Everything you need to know about port terminals, sightseeing and where to stay

This American city is wet and cold from October to April, but leave the weather aside; You’ll find other good reasons to visit.

Who goes there

Seattle is a busy port due to the popularity of Alaska cruises, but some ships also chart itineraries to Hawaii, the American west coast and Mexico, or head to the Pacific on repositioning cruises. This year, 2.1 million passengers are expected from 21 ships belonging to 15 cruise companies. The season lasts from May to October.

sail away

Given the cruise ship’s habit of arriving early, you may miss most of the show before sunrise, but you can enjoy the view for a few hours as you depart. Your ship heads into Puget Sound, passing through a channel between Canada’s Vancouver Island and Washington state, past the San Juan archipelago, and heading deep into the landscape before arriving in Seattle with its distinctive Space Needle tower.

docking ceremonies

Some cruise lines use the Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal at Pier 66, located in downtown Seattle near major attractions such as Pike Place Market, the Seattle Aquarium, and the Space Needle. Others use the Smith Cove Cruise Terminal at Pier 91, a 15-minute drive from downtown. The airport is 35 minutes away by car.

before and after

Seattle is the home port for Alaska cruises, so you can stay a day or two before or after your cruise. For contemporary elegance, choose the well-located Four Seasons Hotel Seattle or the pleasant downtown Hotel 1000 Seattle. More affordable options are Palihotel Seattle or Graduate by Hilton Seattle.

Disembark

Pike Place Market, full of restaurants and craft stalls, is the city’s biggest, albeit touristic, attraction. Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour is more interesting and entertaining; It takes you to the buried parts of the city. Seattle has many fine museums, but if you can’t decide, visit the Seattle Art Museum for its wide selection of Northwest Coast Native American art and other world art. Also notable are the city’s gardens, the best of which are the Bellevue Botanical Garden, the Seattle Japanese Garden, and the Olympic Sculpture Park.

Don’t miss

American cities like Detroit, New Orleans, and Nashville are the ones we associate with music, but local Seattle bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, and Alice in Chains produced the grunge of the 1990s. You can tour a variety of grunge venues, but anyone interested in the broader music scene shouldn’t miss the interactive Pop Culture Museum, which includes a gallery dedicated to Seattle native Jimi Hendrix.

Be active

Although it’s often humid, Seattle is an active, outdoorsy city. You probably won’t want to swim in the sound, although locals do, but you can sea kayak or paddleboard at Moss Bay. If you’d rather stay dry, jog along the coastal path in both directions from the cruise terminals. There are three municipal golf courses in the city.

best bites

In the Pacific Northwest, seafood should be your go-to: salmon, trout, crab, shellfish, and a variety of soups. The food scene is lively and multicultural, but the best are found in the inconvenient suburbs (Queen Anne’s is your closest option). Still, try Greek Lola downtown, Shiro’s Sushi, or the upscale Shuckers Oyster Bar (also a seafood restaurant) at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel.

further away

Most trips won’t take you outside of Seattle. Several cruise lines offer excursions to wineries around Woodinville, a half-hour drive northeast. But the best option is the Future of Flight and Boeing Factory Tour, an hour north of downtown, where you can see the factory floor, examine giant engines, and see wacky proposals for future airplanes.