Last updated: October 24, 2026 · By Ronen, Stay Near The Venue
Seattle is the main homeport for Alaska cruises. Ships sail from two terminals: Pier 66 (Bell Street) on the downtown waterfront and Pier 91 (Smith Cove), a few miles north of downtown. Knowing which pier your ship uses is the key to picking the right hotel.
Quick answer: stay downtown near the waterfront or Seattle Center for an easy transfer to either pier, or near Sea-Tac airport only if you land late and use a hotel pre-cruise package.
Top hotel picks at a glance
| Hotel | Location & highlights | |
|---|---|---|
| Mediterranean Inn | Queen Anne · about 1 mile from the waterfront | Check price |
| Hyatt House Seattle Downtown | Near Seattle Center · under 1 mile | Check price |
| Holiday Inn Seattle Downtown | Near Seattle Center · under 1 mile | Check price |
| Hyatt Place Seattle Downtown | Downtown · about 1 mile | Check price |
| Seattle Airport Marriott | Sea-Tac · about 13 miles to the port | Check price |
| DoubleTree by Hilton Seattle Airport | Sea-Tac · about 14 miles to the port | Check price |
Prices change daily – tap “Check price” for live rates on your dates.
This article contains affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Shuttle prices, schedules and hotel policies change often, so always confirm them with the hotel before you book.
Where to stay near the Seattle cruise terminals
| Area | Distance to the piers | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown / Belltown waterfront | Under 1 mile to Pier 66 | Pier 66 sailings, Pike Place Market |
| Seattle Center / Queen Anne | About 1–3 miles | Good access to both piers, Space Needle |
| Sea-Tac airport area | About 13–15 miles | Late arrivals with a pre-cruise package |
Best hotels in downtown Seattle
Mediterranean Inn
Queen Anne · about 1 mile from the waterfront
A good-value hotel near Seattle Center with a rooftop deck. It has offered a paid shuttle to the cruise terminals.
- Good value for Seattle
- Rooftop deck with city views
- Paid cruise shuttle
Check prices and availability for Mediterranean Inn
Hotel map: live prices near the Seattle Cruise Port
Hyatt House Seattle Downtown
Near Seattle Center · under 1 mile
Apartment-style rooms with kitchens and free breakfast. It has offered a paid cruise shuttle.
- Rooms with kitchens
- Free breakfast
- Paid cruise shuttle
Check prices and availability for Hyatt House Seattle Downtown
Holiday Inn Seattle Downtown
Near Seattle Center · under 1 mile
A convenient option next to the Space Needle area. It has offered a paid shuttle to the piers.
- Close to Seattle Center
- On-site restaurant
- Paid cruise shuttle
Check prices and availability for Holiday Inn Seattle Downtown
Hyatt Place Seattle Downtown
Downtown · about 1 mile
Spacious rooms and free breakfast, with a paid cruise shuttle that has been offered on sailing days.
- Free breakfast
- Spacious rooms
- Paid cruise shuttle
Check prices and availability for Hyatt Place Seattle Downtown
Best hotels near Sea-Tac airport
Sea-Tac airport is about 13 to 15 miles from the piers, typically a 30 to 45 minute drive. Airport hotels are a good option for late arrivals, especially those that offer pre-cruise packages with transport to the port.
Seattle Airport Marriott
Sea-Tac · about 13 miles to the port
A comfortable airport hotel that has offered paid one-way and round-trip cruise transfers.
- Free airport shuttle
- Paid transfer to the cruise piers
- Indoor pool
Check prices and availability for Seattle Airport Marriott
DoubleTree by Hilton Seattle Airport
Sea-Tac · about 14 miles to the port
A large airport hotel that has offered pre-cruise packages including transport to the port.
- Pre-cruise packages
- Free airport shuttle
- Several dining options
Check prices and availability for DoubleTree by Hilton Seattle Airport
Getting from Sea-Tac to the cruise port
Options include the cruise line’s transfer bus, a taxi or rideshare, a hotel pre-cruise package, or the Link light rail to downtown followed by a short taxi to the pier. Allow extra time on Saturdays in summer, when several Alaska ships sail on the same day.
Before you sail: three things worth booking ahead
Airport to hotel. If you land at Sea-Tac and would rather skip the taxi line, a pre-booked private transfer (Welcome Pickups or Kiwitaxi) gives you a fixed price and a driver waiting at arrivals.
Bags between checkout and boarding. Hotel checkout and boarding time rarely match. Radical Storage lets you leave your luggage for a few hours so you can enjoy the day hands-free before heading to the Seattle cruise terminals.
If you arrive a day early. A simple plan is a morning at Pike Place Market and the waterfront; you can browse tours and tickets on Klook before you go.
Affiliate links: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Know which Seattle terminal your ship uses
Seattle’s cruise ships use two terminals, the Bell Street Cruise Terminal and the Smith Cove Cruise Terminal, and they are in different parts of the waterfront. The Port of Seattle has a page to find your ship and terminal, and your cruise documents will name the terminal as well. Check it before you choose a hotel, because the distance from a given hotel can differ noticeably between the two.
Once you know the terminal, put it into a map app and look at the real route from each hotel you are considering. A hotel that seems central may still require a ride, and a place that looks a little further out may have a simple, direct route. Giving a driver the terminal name rather than just the port avoids the common mistake of arriving at the wrong pier.
Choosing a Seattle neighborhood by what you want
If you want to explore on foot, downtown and the waterfront put museums, markets, restaurants and coffee within reach, and you may only need a short ride to board. If you value value and quiet over atmosphere, airport-area hotels can make sense, especially with an early or late flight. A third option is to stay in a neighborhood you want to see, and plan for transport on departure day.
Decide on your priority first. Walkability and sightseeing favor downtown. Budget and simplicity favor the airport corridor. A night to soak up local food favors a district with restaurants nearby. Seattle has hills, so if you have limited mobility or heavy luggage, check the slope between your hotel and your pick-up point.
Booking early for Alaska season
Seattle is a major departure port for Alaska itineraries, and sailing weeks in the warmer months are busy. Hotels near the waterfront can fill early on days when several ships are in port, so book soon after you confirm your flights. Prefer a free-cancellation rate and keep an eye on the price as the date approaches.
Check the details of any hotel offers that mention cruise packages, parking or transfers, and ask for them in writing. Compare the total cost, including parking, taxes, and the ride to the terminal, instead of looking at the nightly rate alone. Keep your confirmation accessible offline, and note the hotel’s phone number in case your flight is delayed and you will arrive late.
Luggage, boarding day and the end of your cruise
On the day you sail, check out with time to spare, and keep your documents, medication and valuables in your own bag. Cruise lines assign check-in windows, so aim to arrive in your slot rather than hours ahead. If your flight lands in the morning and your room is not ready, ask the hotel to hold your bags.
The Port of Seattle mentions a Port Valet service offering luggage transfer at the end of a cruise, described on its passenger page as complimentary. If you plan to fly home the same day, read the current details on the port’s website and check how it fits your flight time. If you have a late flight, ask whether your hotel can store luggage so you can enjoy a final day in the city.
Weather, clothing and a relaxed pre-cruise evening
Seattle weather can change quickly, and the evening before a cruise is not the time to be caught without a layer. Pack a light waterproof jacket and comfortable shoes for walking, even in summer. Hills and waterfront wind can feel colder than the forecast suggests.
If you arrive early, an unhurried evening works best: a good meal, a short walk to look at the water, and an early night. Resist booking tours that start close to your boarding window, and check opening hours on official sites before you go. Charge devices, download your cruise line app, and set two alarms.
Mistakes to avoid when planning a Seattle cruise stay
Avoid booking a room on the strength of a map pin alone, and check what the route looks like. Avoid arriving on the morning of departure from far away with no buffer, as a delayed flight can mean missing the ship. Avoid non-refundable rates until flights are final.
Do not forget to ask about luggage storage, parking charges and breakfast times. Hotels that look cheap can add costs, and an early breakfast helps if your check-in window is mid-morning.
Seattle cruise terminals, parking and getting there
According to the Port of Seattle, cruise ships use two terminals: the Bell Street Cruise Terminal at Pier 66 on the downtown waterfront and the Smith Cove Cruise Terminal at Pier 91. Your boarding documents name the terminal, and it matters for planning because the two are in different parts of the city.
Parking at Pier 66 is listed at $33 per day through Republic Parking, while Pier 91 parking is listed from $27 per day and includes a free shuttle to the ship. Sea-Tac Airport is about 15 miles from downtown, a drive of roughly 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic. From Westlake Station it is about a 6-minute drive or a 20-minute walk to Pier 66, and about a 15-minute drive to Pier 91. King Street Station, the Amtrak stop, is 1.5 miles from Pier 66 and 4 miles from Pier 91.
The port asks you to confirm your arrival window with your cruise line and advises avoiding the drop-off peak between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. unless that is your scheduled time. Prices and rules change, so check the port’s official page before you travel.
How we checked this guide
The “Last updated” date at the top of this page is when we last reviewed it end to end.
- Parking rates, shuttle fees and transport times are taken from the port’s, venue’s or operator’s own published pages and from each hotel’s own website — not from aggregator sites.
- Distances and journey times are the figures the venue or transit operator publishes, not our estimates. Where we give a distance, we say what it is measured to.
- Hotel amenities (breakfast, shuttle hours, pet and parking policies) come from each hotel’s own site. These change more often than anything else here, so confirm them when you book.
- Room rates are deliberately not listed anywhere on this site. They move daily, and a price written one month is wrong the next. Our links take you to live pricing instead.
- We have not stayed at every hotel we write about. Where we contacted a property directly, the guide says so and gives the date. Where a figure comes from a third-party report rather than an official source, we say that too.
Found something out of date or wrong? Tell us and we will fix it.
Related guides
- Seattle Cruise Parking 2026: Pier 66 and Pier 91 Rates
- Where to Stay Near the Southampton Cruise Terminals: Best Hotels (2026 Guide)
- Where to Stay Near Port Tampa Bay: Best Cruise Hotels (2026 Guide)
- Where to Stay Near the Vancouver Cruise Port (Canada Place): 2026 Guide
- New Orleans Cruise Parking 2026: Erato Street and Julia Street Rates
- All cruise port guides
- Seattle hotels with a cruise shuttle
Frequently asked questions
Which Seattle cruise terminal is my ship using?
Check your cruise documents. Pier 66 is on the downtown waterfront and Pier 91 is in the Smith Cove area north of downtown. Hotels near Seattle Center work well for both.
Should I stay in Seattle the night before an Alaska cruise?
Yes. Flights into Seattle are often delayed, and the city is well worth an evening, with Pike Place Market and the waterfront close to Pier 66.
More cruise port hotel guides: Port Canaveral · PortMiami · Port Everglades · Tampa · Galveston · New Orleans · New York · Baltimore · Boston · Seattle · Vancouver · Los Angeles & Long Beach · San Diego · Barcelona · Southampton · Civitavecchia (Rome)
Comparing ports? See our side-by-side guide to 16 cruise ports.
Driving to the pier? See our Seattle cruise parking rates for Pier 66 and Pier 91.
Related guide: How to Get From Seattle Airport (SEA) to the Cruise Terminals.
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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.
