A touristy but fun thing to do in Seattle is to embark on a harbor cruise through Elliot Bay with Argosy Cruises.
For a little less than $30, the Argosy Cruises harbor tour offers a one-hour boat ride along Seattle’s historic waterfront with a live narrator who goes over significant landmarks in the city that are visible from the bay.
The boat offers spectacular views of Seattle’s skyline, including the iconic Space Needle.
There were also a number of container ships and cranes up close along the way.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time on this cruise and it’s something I’d highly recommend to anyone visiting – or even living in – Seattle. The boats begin seating on a first-come, first-served basis 20 minutes before the scheduled departure time. Seating is available both inside and outside. Sitting outside, of course, gives you the best view, but it can get chilly the farther out the boat sails. So, be sure to bring a jacket along. Inside seating keeps you warmer, but the views aren’t as good.
I ended up on the Argosy Cruises harbor tour because it was among several attractions included in the Seattle CityPASS. The narrator on board was very knowledgeable, friendly, and was open to answering any questions anyone on the ship had. (Mine didn’t mention anything about tips at the end, but I gave one because he really knew his stuff, and I’ll bet they’ll appreciate it if you do tip!) You’ll be allowed to get out of your seat to take photos during the narration, but you can also do that during a couple of breaks that are scheduled into the tour.
The Harbor Cruise departs from:
Pier 55 on the Seattle Waterfront
1101 Alaskan Way
Seattle, WA 98101
For more information on Argosy Cruises, click here.
For more information on the Seattle CityPASS, click here. (If you’re staying in Seattle a couple of days, I’d suggest going this route because it costs between $75-$79 – depending on when you buy it – and includes five attractions, putting each one at a total of $15.80 at most.)