Last updated: October 24, 2026 · By Ronen, Stay Near The Venue
Seattle has two cruise terminals: Bell Street (Pier 66) on the downtown waterfront and Smith Cove (Pier 91) about three miles north in Magnolia. The city also has two very different kinds of shuttle hotel. Downtown hotels sit a mile or so from the piers and many will book you a per-person van ride on embarkation morning. Airport hotels in SeaTac are about 14 miles away, but some bundle a free airport shuttle, a week of parking and a ride to the ship into one “park, stay and go” rate. This guide covers both, with 2026 fees where we could check them. For every neighbourhood near the piers, see our main guide to hotels near the Seattle cruise port.
Quick answer: If you fly in the day before, stay downtown. Mayflower Park Hotel, Hyatt Place Seattle/Downtown and Holiday Inn Seattle Downtown all run cruise shuttles for about $12–$15 per person and are about 1 mile from Pier 66. If you’re driving, a SeaTac hotel with a park-and-cruise package is usually the better deal. DoubleTree by Hilton Seattle Airport’s “Park, Stay and Go” rate includes up to 7 nights of parking plus transport to the port. The Pier 66 garage, by comparison, charges $33 a day.
Top hotel picks at a glance
| Hotel | Location & highlights | |
|---|---|---|
| Mayflower Park Hotel | about 1 mile from Pier 66 and 3.2 miles from Pier 91. The hotel’s… | Check price |
| Hyatt Place Seattle/Downtown | about 1 mile from the waterfront. A third-party shuttle serves both Pier 66 and… | Check price |
| Holiday Inn Seattle Downtown | under 1 mile from the port, near Seattle Center. The cruise shuttle is about… | Check price |
| Hyatt House Seattle/Downtown | under 1 mile away. The shuttle costs about $12 per person; tell the front… | Check price |
| Four Points by Sheraton Downtown Seattle Center | about 1.5 miles away. A shuttle runs to Pier 66 or Pier 91 for… | Check price |
| Mediterranean Inn | about 1 mile away in Lower Queen Anne. The shuttle costs about $10 per… | Check price |
| Hampton Inn Seattle-Downtown | about 1.5 miles away. The shuttle costs about $15 per person; request it at… | Check price |
| DoubleTree by Hilton Seattle Airport | about 14 miles from the piers, with a free airport shuttle. Its “Park, Stay… | Check price |
Prices change daily – tap “Check price” for live rates on your dates.
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Compare live prices: See hotels near the Seattle cruise port.
Hotel map: live prices near Seattle Cruise Port
Best areas for hotels with a cruise shuttle
| Area | Distance / walk time | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown / Pike Place | About 1 mile to Pier 66 (about a 20-minute walk); about 3 miles to Pier 91 | Cheap per-person shuttles, sightseeing the night before |
| Belltown / South Lake Union / Seattle Center | About 1–1.5 miles to the piers | Apartment-style hotels, families, Space Needle area |
| SeaTac (airport hotels) | About 13–15 miles; about 30–45 minutes by road | Free airport shuttles, park-and-cruise packages for drivers |
Downtown hotels with a cruise shuttle
- Mayflower Park Hotel – about 1 mile from Pier 66 and 3.2 miles from Pier 91. The hotel’s website lists scheduled one-way shuttles to both terminals for $15 per guest in the 2026 season; book with the bellman. Luggage storage is available on your arrival and departure days, but there is no long-term cruise parking. It suits couples who want a classic hotel next to Westlake and Pike Place.
- Hyatt Place Seattle/Downtown – about 1 mile from the waterfront. A third-party shuttle serves both Pier 66 and Pier 91 for about $12 per person, cash. Request it at check-in. Free breakfast and roomy layouts make it a good-value family pick.
- Holiday Inn Seattle Downtown – under 1 mile from the port, near Seattle Center. The cruise shuttle is about $12 per person. It is a solid mid-range choice with an on-site restaurant.
- Hyatt House Seattle/Downtown – under 1 mile away. The shuttle costs about $12 per person; tell the front desk at check-in. Suites with kitchens suit families and anyone arriving several days early.
- Four Points by Sheraton Downtown Seattle Center – about 1.5 miles away. A shuttle runs to Pier 66 or Pier 91 for about $15 per person, cash only. The hotel also offers daily cruise parking for about $15 a night, though the garage has a 6’2″ height limit. It is one of the few downtown options if you want to drive in and leave the car.
- Mediterranean Inn – about 1 mile away in Lower Queen Anne. The shuttle costs about $10 per person; arrange it at check-in. Kitchenettes and lower rates make it a good budget pick.
- Hampton Inn Seattle-Downtown – about 1.5 miles away. The shuttle costs about $15 per person; request it at check-in. Free breakfast makes it an easy, predictable stay.
SeaTac airport hotels with stay-park-cruise packages
- DoubleTree by Hilton Seattle Airport – about 14 miles from the piers, with a free airport shuttle. Its “Park, Stay and Go” rate includes up to 7 nights of parking and transport to the port, for about $100 over the base rate. It is the best all-in-one pick for drivers.
- Embassy Suites by Hilton Seattle Tacoma International Airport – about 13.5 miles away. There is a “Park, Stay, and Go” package with up to 7 nights of parking, plus a separate transportation-only package with a ride to the port. Two-room suites and free breakfast suit families.
- Radisson Hotel Seattle Airport – about 13 miles away. The cruise shuttle costs about $30 one way or $60 round trip. A “Bon Voyage” package includes the ride, and a separate 7-day Park & Fly package covers parking.
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites Sea-Tac Airport – about 15 miles away. A cruise transfer costs about $20 per person each way; book it at the front desk. It is a good-value option if you fly in and don’t need parking.
- Seattle Airport Marriott – about 13–14.5 miles away. The airport shuttle is free, and the port ride is booked through Seattle Express for about $27 one way. The “Escape! Park Here” package covers 3 to 16 days of parking. It suits Marriott members.
Hotel shuttle fees and package terms above come from Cruzely’s April 2026 roundups of Seattle shuttle and cruise-parking hotels, where fees were checked by phone. Mayflower Park’s price is from the hotel’s own website. Shuttles run only during the Alaska cruise season, roughly April to October, and fees change each year. Confirm the price and pickup time when you book.
Getting there, shuttles & parking
Terminals: Bell Street Cruise Terminal is at Pier 66, 2225 Alaskan Way. Smith Cove Cruise Terminal is at Pier 91, 2001 West Garfield Street. Per the Port of Seattle, the drive from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to either terminal takes about 30–40 minutes. No public transit runs to Pier 91, and Link light rail stops only downtown, so you still need a taxi or rideshare from the station to Pier 66. Rideshare pickup at SEA is on the third floor of the parking garage. For every transfer option, see Seattle airport to the cruise port.
Shared shuttles: Per its website, Seattle Express charges $30 per person, one way, between SEA or selected SeaTac hotels and either pier. Children 3 and under ride free on a lap. Service runs April to October, and the trip takes about 45 minutes. Seattle Southside’s cruise guide also lists Premier Airport Shuttle for transfers from the airport and nearby hotels. Your cruise line may sell its own motor-coach transfer from the airport. Check the price in your booking, since the Port says these vary by line.
Port parking: Per the Port of Seattle, the Bell Street garage across from Pier 66 charges $33 a day, with $1 a day off if you prepay online. Pier 91 parking starts at $27 a day, and a free shuttle runs from the lots to the terminal. A 7-night cruise therefore costs about $189–$231 in port parking. That is why a SeaTac package that bundles a hotel night with a week of parking often works out cheaper. Compare every option in our Seattle cruise parking guide.
Tips for booking a Seattle cruise shuttle
- Check which pier your ship uses before you book the hotel. Pier 66 is walkable from downtown; Pier 91 is not.
- Ask whether the fee is per person or per room, and whether it is one way. Downtown hotel shuttles rarely include the return trip.
- Carry cash. Several downtown third-party shuttles take cash only.
- For a group of three or four, a single rideshare from downtown to Pier 91 can cost less than per-person shuttle fees.
- Some park-and-cruise packages are sold only on the hotel’s own website, so compare that rate against the room price plus port parking.
- Book refundable rates for Alaska season. Summer weekends sell out downtown, and flights can change.
FAQ
Which Seattle hotels have a shuttle to the cruise port?
Downtown, they include Mayflower Park Hotel, Hyatt Place and Hyatt House Seattle/Downtown, Holiday Inn Seattle Downtown, Four Points by Sheraton Downtown Seattle Center, Mediterranean Inn and Hampton Inn Seattle-Downtown. Near the airport, they include DoubleTree by Hilton Seattle Airport, Embassy Suites Seattle Tacoma, Radisson Hotel Seattle Airport, Holiday Inn Express & Suites Sea-Tac and Seattle Airport Marriott.
How much does a hotel cruise shuttle cost in Seattle?
Downtown hotels charge about $10–$15 per person, one way. Airport hotel transfers run about $20–$30 per person one way, and Seattle Express charges $30 per person from SeaTac hotels.
Should I stay downtown or at SeaTac before a Seattle cruise?
Stay downtown if you’re flying in and want to explore. The piers are close and shuttles are cheap. Stay at SeaTac if you’re driving, because park-and-cruise packages there can include a week of parking for less than the port garages charge.
Can I take light rail to the Seattle cruise terminals?
Only part of the way. Per the Port of Seattle, Link light rail runs from the airport to downtown, but no public transit serves Pier 91. From downtown you’ll need a taxi, rideshare or hotel shuttle, or you can walk about a mile to Pier 66.
How long does it take from SeaTac to Pier 66 or Pier 91?
The Port of Seattle puts the drive at about 30–40 minutes. Seattle Express allows about 45 minutes for its shared shuttle.
More venue guides
- Hotels near the Seattle cruise port
- Seattle cruise parking
- Seattle airport to the cruise port
- Hotels near the Vancouver cruise port
- Hotels near the Juneau cruise port
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We start at the venue and work outward: walking time, shuttle and transit options first, then guest review scores and value for money. Hotels can’t pay to be listed. Some links are affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Prices and availability change daily, so always check live rates before you book.
