Alaska Cruise Guide

Seattle Cruise Terminal Guide: Pier 91 vs Pier 66

Norwegian Bliss docked at the Bell Street Seattle cruise terminal below downtown and the Space Needle, seen across Elliott Bay
Norwegian Bliss at Pier 66, the Bell Street Cruise Terminal, in September 2019, seen from Jack Block Park across Elliott Bay.

There isn’t one Seattle cruise terminal, there are two. Pier 91, the Smith Cove Cruise Terminal at 2001 West Garfield Street, handles most Alaska ships, including Carnival, Celebrity, Holland America, MSC, Princess, Royal Caribbean and Virgin Voyages. Pier 66, the Bell Street Cruise Terminal at 2225 Alaskan Way, handles Norwegian and Oceania. Pier 66 sits on the downtown waterfront, where you can walk into the city; Pier 91 is in an industrial area at the north end of the bay, with no public transit. Both are roughly 30 to 45 minutes by car from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

This page compares the two terminals for anyone sailing to Alaska from Seattle: which lines use which, how to get there, where to park or be dropped off, how early to arrive and what each area is like. The caveat that matters most: the terminals are a few miles apart, lines can change terminals, and your boarding documents are the only thing that tells you where to go. For the whole trip, see our guide to an Alaska cruise from Seattle. Last updated November 8, 2026. Every price, fee and schedule below is dated, and the sources are listed at the end.

Seattle cruise terminal logistics at a glance

As of September 2026Pier 91 (Smith Cove)Pier 66 (Bell Street)
Address2001 West Garfield Street, Seattle, WA 981192225 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98121
LocationNorth end of the waterfront, below MagnoliaDowntown central waterfront
Main linesCarnival, Celebrity, Holland America, MSC, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Virgin VoyagesNorwegian, Oceania, Regent Seven Seas
Drop-offGround transportation lot by the entrance; separate rideshare lotCurb lane on Alaskan Way
Parking (2026)From $27 a day, fees, tax and shuttle included; 800 spaces$30 a day plus taxes; 1,500 covered spaces across the street
Luggage storage$6 a bag, same day, collect by 3 p.m.$6 a bag in the Crew Center, collect by 3 p.m.
Public transitNone; the nearest bus stop is permanently closedNo direct transit from SEA; light rail to downtown, then walk or ride
From SEA airportAbout 30 to 45 minutes by carAbout 30 to 45 minutes by car
Walk to downtownNoYes
Flight homeBook about noon or later; Port Valet can check bags from the ship to participating airlines

One more thing to clear up: Seattle doesn’t have a third terminal, and it isn’t getting one soon. The Port canceled its request for proposals for a new cruise terminal at Terminal 46 on July 28, 2020, and no replacement project has a published timeline. Any website that tells you about a “new downtown terminal” is out of date.

Which lines use which Seattle cruise terminal in 2027?

The Port of Seattle’s “Find My Ship and Terminal” list for the 2025-26 season shows the pattern clearly, and the lines’ own announcements tell you which ships are coming in 2027. Here’s how they fit together:

LineTerminal (Port’s 2025-26 list)Seattle ships named for 2027
Norwegian Cruise LinePier 66Encore, Bliss and Joy, sailing 7-day voyages from Pier 66
Princess CruisesPier 91Star Princess, Royal Princess and Discovery Princess on 7-day round trips
Royal CaribbeanPier 91Quantum of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas
Holland America LinePier 91Eurodam and Noordam, including Noordam’s 14-day Great Alaska Explorer
Carnival Cruise LinePier 91Carnival Spirit and Carnival Legend
Celebrity, MSC, Virgin VoyagesPier 91Check each line’s 2027 schedule
Oceania, Regent Seven SeasPier 66Check each line’s 2027 schedule

A few changes are worth knowing. Anthem of the Seas, a Pier 91 ship in 2025-26, moves to one-way Vancouver-Seward cruises in 2027, and Norwegian Jade, a Pier 66 ship, sails between Vancouver and Whittier. Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth sailed what was reported as Cunard’s last scheduled Alaska season in 2026. The Port still lists Cunard at Pier 91, but Cunard isn’t scheduled to return in 2027 or 2028.

Verdict: if you’re sailing with Norwegian, Oceania or Regent, head for Pier 66. With anyone else, it’s almost certainly Pier 91. Confirm it on your boarding pass either way.

Pier 91: Smith Cove Cruise Terminal

Two large cruise ships docked at the Smith Cove Cruise Terminal at Pier 91, seen from the park next door
Two ships at Pier 91 in August 2024. On busy summer weekends, both of its berths are full.

Pier 91 is Seattle’s workhorse. It sits on Smith Cove at the north end of Elliott Bay, part of the Port’s Terminal 91 complex of piers, rail lines and lots, and the Port describes it as about 10 minutes from the retail core and the Space Needle. It’s modern and efficient inside, and it handles the biggest ships that sail from Seattle to Alaska.

The practical facts: there’s no public transit, so you arrive by car, taxi, rideshare, shuttle or coach. Drop-offs use a ground transportation lot near the entrance, rideshare has its own dedicated lot (the Port has described it as about a 10-minute walk from the terminal, with a free shuttle), and there’s a cell phone waiting lot for pickups. The terminal’s own parking lot has 800 spaces from $27 a day, with fees, tax and a shuttle included. Our full Pier 91 Seattle guide covers directions, luggage and the boarding and disembarkation routine.

Verdict: efficient but isolated. Plan your transport, arrive near your boarding time, and don’t expect to wander anywhere interesting on foot.

Pier 66: Bell Street Cruise Terminal

Norwegian Encore docked on the downtown Seattle waterfront behind the boats of a small marina
Norwegian Encore on the downtown waterfront in August 2024. Norwegian’s Seattle ships sail from Pier 66.

Pier 66 is the downtown terminal, set on the central waterfront next to a small marina, restaurants and the rebuilt waterfront promenade. For Norwegian and Oceania passengers, that location is the big advantage: you can walk out of the terminal into the city, which makes an early arrival, a pre-cruise lunch or a post-cruise afternoon easy.

The practical facts: drop-offs use a curb lane on Alaskan Way. The Bell Street Pier garage, directly across from the terminal, has 1,500 covered spaces run by Republic Parking at $30 a day plus taxes, with a maximum vehicle height of 6 feet 6 inches and 36 accessible stalls. Same-day luggage storage in the Crew Center costs $6 a bag, with pickup by 3 p.m. The Port says there’s no direct mass transit from SEA to the terminal: light rail takes you downtown, and from there it’s a short ride or a walk. Our Pier 66 Seattle guide goes into more detail.

Verdict: the more pleasant terminal to start from, thanks to its location. Budget a little more for parking, or don’t drive at all.

Seattle cruise terminals compared

QuestionPier 91Pier 66Better
Walkable to downtown and Pike Place MarketNoYesPier 66
Cheapest terminal parking (2026)From $27 a day, all-in$30 a day plus taxPier 91
Covered parkingNoYesPier 66
Tall vehicles and RVsRV and oversize zone6 ft 6 in limit, no RVPier 91
Public transitNoneDowntown transit nearbyPier 66
Things to do nearbyA park and a marinaThe whole waterfrontPier 66
Number of linesMost Alaska linesNorwegian, Oceania, Regentn/a
Drop-offOrganized lotsCurb lane on a busy streetPier 91

In short, Pier 66 is better for the city and Pier 91 is better for drivers. You don’t get to choose, of course, but knowing which you’re using shapes the rest of your plans.

Seattle cruise terminal to Seattle airport (and back)

Both terminals are about 30 to 45 minutes from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport by car, depending on traffic, and the Port publishes a guide to the transfer. Your options:

  • Rideshare or taxi: the simplest door-to-door choice. Pier 91 has a dedicated rideshare lot; Pier 66 uses the curb lane on Alaskan Way.
  • Cruise line transfers: sold by every major line, and the easiest option with lots of luggage.
  • Light rail plus a short ride: Link light rail runs from the airport to Westlake Station downtown in about 40 minutes. From Westlake, Pier 66 is about 6 minutes by car or a 20-minute walk, and Pier 91 about 15 minutes by car.
  • Accessible transfers: the Port’s guidance mentions complimentary wheelchair service through Prospect Airport Services for passengers traveling between the airport and the cruise terminals. Arrange it in advance.

On the way home, the Port’s Port Valet service checks your bags from the ship to participating airlines (Alaska, American, Delta, Horizon, Southwest, United and JetBlue) for same-day flights, so you can travel to the airport with just a carry-on. Our SeaTac to Seattle cruise terminal guide compares every option, and our Seattle cruise luggage valet page explains how Port Valet works.

Seattle cruise terminal parking

Both terminals have their own parking. In 2026, Pier 91’s official lot sold packages from $187 for seven days with fees, taxes and the shuttle included, or from $27 a day, and Pier 66’s Bell Street Pier garage charged $30 a day plus taxes. Off-site lots with shuttles to both piers add a third choice. Our Seattle cruise parking guide compares them all, including RV options, EV charging and the park-or-ride math.

Verdict: park at your own terminal, or at an off-site lot that shuttles to it. The terminal lots only serve their own pier.

Drop-off, check-in and when to arrive

Each line gives you a check-in or boarding window, and arriving at that time is the single best thing you can do for a smooth start. The Port’s guidance is to avoid the 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. peak unless that’s your scheduled time, because that’s when the drop-off lanes and check-in halls are busiest, especially when two or more ships are turning around.

StepWhat to expect
Arrive at your assigned timeEarlier just means waiting outside, especially at Pier 91
Drop checked bags with portersTag them first; they’ll reach your cabin by evening
Park or send the car awayPier 91 parkers take the free shuttle back
Security and check-inHave ID, boarding pass and documents ready
BoardAllow at least an hour from curb to ship on a busy day

Documents: U.S. citizens on a closed-loop Seattle round trip can re-enter with a government-issued photo ID plus proof of citizenship such as a birth certificate, but a passport book is the safer choice, because it covers you if you need to fly home from Canada. Seattle round trips must call at a Canadian port, usually Victoria, so everyone needs documents that work for Canada too.

If you’re flying in, arrive the day before. Flight delays are common enough, and ships don’t wait. Our guides to Seattle cruise port hotels and things to do in Seattle before a cruise will help you make a night of it.

A sample boarding day at each terminal

The two terminals make for different mornings. Here’s how a smooth boarding day looks at each, for a couple with a 12:30 p.m. check-in window who stayed in Seattle the night before.

TimePier 66 (downtown hotel)Pier 91 (downtown or Seattle Center hotel)
9:00 a.m.Breakfast at Pike Place Market, a waterfront walkBreakfast near the hotel
11:00 a.m.Check out; walk or take a very short ride to the terminalCheck out; book a taxi or rideshare
11:45 a.m.Drop bags at the curb lane on Alaskan WayLeave for the terminal, about 10 to 15 minutes plus the entrance line
12:15 p.m.Security and check-inDrop bags with porters at the ground transportation lot
12:30 p.m.Board, then lunch on the shipSecurity and check-in
1:15 p.m.Sail-away plans on deckBoard, then lunch on the ship

The difference is the morning, not the boarding process. Pier 66 passengers get a few relaxed hours in the city. Pier 91 passengers are better off keeping the morning simple and heading over near their boarding time.

Disembarkation day at each terminal

Ships usually return early. Carnival Spirit’s 7-day Seattle itinerary, for example, lists arrival at 7 a.m. Because you’re arriving from a foreign port, U.S. Customs and Border Protection clears the ship before anyone leaves, and then passengers go ashore by group, or first if they carry their own bags off.

  • At Pier 66, you walk out onto the downtown waterfront. If your flight is late in the day, store bags at the terminal for $6 each (collect by 3 p.m.) and spend the morning at Pike Place Market.
  • At Pier 91, you head for the ground transportation lot, the rideshare lot or the shuttle back to the parking lot. There’s nothing to do on foot, so most people go straight to the airport or the city.
  • At both, Port Valet can send your bags from the ship to participating airlines for same-day flights, and a flight home around noon or later is the safe choice.

Seattle’s cruise season in numbers

Seattle is the busiest Alaska homeport in the United States, and it keeps growing. The Port of Seattle’s 2026 season began on Friday, April 17, with a forecast of a record 330 vessel calls, about 2.1 million revenue passengers and 16 homeport ships, the most in its history. That was up from about 1.9 million passengers on 298 calls in 2025. MSC Cruises and Virgin Voyages were new in 2026, with MSC Poesia sailing on Mondays from Pier 91.

The terminals are also getting cleaner. In 2025, 87 percent of shore power-capable ships calling at Seattle plugged in, avoiding 6,444 metric tons of CO2, and the Port is designing more shore-power connections at Pier 91 to launch in 2027. For passengers, the practical effect of all that growth is simple: summer weekends are busy at both terminals, so arrive at your assigned time and book parking and hotels early.

Walking from Pier 66 into downtown

People walking on the Overlook Walk above the Seattle waterfront at sunset, with Elliott Bay and the Olympic Mountains beyond
The Overlook Walk at sunset in October 2024, weeks after it opened. It links Pike Place Market to the waterfront.

This is Pier 66’s great advantage. Walk out of the terminal and you’re on Seattle’s rebuilt central waterfront, a wide promenade along Elliott Bay with parks, piers and places to eat. Head south along the water and you reach the area below Pike Place Market, where the Overlook Walk, an elevated park and pedestrian bridge that opened in October 2024 on the site of the old Alaskan Way Viaduct, climbs from the waterfront to the market. The Port puts Pier 66 about a 20-minute walk from Westlake, the downtown shopping core, and the market is on the way.

That makes a pre-cruise morning easy: drop your bags, stroll to Pike Place Market for breakfast, walk the waterfront and be back for your boarding time. After the cruise, if you have an afternoon flight, you can store bags at the terminal for $6 each and do the same in reverse. Pier 91 passengers can do all this too, but they’ll need a car or taxi to get downtown and back.

Accessibility at the Seattle cruise terminals

Both terminals are set up for passengers with limited mobility, with some differences:

  • Pier 91: the parking lot has a wheelchair transport zone for getting from the car to the terminal, and the organized drop-off lot near the entrance is the easiest place to be dropped off by taxi or private car.
  • Pier 66: the Bell Street Pier garage has 36 accessible stalls and is across the street from the terminal. The curb lane on Alaskan Way can be busy, so allow extra time.
  • Both: request wheelchair assistance from your cruise line in advance; the lines provide help from check-in to the ship. For the airport leg, ask about the complimentary wheelchair service the Port’s guidance describes.

Hotels near the Seattle cruise terminals

Where you stay the night before depends on your terminal. For Pier 66, downtown and waterfront hotels let you walk or take a very short ride to the ship. For Pier 91, hotels near Seattle Center, Lower Queen Anne or downtown are 10 to 15 minutes away by car. Airport hotels are cheaper and handy for late arrivals, but they add 30 to 45 minutes to the morning, and some sell park-and-cruise packages that include parking for the week. Our Seattle cruise port hotels guide lists the best options near each terminal.

Seattle cruise terminal maps

The Port of Seattle publishes a terminal map for Pier 91 showing the entrance, drop-off lots, parking and the terminal building, and it’s worth a look before you drive in. For Pier 66, the layout is simple: the terminal is on the water side of Alaskan Way, the garage is directly across the street, and drop-offs use the curb lane in front. Download your line’s own boarding guide too, because some lines add signs, check-in areas or luggage drops of their own.

Where to eat near the Seattle cruise terminals

Seattle's rebuilt central waterfront from above, with the Great Wheel, the stadiums and Mount Rainier in the distance
The central waterfront in July 2025, looking south from above Waterfront Park. Pier 66 passengers can walk all of it.

Neither terminal has much in the way of food before you board, so eat nearby or wait for lunch on the ship. These restaurants were listed near the terminals in 2026:

1. Anthony’s Pier 66

Next to the Bell Street terminal at 2201 Alaskan Way, a seafood restaurant with views over Elliott Bay, and the easy choice for a last dinner before a Norwegian sailing.

2. Anthony’s Bell Street Diner

The more casual sibling at the same pier, good for a relaxed lunch before your boarding window.

3. Anthony’s Fish Bar

Take-out fish and chips on the same pier, ideal if you want to eat on a bench looking at your ship.

4. Elliott’s Oyster House

A long-running seafood house on the central waterfront, a short walk south of Pier 66, for oysters before you head north.

5. Palisade

Near Pier 91, at Elliott Bay Marina, a waterfront restaurant with marina views and the classic special-occasion choice on the Smith Cove side.

6. Maggie Bluffs

The casual option at the same marina, a short drive from Pier 91, good for lunch before a mid-afternoon boarding time.

The terminals and your itinerary

Your terminal doesn’t change where you sail, but your itinerary does change how you plan around the terminal. Seattle round trips must call at a Canadian port, usually Victoria, often in the evening, so pack documents that work for Canada. Longer sailings such as Holland America’s 14-day Great Alaska Explorer mean more days of parking. And one-way cruises don’t start in Seattle at all: foreign-flagged ships can’t sail one way between Seattle and Alaska, which is why one-way trips start or end in Vancouver. Our guide to choosing an Alaska cruise itinerary explains the options, and the Seattle cruise ship schedule shows who’s in port on your sailing day.

What the terminals are like on a busy day

On a summer Saturday or Sunday, both terminals can be turning around ships at once, and the whole waterfront feels it. At Pier 91, the line of cars and coaches at the entrance can back up toward the Magnolia Bridge approach in late morning, and the ground transportation lot is a steady churn of taxis, shuttles and porters. At Pier 66, the curb lane on Alaskan Way fills with cars and the sidewalks with passengers towing suitcases, while ordinary waterfront traffic tries to get past. Neither is chaos, but both reward arriving at your assigned time with bags tagged and documents in hand.

If your terminal changes

Lines occasionally move a sailing to the other terminal, for a berth conflict, maintenance or a schedule change. If that happens, the line will tell you, usually by email and in its app. Check your boarding documents and the app the day before you sail, re-book your parking at the correct terminal if you’re driving, and tell your transfer company or rideshare driver the new pier. If you’ve prepaid parking at the wrong terminal, contact the operator quickly; the terminal lots serve only their own pier.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Going to the wrong pier. Check your boarding pass; tell the driver the terminal name and pier number.
  • Planning to take transit to Pier 91. There isn’t any.
  • Arriving at the 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. peak when it isn’t your assigned time.
  • Parking at one pier and sailing from the other. The terminal lots only shuttle to their own terminal.
  • Booking an early flight home. Aim for noon or later.
  • Believing in a third terminal. The Terminal 46 project was canceled in 2020.

For ships, itineraries and the Victoria stop, go back to our Seattle homeport guide.

Seattle cruise terminal FAQ

What is the address of the Seattle cruise terminal?

Seattle has two. The Smith Cove Cruise Terminal at Pier 91 is at 2001 West Garfield Street, Seattle, WA 98119, and handles most Alaska lines. The Bell Street Cruise Terminal at Pier 66 is at 2225 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98121, and handles Norwegian, Oceania and Regent. Check your boarding documents to see which one you need.

Which Seattle cruise terminal does Princess use?

Princess uses Pier 91, the Smith Cove Cruise Terminal, as do Carnival, Celebrity, Holland America, MSC, Royal Caribbean and Virgin Voyages, according to the Port’s 2025-26 list. Norwegian, Oceania and Regent use Pier 66. Lines can change terminals, so always confirm on your boarding pass before you travel.

How far apart are Pier 66 and Pier 91?

They’re a few miles apart, roughly 2 to 3 miles by road depending on the route, which is a short drive but not a walk with luggage. The terminal parking lots only shuttle to their own pier, so if you drive, park at the terminal you’re sailing from or at an off-site lot that serves it.

How do I get from the Seattle cruise terminal to the airport?

By taxi, rideshare or cruise line transfer, about 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic. You can also take a short ride to Westlake Station downtown and the Link light rail to the airport, about 40 minutes. Port Valet can check your bags from the ship to participating airlines for same-day flights.

Can you walk from the cruise terminal to Pike Place Market?

From Pier 66, yes. Walk along the rebuilt central waterfront toward the market, and use the Overlook Walk, which opened in October 2024, to climb from the waterfront to Pike Place. From Pier 91 it isn’t practical; take a taxi or rideshare, about 10 minutes.

Is Seattle building a third cruise terminal?

No. The Port of Seattle canceled its request for proposals for a new cruise terminal at Terminal 46 on July 28, 2020, and no replacement project has a published timeline. Seattle still has two cruise terminals: Pier 91 (Smith Cove) and Pier 66 (Bell Street).

How early should I arrive at the Seattle cruise terminal?

Arrive at the check-in time your cruise line assigns. The Port advises avoiding the busy 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. window unless it’s your scheduled time. Allow at least an hour from drop-off to boarding on a busy day, and if you’re flying in, arrive in Seattle the day before your cruise.

Is there food at the Seattle cruise terminals?

Not much, so plan to eat before you arrive or wait for lunch on the ship. Near Pier 66, the Anthony’s restaurants and Elliott’s Oyster House are on the downtown waterfront. Near Pier 91, Palisade and Maggie Bluffs are a short drive away at Elliott Bay Marina. Most ships serve lunch as soon as you board.

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.

Photo Credits