Tour of Seattle

[Cruiser-66]

Sailing the Ruby Princess end of August. We are staying in Seattle the day we return and would like to see some of Seattle as we've never been there. The ship is offering a 4 hr. tour, but not sure if this is our best bet or not. Has anyone done this or can recommend another option. If we do this we still have most of the afternoon and evening free, so wondering how to best use our time. We get around well, but are unable to do a lot of walking.

[Scrapnana]

I was in Seattle for the first time last month. I took the Emerald City Trolley and enjoyed it. It takes about two hours to do a complete circuit of downtown Seattle. Definitely save some time to visit Pike Place Market.

[Suzanne123]

We really enjoyed our tour with Shutter Tours

http://www.shuttertours.com/snoqualmie-falls-tour.php

[ShipsandDipper]

We used Seattle Qwik Tour for a post-cruise tour. They picked us up at the pier, dropped us off to wander Pike Place Market on our own for an hour, then picked us up again with the rest of their passengers, did the tour, then dropped others off at hotels and took us to the airport. I thought it was a good overview of the city.

 

One thing you could do with your afternoon is go to the Space Needle area. The Chihuly Glass Garden is right by the base of the Needle.

[mapleleaves]

Are you overnighting downtown or by SeaTac ?

[Cruiser-66]

We were thinking by SeaTac but as of today we still don't have anything reserved. We fly out at 8 am so need transportation to the airport.

[mapleleaves]

If you stay near SeaTac is your plan to disembark the ship, transfer to the hotel, leave your luggage with the Desk, then return to Seattle for sightseeing?

If so, your hotel shuttle will drop you off at the Light Rail station by the airport. The rail is $3pp and takes 40 minutes to reach Westlake Center downtown. From Westlake you can walk 3 blocks to the Pike Place Market for a look around. For an overview of Seattle you might enjoy a Ride the Ducks tour which leaves from Westlake Center. And Westlake is also where you catch the monorail to the Seattle Center/Space Needle.

 

The Seattle forum of tripadvisor has suggestions for a one-day intinerary as well as a couple of tour operators.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g60878-c2242/Seattle:Washington:One.Day.Itinerary.Without.A.Car.html

 

And the city web site has ideas and tour operators.http://www.seattle.gov/visiting-seattle

 

p.s. if you stay at a hotel that partners with Seattle Express the shuttle from pier to hotel is $12pp. SeaTac has the regular chain hotels, and Cedarbrook Lodge for somewhere special.

http://www.seattleexpress.com/2901.html

Edited June 13, 2015 by mapleleaves
seattle express