Alaska cruise from Seattle: terminals, lines and the best time to go
An Alaska cruise from Seattle is the easiest way to see the Inside Passage without flying to Alaska: most sailings are 7-night round trips between May and September, calling at ports such as Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway plus a required stop in Victoria, British Columbia. Choose the line and the glacier first, then check your terminal, because Seattle's two cruise piers are on opposite sides of downtown.
Book it if
- You live within driving distance of Seattle or can fly in on a round-trip ticket.
- It's your first Alaska trip and a 7-night Inside Passage loop is enough.
- You want the widest choice of lines and dates from one U.S. port.
Skip it if
- Denali and a land tour are part of the plan. Look at one-way sailings instead.
- You want the most time in Alaska. Round trips from Seattle spend about two days getting there and back.
- Your only travel window is July and price matters. That's the most expensive part of the season.
Seattle’s two cruise terminals
Your cruise documents name the terminal. Don’t assume it from past trips, because terminal assignments can change from season to season.
- Smith Cove (Pier 91)
- 2001 W Garfield St, Seattle, WA 98119. At the north end of the Elliott Bay waterfront, below Magnolia; you need a car, taxi or shuttle. Used by Carnival, Celebrity, Holland America, Princess and Royal Caribbean.
- Bell Street (Pier 66)
- 2225 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98121. On the downtown waterfront, a short walk from Pike Place Market and many hotels. Used by Norwegian, Oceania and Silversea.
- Season
- Spring to mid-October. The Port of Seattle’s preliminary 2026 schedule had 15 cruise brands and 26 ships making about 330 calls. Check the Port’s published schedule for 2027 dates.
- From Sea-Tac Airport
- About 15 miles; allow 30 to 45 minutes by car, longer at rush hour
Parking and getting there
- Parking: the Port of Seattle works with Republic Parking to offer cruise-length parking for both terminals. Book ahead for peak weeks in June and July. Cheaper downtown garages are an option for Pier 66.
- From the airport: take a taxi or rideshare straight to the terminal, or book the cruise line’s transfer. Link light rail runs from Sea-Tac to downtown; from there it’s a walk or short ride to Pier 66, but you’ll need a car to reach Pier 91.
- Arriving by train: Amtrak’s King Street Station is downtown, a short ride to either pier.
Lines sailing from Seattle
Six big mainstream lines run Alaska round trips from Seattle, and since 2026 MSC and Virgin Voyages have joined them. Oceania and Silversea also sail from Pier 66. The table below shows sample sailings from our monthly snapshot.
- Princess CruisesThe Alaska specialist, with Glacier Bay on many itineraries and a big Seattle program.From $524 per personChecked September 2026
- Holland America LineCalm, mid-size ships and strong Glacier Bay access. A good fit for older travelers and multigenerational groups.From $569 per personChecked September 2026
- Norwegian Cruise LineBig, newer ships with lots to do on the sea days to and from Alaska, and no fixed dining times. One of the few lines allowed into Glacier Bay.From $599 per personChecked September 2026
- Royal CaribbeanThe most onboard activities for families. Better for the ship than for the scenery.From $416 per personChecked September 2026
- Celebrity CruisesPremium food and a modern design, at a step up in price from the mainstream lines.From $518 per personChecked September 2026
- Carnival Cruise LineUsually the lowest fare out of Seattle. A good value way to see the scenery.From $509 per personChecked September 2026
- MSC CruisesNew to Alaska: MSC Poesia runs 7-night round trips from Seattle in 2026, 2027 and 2028. Low fares, but a smaller, older ship.Fares change daily; check current prices
- Virgin VoyagesThe adults-only option: Brilliant Lady sails Alaska from Seattle, and from Vancouver in 2027.Fares change daily; check current prices
- Oceania CruisesAdults-only and food-focused, sailing from Pier 66. Fewer Seattle departures than the big lines.
| Departs | Line and ship | Nights | Itinerary | From | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 14, 2027 | Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Spirit | 15 | Journeys - 15 Day Hawaii (from Seattle, Washington) | $1,099 | Check price |
| Apr 25, 2027 | Holland America Line, Noordam | 7 | 7 Night U. S. Pacific Coast Cruise (from Seattle, Washington) | $694 | Check price |
| May 7, 2027 | Royal Caribbean, Voyager of the Seas | 7 | 7 Night Alaska Experience Cruise (from Seattle, Washington) | $416 | Check price |
| May 9, 2027 | Princess Cruises, Star Princess | 7 | 7 Night Alaska Cruise (from Seattle, Washington) | $524 | Check price |
| May 15, 2027 | Holland America Line, Eurodam | 7 | 7 Night Alaska Cruise (from Seattle, Washington) | $569 | Check price |
| May 19, 2027 | Norwegian Cruise Line, Norwegian Joy | 9 | 9 Night Alaska (from Seattle, Washington) | $979 | Check price |
| May 24, 2027 | Oceania Cruises, Oceania Riviera | 10 | 10 Night Alaska Cruise (from Seattle, Washington) | $3,120 | Check price |
| May 28, 2027 | Norwegian Cruise Line, Norwegian Joy | 10 | 10 Night Alaska (from Seattle, Washington) | $1,049 | Check price |
| Sep 10, 2027 | Celebrity Cruises, Celebrity Edge | 7 | 7 Night Alaska Dawes Glacier Cruise (from Seattle, Washington) | $518 | Check price |
| Sep 11, 2027 | Princess Cruises, Royal Princess | 10 | 10 Night Alaska Cruise (from Seattle, Washington) | $684 | Check price |
| Sep 25, 2027 | Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Spirit | 16 | Journeys - 16 Day Panama Canal (from Seattle, Washington) | $509 | Check price |
| Sep 25, 2027 | Holland America Line, Eurodam | 7 | 7 Night Alaska Cruise (from Seattle, Washington) | $914 | Check price |
The best time to sail from Seattle
- May: lower fares, fewer children, snow still on the peaks and long daylight hours. It’s cooler and wetter than midsummer.
- June and July: the warmest weather and the longest days, but also the highest fares and the busiest ports.
- August: still warm, with good wildlife viewing. Rain picks up toward the end of the month.
- September: the cheapest fares of the season, with fall colors and fewer crowds. Expect rain and cooler days, and some tours stop running.
Which ship is best for Alaska depends on more than the port. Our best cruise lines for Alaska ranking compares them.
Three insider picks
1. Pick the glacier before the line. The glacier day is the highlight of most Inside Passage sailings, and itineraries differ: the National Park Service limits cruise ship entries into Glacier Bay with a permit system, and only a few lines are authorized. Of the lines sailing from Seattle, that means Princess, Holland America and Norwegian (Cunard, Seabourn and Viking are the others). Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Carnival go to glaciers such as Tracy Arm, Endicott Arm or Hubbard Glacier instead. Check the glacier on the itinerary before comparing prices; even authorized lines skip Glacier Bay on some sailings.
2. Treat Victoria as a bonus, not a port day. Foreign-flagged ships on a round trip from a U.S. port have to call at a foreign port, and for Seattle sailings that’s usually Victoria. The call is often a short evening visit at the end of the week, so don’t plan a full day around it.
3. Fly in the day before. Ships leave in the afternoon, and on a round trip there’s no easy way to catch up if you miss embarkation. A night in Seattle costs less than a last-minute flight to Juneau.
Seattle Alaska cruise FAQ
Which Seattle cruise terminal is my ship at?
Your boarding pass and cruise documents list it. Smith Cove (Pier 91) is north of downtown; Bell Street (Pier 66) is on the downtown waterfront. Lines can switch piers between seasons, so check each year.
Do I need a passport for an Alaska cruise from Seattle?
U.S. citizens on a round-trip sailing that starts and ends in Seattle can usually travel with an original birth certificate and a government-issued photo ID, because it’s a closed-loop cruise. A passport is still the safer choice: if you have to leave the ship in Canada, you’ll need one to fly home. More on this in our guide to cruises without a passport.
Is Seattle or Vancouver better for an Alaska cruise?
Seattle is better for round trips on the Inside Passage, especially if you want to avoid an international flight. Vancouver is better for one-way sailings across the Gulf of Alaska to Seward or Whittier, which you can combine with a Denali land tour.
What's the cheapest month for an Alaska cruise from Seattle?
Usually May or September, at the start and end of the season. July is typically the most expensive.
Are there short cruises from Seattle?
Not to Alaska: round trips from Seattle are almost all 7 nights. At the start and end of the season, some ships reposition along the coast on one-way sailings to or from Seattle (Vancouver, Victoria or California), and a few of those last only three or four nights. They don’t reach Alaska. For other quick trips, see our guide to 3- to 5-night cruises.
Sources
- Visit Seattle: cruising in Seattle FAQ (terminals, parking, airport)
- Visit Seattle: cruise lines departing Seattle and their piers
- Visit Seattle: cruise from Seattle (Port of Seattle 2026 season figures)
- Princess Cruises: cruises to Seattle (itineraries, best and cheapest months)
- Carnival Cruise Line help: cruise port terminal addresses (Seattle, Pier 91)
- National Park Service: cruise ships in Glacier Bay
- National Park Service: Glacier Bay authorized operators
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection: Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (closed-loop cruises)