Seattle hotel

[raisincainus]

Cruising in July, any recommended hotels in Settle, maybe with shuttle service

[CruiserBruce]

There are MANY threads here on hotels. Only those in the airport area seem to have shuttles, but there is a fantastic towncar service at the airport called STILA, that is about as efficient as you can imagine. There are many great downtown hotels. We like Hilton Seattle.

[DaveOKC]

We used STILA in Sept for our downtown hotel (Hyatt Regency which was great) and it was very quick, easy, nice and reasonable ride IMO.

 

As to hotels in Seattle you have two major options to begin with - staying in the downtown area and staying by the airport.  It really depends on what you are planning on doing in Seattle - sightseeing or just getting to the ship.

 

Downtown is great if you are planning on doing sightseeing, but is expensive.  Airport hotels can be 50% less but not much in the area to see/do.  Downtown requires a 20-30 taxi/Uber/shuttle/limo ride the night before and a 10 minute taxi/Uber the day of cruise.  Airport hotels often have free shuttles from the airport and you can usually arrange a paid privately operated shuttle to the pier.

[disneylover89]

We booked the Marriot Waterfront.  It is right by Pikes Place and across the street from Pier 66.

We will Uber from airport to hotel and walk across the street to get to port.

[DaveOKC]

1 hour ago, disneylover89 said:

We booked the Marriot Waterfront.  It is right by Pikes Place and across the street from Pier 66.

We will Uber from airport to hotel and walk across the street to get to port.

That is a GREAT location if you are going out of pier 66, but many ships use pier 91 which is a couple of miles away.

 

[Glaciers]

Yes, the Marriott Waterfront is a perfect location for access to Pier 66. Not the best place for exploring downtown though as you always have to go uphill to get to most things. There are elevators and stairs along the waterfront although the one next to the Marriott is closed due to construction currently. Hopefully it will be open before too long but haven’t seen a time line for it.

[SRQbeachgirl]

We booked the Marriott Waterfront for our May 2020 cruise, but I am still looking for other options in case we decide to change. We are flying in on a Sunday (our cruise leaves on Tuesday) and we plan to do a whale watching tour (because I really want to see orcas) out of Edmonds on Monday.

 

We won't have a car, so we thought it would be easier to walk to restaurants and what limited sightseeing we have time for if we stay on the waterfront. 

[Ferry_Watcher]

Edmonds is lovely.  You should explore the town after your whale-watching cruise.

[Gardyloo]

13 hours ago, SRQbeachgirl said:

We booked the Marriott Waterfront for our May 2020 cruise, but I am still looking for other options in case we decide to change. We are flying in on a Sunday (our cruise leaves on Tuesday) and we plan to do a whale watching tour (because I really want to see orcas) out of Edmonds on Monday.

 

We won't have a car, so we thought it would be easier to walk to restaurants and what limited sightseeing we have time for if we stay on the waterfront. 

Be advised that the southern resident orcas (the ones you'd be looking for out of Edmonds) are reportedly being increasingly stressed by human interaction as well as diminishing food supplies (climate change the most likely culprit.)  There's a good chance that there might be more restrictions placed on the whale watching fleet this year - fewer trips, farther stand-off distances etc.  so I'd stay tuned.  

 

Or you might consider shifting your whale watching to one of the many Alaska operators while you're on your cruise.  The northern orca pods, as well as other species seen on Alaska excursions, are not as endangered as the southern ones.  

 

Note that Edmonds is 20 miles more or less from downtown Seattle.  How do you plan to get to the whale watching dock?

[kctwinmommy]

We stayed at the Four Points Sheraton. They were one of the better priced hotels for our stay  in July as well. Plus, we stayed there for 4 days.

 

 

[SRQbeachgirl]

9 hours ago, Gardyloo said:

Be advised that the southern resident orcas (the ones you'd be looking for out of Edmonds) are reportedly being increasingly stressed by human interaction as well as diminishing food supplies (climate change the most likely culprit.)  There's a good chance that there might be more restrictions placed on the whale watching fleet this year - fewer trips, farther stand-off distances etc.  so I'd stay tuned.  

 

Or you might consider shifting your whale watching to one of the many Alaska operators while you're on your cruise.  The northern orca pods, as well as other species seen on Alaska excursions, are not as endangered as the southern ones.  

 

Note that Edmonds is 20 miles more or less from downtown Seattle.  How do you plan to get to the whale watching dock?

 

I just read about the problems with the resident pods and the measures being taken to protect them. I sure hope the protections are successful. I'm wondering if there would be a good chance of seeing any of the transient orcas. If not, we might decide to do something else, since we are already planning a whale watching tour in Juneau, though our chance of seeing orcas there isn't great.

 

We were planning Lyft or Uber for transportation. Lyft's website shows $35 - 40 for a trip to Edmonds. But if we decide to skip the whale watching, we might go ahead and rent a car so we can explore more.

Edited January 6, 2020 by SRQbeachgirl

[Ferry_Watcher]

SRQbeachgirl, if you have ever traveled to Europe using the Rick Steves books (Europe though the Back Door), you might find it interesting to visit his Travel Store located in Edmonds.  Look for the gargoyle rain spouts!

[Gardyloo]

15 hours ago, SRQbeachgirl said:

 

I just read about the problems with the resident pods and the measures being taken to protect them. I sure hope the protections are successful. I'm wondering if there would be a good chance of seeing any of the transient orcas. If not, we might decide to do something else, since we are already planning a whale watching tour in Juneau, though our chance of seeing orcas there isn't great.

 

We were planning Lyft or Uber for transportation. Lyft's website shows $35 - 40 for a trip to Edmonds. But if we decide to skip the whale watching, we might go ahead and rent a car so we can explore more.

Of course it's your call on the whale watching.  However one idea might be to get a car and drive up to Whidbey Island and across to Port Townsend on the Olympic Peninsula.  There are whale watching opportunities from Port Townsend (same company as from Edmonds - https://www.pugetsoundexpress.com/tours/guaranteed-whale-watching-tours/port-townsend-4-hour-whale-watching-tour/ ) and this route would also let you see some terrific scenery.  Port Townsend itself is very picturesque, you could take the very scenic Bainbridge Island ferry back to Seattle, and the cost savings on a hotel (maybe Sunday night) in PT would probably offset the whole cost of the car.  Google the places on this map - https://goo.gl/maps/86k2YUDb6bjowina8 .  If you're nervous about the whale watching situation, Port Townsend has gobs of things to see and do in addition to, or instead of, the whale excursion.

 

The map entries include the very picturesque waterfront villages of La Conner and Coupeville, amazing Deception Pass State Park, Victorian Port Townsend, and, on the way back, the old waterfront village of Port Gamble, the town of Poulsbo (very proud of its Norwegian heritage) and, if time permits, a visit to the grave of Chief Seattle, the city's namesake, located in the Native American town of Suquamish.  End with dinner at the Harbour Public House or Doc's Grill overlooking Eagle Harbor on Bainbridge Island, then the ferry back to Seattle, stunning at sunset. 

 

Possible timetable - 

 

Sunday, arrive SEA, get car, drive to Port Townsend via Deception Pass and (either/both depending on time) La Conner and Coupeville.  Book a space on the Coupeville - Port Townsend ferry:  https://secureapps.wsdot.wa.gov/Ferries/Reservations/Vehicle/default.aspx .  Night in Port Townsend

 

Monday, whale watching in PT, then south across the Hood Canal bridge to Port Gamble, Poulsbo, Suquamish, to Bainbridge for dinner, back to Seattle.  

 

Tuesday, return car, last minute prep for cruise, bon voyage.  

 

As an alternative that might be interesting, spend Monday night at the Clearwater Resort, a hotel/casino complex located on the water on Agate Pass (between the Kitsap Peninsula and Bainbridge Island) and just take a morning ferry back to Seattle - they're frequent and you won't have any waits in the morning.  You'd still have plenty of time to return the car and make it to the ship.  https://www.clearwatercasino.com/hotel/

 

As an alternative to this (in fact I'd probably be inclined to go this route unless you feel particularly energetic) you could simply do a round trip on the Bainbridge ferry from Seattle, avoid Whidbey Island, and possibly have more time back in town on your cruise day.  This map - https://goo.gl/maps/apcJJXxUzB3c1W2V7 - shows this alternative, but includes the wonderful Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island.  The Bloedel Reserve - https://bloedelreserve.org/ - is one of the top botanical garden complexes in the country, and ought to be fab in May.  If you were planning to do a visit to Butchart Gardens in Victoria on your cruise's last night, do consider the Bloedel Reserve as well (or in lieu - cheaper and easier.)  

 

Sunday - arrive at SEA, get a car, Bainbridge ferry to BI, stop at the Bloedel Reserve, then on to Port Townsend for the night.

 

Monday (and Tuesday) as above.  

 

 

Edited January 6, 2020 by Gardyloo

[SRQbeachgirl]

21 hours ago, Ferry_Watcher said:

SRQbeachgirl, if you have ever traveled to Europe using the Rick Steves books (Europe though the Back Door), you might find it interesting to visit his Travel Store located in Edmonds.  Look for the gargoyle rain spouts!

 

Thanks for the tip!

 

 

8 hours ago, Gardyloo said:

Of course it's your call on the whale watching.  However one idea might be to get a car and drive up to Whidbey Island and across to Port Townsend on the Olympic Peninsula.  There are whale watching opportunities from Port Townsend (same company as from Edmonds - https://www.pugetsoundexpress.com/tours/guaranteed-whale-watching-tours/port-townsend-4-hour-whale-watching-tour/ ) and this route would also let you see some terrific scenery.  Port Townsend itself is very picturesque, you could take the very scenic Bainbridge Island ferry back to Seattle, and the cost savings on a hotel (maybe Sunday night) in PT would probably offset the whole cost of the car.  Google the places on this map - https://goo.gl/maps/86k2YUDb6bjowina8 .  If you're nervous about the whale watching situation, Port Townsend has gobs of things to see and do in addition to, or instead of, the whale excursion.

 

The map entries include the very picturesque waterfront villages of La Conner and Coupeville, amazing Deception Pass State Park, Victorian Port Townsend, and, on the way back, the old waterfront village of Port Gamble, the town of Poulsbo (very proud of its Norwegian heritage) and, if time permits, a visit to the grave of Chief Seattle, the city's namesake, located in the Native American town of Suquamish.  End with dinner at the Harbour Public House or Doc's Grill overlooking Eagle Harbor on Bainbridge Island, then the ferry back to Seattle, stunning at sunset. 

 

Possible timetable - 

 

Sunday, arrive SEA, get car, drive to Port Townsend via Deception Pass and (either/both depending on time) La Conner and Coupeville.  Book a space on the Coupeville - Port Townsend ferry:  https://secureapps.wsdot.wa.gov/Ferries/Reservations/Vehicle/default.aspx .  Night in Port Townsend

 

Monday, whale watching in PT, then south across the Hood Canal bridge to Port Gamble, Poulsbo, Suquamish, to Bainbridge for dinner, back to Seattle.  

 

Tuesday, return car, last minute prep for cruise, bon voyage.  

 

As an alternative that might be interesting, spend Monday night at the Clearwater Resort, a hotel/casino complex located on the water on Agate Pass (between the Kitsap Peninsula and Bainbridge Island) and just take a morning ferry back to Seattle - they're frequent and you won't have any waits in the morning.  You'd still have plenty of time to return the car and make it to the ship.  https://www.clearwatercasino.com/hotel/

 

As an alternative to this (in fact I'd probably be inclined to go this route unless you feel particularly energetic) you could simply do a round trip on the Bainbridge ferry from Seattle, avoid Whidbey Island, and possibly have more time back in town on your cruise day.  This map - https://goo.gl/maps/apcJJXxUzB3c1W2V7 - shows this alternative, but includes the wonderful Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island.  The Bloedel Reserve - https://bloedelreserve.org/ - is one of the top botanical garden complexes in the country, and ought to be fab in May.  If you were planning to do a visit to Butchart Gardens in Victoria on your cruise's last night, do consider the Bloedel Reserve as well (or in lieu - cheaper and easier.)  

 

Sunday - arrive at SEA, get a car, Bainbridge ferry to BI, stop at the Bloedel Reserve, then on to Port Townsend for the night.

 

Monday (and Tuesday) as above.  

 

 

 

Wow, great advice! You've given me a lot to look into and think about. I talked to DH and he is leaning more toward exploring, rather than a whale watching tour, so this information is a great place for me to start. Thank you! 

[Ferry_Watcher]

While I am an Edmonds fan, Gardyloo presented a great itinerary.  I think an overnight via ferry across Puget Sound would be a wonderful precursor to your cruise!