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Help create an Official "Seattle FAQ" -by members for members!


LauraS
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This FAQ is in the process of being created by our West Coast Departures Community members. It should contain information to the most commonly asked questions about cruising from Seattle's cruise ports.

 

Additionally, Cruise Critic's award-winning editorial staff keeps the following resources updated:

 

Seattle Port Profile

 

Seattle: Pre- or Post-Cruise Mini Break

 

 

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Additionally, Cruise Critic's award-winning editorial staff keeps the following resources updated:

 

Seattle Port Profile

 

Seattle: Pre- or Post-Cruise Mini Break

I would start by updating these threads to eliminate references to the Pier 30 cruise terminal, which hasn't been in use for two years, and replacing them with information regarding the T91 terminal.
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Here's a link to the Seattle bus ( Metro Transit) web page. There are several drop downs for more info. It includes info on the West Seattle water taxi and Lake Union street car. http://metro.kingcounty.gov/

 

A handy feature is the Trip Planner. If you don't know an address, you can often use a popular destination name. IE if you want to go to the Ballard Locks from downtown Seattle, use a common location like 'Westlake Center' as your starting address. The Trip Planner will provide a couple of routes for you, and you can even print a map of the bus route.

http://tripplanner.kingcounty.gov/cgi-bin/itin_page.pl?resptype=U

 

The Ride Free area:

http://metro.kingcounty.gov/tops/bus/area_maps/m_seattle-rfa.html

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I would start by updating these threads to eliminate references to the Pier 30 cruise terminal, which hasn't been in use for two years, and replacing them with information regarding the T91 terminal.

 

 

Whoops! You are 100% correct, and we will get right on that! Passed the info over to our editorial team just now.

 

Thank you,

 

Laura

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Seattle Light Rail This topic tends to get buried in the Seattle Q&A and seems to be coming up more and more.

The light rail runs from SeaTac Airport to downtown Seattle, ending at Westlake Center, taking about 40 minutes. There are about 12 stops in between. Schedule and map are in the link, fare $2.50. It's a bit of a walk from the airport to the station, 7-10 minutes so if you've overpacked this might not be a good option.

http://www.soundtransit.org/Riding-S...Light-Rail.xml

 

Info on cabs, shuttles, etc are on the SeaTac web site

http://www.portseattle.org/seatac/gr...shtml#schedule

Last edited by mapleleaves; January 20th, 2011 at 05:26 PM.

quote.gif

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  • 1 month later...

Rugerdog, I don't know if this would work for you or if you think it's a good value, but the Hampton Inn Seattle Downtown has a Park & Cruise package for $239. Overnight stay, breakfast, and parking while you are on the cruise. They give you a discounted rate on a shuttle to/from the Pier (I think they said $5-7 pp each way depending on which pier). I don't think it's in the greatest area (although it gets pretty good reviews), but it is walking distance to the Space Needle, Experience Music Project, etc., so it's convenient if you want to do sightseeing there. Not sure how you'd get to Pike Place Market, etc.

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  • 2 weeks later...
ok I called Stila which is based at Seatac airport. They are charging this yr $65 to pier 91 and can accomodate up to 9 pax. They have some suburban type vehicles so 5 shouldn't be a problem. You don't need to reserve in advance. Just contact ground transportation once your at the airport.

 

When I spoke with Yellow Cab last month they quoted me $41 for SeaTac Airport to the Westin Hotel. That was for 2 people.
And $51 from Airport to Pier 91 by Yellow Cab. Edited by mapleleaves
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Bus Service

 

King County Metro serves the Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal at Pier 66 and Smith Cove Cruise Terminal at Pier 91.

Bell Street Cruise Terminal at Pier 66

 

  • Ride Route #99 to the Bell Street Cruise Terminal stop located directly across the street from Pier 66. For bus schedules visit King County Metro.

Smith Cove Cruise Terminal at Pier 91

 

  • Ride Routes #15, #19, #24, and #33 to the Smith Cove Cruise Terminal at Pier 91. The bus stop is located at the top of the Magnolia Bridge. To access the cruise terminal, passengers proceed down a steep staircase which connects to a catwalk underneath the bridge. Note: The staircase is directly adjacent to the bus stop on the same side of the roadway. The walkway leads to another staircase that descends to Pier 91. Once at ground level, passengers walk .4 miles to the cruise terminal building. The pier is an industrial setting with large trucks, buses and taxis. Access from bus stop to the pier is not ADA accessible. No elevator or shuttle is available from the bus stop to the cruise terminal. For bus schedules visit King County Metro.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Seattle Hop on bus tours Grayline has apparently gone out of business in Seattle. They used to operate the Airporter bus but that is now run by Shuttleexpress.com

 

Hoho buses in some cities are very nice and a good value. This yr the Double Decker bus has become The Pink Bus. I have to be candid and warn you that in Seattle this simply is not a good deal. They are charging $35 per day and it makes only 4 stops. Compare that to the FREE Metro Bus route 99 called the Waterfront Trolley. It makes all the same stops and even though there won't be any commentary can take you from Pioneer Square, Chinatown, Pike Place Mkt, close to Space Needle, Sculpture Garden park and Seattle Waterfront and pier 66 (NCL and Celebrity)

 

Print the route and timetable at

 

www.kingcounty.gov/metro

 

your looking for route 99. Free is better than $35

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 8 months later...

Seattle taxi fare estimator using Google Maps. Input your 'from' and 'to' information to get an estimated taxi fare. Fares estimated for light, medium, and heavy traffic. Also look for possible Flat Rates shown on left panel.

 

http://www.taxifarefinder.com/main.php?city=Seattle

 

Information on the site suggests that the fare rates for Seattle were updated as of 1/4/2012.

 

Estimates that I have obtained using this site in the past have been close enough for me to use for my planning purposes.

Edited by usviking
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  • 3 months later...
Here's a link to the Seattle bus ( Metro Transit) web page. There are several drop downs for more info. It includes info on the West Seattle water taxi and Lake Union street car. http://metro.kingcounty.gov/

 

A handy feature is the Trip Planner. If you don't know an address, you can often use a popular destination name. IE if you want to go to the Ballard Locks from downtown Seattle, use a common location like 'Westlake Center' as your starting address. The Trip Planner will provide a couple of routes for you, and you can even print a map of the bus route.

http://tripplanner.kingcounty.gov/cgi-bin/itin_page.pl?resptype=U

 

The Ride Free area:

http://metro.kingcounty.gov/tops/bus/area_maps/m_seattle-rfa.html

 

Please be aware that the ride free area is being eliminated in September, any many routes are being reduced/eliminated due to budget cuts. Be sure to check out the King County Metro Trip Planner to ensure that you will be able to get to wbete you want to go.

Edited by SeattleCruiselover
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  • 1 month later...
  • 1 month later...

Riding in the elevator up to the top of the Space Needle is $18 for adults, though if you make a reservation at the restaurant, you ride for free. It is a rotating restaurant, and makes one rotation an hour. Sat & Sun they serve brunch. You will want to make your reservation prior to coming to Seattle, pretty popular. http://www.spaceneedle.com/ After you eat, you can walk upstairs to the observation deck to use the complimentary Swarovski Telescopes.

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  • 5 months later...

Seattle now has Uber, a town car service available via an app for your smart phone. It's also available in several other cities. The way it works is, you tell the app that you need a towncar and it dispatches the nearest one. In my experience, they arrive within 5-10 minutes. No need to tip, the fare/tip is all charged to the credit card you register with the app. Fares are fairly similar to a taxi, and you can see on the app where the car is, it's kinda cool. :) http://www.uber.com

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  • 7 months later...
Riding in the elevator up to the top of the Space Needle is $18 for adults, though if you make a reservation at the restaurant, you ride for free. It is a rotating restaurant, and makes one rotation an hour. Sat & Sun they serve brunch. You will want to make your reservation prior to coming to Seattle, pretty popular. http://www.spaceneedle.com/ After you eat, you can walk upstairs to the observation deck to use the complimentary Swarovski Telescopes.

 

http://www.spaceneedle.com/visit-the-needle/tickets/

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  • 3 months later...

Seattle may be the most perfect city in the country from July to October. It rains every July 4th but after that it's amazing. If you are leaving from the Port of Seattle downtown Pier the Edgewater hotel is the ideal place to stay. Northwest ambience and just a short walk to the pier it's filled with great history and one of a kind views. You can't beat it.

If you are leaving from Piers 90/91 stay anywhere because they are not near any hotels or the central part of downtown. Cabs are easy to get and not too expensive compared to some larger cities.

 

Everyone knows about the big sights like the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, and Pioneer Square but here are some other choices you might like.

 

Argosy Locks Cruise- If your a boat nut and I'm guessing you are this 2 1/2 hour trip is the best all around tour from the water. The tour leaves from Pier 56 near the Seattle Aquarium. You travel thru Elliott Bay, the Hiram M Chittenden Locks, pass by Fisherman's Terminal, and the Sleepless in Seattle floating home. They provide a bus to return you to the central waterfront.

 

Boeing Mueseum of Flight- Often overlooked because of it's sort of out of the way location this may be the best air and space museum behind the Smithsonian. Great for kids but even better for adults. Located at Boeing Field it's about a fifteen minute cab ride from the downtown hotels.

 

The University of Washington- This campus is the perfect place for a stroll for architecture buffs. Great views of Lake Washington and Mt. Rainier surround campus buildings of all styles and sizes. Easy to acess by bus the school and the edgy University District give you a more complete picture of the younger Seattle lifestyle.

 

If your in a time crunch the Experience Music Project, Pacific Science Center, Safeco Field tour, Seattle Aquarium, and the Seattle Wheel, while fun in their own right, have similiar relatives in every touristy city in America.

 

If you have only one day for a day trip I think it has to be Mt. St. Helen's. Actually close to Portland than Seattle the roughly 2 1/2 hour trip from downtown proves there is no place in the US that better exemplifies the power of mother nature. Several visitor centers, great hiking trails, and even lava tube caves to explore make this National Park a must see.

 

 

 

 

Sent from my GT-P7510 using Forums mobile app

Edited by Seamaxwell
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