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Where to Stay in Seattle Before a Cruise
Are you wondering where to stay in Seattle before a cruise? Read on for my top picks!
Seattle, Washington is a popular cruise port, especially in the summer months. It’s where the majority of Alaska cruises depart from, as well as Pacific Coast cruises and cruises to Mexico and Central America.
If you’re taking a cruise out of Seattle, it’s recommended to fly there at least one day in advance, rather than arriving the day of your cruise departure (because that’s just asking for trouble in case you have any flight delays and can’t make it to Seattle in time — you don’t want to miss your cruise!)
I would actually recommend getting to Seattle at least two nights in advance of your cruise, so you can spend a full day exploring the city. It’s a really cool city and well worth a visit before your cruise.
My brother lives in Seattle, so I’ve spent a lot of time there — I typically try to visit every few months. I also recently took an Alaska cruise out of Seattle with my mom, which inspired me to write this post.
When it comes to choosing a hotel to stay in before your cruise, you obviously want something located near your cruise port, as well as Seattle’s other attractions. Some hotels offer shuttles to the cruise port.
Where Is the Seattle Cruise Port?
Before you choose a hotel, you need to make sure you know which Seattle port your cruise is leaving from. That’s right, there are actually two cruise ports in Seattle, Pier 66 and Pier 91.
Pier 66 is closer to downtown, and it’s typically where Norwegian Cruise Line and Oceania Cruises leave from. Pier 91 is about 3 miles to the north (a 12-minute drive) and it’s typically where Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean Line, Celebrity Cruises, and Carnival Cruise Line leave from.
Be sure to take a look at your specific cruise to see which port it’s leaving from.
These are the full names and addresses of the two cruise ports in Seattle:
- Bell Street Cruise Terminal at Pier 66: 2225 Alaskan Way South Seattle, WA, 98121
- Smith Cove Cruise Terminal at Pier 91: 2001 West Garfield Street Seattle, WA, 98119
Now let’s get into the best pre-cruise hotels in Seattle…
Where Should You Stay?
Since both cruise ports are quite close (only 3 miles apart from each other) you can stay at any of the hotels I’m going to talk about below, regardless of which port your cruise is leaving from.
All of these hotels are conveniently located near the most popular attractions in Seattle, as well as a short drive (5 to 15 minutes) from both of the cruise ports, so you can easily get there on the day of your cruise.
I would not stay near the airport in Seattle, because it’s 40+ minutes away from both cruise ports.
Most of the hotels I’m recommending below are located in the areas of Belltown/Uptown/Downtown/Pike Place Market. These are centrally located areas close to the cruise ports and many tourist attractions.
Some of the hotels also offer shuttles to the cruise ports, which I’ve noted below. Otherwise, you can easily use Uber or Lyft to get a ride to the cruise port from your hotel on the day of your departure.
Here are my top picks for where to stay in Seattle before a cruise:
- Best luxury hotel: Four Seasons Hotel Seattle
- Closest to Pier 66: Seattle Waterfront Marriott
- Best value: Staypineapple, Hotel FIVE, Downtown Seattle
And here’s a full breakdown of the best pre-cruise hotels in Seattle:
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Hyatt House Seattle Downtown
One of the best places to stay before you cruise is Hyatt House Seattle Downtown. This comfortable hotel is literally right across the street from Seattle’s iconic Space Needle (you must visit the observation deck at the top — it’s one of the top things to do in Seattle!) This hotel is also very convenient to both cruise ports.
It’s 0.9 miles from Pier 66, and 2.8 miles from Pier 91. The hotel offers a free shuttle to Pier 66, or you can arrange a shuttle to Pier 91 for a small fee. Complimentary breakfast is also included at this hotel.
Seattle Marriott Waterfront
Another great place to stay is the Seattle Waterfront Marriott. I have personally stayed at this hotel, and I think it’s in a great location. You can easily walk to Pike Place Market in just a few minutes and the hotel is literally right next to Pier 66, so you can walk there in two minutes if that’s where your cruise leaves from.
Otherwise, it’s only 2.8 miles from Pier 91. If your cruise is leaving out of this pier, you can book a transfer with the hotel. Amenities include an indoor/outdoor swimming pool and a fitness center.
Mayflower Park Hotel
Mayflower Park Hotel is another good place to stay in Seattle before your cruise. This elegant hotel is located downtown near Pike Place Market, and it’s just 1.4 miles from Pier 66 and 4 miles from 91.
The hotel has a tasteful, traditional style and it’s very close to lots of shopping and dining in Seattle. Mayflower Park Hotel also offers a cruise shuttle to both ports, which you can book for an additional fee.
Homewood Suites by Hilton Seattle Downtown
Another option for where to stay before your cruise is Homewood Suites by Hilton Seattle Downtown. This hotel is just a short walk from the waterfront Centennial Park and the famous Space Needle.
The hotel is also very close to both cruise ports: 0.9 miles from Pier 66, and 2.1 miles from Pier 91. You can book a shuttle at the hotel. Free breakfast is included with your stay, and laundry facilities are available.
Four Seasons Hotel Seattle
If you want to stay somewhere luxurious before your cruise, Four Seasons Seattle is the perfect choice. This five-star hotel is one of the best in the city, located on the waterfront with amazing views. The hotel is just minutes from Pike Place Market, and it’s 1 mile from Pier 66 and 3.4 miles from Pier 91.
Guests staying at this hotel will enjoy all sorts of fabulous amenities. Some of the highlights include a stunning rooftop infinity pool, a full-service spa, a hot tub, a steam room, and a fitness center.
Pan Pacific Seattle
Pan Pacific Seattle is another good choice for a pre-cruise hotel. This hotel is located between downtown and the South Lake Union neighborhood, where the sprawling Amazon headquarters is located.
Pan Pacific Seattle is 1.2 miles from Pier 66, and the hotel offers a free shuttle within 2 miles, so you can use it to get to the pier. Otherwise, you can book a shuttle to Pier 91 (3.4 miles away) for a small fee.
Staypineapple, Hotel FIVE, Downtown Seattle
One of the best value hotels in the area is Staypineapple, Hotel FIVE, Downtown Seattle. This hotel is 0.9 miles from Pier 66 and 3.2 miles from Pier 91, so it’s convenient to both of Seattle’s cruise ports.
This hotel is also in a convenient location to many of Seattle’s top tourist attractions. Amenities at the hotel include free bicycle rentals (perfect for exploring the city!) and a fitness center.
Ace Hotel Seattle
Another one of the more budget-friendly hotels in Seattle near the cruise ports is Ace Hotel Seattle. Some rooms here have shared bathrooms, which is a cheaper option, but keep that in mind before booking.
The hotel is centrally located in the Belltown neighborhood, just 0.3 miles from Pier 66 and 3 miles from Pier 91. You can actually walk to Pier 66 in about 8 minutes, while Pier 91 is a short drive away.
Belltown Inn
Belltown Inn is another one of the top places to stay before your cruise. This is another hotel that is walking distance from Pier 66 — it’s 0.3 miles, or an easy 8-minute walk downhill a few blocks.
Pier 91 is 3 miles from this hotel, and the hotel can arrange an affordable shuttle for you. One nice feature of this hotel is the rooftop deck. It’s also very close to many of Seattle’s top tourist destinations.
The Edgewater, a Noble House Hotel
Finally, The Edgewater, a Noble House Hotel is an amazing place to stay before your cruise out of Seattle. This stylish hotel overlooks Elliott Bay and the Olympic Mountains, so you’ll be blown away by the views.
It’s about a 10-minute walk to Pike Place Market, and it’s only 0.3 miles from Pier 66, so you can walk there in about 8 minutes. Pier 91 is located 2.8 miles away, so it’s just a short drive to get there.
Where to Stay in Seattle Before a Cruise
This guide showed you where to stay in Seattle before a cruise.
To recap, my top picks for where to stay are:
- Best luxury hotel: Four Seasons Hotel Seattle
- Closest to Pier 66: Seattle Waterfront Marriott
- Best value: Staypineapple, Hotel FIVE, Downtown Seattle
Have a great trip and enjoy your cruise!
