The port you sail out of for a cruise can be just as exciting as the ports of call on the cruise. Many Alaskan cruises set sail from Seattle, Washington, and there is much to enjoy there both before and after your time at sea!
Seattle sits on the Puget Sound, an inland arm of the Northern Pacific Ocean. It is a busy port and the largest metropolitan city in the Pacific Northwest. It is nicknamed the Emerald City for its evergreen trees, which keep the city green all year long. Founded in 1851, there is more to see and do in Seattle than can be covered in this article. Here are some of my favorites.
If you are a Sci-Fi, Nirvana, Fantasy, or Guitar fan, I recommend the Museum of Pop Culture, also known as MoPOP. It is an eclectic mix of many fun things! The museum is located in the Seattle Center with several other city attractions, giving it a convenient location. With over 140,000 square feet on three floors, guests can spend several hours immersing themselves in a variety of exhibits. Galleries include Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fames, a Sound and Vision Theater, Indie Game Revolution, Guitar Gallery, and Sound Lab, just to name some. Two other big areas highlight the music of Nirvana and Jimi Hendrix. Both musical acts have roots in Seattle. Guests can purchase general admission and special exhibitions tickets, as well as admission through Seattle’s CityPASS, which gives up to 48% off the city’s top five attractions.
While MoPOP is right next to the Space Needle, I recommend the Sky View Observatory on the 73rd Floor of the Columbia Center. It offers spectacular 360-degree views from 902 feet up at the tallest public viewing area in the Pacific Northwest. Guests can see Mt. Rainier, Bellevue, the Cascade Mountains, Mt. Baker, Elliott Bay, the Olympic Mountains, as well as the city of Seattle. Informational wall banners give additional information about what you are viewing. The standard ticket price is more affordable than the Space Needle for just as good, if not better views. There is even a Sky View Café & Bar to enjoy during your visit.
A fun and inexpensive thing to do in Seattle, especially for Disney fans, is to ride the Seattle Monorail. The monorail transports guests between the popular Seattle Center and Westlake Center. First built in 1962 for a World’s Fair, the monorail is reminiscent of the Disneyland Monorail, which opened just before it in 1959. You can visit the Seattle Center and then take the monorail to the Westlake area for shopping and lunch or dinner. We found a yummy Sushi Burrito in the Westlake Center!
Perhaps, the most popular thing to do in Seattle is to visit the Pike Place Market. Since 1907, farmers, crafters, and small businesses have set up shop, making it one of the oldest and largest continuously running public markets in the United States. It covers more than nine acres of downtown Seattle. Every day, locals and tourists visit the area to shop, eat, and just take in the sights. The many flower booths are beautiful to behold! Some cruisers like to take a fresh boutique on the boat with them. There are also unique shops, like the Old Seattle Paperworks. The most fun thing to watch, however, is the seafood stands, where vendors entertain by tossing fish back and forth to one another. Look out for funny signs and unusual offerings as well! Â
There is so much more to do in Seattle than covered in this article. Other options include Chihuly Garden & Glass, the Space Needle, the Seattle Art Museum, Woodland Park Zoo, the Seattle Great Wheel, and the Starbucks Reserve Roastery. Many people warned me that the Starbucks Reserve Roastery could be overcrowded and not worth the trip, but we went as part of a tour; fortunately, the lines were short, and it was neat to see the first Starbucks Reserve, which is just nine blocks from the coffee store’s original location. I got a coffee but didn’t have time to try the food. This location has many more offerings than a regular Starbucks, and it all looked delicious. Also, explore the area around your hotel. My husband and I discovered the lovely Denny Park, which was Seattle’s first city park, founded in 1884. Walking through this park, I understand why Seattle is called the Emerald City.
Seattle also has an abundance of places to stay before and/or after your cruise. We stayed at the Hyatt Place. We had a comfortable and nice room, and the hotel was only about a five-minute walk for us to the Seattle Center. We could see the Space Needle from our window! Our stay also included breakfast and an option for port cruise transportation. It is not advertised on their website, but if you ask when you check-in, you can sign-up for cruise port transportation for just $10 per person. It was a great perk for us! There are several other Hyatt Hotels in the area. We had friends who stayed at Hyatt House and enjoyed it as well. Whatever type of accommodation you prefer, Seattle has it all.
When cruising to Alaska, consider one that sets sail from the Emerald City. You will enjoy your port of departure just as much as your ports of call!
Laci Post is a Dreams Unlimited Travel Agent who loves travel, history, and a good story anywhere. She would be happy to help you with your next Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Walt Disney World, Disneyland, or Universal adventure!
Request a Quote Today
