Getting There By Water
Seattle’s harbour, run by the Port of Seattle (tel: (206) 728 3000; e-mail: terminals@portseattle.org; website: www.portseattle.org), is a working harbour – with terminals for cruise ships, cargo ships, commercial and recreational mooring, as well as for local ferries (see Public Transport). The Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal is where the cruise liners dock – in 2002, it welcomed 79 cruise ships and nearly 250,000 passengers. It is located at Pier 66, 2225 Alaskan Way (tel: (206) 615 3900; e-mail: cruise@portseattle.org). Facilities are extensive with shops, restuarants, entertainment, parking and hotes all within easy reach. Ferries to Victoria in Canada depart from Pier 69, 2701 Alaskan Way, and Pier 48, one block south of the Washington State Ferry terminal (see Getting Around).
Boat services: Three major cruise lines currently operate out of Seattle. Holland America Lines – HAL (tel: (206) 281 3535 or (877) 932 4259, toll free in the USA; website: www.hollandamerica.com) runs an Alaska Explorer Cruise and a Pacific Northwest cruise. Norwegian Cruise Line – NCL (tel: (800) 327 7030, toll free in the USA and Canada; website: www.nlc.com) offers seven-day summer cruises to Alaska. Royal Caribbean International – RCI (tel: (800) 327 2056, toll free in the USA and Canada; website: www.royalcaribbean.com) offers three-day and four-day Pacific Northwest cruises from Seattle to Vancouver and Victoria in Canada. Victoria is also accessible daily all year round on the Victoria Clipper (tel: (206) 448 5000 or (800) 888 2535, toll free in the USA and Canada; website: www.victoriaclipper.com) high-speed catamarans (from Pier 69) and in summer on Victoria Clipper’s Princess Marguerite car-and-passenger ferry (from Pier 48). The journey takes approximately four and a half hours, arriving at Ogden Point in Victoria.
Transport to the city: A pick-up taxi service from the cruise terminal is available, which includes a flat rate to SeaTac Airport of US$25. Bus 97 serves the cruise terminal from Seattle’s downtown.
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Getting There By Water