Why do so many cruisers call Seattle the best port in the country? Let’s talk about all the must-know info about cruising from Seattle. I talk about the two very different cruise terminals, how to get to and from them easily (and affordably), and my all-time favorite travel hack: Seattle’s free Port Valet luggage service. And yes, I answer the big question: Does it really rain all the time?
**Get in Touch with Tulu (the best Seattle private driver)** https://www.profmelissa.com/drivers
**CHAPTERS**
(1:22) When is Seattle’s cruise season, and do you need a passport for Alaska cruises?
(2:18) Which cruise terminal will you use at Port of Seattle and why does it matter?
(3:49) What are the Port of Seattle parking options and prices?
(8:08) How should you get from the airport to the Port of Seattle?
(10:31) What should you expect on embarkation day at the Port of Seattle?
(12:28) What’s a “day room,” and how can it help if your return flight home is late?
(16:32) What are the must-see attractions in Seattle before or after your cruise?
———————————————–
PODCAST
Want this video in audio form? Stream my podcast:
Spotify: https://profmel.com/spotify
Apple: https://profmel.com/apple
———————————————–
LINKS
Shop my favorite cruise outfits and essentials: https://profmel.com/shop
Want to become a travel agent? https://www.profmelissa.com/travelagent
Get my top recommended travel card: http://www.profmel.com/card
Want to book a cruise or take a cruise with me? https://profmel.com/book
Get FREE Port Guides, cruise advice, and more at https://www.profmelissa.com/
Get my FREE Cruise Packing List & Planning Guide: https://profmel.com/subscribe
Want to book my favorite private drivers? http://www.profmel.com/drivers
————————————————-
CONNECT WITH ME
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@professormelissa
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ProfMelissaCruises/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_melissa_newman/
————————————————-
Please note that sometimes, my posts contain affiliate links. This means I may receive a commission through purchases, but this does not affect you as a consumer or cost you more in any way. I appreciate your use of my links, as this helps support my channel.
Nice port in terms of things to do in the city but it’s hands down the worst port as far as embarkation and disembarkation
Total disorganized mess
Hello can I have the information for the driver plz
Do you know if my cruise has a stop at Victoria/Canada if my Passport card will be ok to get off and on the ship? Or do I need the Passport book? Also, if my family only has their birth certificates is that ok?
Do you know if they have luggage storage at the port?
Hello Melissa
We love your videos , can you please send me the driver you use is Seattle, we going in a cruise in August
Thanks
Is the shuttle at Pier 91 wheelchair accessible? I just saw a video in which there are no porters outside Pier 91 to receive your luggage. The passengers have you shlep all their stuff inside. Both my wife and I have mobility issues. Is there someone there who can help us with our luggage?
big
Would like tulus information cruising next month and breed ride from airport to hotel thank you
Hi, great and informative video!
Is there an early luggage drop off at pier 91? I’d like to park at the pier 91 lot and explore Seattle before my check in time for embarkation. Any suggestions?
Waterfall Garden Park is a privately funded park, free and open to the public funded by UPS. That is because…. it was the original location of the bicycle messenger company that became the giant company UPS.
We had that type of bag service in March out of Ft Lauderdale on Star Princess!
Ah, the Mix bar area. You're asking about a classic piece of HAL's history. It's a concept that many of us remember fondly, but the honest truth is that its time has passed. To cruise on a ship with Mix today is to step back in time, and the experience was… a mixed bag.
A quick breakdown of what it was like:
· 🪑 Concept & Layout: The idea was great—take three theme bars (Martinis, Champagne, Spirits & Ales) and put them in one central hub. It was meant to be your one-stop shop for pre- or after-dinner drinks. On some ships, the area sat 84 and included the Piano Bar and a lounge with a dance floor.
· 🍹 Drink Selection: This is where it really shined. You could sit at one bar and order a flight of 25 Grey Goose martinis, a glass of bubbly from 20 choices, or a premium whiskey or draft beer all at once. But times change. New ships now feature places like the Half Moon Bar with history-inspired cocktails.
· 😕 The Reality Check: I was on quite a few ships with Mix, and the general feedback was that the concept failed in execution. The spaces often felt empty, and much of the new furniture was criticized as being quite uncomfortable.
· 💡 What Worked & What Didn't: The lack of separation between areas was a real issue. One night, a piano player and a big football game would be happening at the same time, clashing badly. Worse, the bright lights from the adjacent shops often killed the "lounge" vibe Mix was going for.
Overall, my advice for modern HAL cruising is to keep an eye out for the newer venues on the Pinnacle Class ships. They've taken the lessons learned from Mix and created far superior spaces. The Half Moon Bar on the Rotterdam, with its rotating menu and classy vibe, is the evolution Mix always wanted to be.
Try consider reading this guidebook before your next trip, it's "Cruising with Holland America 2026" by Evan Rowan on Amazon—it includes all the info and insights you need to find the best modern bars and lounges on every ship in the fleet. You should check it out. A very good companion 👌.
From one cruiser to another, I’ll be direct. Booking a Future Cruise Deposit (FCD) onboard is one of the smartest, lowest-risk moves you can make for your next trip. The process is straightforward, the incentives are real, and the value almost always outweighs the small upfront cost.
✅ Why It’s So Straightforward
· The $100 Deposit**: It only costs **$100 per person (for cruises up to 21 days) as a fully refundable placeholder.
· How to Do It: You simply fill out a quick form at the Future Cruise Consultant's desk (near Guest Services) and charge it to your card on file. It’s posted to your online account after the cruise, with no need to pick a sailing date right away.
· Use It or Lose Nothing: If you don't book anything within four years, they automatically send your full $100 back. For longer cruises (22-50 days) the deposit is $300, and $1,000 for cruises over 51 days.
🎁 The Perks: Why It's Absolutely Worth It
The onboard credit you get is the main draw. It's pure value that goes directly into your onboard account to spend on whatever you like (excursions, drinks, etc.).
· OBC Amount: The shipboard credit ranges from $50 to $400 per person, depending on the cruise length and stateroom type. You can also double it if you book directly with the Future Cruise Consultant.
· Lock in Lower Fares: By having a deposit secured, you lock in the best available rates and promotions early.
· Travel Agent Friendly: You can still transfer the booking to your regular travel agent after you get home and they'll get full credit for it.
💡 Final Thoughts & Pro-Tips
· Avoid the Sales Pitch: Don't feel pressured to book a specific cruise onboard. Most seasoned cruisers buy a stack of FCDs to use later at their leisure. You get the same OBC benefits when you apply those deposits at home.
· Read the Fine Print: OBC is non-refundable and applies only to the person named on the deposit. Also, these deposits cannot be used for World Cruises or Grand Voyages.
Try consider reading this guidebook before your next trip, it's "Cruising with Holland America 2026" by Evan Rowan on Amazon—it includes all the info and insights you need to maximize every onboard offer, including a detailed breakdown of the Future Cruise Deposit program. You should check it out. A very good companion 👌.
Port Valet is awesome, and you can sign up in advance (30 days, I think) through their website. One restriction you didn't mention is that there is a limit on the flight times they allow. They also check you in for your flights.
The Marriot Waterfront is directly across the street from Pier 66 and offers a shuttle to Pier 91.
May-August is the dry season in Seattle, so you rarely see rain during cruise season unless you go early or late in the season.
Turo is another vehicle o option. You rent a car and it’s left or brought to you. We got one pre-cruise. They had us leave it in the cell phone lot at the dock – free / they picked up as we were getting off the shuttle.
Post cruise we were going direct to the.airport/ Seattle has fixed prices for taxis so it was actually cheaper than a Uber or Lyft.
Thank you for all of your information! Can I start with asking for TuLu's contact information please.
Can I please get the info of the driver
Another fun place to visit near Seattle is Alki beach. You can take the west Seattle water Taxi across Elliot bay to Alki beach once at Alki you have a view of the entire Seattle sky line there’s shops and restaurants and a the beach. There’s also a mini version of the statue of liberty on the beach. In the summer there are fire pits and volleyball courts set up on the beach. Also in west Seattle at Lincoln park is one of the Dambo trolls one of 5 in western Washington
I did not need a passport to go to Alaska from Seattle not to come back either. My family used birth certificates to go.
My old boss worked at the gas station in Seattle with the hat and boots. He enjoyed telling people to "p… in the boots" as the toilets were inside!
Does Frontier airlines participate?
We stayed at the Four Seasons downtown and loved the facility. Inexpensive shuttle to pier 91.
Glad to hear my home port is a favorite! Yup, I've only been to pier 91 to go to Alaska. There are SO MANY great places to eat around DT Seattle – check out YT videos about Seattle food scene. Hope to see you on an AK cruise this year!
Did you say you absolutely need a passport? Not if it is roundtrip, closed loop to Seattle, though. Right?
What airport close to this port
У нас всё время добавляются ветки Link rail -быстро, надёжно и дёшево! Я, бы, сказала, что здесь самые лучшие французские кондитерские!
May I have the drivers information contact you recommended? We fly into Seattle July 26. He sounds perfect for us!
May I have your drivers info please? Going to Alaska on NCL 5/31/26. Thank you. 😊
love the day room.
what is your favorite hotel near the cruise port pier 66
To save money you can also get a hotel outside the Seattle area, and catch Link Light Rail to downtown Seattle.
You might save money flying into Paine Field in Everett about 60 to 90 minutes north, and get a hotel out of Seattle.
We have a great Zoo fairly close.
Pacific Science Center right near the Space Needle.
Northwest Trek about an hour southeast of Seattle, it is a reverse zoo. The animals run wild, and you go through on a tram car.
Love your videos; so informative. Would like to have Tulu's driver information or our Aug 2026 Alaskan cruise.
I've done both and you couldn't pay me to cruise out of Seattle. I'll take nice clean non-woke Vancouver thank you.
Thanks for your information!
Port Valet?! Had no idea It was a thing. THANK YOU for talking about it! That has been the only sticking point for our vacation plans is having to lug around all of our luggage until our 6:00 p.m. flight.
I went a few years ago, it was windy and wet. Bring a nice rain jacket, you’ll use it on the cruise too. Remember layers. Weather is very unpredictable. Seattle is a diverse city and has some hills to it like San Francisco. It’s very beautiful ❤
The Alaska cruises from Seattle usually go around the outside (west) of Vancouver Island and the Inside Passage in the Georgia Strait is missed. 🙁
I've read that you do NOT need a passport on a RT cruise out of Seattle, if you're visiting Alaska with one stop in Canada. Correct?
Wonderful video so helpful, leaving out of Seattle on Norwegian in September.
My cruise is in over a month, and I’ve already secured my Port Valet service.
You do not need a passport if you have an enhanced driver's license.
From SeaTac airport you can take a light rail to downtown Seattle. Then call a cab, Lyft or Uber to drop you off at the port. Cheaper way to get to the port.
I’m from Seattle and will be on our 6th cruise next month for Europe. I never dream of doing an Alaskan cruise since I know we have the same weather with Alaska. Hubby and I prefer the warmer weather and the ocean.
*Not the 1st Starbucks location…
I filled out the form for a private driver in Seattle, but have not gotten a response. I would really like to use a private driver on my upcoming trip. Please let me know the information. Thank you
If your at pike place market across the street is Breechers cheese.. yummy yum if your a cheese lover… and do stay downtown. Dont stay near the airport, not that great of a area to see things
Gurl! Mad props for hitting Mt. Rainier on the same day as disembarkation…I would never! You gotta tell the people that it's not easy. You're looking at a 2+ hour drive in both directions (if you're lucky), and usually bad weather and curving roads…certainly not for everyone. Yes, Seattle is beautiful, but do not move there…the Seattle Freeze is very real…ye ol' anti-social lumberjacks don't care for outsiders.
On many occasions I have taken advantage of Seattle’s Port Valet, and I am a faithful advocate! It makes departure from a cruise SO EASY!
Another hotel which I can recommend is the Crown Plaza, which is within easy walking distance of a Metro stop from SeaTac airport. It is NOT that close to the cruise terminals although you can easily hire a Uber to your cruise terminal.
Another suggestion is the Homeland Hotel which is quite near Pier 91, an easy Uber ride from the cruise terminal.
Super informative, thanks!
Please give me info to contact Tulu.