’t tolerate lingering.
Luggage at Pier 91
On boarding day, porters take your checked bags at the curb and deliver them to your cabin, usually by the evening. Tag every bag with your line’s luggage tags before you arrive, and keep medication, passports, a change of clothes and anything fragile in your carry-on, because you may not see the big bags until dinner. Tipping the porters a few dollars a bag is customary.
If you have time to kill before boarding or after you leave the ship, the terminal offers same-day luggage storage for $6 a bag. Bags must be collected by 3 p.m. to avoid a late fee. That’s handy if you want a last lunch in the city before an evening flight.
On the way home, the Port’s Port Valet service checks your bags from the ship straight to participating airlines (Alaska, American, Delta, Horizon, Southwest, United and JetBlue) for same-day flights, so you walk off with just a carry-on. Our Seattle cruise luggage valet page explains how to sign up and the cut-off times.
Boarding day at Pier 91, step by step
- Check your terminal and time. Your line assigns a boarding window. Arriving much earlier just means waiting outside in an industrial lot.
- Arrive and drop bags. Porters take checked luggage at the curb or lot; keep your carry-on.
- Park or send the car away. Parkers ride the free shuttle back to the terminal.
- Security and check-in. Have your ID, boarding pass and any documents ready. U.S. citizens on a closed-loop Seattle round trip can use a government-issued photo ID with proof of citizenship such as a birth certificate, though a passport book is the safer choice.
- Board. Lunch is usually available on the ship once you’re aboard, and your cabin opens in the early afternoon.
Here’s how a smooth boarding day looks for a couple staying downtown with an assigned 12:30 p.m. boarding window. Adjust the times to your own window:
| Time | Step |
|---|---|
| 10:30 a.m. | Hotel checkout; store nothing, carry everything |
| 11:45 a.m. | Rideshare or taxi from downtown, about 10 minutes plus the entrance line |
| 12:05 p.m. | Hand checked bags to a porter at the ground transportation lot |
| 12:15 p.m. | Security and check-in line opens for your group |
| 1:00 to 1:30 p.m. | On board, lunch, then find your cabin when it opens |
| Afternoon | Muster drill, bags arrive, sail-away up Puget Sound |
Allow at least an hour from arrival to boarding on a busy day, more if two big ships are loading at once. If you’re flying in on the day of the cruise, you’re taking a real risk. Flight delays happen, and ships don’t wait. Fly in the day before.
Disembarkation day at Pier 91
Ships usually arrive back in Seattle early. Carnival Spirit’s 7-day Seattle itinerary, for example, lists arrival at 7 a.m. Because you’re returning from a foreign port (the required Canadian stop, usually Victoria), U.S. Customs and Border Protection clears the ship and its passengers before anyone leaves. Then passengers go ashore in groups by assigned time, or all at once if you carry your own bags off.
- Walk-off: carry all your own luggage and leave first, often within the first hour. Best for light packers with morning flights.
- Tagged bags: leave them outside your cabin the night before and collect them in the terminal baggage hall at your assigned time.
- Port Valet: check bags through to your airline on the ship and head straight to security at SEA with a carry-on.
A typical last morning, for a ship due in at 7 a.m., runs something like this:
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| Night before | Tagged bags go outside your cabin; keep out clothes, medication and documents |
| About 7:00 a.m. | The ship docks at Pier 91; breakfast is served |
| After customs clearance | Walk-off passengers leave first with their own bags |
| Following hours | Groups called by number to the baggage hall |
| Outside | Porters, taxis, coaches and the rideshare lot; the cell phone lot for friends picking you up |
| 30 to 40 minutes later | Arrival at SEA, if traffic cooperates |
Groups are called in an order the ship sets, often by flight time, so tell the purser’s desk about an early flight a day or two before the end of the cruise.
Verdict: don’t book a flight home before about noon, and 1 p.m. or later is more relaxed. The ride to the airport is 30 to 40 minutes on a good day, and the security lines at SEA on a Sunday morning in July can be long.
What’s near Pier 91?
Very little, on foot. Smith Cove Park, next to the terminal, has lawns, picnic tables and a view of the ships, and it’s a pleasant place for a friend to wave you off. Elliott Bay Marina, a short drive west, has two restaurants looking over the boats. Magnolia’s village and Queen Anne’s shops and viewpoints are up the hills, and the Space Needle is about 10 minutes away by car.
If you have a day in the city before sailing, stay downtown or near Seattle Center and come to the pier by car on the morning of departure. Our guides to Seattle cruise port hotels and things to do in Seattle before a cruise will help you plan that day, and the Seattle cruise ship schedule shows which ships share the pier with yours.
Places to eat near Pier 91
The terminal area has no restaurants of its own, so eat before you arrive or on the ship. The first six places below were listed near the terminal in 2026 restaurant directories, and the last two are on the downtown waterfront for travelers who spend the morning in the city. Every one needs a short drive, so check hours before you go.
1. Palisade
A waterfront restaurant at Elliott Bay Marina with views over the water and the marina, and the classic choice for a special-occasion dinner the night before a cruise or on the way home.
2. Maggie Bluffs
The casual option at the same marina, good for a relaxed lunch with a view of the boats before a mid-afternoon boarding time.
3. Toulouse Petit Kitchen & Lounge
A Cajun and Creole restaurant in Lower Queen Anne, near Seattle Center, known for its brunch. Good if you’re staying near the Space Needle.
4. Dantini Pizza
Pizza near the terminal, and an easy, low-fuss choice for families who want a meal before check-in.
5. Sal y Limon
A Mexican option among the restaurants listed near Smith Cove in 2026.
6. Tsuki Shokudo
A Japanese option on the same 2026 lists, for travelers who want something lighter than seafood before a week of ship food.
7. Anthony’s Pier 66
If you spend the morning downtown, Anthony’s Pier 66 at 2201 Alaskan Way is on the central waterfront by the other cruise terminal, with the more casual Anthony’s Bell Street Diner and Anthony’s Fish Bar for take-out alongside.
8. Elliott’s Oyster House
A long-running seafood house on the downtown waterfront, and the place to eat oysters before you go looking for Alaska salmon. Take a car from there to Pier 91.
Our take: if you want a proper meal, eat downtown and ride over. If you only need lunch, the marina is closest.
Accessibility at Pier 91
The terminal is set up for passengers who need help. The parking lot has a wheelchair transport zone, and cruise lines provide wheelchair assistance through check-in and onto the ship if you request it in advance. Tell your line about mobility needs when you book, and again a few weeks before sailing. Because the rideshare lot can mean a walk or a shuttle ride, travelers with limited mobility may find it easier to be dropped at the ground transportation lot near the entrance by taxi or a private car.
Pier 91 vs Pier 66
| Question | Pier 91 (Smith Cove) | Pier 66 (Bell Street) |
|---|---|---|
| Location | North end of the waterfront, industrial area | Downtown central waterfront |
| Walk to Pike Place Market | No | Yes, along the downtown waterfront |
| Main 2027 lines | Most lines except Norwegian | Norwegian |
| Parking (2026) | From $27 a day, fees and tax included | $30 a day plus taxes |
| Public transit | None | Close to downtown transit |
The practical difference is simple. At Pier 66, you can walk out of the terminal into the city. At Pier 91, you need a car either way.
Mistakes to avoid
- Going to the wrong pier. Tell the driver “Pier 91, Smith Cove Cruise Terminal,” and check it against your boarding pass.
- Planning to walk or take the bus. There’s no transit to the terminal, and it’s not a walk with luggage.
- Arriving hours early. There’s nowhere pleasant to wait nearby.
- Booking a morning flight home. Customs clearance and baggage halls take time.
- Forgetting the Canadian stop. Seattle round trips call at a Canadian port, so pack the right ID.
For everything else about sailing from Seattle, from choosing a ship to the Victoria stop, go back to our Seattle homeport guide.
Pier 91 Seattle FAQ
What is the address of Pier 91 in Seattle?
The Smith Cove Cruise Terminal at Pier 91 is at 2001 West Garfield Street, Seattle, WA 98119, at the north end of the waterfront. By car from I-5, take the Mercer Street exit (167), continue to Elliott Avenue West and turn right at the West Galer Street Flyover (Magnolia Bridge), then follow the cruise signs.
How much is Seattle cruise parking at Pier 91?
In 2026, parking at the Pier 91 terminal lot started at $27 a day for cars and $47 a day for RVs and over-height vehicles, including service fees, taxes and a free shuttle to the terminal. The lot has 800 spaces and can be reserved online. A seven-night cruise works out to roughly $189 to $216.
Can you walk from Pier 91 to downtown Seattle?
Not realistically. Pier 91 is in an industrial area on Smith Cove, about 10 minutes by car from downtown, and it’s not a walk you’d want with luggage. The Port says no public transit serves the terminal. Use a taxi, a rideshare, a cruise line transfer or your own car.
How do I get from Sea-Tac airport to Pier 91?
The quickest way is a taxi or rideshare, about 30 to 40 minutes depending on traffic. Cruise lines sell scheduled transfers. The cheapest route is Link light rail to Westlake Station (about 40 minutes, $3 flat adult fare) and then a short taxi or rideshare, about 15 minutes, to the pier.
Which cruise lines use Pier 91?
The Port of Seattle lists Carnival, Celebrity, Cunard, Holland America, MSC, Princess, Royal Caribbean and Virgin Voyages at Pier 91, though Cunard has no Alaska season scheduled for 2027. Norwegian’s Seattle ships use Pier 66. Lines can switch terminals, so always check your boarding documents.
Where do Uber and Lyft drop off at Pier 91?
Pier 91 has a dedicated app-based rideshare lot for drop-off and pickup. The Port has described the rideshare drop-off as about a 10-minute walk from the terminal, with a free shuttle available. Taxis and private cars use the ground transportation lot near the terminal entrance.
What time can I leave the ship at Pier 91?
Ships usually arrive early, around 7 a.m., and the first passengers leave once customs has cleared the ship. Walk-off passengers carrying their own bags go first. Everyone else leaves by assigned group. Book flights home for noon or later, and consider Port Valet to check bags straight to your airline.
Related Alaska Cruise Guides
Sources and How We Checked
We checked the prices, rules, schedules and ship deployments in this guide against the sources below on September 26, 2026, and we log each one in our research database with the date it was checked. Cruise lines change ships, fares and fees every season, so confirm anything that affects your booking with the line or the agency concerned. Alaska Cruise Guide (AlaskaCruise.org) is an independent publication. It is not affiliated with any cruise line, port, tour operator or tourism office, and no one paid to be included.
- anthonys.com: Seattle restaurants
- carnival.com: Carnival Cruise Line
- Cruise Industry News: Cunard
- deeparrival.com: Seattle cruise terminals
- deeparrival.com: Cunard
- en.wikipedia.org: Seattle Pier 91
- Norwegian Cruise Line: Seattle Pier 66
- Port of Seattle: Seattle SEA airport
- Port of Seattle: Seattle Pier 91, Seattle Pier 66
- Port of Seattle: Seattle cruise port
- Port of Seattle: Seattle Pier 91
- soundtransit.org: Seattle SEA airport
- The Maritime Executive: Seattle cruise port
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection: passport rules
- yelp.com: Seattle restaurants
Photo Credits
- Cruise ships at Pier 91 from Smith Cove Park: photo by Steven Pavlov, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Quantum of the Seas at Pier 91: photo by Thank You (23 Millions+) views from Los Angeles, USA, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
- Rhapsody of the Seas at Pier 91: photo by Yankeesman312, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
- Magnolia Bridge and Terminal 91: photo by Joe Mabel, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
- Smith Cove aerial view: photo by Joe Mabel, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
- Elliott Bay Marina, Seattle: photo by Seattle City Council from Seattle, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)