There is a new Seattle Cruise Terminal at Smith Cove Pier 91 (near Magnolia Bluff and Palisades). This dock is used for Holland America Lines (HAL), Princess Cruises, and Royal Caribbean Lines (RCL). Celebrity Cruise Lines and Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL) still use the downtown Bell Street Terminal at Pier 66.
In 2008, Seattle surpassed Vancouver to become the main embarkation port for Alaskan cruises. That is why the city needed a new $72 million facility, which is expected to handle over 800,000 cruise passengers in 2009. The two Seattle Cruise Terminals are in very different parts of the city and are miles apart.
Which Seattle Cruise Terminal?
For Holland America Lines (HAL), Princess Cruises, and the Royal Caribbean Line (RCL):
Embarkation for Holland America Lines (HAL), Princess Cruises, and the Royal Caribbean Line (RCL) is at the new Seattle Cruise Terminal at Smith Cove – Pier 91. This terminal is located in the Interbay region of Seattle (the valley on the west side of Queen Anne Hill). The entrance to the terminal is near the bottom of the Magnolia Bridge. Cruise ships do not use Seattle's Terminal 30.
The terminals for Celebrity Cruise Lines and Norwegian Cruise Lines:
Celebrity Cruise Lines and Norwegian Cruise Lines remain along the waterfront area of Downtown Seattle at their regular pier. Embark at the Bell Street Terminal / Pier 66 at the north end of the Seattle Waterfront (Alaskan Way).
New Seattle Cruise Terminal (Smith Cove Pier 91) from I-5:
- Terminal 91 Cruise Facility
- 2001 W. Garfield St.
- Seattle, WA 98119
If coming from North Seattle, take Exit 167 / Mercer Street (just before Downtown Seattle).
If coming from South Seattle take Exit 167 / Mercer Street. It is after the I-90 Exit, however the exit is on the LEFT side of the freeway.
At this point, the directions to the new Seattle Cruise Ship Terminal are the same:
- Take Exit 167 / Mercer Street
- >Turn right onto Fairview Ave (get ready to take a left)
- <Turn left on Valley St.
- Valley St. curves left and becomes Broad St.
- >Turn right onto Denny
- >Slight right onto Western
- Western merges into Elliot Ave. Continue north for about a mile.
- Follow signs to Magnolia Bridge
- >Turn right at 14th Ave W.
- >Keep right and follow ramp which goes to Magnolia Bridge (West Garfield St.)
- >Exit right. Following signs to "Smith Cove Park" and Cruise Terminal
- >Turn right at bottom of ramp and follow signs for Cruise Terminal or Cruise Terminal Parking
Driving Directions to New Seattle Cruise Terminal from 520 Bridge:
From 520, go southbound on the I-5 Freeway. Get into the right hand lane of the freeway to Exit 167 / Mercer Street Exit. Then, follow the same directions as above.
Driving Directions to New Seattle Cruise Terminal from I-90 Bridge:
From I-90, the Google directions say to take WA-99 north (the Viaduct). Seattle natives would not usually take that route. An easy way to get to Magnolia (without crossing 4 lanes of freeway) is to follow I-90 to the Waterfront (Alaskan Way). Then go north to the end of Alaskan way. Go to Elliot Ave and follow Elliot north to the Magnolia Bridge. Directions:
- Go West to the end of the I-90 Freeway (the next few turns happen quickly)
- >Turn right at 4th Ave S
- >Turn right at S Royal Brougham Way
- >Turn right at 1st Ave S
- <Turn left at S King St
- >Turn right at Alaskan Way
- Follow to the end of Alaskan Way (1 mile)
- Turn right at Broad St. (Get ready for left turn)
- Turn left at Elliott Ave and continue on Elliot (1 mile).
- Follow signs to Magnolia Bridge
- >Turn right at 14th Ave W.
- >Keep right and follow ramp going to Magnolia Bridge (West Garfield St.)
- >Following signs to "Smith Cove Park" and Cruise Terminal
- >Turn right at bottom of ramp and follow signs for Cruise Terminal
How to get to the new Seattle Cruise Terminal:
Seattle Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal at Pier 66:
- Seattle Bell Street Terminal at Pier 66
- 2225 Alaskan Way
- Seattle, WA 98121
Celebrity Cruise Lines and Norwegian Cruise Lines are still at the Seattle Cruise Terminal Pier 66, also known as the Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal. It is on the Seattle Waterfront, next to the Edgewater Hotel. Parking is across Alaskan Way from the Edgewater (at Bell Street Pier Garage).
It is important to go to the correct Seattle Cruise Terminal because the new terminal is about three to four miles away from the Bell Street Terminal. Take along a copy of the driving directions and remember that Holland America (HAL), Princess Cruise Lines, and Royal Caribbean Lines (RCL) are not docked near Downtown Seattle.
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Christina Gregoire - Christina Gregoire writes about divorce, fashion, and baby boomers. Her forte is explaining complex ideas in simple language.
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