The 13 Best Seattle Harbor Cruises

1.Seattle’s Original Guided Harbor Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,077 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $45Our pick

Spend an hour on Argosy Cruises’ narrated harbor tour, passing the Great Wheel, Space Needle, stadiums, shipping terminals, Alki Beach, and mountain ranges. Guides such as Casey, Nate, and Angie have earned praise for lively local facts. Choose indoor or outdoor seating, and watch the weather for the best Mt. Rainier view.

“Excellent narration! A beautiful overview of Seattle and the marine life. It was relaxing and the staff was great!”

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2.Harbor Cruise with Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 599 reviews · 1 hour · from $45

Sail from Pier 55 on a one-hour Argosy harbor cruise with an English-speaking guide. Look for the Space Needle, stadiums, shipping terminals, sea lions, and mountain ranges while enjoying open-deck views. Guides such as Alexis, Amy, Drew, and Astrid have earned praise for lively local storytelling.

“Wish it was longer and the narrator needs to speak up louder”

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3.Seattle Sailing Harbor Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 473 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $39Best value

Set sail from Pier 66 Bell Harbor Marina aboard Seattle’s historic tall ship for about two hours. You’ll see the waterfront, Space Needle, Elliott Bay, Olympic and Cascade ranges, and possibly Mount Rainier. The crew may invite you to help raise the sails, with drinks, snacks, blankets, and restrooms available onboard.

“It was really something different. Wish we could have music or some kind of singing.. it was just a little boring.”

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4.Seattle Locks Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 381 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $63Top rated

Take Argosy Cruises’ two-hour one-way trip between Pier 54 and AGC Marina. You’ll see Lake Union houseboats, the Sleepless in Seattle home, Gas Works Park, Fisherman’s Terminal, and the Ballard Locks. Guides such as Kyle and Harrison add humor and local stories, with indoor and outdoor seats.

“Don’t miss it. Fascinating experience. Sisters and brother in law are from Wisconsin. They felt the Argosy tour through the locks was their highlight of a week long trip in the Seattle area”

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5.2 Hour Guided Boat Tour in Gig Harbor and Narrows Bridges

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 233 reviews · from $55

Cruise from Gig Harbor aboard an ex-Navy boat with a Coast Guard-certified captain, often including Captain Ethan. In two hours, you will see Mt. Rainier, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, Point Defiance, Salmon Beach, seals, eagles, and other Puget Sound wildlife.

“Great experience. The guide was very knowledgeable and very personable. Saw lots of wildlife to include bald eagles and harbor seals.”

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6.Tall Sailboat Sunset Harbor Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 223 reviews · 2 hours · from $79

Board the schooner Bay Lady at Pier 66 for a two-hour sunset sail across Seattle Harbor. You can relax on deck, buy beer, wine, cider, or snacks, and possibly help raise the sails or steer. Expect city views, Olympic Mountain sunsets, and Mount Rainier on clear days.

“The whole experience was excellent. The crew were knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. The sailing was smooth with a sighting of porpoises and amazing views of the skyline. Would absolutely recommend this.”

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7.Tall Ship Harbor Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 86 reviews · from $73

Board the schooner Bay Lady at Pier 66 for a two-hour English-language harbor sail with captain and crew. Help raise the sails, try the wheel, watch for seals and porpoises, and enjoy Space Needle and Mount Rainier views. Anthony, Madison, and Clark have all helped make recent trips lively and welcoming.

“Superb 2 hours sailing around the sound on a beautifully still, hot, sunny, blue skied day. Great views of the Seattle cityscape and the only sound was of beer cans opening.... Bliss. A great way to chill and while away a few hours.”

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8.Locks Cruise with Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 74 reviews · 2 hours · from $63

Join Argosy Cruises for a narrated two-hour, one-way ride from Seattle’s waterfront or South Lake Union. Watch your boat rise and lower in the Ballard Locks, pass houseboats, fishing vessels, Gas Works Park, and seaplanes, while guides such as Ryan or Lars bring Seattle’s waterfront to life.

“Wonderful boat tour around parts of Seattle — parts I probably would not have see otherwise. Interesting and friendly guide, and comfortable boat with bar and snacks. Lovely all around. Recommended.”

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9.Street Food Tour of South Lake Union- Area of Amazon Spheres

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 60 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $77

Join Chef Eric at 1 p.m. for a two-hour, small-group walk through South Lake Union. You’ll taste heirloom-corn tamales, Korean-Hawaiian fusion, sourdough bagels, a local burger, ginger beer, and a sweet finish, with an outdoor look at the Amazon Spheres.

“great variety of foods you get to try, my only critic is that my friend couldn't eat pork, so I thought they would give her chicken options, but they gave her tofu instead”

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10.Elliott Bay Sailing Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 40 reviews · from $60

Meet Sailing Seattle at Pier 56 for a two-hour cruise on a high-performance yacht. Bring your own beer, wine, food, and warm layers, then enjoy open-deck views of Seattle, Elliott Bay, the Olympic Mountains, and possibly Mount Rainier.

“It was a nice day to say, with sun out and mild winds we could have had a great sailing experience in the puget sound waters but the sail boat for whatever reason never went far from the shore line and”

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11.Dinner Cruise Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 39 reviews · 2h 30m · from $131

Board a Waterways yacht for a 150-minute Seattle evening cruise with prosecco or sparkling cider, a private table, and a plated three-course dinner. Choose steak, salmon, chicken, or vegan. The captain provides light narration while you take in Lake Union, Lake Washington, and the skyline.

“The food was really average, the salad was alright and the steak was just too well done. The desert really wasn't anything special but the night time cruise was really romantic and the hosts were great. The boat was fun experience and we got to see some lovely sights. So I might not have enjoyed the food but we did have a good time.”

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12.Elliott Bay Sea Kayak Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $139

Spend about two hours paddling from West Seattle into Elliott Bay and toward the mouth of the Duwamish River. Your English-speaking guide provides the kayak, paddle, and life jacket, while you look for seals, sea lions, bald eagles, and osprey beneath views of downtown Seattle and the Olympic Mountains.

“This was a good first time kayaking experience. All 4 of us in our party, ages ranging from 21 to 72, did as well or better than expected. Arm fatigue is a factor for anyone that does not work out regularly. Our guide was a little on the new side but everything was fine with our small group of 4. It was a beautiful day, great conditions, and we all had a good time.”

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13.Lake Union Kayak Tour – Small Groups, Big Views

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 2 hours · from $80

Join a guide-led kayak tour on Seattle’s Lake Union with no more than five participants. Sergio may lead your outing, sharing local history and nature as you paddle to Gas Works Park, the Space Needle, seaplanes, and colorful floating homes. Gear and safety instruction are included.

“Sergio was very knowledgeable and friendly. He is very passionate about what he does and it was a privilege to be on the water with him. Definitely recommend doing a tour with him!”

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