Pre- and Post-Cruise Itineraries for Seattle
So, you’re finally taking a majestic Alaskan cruise from Seattle? Great choice! It’ll be an experience of a lifetime.
Welcome to Seattle Southside and the Emerald City! There’s so much to see and do that planning your trip might seem overwhelming.
Fear not, for we have created the perfect itinerary to see the highlights all within a few days from the convenient home base of Seattle Southside.
It’s your first day in Seattle Southside. Surely, you’re going to want to see the city highlights in Seattle. There are several Seattle city tours offered by local motorcoach companies. Contact your assistant at Seattle Southside Regional Tourism Authority to help you find the best customized tour for your group.
Another option is to purchase a Seattle CityPass from Seattle Southside RTA. First stop on your CityPass itinerary: The iconic Space Needle located at the Seattle Center. Offering 360° panoramic views of the city, plenty of picture-taking opportunities, and a stunning glass floor, the Space Needle is a great way to start off your Seattle adventure.
After traveling up and down 520 feet, head next door to Chihuly Garden & Glass and be inspired by the amazing and comprehensive collection of Dale Chihuly’s work. The museum is composed of 8 galleries and 3 Drawing Walls, each exhibiting its own magnificent expression of glass, color, art, and mood. Private tours are available with advanced reservations for an additional fee.
Next, head over to MoPOP (Museum of Pop Culture); the funky building that resembles a guitar smashed by Jimi Hendrix. You’ll be inspired by MoPOP’s amazing rotating exhibits, featuring popular music legends, science-fiction icons, and the worlds of fantasy and horror. Group reservations are required and include a self-guided tour and a private group entrance.
After being inspired from all the unique Seattle art and music, end your evening back in Seattle Southside near your hotel. Bahama Breeze Island Grille is a unique, Caribbean-inspired restaurant known for fresh, delicious entrées, accompanied by refreshing and handcrafted tropical drinks. Group reservations are required.
Spend your 2nd day at the waterfront in Seattle, and take advantage of more of your CityPass. Start your day from the depths of Puget Sound to a Pacific Coral Reef at the Seattle Aquarium on Pier 66.
After exploring the Puget Sound waters, head over to Argosy Cruises to reserve a spot for your group on the Harbor Cruise Tour. During this 1-hour Argosy Harbor Cruise Tour, you’ll learn Seattle history, explore the workings of our shipping port, get a close-up view of Seattle’s historic waterfront, and be awed by the natural beauty of Elliott Bay and the surrounding Olympic and Cascade Mountain ranges.
After your groups’ tour, explore the waterfront piers’ unique shops and attractions. The famous Ye Olde Curiosity Shop sells curious treasures to bring home as souvenirs. Or, fly over Washington State through Wings Over Washington, which takes you on a virtual aerial adventure in the state-of-the-art "flying theater”.
Return to Seattle Southside and Salty’s Seafood Grill at Redondo. Salty’s has served delicious, locally sourced seafood for decades, award-winning Northwest seafood and steak cuisine with impeccable service.
You’re already staying here, why not spend your final day locally and get the authentic Seattle Southside experience? Start at The Museum of Flight, where you can explore the history of aviation and spaceflight. Step back in time in the Personal Courage Wing, where you’ll see over a dozen fighter planes from WWI and WWII. Check out the NASA full fuselage trainer, an original Air Force One, Concorde, B-17f Bomber and many more air and spacecraft. Private docent tours are available for FREE if booked two weeks in advance for groups. Tours typically last an hour and take you through the evolution of flight in the Great Gallery and the Red Barn. Group visit packages include discounted admission rates and free admission for bus drivers. Lunch accommodations can also be made for your group, including made-to-order box lunches and private dining space.
After the museum, head over to Seattle Chocolates to treat your group to the Experience Chocolate Tour, a celebration of all things chocolate and an opportunity to bring people of all ages together to taste, explore, and discover all aspects of this sweet sensation. The tour is designed as an immersive experience that educates and inspires visitors to delight in the chocolate-making process. Discover what makes a truffle a truffle and watch “live” how a truffle flavor is carefully crafted, poured, molded, shaken and then run through a chocolate waterfall before it’s finally cooled and packaged. Experience the Tasting Room where your group will explore different chocolate varieties and flavor combinations. Visitors get the opportunity to suggest new flavor ideas that may become reality for the next Seattle Chocolates collection. A maximum of 16 people per group is allowed on each tour group but multiple tours can be arranged.
Just up the street from the factory is Westfield Southcenter, the biggest shopping center in the Pacific Northwest. Visit Fireworks Gallery (a Pioneer Square original store) to purchase some quirky PNW souvenirs and unusual, one-of-a-kind gifts, featuring the work of a dozen talented local artists to over 300 nationally and internationally acclaimed artisans and studios. Have a delicious seafood dinner at Duke’s Chowder House (TripAdvisor’s #1 restaurant in the city of Tukwila). A private banquet room can accommodate up to 20 people. Reservations are recommended. Start off with some of their award-winning clam chowder and feast on Dungeness crab stuffed halibut.