Seattle Cruise ships leave from Piers 66 (currently Norwegian Cruises and Celebrity Cruises) and Pier 91 (all others). Pier 66 is located along the Alaskan waterfront very close to the Edgewater Hotel and Seattle Marriott Waterfront. Pier 91 is located approximately 2.5 miles north. At Pier 91 there are no nearby hotels. If your cruise ships arrives or departs from Pier 91, be sure to arrange transportation. Taxis are normally available.

Similar to Pier 91 in Seattle, many ports during your cruise may be several miles from the destination’s primary city and main attractions. Regular buses are often not accessible. It is advised that transportation be arranged prior to initial cruise departure. Taxi and limo service are generally available, and it is advised that passengers obtain the names and local phone numbers for 2-3 taxi or limo services prior to initial cruise departure.

If international travel is involved, it is advised that you carry a mobile phone with the ability to dial internationally. Learn how to dial local country and city codes prior to departure. International calls are generally priced at a premium so it is advised that most calls be relatively short in duration.

Jim’s Accessibility Comments: We’ve enjoyed many cruises around the world. It’s a wonderful and accessible way to explore the world. Most are very wheelchair friendly with large accessible staterooms and nicely designed accessible bathrooms.

Seattle Port Cruise Ships:

1. Golden Princess        (Approx. 25 Wheelchair Accessible Staterooms)
2. Star Princess              (Approx. 25 Wheelchair Accessible Staterooms)

From its modest beginnings in 1965 with a single ship cruising to Mexico, Princess has grown to become one of the premiere cruise lines in the world. Today, its fleet carries more than a million passengers each year to more worldwide destinations than any other major line.

1. Staterooms with Roll-In Showers.
2. Most Decks Available with Elevator.
3. Wheelchair Accessible Restrooms on Most Decks.

Princess Cruises was catapulted to stardom in 1977 when one of its ships, Pacific Princess, was cast in a starring role on a new television show called “The Love Boat.” The weekly series, which introduced millions of viewers to the concept of a sea-going vacation, was an instant hit and both the company name and its “seawitch” logo have remained synonymous with cruising ever since. The show, which can still be seen around the world, has been widely credited with fueling the dramatic expansion of the industry.

• Note on River Cruises: My wife and I have enjoyed multiple cruises on the larger cruise lines. We continually seek out worldwide river cruises with overnight wheelchair accessible accommodations. American Cruise Lines operates 3 vessels, each with 1 wheelchair accessible stateroom. Although we have not yet experienced these river cruises, we are considering one of their New England or Hudson River cruises. These cruises seem expensive, about twice the price of the larger cruise ships, and only some of day trip excursions are wheelchair accessible. We have researched Viking Cruises and river cruises throughout Western and Eastern European countries. Unfortunately, we have not found a single wheelchair accessible river cruise. We’ll keep looking and would appreciate hearing from you if overnight accessible river cruises are available.