Dan G

Seattle is hardly a high crime city.  Lots of homeless but your chances of being 'assaulted or robbed' is remote at best.  I've driven around and things are great in the tourist areas.

For port shuttle it appears that

seattleexpress.com

is still around for AIRPORT only transport.  Hotels around Seatac with cruise pkgs are sometimes found at

seattlesouthside.com

Hope this helps

If you stick to the flat rate taxis you'll be fine.  

flatrateforhire.com

but you should be able to find a yellow and blue colored taxi in the que and those are the same.

Here is some updated info I had posted on Tripadvisor re: transport.  Pier 66 is within the 'downtown zone' but Pier 91 is outside that zone.  There has been a major shortage of Uber drivers and a major increase in fare and surge pricing.

Taxis to downtown, which would be anywhere between Jackson St (Pioneer Square) to Denny Way (close to the space needle but not north of Denny are a flat $44. The flat rate taxis are normally yellow and blue but at Seatac they have both metered and flat rate. If you don't see a flat rate one you con request one. You can also go to the Ground Transportation window and ask for a taxi van also as a 'flat rate'. Good for 4 or 5 passengers. Pier 91 would be outside the hotel zone so fare would be more. Currently the smallest Uber is being quoted at about $53 (7/21) but check to compare.

If you see a taxi dispatcher you can ask for a van or call 206-432-9030 or ask at ground transportation. If no answer you can also try 206-475-5192 or 206-327-9915

Currently there are NO shuttles from Seatac to downtown hotels. Shuttle Express is gone and the towncars booked thru Shuttle express's number are approx $105 to downtown Seattle and have nothing to do with the old Shuttle express who is out of business

Flat rate towncars formerly regulated by the Port of Seattle and known as Stila are also out of business so the flat rate cabs are your best substitute.

From downtown Seattle hotel zone ANY cab will be a flat $40 fare to Seatac. Uber is considerably more now that Seattle has implemented changes which raised fares an average of 50% and with the current shortage of drivers often has surge pricing.

For airport hotels it appears that

seattleexpress.com

has survived but does not do shuttles to downtown hotels so options this yr are limited.

since the pandemic airport transportation options right now (2021) are more ltd than in yrs past.  It appears that for people staying at airport hotels Seattleexpress.com appears to still be operating but there are no other scheduled shuttles to downtown or cruise ports.  This may change but here is the info I researched.

Taxis to downtown, which would be anywhere between Jackson St (Pioneer Square) to Denny Way (close to the space needle but not north of Denny are a flat $44. The flat rate taxis are normally yellow and blue but at Seatac they have both metered and flat rate. If you don't see a flat rate one you con request one. You can also go to the Ground Transportation window and ask for a taxi van also as a 'flat rate'. Good for 4 or 5 passengers. Pier 91 would be outside the hotel zone so fare would be more. Currently the smallest Uber is being quoted at about $53 (7/21) but check to compare.

If you see a taxi dispatcher you can ask for a van or call 206-432-9030 or ask at ground transportation. If no answer you can also try 206-475-5192 or 206-327-9915

Currently there are NO shuttles from Seatac to downtown hotels. Shuttle Express is gone and the towncars booked thru Shuttle express's number are approx $105 to downtown Seattle and have nothing to do with the old Shuttle express who is out of business

Flat rate towncars formerly regulated by the Port of Seattle and known as Stila are also out of business so the flat rate cabs are your best substitute.

From downtown Seattle hotel zone ANY cab will be a flat $40 fare to Seatac. Uber is considerably more now that Seattle has implemented changes which raised fares an average of 50% and with the current shortage of drivers often has surge pricing.

Hope this helps.

thanks, so much that was the info I needed.  I stayed at the Pan Pacific and they take the luggage down to the ship but I'm staying at the Fairmont Pacific Rim and they say just walk over and check in but its a lot of up and down just to board.  Thanks for the info as that makes sense.

I'm staying close to Canada place so was thinking of just walking my luggage over to pier to check in.  Can you tell me if I'm walking can I bring the luggage to the cruise check in desks at the end of the pier or do I need to go downstairs in Canada Place then go upstairs to check in with cruise?

I spend winters in Palm Springs and have relatives near San Pedro.  2 hrs is a very optimistic time estimate.  When I fly out of LAX or orange county I've had good luck using Costco for a one way car rental.  Also look on Hotwire.com  Most likely they will be from PSP but not as hard as trying to get to San Pedro.

You can also try the Flix Bus which goes very often to downtown LA near Union Station.  This will get you easier connections to San Pedro as even the Metro light rail goes to Long Beach from Union Station.  A bit of a hassle but far cheaper than an Uber from Palm Desert.

for others looking the Seattle airport has on site limos and towncars regulated by the port of Seattle.  You don't need reservations.  There is a phone in baggage claim and you dial 'ground transportation'.  STILAj towncars is the provider.  Flat rate into downtown is $45.  Fees vary but if memory is correct its about $60 to pier 91 and $45-50 to pier 66.  Much easier than trying to arrange off site limos or towncars.  Look on tripadvisor Seattle forum and read top questions on top right for other options.

the value of the Nexus card is it is honored the same as Global Entry.  Also you should have the airlines list your Nexus number as the Trusted Traveler number and that almost always gives you TSA precheck at any airport. 

Landsea tours does a stop at Shannon Falls on the way to Whistler

vancouvertours.com

• I've been on the RM many times.  When it arrives in Vancouver there is ahuge line of cabs.  You don't have to walk anywhere.  Your luggage will be waiting inside the station.  If you arranged a transfer most likely your luggage will already be loaded on the coach.  The station is very close to the Via Rail Station at Pacific Station and is only used by the RM

there is a food court across from Canada Place.  If you buy a coke at McDonalds and pay with USD you will get change in Cdn.  They give a fair exchange.  Lately the USD is worth about $1.30 Cdn so be aware of what the 'real' rate is before you leave.  Tours that accept CC will allow a tip in CDN $.  I work all summer in Canada and its generally more polite to tip in CDN however tourism understands people are getting off a ship and only in Vanc for a short time.

light rail is easy to get downtown.  I'd take the Westlake Station Stop.  From there you can walk to the market (about 4 blocks) or go to 5th and Pine and take the monorail to the space Needle and Chihuly.  The waterfront is a great area to explore and there is a free shuttle from the waterfront to the Space needle.  Look on tripadvisor.com Seattle forum and look on top right for the one day itinerary without a car for some routing.  You can also arrange a tour which will pick up at your hotel and then you can stay downtown after.  

toursofseattle.com

toursnorthwest.com

are two of the oldest firms doing this

Just a warning for those flying in or out of Seattle this weekend. I flew in Thursday and all flight were significantly delayed to the Blue Angel air show. SeaTac closed airspace till the practice runs were all over. The show goes from about 1pm to 2:45 and could very well impact arrivals and departures as it did yesterday. just a fyi for you

Be aware that the I-5 freeway will be closed from West Seattle to downtown so alternate routes must be used. Most shuttle to cruises will use hwy 99 or 509 but things will be much more congested than normal. Allow extra time and do not use a cab that will meter by time. This is from late Friday nite 6/1st till later sunday nite.

Pier 91 is not that easy to get to via public transport so yes you can take light rail to downtown then taxi or uber. Look on the Seattle trip advisor forum on top right and read cruises from Seattle for all your options

the problem with the airport is you get a cheaper room but there is much there besides some fast food restaraunts, thus making downtown a much better selection. Look on tripadvisor seattle forum and you can see a one day itinerary without a car and other useful info on cruises from seattle.

I've stayed at Hyatt House across from the Space Needle. Thought room was fine and great location. I'd stay there again.

you could take Bellair charters to downtown then cab to cruise. Perhaps about the same but another option

airporter.com

it's a california thing but also Canadians tend to call hwys 'the'. It's not what locals would say

locals would never refer to I-5 as THE 5. Its not done. Seattle has literally hundreds of one car type towncar firms. Recommending one guy is good however its easy for the one car firms to get overbooked so they call their friend to handle the overlap. There really are a few larger firms that have lots of cars, but pushing one guy with a car is not really that effective. Look on tripadvisor Seattle forum. On top right you will see arriving and departing and Cruises from Seattle. Both of these give you lots of options. Seatac airport has an official onsite limo provider called STILA and regulated by the port of Seattle. You simply call from baggage claim using the phones you call Ground Transportation. They will send a car to the door closest to you in baggage claim. Couldn't be easier. $45 to downtown and $60 to Pier 91. Why mess with a 'reservation' when there are towncars stationed right there?

you may wish to look at renting from downtown vs seatac. why do you even need a car in Seattle? Most downtown rentals would allow you to drop at seatac but not sure if vice versa. Budget has an office right downtown. National, Alamo have a shuttle from the pier, so I'd call them direct not the 800#. Look on tripadvisor seattle forum on top right you will see a list of top questions including Cruises from Seattle.

A town car to pier 91 is about 60 and the same or less than a cab.

also look at

seattleexpress.com

cheaper than shuttle express.

as long as you declare meat on your declaration form. Normally no issue but you should declare. They are normally concerned about raw meat but I got hassled for having cat food in my car without declaring. I have brought Subway sandwiches with meat into Canada with no issue so you should be fine.

there are transfers however at a much higher cost than you need to pay. I answered your question on Tripadvisor.