Recently named among one of the top cities in the U.S. by readers of Condé Nast Traveler, Seattle offers the best of both urban and outdoor experiences and provides the perfect point of departure for a cruise holiday. You’ll find many of the city’s top visitor attractions located within close proximity to the waterfront, including the Space Needle, Art Museum, Culture Park and of course, Seattle’s famous coffee.
Seattle is a destination that can be visited year-round because it has a wide range of activities no matter what the weather brings. Although it is often referred to as the rainy city, Seattle gets less precipitation than New York or Miami, with a mild climate between May and October. Located within the Pacific Northwest, the region is one of the most beautiful within the United States.
The Sea-Tac airport is the gateway to the Northwest and the port is known as The Green Gateway for trade and travel. The port provides a key role in bringing international trade, transportation and travel to the Pacific Northwest. In 2012, a total of 202 cruise ships visited the port, bringing in approximately 935,000 visitors to the region. In addition, the Port of Seattle generated over $416 million dollars in annual business revenue to the city last year.
The Smith Cove Cruise Terminal is one of the newest additions to the Port of Seattle and serves as a homeport for many cruise lines including Celebrity Cruises and Holland America Line. Located at the north-end of the waterfront, the terminal is just a ten minute drive away from the city’s retail district and the Space Needle. At Pier 66, the Bell Street Pier is located along the downtown waterfront, close to many shops, bars and restaurants and is often used as the homeport for Oceania Cruises.
Space Needle
This striking landmark in Seattle was built for the 1962 World’ Fair and offers a magnificent view over the city. On clear days, you may even be able to see Mount Rainier. The Space Needle has always been an important landmark for the city of Seattle, let alone for the entire North West coast of the United States. Standing at 184 meters above sea level and weighing 9,550 tonnes – be sure to visit the observation tower and the rotating Space Needle Restaurant.