Just off the Solstice - Seattle

[Ruthie1017]

Just of the Solstice - Seattle

 

Just sailed the Solstice from 30 June to 7 July and here are a few remarks:

 

We arrived in Seattle on the Tuesday before and stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn Convention Center. We had Hilton points and that made it a good deal. Nice hotel. The free breakfast/free cocktail hour area was well appointed. One caveat it only has one working elevator and the waits can be long, especially on Friday morning when everyone was checking out with lots and lots of luggage. Hopefully it will be fixed soon.

 

The location was great. We walked down Pike Street straight to the market. The hotel isn’t too, too close but it was a very doable 10 block walk (15 min) on one of the lesser steep streets.

 

The next morning, we walked to the Space Needle to take advantage of the early bird admission ($19 vs $27). It is a good 25 minute walk, mostly but not always downhill. After the needle, we walked through Belltown to Steinbruck Park to meet our downtown walking guide. We had some time to spare so we grabbed an egg sandwich at “Rub with Love Shack”. It was the best egg sandwich ever.

 

The free “Seattle 101” downtown walking tour was unbelievably great – (http://www.seattlefreewalkingtours.org). Jake was a great guide. He was informative and engaging. He knew his stuff, and for the price of a tip (and it should be a good one) it was a great bargain. At the end of it we immediately signed up for“The Market Experience” walking tour of Pike’s Market. We got up front at some of the busier stalls (think flying fish) and were offered samples at other stalls. I can’t say enough.

 

The next day we took an Uber to the Museum of Flight. The museum is big and needs a lot of time. We have been to many flight museums and this one really rated up there. But, it is out of the city limits.

 

We used Uber again to get to the pier on Friday. The pick-up was easy, but the drop off was a monster. The Port Authority limits how many vehicles can enter at one time. Taxis definitely had a priority entry here. For a few more bucks we could have avoided the delay.

 

To any one staying at the Hilton Garden Inn Convention Center, there is a good tapas restaurant catty-corner from the hotel. It is called Tango. A good take out place is called Homegrown. It is a block past Tango…turn left at the big Starbucks. I should mention that there are at least 5 highly rated (TripAdvisor) restaurant within walking distance of the hotel. Also, if you want a bottle of wine for the room, there is a convenience store right by the hotel. If you want anything harder you have to walk a few blocks.

 

If you have any specific question…Ask me.

[easyboy]

Did you use Port of Seattle's Luggage Valet Program on disembarkation?

[Ruthie1017]

Yes. It works very easy. The only hitch was Delta only tagged one of our bags "Sky Priority" (first off luggage), but that is on Delta, not the program.

[XtaSea]

Ruthie...good info. We're spending two days in Seattle before our September cruise on Solstice and have been looking at transportation options. Will probably use Uber or Lyft, but due to your post we'll definitely use a taxi from the Westin to Pier 91. Thanks!

[easyboy]

Yes. It works very easy. The only hitch was Delta only tagged one of our bags "Sky Priority" (first off luggage), but that is on Delta, not the program.

Thanks for the response. So no more looking for day rooms on a late flight.

[snowmc]

Just of the Solstice - Seattle

 

Just sailed the Solstice from 30 June to 7 July and here are a few remarks:

 

We arrived in Seattle on the Tuesday before and stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn Convention Center. We had Hilton points and that made it a good deal. Nice hotel. The free breakfast/free cocktail hour area was well appointed. One caveat it only has one working elevator and the waits can be long, especially on Friday morning when everyone was checking out with lots and lots of luggage. Hopefully it will be fixed soon.

 

The location was great. We walked down Pike Street straight to the market. The hotel isn’t too, too close but it was a very doable 10 block walk (15 min) on one of the lesser steep streets.

 

The next morning, we walked to the Space Needle to take advantage of the early bird admission ($19 vs $27). It is a good 25 minute walk, mostly but not always downhill. After the needle, we walked through Belltown to Steinbruck Park to meet our downtown walking guide. We had some time to spare so we grabbed an egg sandwich at “Rub with Love Shack”. It was the best egg sandwich ever.

 

The free “Seattle 101” downtown walking tour was unbelievably great – (http://www.seattlefreewalkingtours.org). Jake was a great guide. He was informative and engaging. He knew his stuff, and for the price of a tip (and it should be a good one) it was a great bargain. At the end of it we immediately signed up for“The Market Experience” walking tour of Pike’s Market. We got up front at some of the busier stalls (think flying fish) and were offered samples at other stalls. I can’t say enough.

 

The next day we took an Uber to the Museum of Flight. The museum is big and needs a lot of time. We have been to many flight museums and this one really rated up there. But, it is out of the city limits.

 

We used Uber again to get to the pier on Friday. The pick-up was easy, but the drop off was a monster. The Port Authority limits how many vehicles can enter at one time. Taxis definitely had a priority entry here. For a few more bucks we could have avoided the delay.

 

To any one staying at the Hilton Garden Inn Convention Center, there is a good tapas restaurant catty-corner from the hotel. It is called Tango. A good take out place is called Homegrown. It is a block past Tango…turn left at the big Starbucks. I should mention that there are at least 5 highly rated (TripAdvisor) restaurant within walking distance of the hotel. Also, if you want a bottle of wine for the room, there is a convenience store right by the hotel. If you want anything harder you have to walk a few blocks.

 

If you have any specific question…Ask me.

 

Curious to know if you actually stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn Downtown or the Homewood Suites Convention Center? Hilton Garden does not provide a free breakfast/free cocktail hour and is not listed as Convention Center. Homewood Suites DOES offer these amenities and is listed as located at the Convention Center. Just looking for clarification.

[Ruthie1017]

I am so sorry for the misinformation. It was Homewood Suites Convention Center. We debated between the two, and confused he names. That said, we did go past the Garden Inn while there, and it was not as convenient as the Homewood Suites. My apologies.

[snowmc]

I am so sorry for the misinformation. It was Homewood Suites Convention Center. We debated between the two, and confused he names. That said, we did go past the Garden Inn while there, and it was not as convenient as the Homewood Suites. My apologies.

 

Thanks for the update....was confused also! We have booked the Homewood Suites Downtown for August. Was trying to decided between the Hilton Garden Inn and the Homewood Suites. Both look very nice, but decided to go with Homewood, as it is closer to the port. The Homewood Suites at the Convention Center looks very nice also.

[Ruthie1017]

We passed the Homeward downtown on the way to the port. While it is closer to the port, you will still need transportation. The convention center is closer walking distance to Pike's Market.