Jump to content
Cruise Critic Community

2008 Seattle public transit info for cruisers

calikak

Recommended Posts

calikak

calikak

Posted
Posted

Here is a list of Seattle's public transportation options that are most useful for cruisers:

 

-Seattle has two cruise piers, Pier 66 (aka Bell Street Cruise Terminal) and Terminal 30. Pier 66 is normally used by Celebrity and NCL. Terminal 30 is normally used by Princess and HAL. RCCL splits between the two. However, sometimes they move things around, so check the Port of Seattle website (www.portseattle.org) to find out where your ship will be. Parking and car rental services are available at both piers, as is luggage storage service. Pier 66 is within walking distance to Pike Place Market and downtown Seattle (assuming you don't have luggage). You can walk to Pioneer Square from Terminal 30, but it's a bit of a hike--your best bet will be a taxi or shuttle to get from Terminal 30 to anywhere. You may have read that Terminal 30 will be closing and a new cruise facility is being built at Terminal 90, but it doesn't look like it'll be open in time for 2008 cruises.

 

-Seattle has no subway system, but does have a decent bus system. Within the downtown core, buses are free and run on almost every street. If you need to get from Seattle Center to downtown Seattle, consider taking Bus #3 or #4, which stop on 5th Avenue by Seattle Center and then head over to 3rd Avenue in downtown Seattle. If you're not sure which bus to take, just ask a driver--most of them know the whole system pretty well. You can even take a bus from the airport to downtown Seattle if you're so inclined (the #174 or #194). But, there is no bus that stops at Terminal 30. Visit transit.metrokc.gov for fare and schedule information, including a customized trip planner.

 

-The bus tunnel has reopened and it's a nice way to get around within the downtown core (especially if it's raining!). There are stops at the Convention Center, Westlake Center, University Street (under the home of our symphony, Benaroya Hall), Pioneer Square, and the International District. The International District station is right by King Street Station, which is used by Amtrak. The tunnel is only open Monday-Friday 5AM-7PM; at other times, you'll want to catch a bus on a surface street.

 

-The Waterfront Streetcar still hasn't started back up yet. Before it shut down, but the transit authority is running a free (that's right, FREE!) replacement bus along the route that the trolley normally takes. It's Bus #99 and it's painted green and cream like the trolleys are. It stops right by Pier 66, but not Terminal 30, and goes to Pioneer Square, which is our historic district.

 

-The Monorail is still in service, and fares are $2 for adults each way (more expensive than the bus). It runs from Seattle Center to Downtown Seattle and back, making it convenient for tourists who want to go to the Space Needle or EMP from downtown Seattle, but don't want to take the bus.

 

-Seattle's new South Lake Union Streetcar has just begun service this week. It runs about every 15 minutes between downtown Seattle and the south lake union area. This is more handy than the bus for anyone staying at a hotel on/near south Lake Union. Fares are $1.50 adults, 50 cents ages 6-17, 5 and under free, and they accept transfers from Metro buses. You may see t-shirts for the streetcar at some businesses in the area calling it the South Lake Union Trolley that say things like "Ride the"...well, you can see what the acronym would be. This was a somewhat controversial project and there is stil some resistance to it among some of the locals.

 

-To get from SeaTac to the cruise pier, you have a couple of options. A taxi will cost you roughly $30 to either of the piers and is probably the most convenient option. Or, you can take a shuttle (we're not allowed to recommend them here), which will run you about $25 per person for a couple, or about $80 for a van that seats 10.

 

-To get from SeaTac to downtown, you could do a taxi or shuttle at about the same cost as it would be to go to the cruise piers. Or, there's also a private bus service that stops at several of the downtown hotels and costs about $10 per person. Or for those who packed very light, there's the Metro bus--catch it outside the south end of the main terminal. Now that the tunnel has reopened, the buses to/from Seatac stop in the tunnel. Both the 194 and the 174 will take you from Seatac to downtown, but the 194 is an express bus so it takes 15 minutes less than the 174, and it runs more frequently. The 174's route isn't scenic, so there's no reason to take it unless you've just missed the 194.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 1 month later...

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Cruise Critic News & Features
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...