Seattle Port Location and Transport

[Packman1000]

Can anyone tell me exactly where the cruise port for HAL is in Seattle? I once read that it is on Pier 30 which is south of downtown (according to my map). Another time I read it is further north near the Seattle Center.

Second question is about transportation from Sea-Tac the evening prior to our Alaskan cruise. For two people, is it better (less costly) to use a simple taxi to get downtown or is the Gray Line Airporter service better? I've also heard of a limo service, but I would think that would be more expensive. We haven't decided on the hotel we will stay at, but have some flexability. We would like to stay somewhere pretty close to the crusie port.

We are on the Westerdam on 5/21. Thanks.

[funcorn]

Hi, Packman--I'm going on my first HAL cruise on 5/7. HAL does leave from Pier 30 which is a little south of downtown(2431 East Marginal Way South, Seattle) Some of the other ships leave from Pier 66 (Bell St. Pier) which is north of downtown. We're flying in the day before our cruise and will take a taxi to our hotel (about $30-35). Grayline does stop at some of the downtown hotels. We're staying at the Best Western Pioneer Square and the cab fare from there to the port will probably be $5-7). I hope this helps a little.

[DougK]

HAL sails out of Terminal 30, which is several miles south of downtown and not convenient to anything. The closest hotel is probably a couple miles away in Pioneer Square. I think you have two basic options:

1) If you're just flying in a day early so as not to be rushed, and don't care about seeing Seattle, stay at a hotel near the airport, and go from there to the ship to board.

2) If you want to have a nice time in Seattle, stay at one of the downtown hotels. Or perhaps at the Sorrento, which is a charming hotel a little outside of downtown. Go from there to the ship. As for taxi/Shuttle Express/Gray Line to get downtown, it depends on where you're staying. If you're at one of the hotels where Gray Line stops, it's the best rate. After that, I think Shuttle Express is a little cheaper than a taxi, but not a whole lot less. The taxi will be quickest, because you won't need to wait or make extra stops. Surprisingly, a limo isn't much different than a taxi in price. If you're adventurous and have minimal baggage -- which doesn't seem possible if you're going on a cruise -- there's a public bus that goes from the airport to downtown, which is cheapest of all.

As far as I can tell, a taxi is your only option to get to the ship.

Hope this helps.

Doug

[Packman1000]

Thanks funcorn and Doug. This is exactly what I needed to book the hotel.

Packman

[grannynurse]

If you stay at a HAL hotel the transfer is included, both from the airport to the hotel and from hotel to pier. It's much more expensive though; the only reason we're doing it is that we got a free night's stay at the Fairmont with our booking.
We have in the past paid for a separate HAL transfer to the ship. My DH flew into Montreal last summer and took the HAL shuttle to the pier.
GN

[Richard Stein]

I am on the Osterdam on May 13th. I will arrive a day early and stay at an airport motel. Have them take you to the airport the next day. There is a Gray line booth at the end of the baggage area and when we were the last year they were selling round trips from the airport to the ship for $20, go to graylineseattle.com for details. Buses run hourly and will get you to the ship faster than the cruise lines transport. Hope this helps.

[arzz]

If the Greyline transfer from airport to ship is $20, and the cab fare is $30-35, if you have more than one person in your party it seems a taxi is best? or am I missing something.

[Richard Stein]

Just checked the grayline site. Price this year is $25 roundtrip per person.

[garydm]

They have very reasonable Town Car/Limo service from the airport to downtown-just a bit more than a cab and you can book it near baggage claim.

Gary