Argosy Cruises

Argosy Cruises has offered sightseeing trips on Seattle's waters since 1949, and it is based on the downtown waterfront. Seeing Seattle from the water gives you a completely different view of the skyline, the port and the mountains, and Argosy's range of cruises means there is an option for most budgets and schedules.

The Seattle Harbor Cruise is the classic choice. It lasts one hour, departs from Pier 55 on the downtown waterfront and is led by a local guide. It is a good introduction to the city on your first day.

For something longer, the Seattle Locks Cruise takes two hours, one way, between the downtown waterfront and Lake Union, passing through the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, known as the Ballard Locks. Rising or falling with the water level in the lock chamber is the highlight, and the trip gives a view of neighbourhoods you would not otherwise see. Because it is one way, plan how you will get back to your starting point before you set off.

In the warmer months, Argosy also runs a Seattle Sunset Cruise and a Happy Hour Cruise, both lasting an hour and a half with minimal narration. These have ended for the 2026 season and are due to return in spring 2027. The Harbor and Locks cruises operate daily.

Tickets are sold through the Book Now page and cruise calendar on the website. Booking ahead is sensible in summer and on sunny weekends, when departures fill up. Bring a warm layer even in summer, as it can be breezy on deck. The cruises suit families, first-time visitors and anyone who enjoys being on the water; the one-hour Harbor Cruise is easiest with young children. If you only have time for one cruise, the Harbor Cruise is the easiest to fit around other plans, while the Locks Cruise is better if you have half a day and want to see more of the city from the water.

Pier 55 is on the central waterfront, a short walk from Pike Place Market via the Pike Street Hillclimb and close to the Seattle Aquarium, the Great Wheel and Ivar's Acres of Clams on Pier 54, so a cruise fits easily into a day on the waterfront. Check the departure point on your ticket, as the Locks Cruise can start from either the waterfront or Lake Union.