Be sure your search is for a "shore excursions group" that will specialize in what you're looking for. With near 100% confidence your search result sailing will begin and end in the old harbor---within 200 feet of the Celebrity tenders. Last tender will be at 9:30 for a 10:00 departure.
We took the light rail to downtown (cheap), stayed at Hilton Garden Inn on Boren (about a 15 walk from the rail station). However, there are many other hotels in the area one could choose. Boarding day the hotel set us up with a transfer to the port (nice luxury SUV, don't remember how much it was, probably about $40). Easy Peasy.
Face it. With minor variations, the ports are almost identical. For me it boils down to the willingness for the (1) expense/time/opportunities (Anchorage) of a North-South (2) expense/opportunities of Vancouver (3) ease/offerings of Seattle.