If you want to share---ask. They'll accommodate if possible. And in spite of many "the sky is falling" concerns about the change to all anytime dining, there have yet to be many reports of substantive waits to be seated in the MDRs.
Be sure your search is for a "shore excursions group" that will specialize in what you're looking for. With near 100% confidence your search result sailing will begin and end in the old harbor---within 200 feet of the Celebrity tenders. Last tender will be at 9:30 for a 10:00 departure.
We took the light rail to downtown (cheap), stayed at Hilton Garden Inn on Boren (about a 15 walk from the rail station). However, there are many other hotels in the area one could choose. Boarding day the hotel set us up with a transfer to the port (nice luxury SUV, don't remember how much it was, probably about $40). Easy Peasy.
Face it. With minor variations, the ports are almost identical. For me it boils down to the willingness for the (1) expense/time/opportunities (Anchorage) of a North-South (2) expense/opportunities of Vancouver (3) ease/offerings of Seattle.