Frequently Asked Questions for Cruisers

"From which pier does my ship sail?"
 Bell Street Pier / Pier 66: Celebrity Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line

Smith Cove Terminal / Pier 91: Carnival, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean International.

"How far is the cruise terminal from the airport?"
To Bell Street Pier / Pier 66: 16 miles via I-5 North, 14.3 miles via WA-99 North
To Smith Cove Terminal / Pier 91: 18 miles via I-5 North, 16.6 miles via WA-99 North

"Where should I stay before/after my cruise?"
Many of our hotels offer Cruise packages that include transportation to the terminal and overnight parking. Choose a hotel with a continental breakfast to avoid unnecessary trips the morning of the cruise.

"What time should I schedule my pickup for the shuttle back to the airport/hotel?"
Passenger disembark usually begins at 7:30 a.m. at the earliest. After baggage retrieval, passengers begin exiting the cruise terminal approximately 10 - 15 minutes later. Debark is over around 10:30 a.m. when the last passenger is off the vessel. The number of passengers varies from vessel to vessel, making debark end time a variable. A cell phone will become handy during disembark. The shuttle drivers are very experienced with cruise pickups and should be able to tell you the best time.

"How do I get to my ship?"
Seattle Express can take you to/from your hotel and the cruise terminal. The ride is only $12/person. For inquiries and reservations, call (206) 793-8430. (Note: Most hotels provide a free shuttle from Sea-Tac Airport to their hotels. From there, take Seattle Express to your cruise terminal.)

Shuttle Express also offers transportation to the cruise terminals. For inquiries and reservations call 425-981-7000 / 1-800-324-9277.

Tours Northwest provides pre and post cruise tours with pick up from the ship and airport drop off following the tour. The Premier 3-hour City Tour includes luggage handling and transportation to or from your trip.

"Where can I store my bags if I want to explore the city?"
Both terminals provide luggage storage before and after cruises as well as onboard airline check-in and luggage handling. The cost is $3.00 per bag and bags must be reclaimed by 3:30 p.m. 

How do I find Shuttle Express at the cruise terminals?
Bell Street Pier / Pier 66: After leaving the Customs Inspection area, turn right and proceed south past the bus area to the sidewalk along the street. Look overhead for the Skybridge. (Do NOT cross the Skybridge.) The Coordinators, wearing fluorescent green jackets, are located just beyond the Skybridge and the Conference Center entrance. 

(NOTE: If it is after 11 a.m. on the day your ship arrives, you may need to call the Reservation Center at 425-981-7000 to arrange for your pick up.)

Smith Cove Cruise Terminal / Pier 91: As you leave the Customs Inspection area, the Shuttle Express Check-In area is located to the right, inside the terminal lobby (not outside). The coordinators, wearing fluorescent green jackets, will check you in and escort you to your vehicle. 

(NOTE: If it is after 11 a.m. on the day your ship arrives, you may need to call the Reservation Center at 425-981-7000 to arrange for your pick up.)

"Where should I park my car while on my cruise?"
Airport Area Parking
Parking near the airport is more economical and very convenient. Here is a list of parking options near the airport.

Cruise Terminal Parking
The Bell Street Pier garage is available to all cruise passengers. Located directly across from the cruise terminal, it offers 1,700 spaces of covered, secure parking. Friends and family who pick up or drop off cruise passengers also are encouraged to use the garage.

• General parking is available for $21 per day (includes taxes). Customers will receive a $1 per day discount when booking online at Republic Parking Northwest at www.rpnw.com/cruise. Parking demand is quite high, so reserve early.
• You may prepay for parking online. When you prepay, parking is guaranteed.
• Location: 9 Wall Street. Enter at the corner of Alaskan Way and Wall Street.
• 25 handicap parking stalls available
• Maximum height is 6'6"
• Questions? Call the Republic Parking garage staff at 206-783-4144

The Smith Cove Terminal parking lot is available to all Carnival, Disney, Holland America, Princess and Royal Caribbean cruise passengers. This lot also provides over height and RV parking for Norwegian and Celebrity cruise passengers. Located near the cruise terminal, it offers 1,000 secure parking spaces.

• General parking is available for $21.31 plus tax per day. Parking for the 8th day and beyond is $8.37 plus tax. All customers will receive a $1 per day discount if they book parking online.
• RV parking is available for $29.51 plus tax per day. RV parking must be reserved and prepaid online to guarantee a space.
• Passengers departing from the Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal at Pier 66 can obtain a complimentary taxi voucher for service back to Pier 66. Please allow 15-20 minutes for the taxi ride back to Pier 66.

"I want to come early and stay late after my cruise. What should I do and how long do I need?"
This is a great time explore the Pacific Northwest. 
Near the cruise terminals:
Visit the Space Needle at Seattle Center, Pike Place Market and downtown shopping, Seattle Aquarium and the Great Wheel, Pioneer Square and Seattle Art Museum.

Near Seattle Southside hotels:
Spend some time at the Museum of Flight, iFLY Indoor Skydiving, Des Moines Waterfront, Westfield Southcenter Mall, Pacific Raceways, and the Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum.

If you have more than one day consider package deals such as the City Pass which will allow you to see multiple attractions at a discount.A day trip is a great option to explore Mount Rainier, the Hoh Rainforest, the San Juan Islands, Victoria, Canada via the Clipper, or Leavenworth. All of these sites are less than 3 hours away and they each have their own breathtaking scenery and exciting adventures. 

For more ideas call or visit the Visitor Center:
206-575-2489 / 1-877-885-9452
3100 S. 176th St.
 SeaTac, WA 98188

For more cruise information click here.