I need shuttle service advice in Seattle

[jkantrow]

We are a family of 4 and need transportation from the cruise terminal to the Seattle Airport. Please post suggestions, websites and prices of you know any. Has anyone used UBER? If so, how much and what was your experience like. Thanks!

[caseykees]

we are using seattleexpress.com. I think it is $15 per person now, but $12 when I booked earlier this year over the winter. they were very responsive to the couple questions I had, and a change that I made.

[Budget Queen]

OK- I am cheap and able bodied, always pack light with only one medium quality rolling bag and a back pack. I always walk to the Westlake Station, and take the light rail to SeaTac $3.00 pp

 

I do NOT walk up the hill on Pine. I walk up Pike, and back track, 1 block on 3rd, (usually stopping in the Walgreens for my soda. :) ) I also frequently pick up something, Beechers, or the Chowder House are common for my preferences.

[Florida 1]

Seattle Express is who we used as well. They were great - price was $15 per.

[don't-use-real-name]

OK- I am cheap and able bodied, always pack light with only one medium quality rolling bag and a back pack. I always walk to the Westlake Station, and take the light rail to SeaTac $3.00 pp

 

I do NOT walk up the hill on Pine. I walk up Pike, and back track, 1 block on 3rd, (usually stopping in the Walgreens for my soda. :) ) I also frequently pick up something, Beechers, or the Chowder House are common for my preferences.

 

But you have left the party of 4 in a lurch - they need to get to SEA Sea-Tac airport.

 

Option 1

The least amount of transfer of movement would be the NCL Motor Coach

from the ship to the SEA airport terminal - stopping only for CBI at the border.

From your stateroom on the ship your bags are tagged the night before and

taken the next day direct to the NCL chartered motor coach. At the designated

announcement on the ship the folks using this service are summoned to

proceed to and thru Canadian Customs and board the bus which then departs

around 9 am and 3-4* hours later is at the SEA airport.

* times variable with US CBI traffic at border - Bus and passengers are cleared

you don't have to get off the bus at all. The customs agent comes on board and

visually checks for your USA Passport and it is done.

The bus drops right off in front of the Airline you are traveling on.

Last time I did this the Per Person fare was about $50.

Expensive yes but not a lot of mickey mouse with baggage handling .

 

Option 2

Take a private operated service i.e. Quick Shuttle (has website) and does

the same thing that NCL does with 20 or so passenger vehicles.

Alternatively check for a private cab service (Lyft or Uber).

 

Option 3

As Budget Queen wrote walk 3 blocks to take the SkyTrain to Vancouver

Airport and fly Horizon Air (50 minute or so trip) to SEA Airport and connect

with your USA flight.

Not a cheap method and prone with the slings and pains of the TSA/Canada

security checks fiasco.

 

Sub Option 3

Fly home directly or with USA connection home. Cavet Canadian USA flights

to major USA cities Los Angeles Denver Salt Lake Minneapolis/StPaul Chicago

etc. are not cheap even if flying a US flagged airline.

 

Option 4

Late in the day or overnight and take Amtrak to Seattle and shuttle from

downtown Seattle to the airport - interesting and scenic but not cheap.

 

XXX

If the ship docks at 7 am and leaving from Vancouver airport do not plan any

flights before noon - dream the impossible dream this is ONLY for seasoned

veterans of the travel industry - after 1 pm I believe is the recommended

time that NCL suggests - but beware of the crowds that your cruise ship has

dumped into the main stream travel from Canada

Getting to the Vancouver airport :

Walk 3 blocks & Sky Train to airport - Budget Queen quote CA $3

Take cab or private car/cab ?

NCL Motor Coach shuttle $25 pp

 

Travel to Seattle flights should not be planned before 3 pm - remember you

have to clear a TSA check point (No not CBI you will have done that already).

* Nationally noted the TSA SEA lines have been horrendous. If you have

TSA PRECK GE First Class Priority class tickets USE THEM !!!!!

 

Last minute note:

Vancouver is not the only cruise ship activity sailing in this area - Seattle has

it's own cruise ship activity voyages to and from Alaska - beware on any given

day the crowded traffic and airport facilities can be an overwhelming venture !

Read CC and other travel periodicals for just how bad it can get.

But it will be a trip that you will not forget soon !

[Budget Queen]

But you have left the party of 4 in a lurch - they need to get to SEA Sea-Tac airport.

 

Option 1

The least amount of transfer of movement would be the NCL Motor Coach

from the ship to the SEA airport terminal - stopping only for CBI at the border.

From your stateroom on the ship your bags are tagged the night before and

taken the next day direct to the NCL chartered motor coach. At the designated

announcement on the ship the folks using this service are summoned to

proceed to and thru Canadian Customs and board the bus which then departs

around 9 am and 3-4* hours later is at the SEA airport.

* times variable with US CBI traffic at border - Bus and passengers are cleared

you don't have to get off the bus at all. The customs agent comes on board and

visually checks for your USA Passport and it is done.

The bus drops right off in front of the Airline you are traveling on.

Last time I did this the Per Person fare was about $50.

Expensive yes but not a lot of mickey mouse with baggage handling .

 

Option 2

Take a private operated service i.e. Quick Shuttle (has website) and does

the same thing that NCL does with 20 or so passenger vehicles.

Alternatively check for a private cab service (Lyft or Uber).

 

Option 3

As Budget Queen wrote walk 3 blocks to take the SkyTrain to Vancouver

Airport and fly Horizon Air (50 minute or so trip) to SEA Airport and connect

with your USA flight.

Not a cheap method and prone with the slings and pains of the TSA/Canada

security checks fiasco.

 

Sub Option 3

Fly home directly or with USA connection home. Cavet Canadian USA flights

to major USA cities Los Angeles Denver Salt Lake Minneapolis/StPaul Chicago

etc. are not cheap even if flying a US flagged airline.

 

Option 4

Late in the day or overnight and take Amtrak to Seattle and shuttle from

downtown Seattle to the airport - interesting and scenic but not cheap.

 

XXX

If the ship docks at 7 am and leaving from Vancouver airport do not plan any

flights before noon - dream the impossible dream this is ONLY for seasoned

veterans of the travel industry - after 1 pm I believe is the recommended

time that NCL suggests - but beware of the crowds that your cruise ship has

dumped into the main stream travel from Canada

Getting to the Vancouver airport :

Walk 3 blocks & Sky Train to airport - Budget Queen quote CA $3

Take cab or private car/cab ?

NCL Motor Coach shuttle $25 pp

 

Travel to Seattle flights should not be planned before 3 pm - remember you

have to clear a TSA check point (No not CBI you will have done that already).

* Nationally noted the TSA SEA lines have been horrendous. If you have

TSA PRECK GE First Class Priority class tickets USE THEM !!!!!

 

Last minute note:

Vancouver is not the only cruise ship activity sailing in this area - Seattle has

it's own cruise ship activity voyages to and from Alaska - beware on any given

day the crowded traffic and airport facilities can be an overwhelming venture !

Read CC and other travel periodicals for just how bad it can get.

But it will be a trip that you will not forget soon !

 

 

 

HUH???

I see "in Seattle", asked by the OP.

and NO WHERE Is Vancouver mentioned.

Edited July 10, 2016 by Budget Queen

[caseykees]

OK- I am cheap and able bodied, always pack light with only one medium quality rolling bag and a back pack. I always walk to the Westlake Station, and take the light rail to SeaTac $3.00 pp

 

I do NOT walk up the hill on Pine. I walk up Pike, and back track, 1 block on 3rd, (usually stopping in the Walgreens for my soda. :) ) I also frequently pick up something, Beechers, or the Chowder House are common for my preferences.

 

I'm cheap and probably able bodied...but admittadly probably lazy! :D so we are using the shuttle! We will also be in a semi-hurry and walking off with our luggage, and we will see how that goes!

[don't-use-real-name]

HUH???

I see "in Seattle", asked by the OP.

and NO WHERE Is Vancouver mentioned.

 

Sorry Budget Queen read more into it than what was there !

Thanks for putting this back on your metro rail map at Pikes st (Market) !

These folks where apparently doing a Closed Loop cruise out of and returning

to Seattle.

Should have known when you mentioned metro light rail 3 blocks away at

Pikes St (Market) that it was Seattle.

At $3.00 pp that is bargain compared to NCLs $29 pp from ship to airport:

LINK: https://www.ncl.com/getting-to-the-pier/transfers-and-car-services

But NCL does not have you hiking hills and the luggage prechecked the night

before is loaded onto your NCL charter coach and you pick it up right in front

of the airline you are taking. No CBI clearance except at Pier dock.

For cab or other shuttle a party of -4- would be very reasonable at $10 pp tip extra.

TSA lines at SEA-TAC airport are atrocious heed not trying to make early flights

unless one has TSA-PreCk and or Priority and First Business class tickets.

[jkantrow]

Our flight is not until 2pm. I assume we will be waiting around the airport for a while. Please send more tips. Has anyone used UBER? If so, how much was the ride?

 

Also, has anyone tried to use OBC to purchase the $29 NCL shuttle to the airport?

 

Thanks!

Edited July 11, 2016 by jkantrow

[Misskitty72]

Hi there!

 

I live in Seattle and Seattle Express has a really good reputation. Can't go wrong with them.

 

I also use Uber to get around the city and to the airport, and it's very reliable.

From my house, which is just north of downtown Seattle, it's about $45 to the airport. So it might be slightly less than that around the pier. Not sure.

 

Here's a link to Uber Seattle. You can get an estimate here.

https://www.uber.com/cities/seattle/

 

Also, for any visitors to Seattle, welcome!!! I'm glad you're here.

But for the love of Pete... it's PIKE PLACE MARKET!!!!

Not Pike's Market or Market St. Market. Just PIKE PLACE MARKET!!

 

Thank you. :)

[jkantrow]

Hi there!

 

 

 

I live in Seattle and Seattle Express has a really good reputation. Can't go wrong with them.

 

 

 

I also use Uber to get around the city and to the airport, and it's very reliable.

 

From my house, which is just north of downtown Seattle, it's about $45 to the airport. So it might be slightly less than that around the pier. Not sure.

 

 

 

Here's a link to Uber Seattle. You can get an estimate here.

 

https://www.uber.com/cities/seattle/

 

 

 

Also, for any visitors to Seattle, welcome!!! I'm glad you're here.

 

But for the love of Pete... it's PIKE PLACE MARKET!!!!

 

Not Pike's Market or Market St. Market. Just PIKE PLACE MARKET!!

 

 

 

Thank you. :)

 

 

Thank you so much! That helps a ton. We will be in Seattle for a couple days before we set sake on the cruise. Any local suggestions of things to do or places to eat would be great! I have 2 kids (9 and 10). Our hotel is in Bellevue.

[gottacruisemore]

Our flight is not until 2pm. I assume we will be waiting around the airport for a while. Please send more tips. Has anyone used UBER? If so, how much was the ride?

 

Also, has anyone tried to use OBC to purchase the $29 NCL shuttle to the airport?

 

Thanks!

 

I used Uber a lot in Seattle, unfortunately not to Seatac. Keep in mind for 4 with luggage you will need UberXL as a regular car will be too small (Prius). I used Shuttle Express (different company than Seattle Express) and they were fine. I will say that my aunt had a 2ish flight and they had her on the same shuttle as me and we got to the airport at 9 for my 11:30 flight. And the security line is long, but moves at a steady pace.

[veryseasonedtraveler]

Think your family would enjoy the Boeing Air Museum. The adults should not miss Chihuly garden and glass. The view from the Columbia Center is spectacular. Seattle is a great place to visit. We thoroughly enjoyed our three days of touring. Travel was easy because of the light rail. Took us everywhere[emoji41]

[Budget Queen]

Think your family would enjoy the Boeing Air Museum. The adults should not miss Chihuly garden and glass. The view from the Columbia Center is spectacular. Seattle is a great place to visit. We thoroughly enjoyed our three days of touring. Travel was easy because of the light rail. Took us everywhere[emoji41]

 

Depends what you are referring to?? The Museum of Flight (is not "Boeing"), is between downtown Seattle and SeaTac easy to get to via cheap city bus.

 

The Boeing Factory tour, is in Everett, on cruise ship days- it will be more difficult to get walk up tickets, so this is something, you need to book ahead. Having a car- is the best option, as you have your luggage with you, then go to the airport without wasting hours with transfers.

 

I've rented cars easily several times, right in downtown Seattle, again, walked to from the ship.

[jkantrow]

Thanks for all of your advice. I ended up booking Shuttle Express for $44 (kids ride free).

[veryseasonedtraveler]

Depends what you are referring to?? The Museum of Flight (is not "Boeing"), is between downtown Seattle and SeaTac easy to get to via cheap city bus.

 

 

 

The Boeing Factory tour, is in Everett, on cruise ship days- it will be more difficult to get walk up tickets, so this is something, you need to book ahead. Having a car- is the best option, as you have your luggage with you, then go to the airport without wasting hours with transfers.

 

 

 

I've rented cars easily several times, right in downtown Seattle, again, walked to from the ship.

 

 

I was referring to the Museum of Flight. It is where the original Boeing factory was located. Something for everyone. ✈️