renting a car in seattle for a few days B4 NCL cruise, best way?

Hello,

This is our first cruise, and we're doing a round trip NCL Seattle Alaska cruise in August. We're taking 2 days before the cruise for Olympic National Park and one day for Boeing and maybe a few smaller things. The logistics of getting a rental car to the port on the day of the cruise seems too difficult, and any cost savings don't seem to be worth it. I'm planning on getting the rental car from SeaTac, keeping it until the day of the cruise (leaves 4pm), and the taking it back to the airport and taking NCL's $20/person shuttle to the port for 4 people. Does this make sense? This gives me the choice of the most and cheapest rental cars at the airport.

That's exactly how I would arrange transportation. Just be aware Seattle traffic can be frequently gridlocked

Your approach is good and we would consider the same steps. However, you may want to explore the possibility of dropping the car at a closer location to the port...which would be just about anywhere in the downtown area of Seattle. Rental car companies will often allow dropping in the same region without adding any extra charges. Some rental car companies such as Enterprise might agree to drive you out to the port. Otherwise you could have Uber, :Lyft or a taxi pick you up and take you to the port. Paying $80 for a cruise line shuttle will actually cost you a lot more money, and when you use a cruise line shuttle you might find yourself waiting around the airport until they get enough people to fill a bus or large van.

Hank