If you’re cruising to Alaska, chances are pretty good that you’re embarking out of the Port of Seattle. Seattle is home to two main cruise terminals, Pier 91 and Pier 66.
While you can take a quick, 30-minute car-share ride from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to either pier, if you’re driving yourself to the pier rather than flying into Seattle, you’ll need a place to park.
Luckily, there are two official parking lots at the two piers, but also additional, non-official, third-party parking providers, so you have options.
In This Article:
Smith Cove Cruise Terminal Parking at Pier 91
If you’re cruising with Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises or Royal Caribbean, you’ll be traveling out of Smith Cove Cruise Terminal at Pier 91.
Located at 2001 West Garfield Street, the terminal is easily accessible via ride-share services, an airport shuttle, and similar options, but there’s also parking available for all cruise passengers.
There is one official general parking lot, operated by Platinum Parking and Cruise Terminal of America, at this pier, with 800 secure parking spots available.
Princess Cruises Ship Docked at Seattle’s Pier 91 (Photo Credit: lenic)
After you park, there is a complimentary shuttle that will take you from the parking lot to the terminal. The shuttle ride is about three minutes long and shuttle drivers will help you load and unload your luggage.
When you return from your cruise, you’ll head to a shuttle pick-up spot, which will then take you back to the parking lot to pick up your car. Shuttles run continuously during operating hours.
The parking fee at this lot starts at around $26 per day, and you’ll get a $1 discount per day if you book your parking online and prepay.
When you book your parking, you’ll get an option of economy, standard or premium parking. Booking a premium parking spot puts you closer to the shuttle pick-up area. Rates are adjusted for the length of stay.
Have an oversized vehicle or RV that you’ll be parking? The rate is about $40 per day for oversized vehicles under 40-feet long.
Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz
If you need to park an RV or similar oversized vehicle, you’ll have to prepay and reserve your spot online. There are no vehicle height restrictions, as the lot is open-air and uncovered.
Handicap spots are available as well, but there are no price concessions for these spots (do note that the shuttles cannot accommodate cruisers in wheelchairs, either). Additionally, no valet service is available, so expect to park your car on-site yourself.
This lot is open 7 a.m.–4 p.m. on days when cruises are leaving or entering the terminal.
Parking at Bell Street Cruise Terminal at Pier 66
Cruise Ship Docked at Port of Seattle (Photo Credit: Wirestock Creators)
If you’re sailing with Norwegian Cruise Line or Oceania Cruises, you’ll be embarking out of the Bell Street Cruise Terminal at Pier 66. Located at 2225 Alaskan Way, the pier is easily accessible via ride-shares and taxis, as well as an airport shuttle.
For on-site parking, the Bell Street Pier garage offers covered, secure parking, with 1,700 spaces. The parking garage is accessible via 9 Wall Street and the parking garage is operated by Republic Parking Northwest.
Among the garage’s spots, there are 25 handicap spots available. There is a height restriction on all spots, of 6 feet 6 inches.
Parking in the garage starts at $33 per day. The garage is open Sunday through Thursday from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m., and Friday and Saturday from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Off-Site Cruise Parking Options in Seattle
Vehicles Near Cruise Pier in Seattle (Photo Credit: SeaRick1)
Beyond these two official parking options, there are also multiple off-site parking options located near both the Bell Street Cruise Terminal and the Smith Cove Cruise Terminal.
Since the two cruise terminals are only about a 12-minute drive away from one another, some of these third-party, unofficial parking options may be suitable for either or both terminals.
However, that’s not the case for all, so be careful to map out how far your chosen third-party parking lot or garage is from whichever terminal you’re sailing out of.
Read Also: Must-Know Things About Each Seattle Cruise Terminal
You should especially do this if your chosen parking lot or garage doesn’t offer shuttle service.
While the two terminals are just a 12-minute drive apart, they’re a 60-minute walk apart, and you don’t want to, for example, park right next to the Bell Street Cruise Terminal, when you’re sailing out of the Smith Cove Cruise Terminal. You’ll be pretty disappointed when you realize that you need to hoof it for an hour to make your embarkation.
Seattle CruisePark
Located at 1601 West Armory Way, Seattle CruisePark offers $199 special week-long cruise parking rates and shuttle service that runs every 10 minutes. It will cost $251.40 for 14 days.
The lot provides valet service, as well as luggage assistance, and you can get a discount if you’re parking for longer than a week. The family-owned and operated, secure lot is just about a three-minute shuttle ride to Pier 91 and just about an eight-minute shuttle ride to Pier 66.
Parking at this lot frequently fills up due to its low prices and great reviews, so reserve your parking online well in advance of your cruise. You can cancel your parking reservation up to a week in advance of your reservation date.
Rightway Parking
Cruise Ships Docked in Seattle (Photo Credit: Port of Seattle)
If you don’t mind using a parking deal aggregator — similar to a travel deal aggregator, showing you the best parking deals in the area, bookable on one website or via one app — you can use Rightway Parking to find parking spots near the Seattle cruise ports.
You’ll want to be careful to choose a parking option nearest your terminal, but if you don’t mind doing that little bit of research, you can find parking deals as cheap as $8 per day.
Do note that, often, these parking aggregators will send you to public lots or garages at hotels, conference centers, etc., so don’t expect them to provide shuttle service to the terminal.
SpotHero
Cruise Ships Docked at the Smith Cove Cruise Terminal (Photo Credit: Ian Dewar Photography / Shutterstock)
SpotHero is another parking deal aggregator that allows you to search for parking options at random lots or businesses around the city. You can choose to pay at an hourly/daily rate or monthly rate.
Parking options can go as low as $10 per day, but do note that you get what you pay for. SpotHero will show you a vast array of different lots and garages — some looking more secure than others — so choose your parking spot carefully.
Also keep in mind that you won’t find shuttle service at these lots and garages, so if a lot says it’s a mile walk to the terminal, prepare to make that long walk with your luggage, unless you take a ride-share or taxi.
Hotel Cruise Parking in Seattle
Port of Seattle (Photo Credit: PT Hamilton)
Another option, if you don’t want to book with a parking deal aggregator or third-party lot, is to book a hotel ahead of or after your cruise, and then specifically ask the hotel for a park and cruise package.
I already advise cruisers to plan to arrive at their embarkation port the night before their cruise leaves anyway, as it can ensure you actually make it onto the ship.
Worth Reading: Most IDEAL Hotels Near Seattle Cruise Port
Often, when you’re trying to fly or drive into a big city on embarkation day, unforeseen delays can arise, from bad weather canceling your flight to simple traffic congestion, and you can miss your cruise as a result.
Arriving one day in advance makes for a stress-free embarkation day.
So, if you’re planning on doing this anyway, take the extra step to specifically book a hotel that offers free or reduced-fee parking for the duration of your cruise.
One of the Seattle hotels that offers this is Hotel Andra. If you book a stay with the hotel, the property will also give you one-way shuttle service between the hotel and your cruise pier, plus 50% off valet parking during your stay and complimentary parking during the duration of your cruise.
Appeared first on: Cruisehive.com
