Argosy Cruises - Seattle Waterfront

argosy harbor cruise review

  • See all photos

argosy harbor cruise review

Seattle Harbor Cruise

argosy harbor cruise review

Seattle Locks Cruise - One-Way Tour

argosy harbor cruise review

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Zoe T

Argosy Cruises - Seattle Waterfront: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (1,220 photos)

In-The-Great-Wide-Logo-Fiery_edited.png

  • Dec 6, 2022

Updated: Apr 22, 2023

Seattle Skyline Panoramic View From Elliott Bay Harbor Cruise With CityPass Argosy Review In The Great Wide Travel Blog

Argosy Cruises

There’s a number of harbor cruises in Seattle, but Argosy Cruises is the only one included with the CityPass, which is our recommendation for your first time in the city!

Where is it?

How to get there, our experience.

Ticket Prices and Reservations

Our Verdict

Quick reference guide.

Argosy Cruises takes you for a tour around Elliott Bay, departing from Seattle’s popular Waterfront, which also houses the Seattle Aquarium, the Seattle Great Wheel, and the Bainbridge Island Ferry. It’s on the outskirts of downtown Seattle, just south of Pike Place Market.

The physical address is: 1101 Alaskan Way Pier 55, Suite 201, Seattle, WA 98101.

It’s sad to say, but the public transportation system in Seattle isn’t that great. Ever since a federal light rail funding package was voted down in the early ‘90s, the city has been struggling to create more public transportation infrastructure. They did pass some funding in the last few years, so expansion is (theoretically) on the way.

The 1 Line light rail route runs through Seattle, with four stops in the Downtown Area, including the International District/Chinatown station, which was nearest to our hostel and connects to the Amtrak King Street Station, the Pioneer Square station and University Street station, which both have access to car and passenger ferries, and the Westlake Center station, that connects to the Seattle Center Monorail .

It connects as far south as Angle Lake, even stopping at the Seattle-Tacoma Airport in SeaTac (a suburb of Seattle), and as far north as Northgate, with a stop at the University of Washington.

The University Street station on the 1 Line is technically the closest to where you’ll board Argosy Cruises, but we just walked there from Chinatown. If you do want to take the 1 Line to get there, be aware that you’ll still have to walk the last half-mile to get to the waterfront, although going towards the water, it should be mostly downhill. The lack of public transportation along the waterfront is baffling, but for now, that’s just the way it is.

If you’d prefer to drive in that case (because Seattle is VERY hilly), there are a number of parking lots and garages around the waterfront district, but be aware that people have gotten confused in the past about who they were supposed to pay for the parking - the city or a private business - which can lead to tickets from either entity. Make sure you’re paying the correct meter and fare before leaving your car to avoid a nasty surprise when you return. Most parking in the area will cost you $30 for the day though, so it’s definitely worth considering strapping on your comfy walking shoes and getting some exercise on the hills while walking there.

Downtown Seattle Waterfront Ferris Wheel Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour Review With CityPass In The Great Wide Travel Blog

We obviously did some research into Seattle before arriving via the Empire Builder during our month-long Amtrak USA Rail Pass adventure , and we settled on using the Seattle CityPass because it would be the best deal to visit the Space Needle and have other stuff to do during our short 2 days in the city. We thought a harbor tour sounded lovely and so chose to do that as well as visit the Chihuly Garden & Glass , Museum of Pop Culture, and Seattle Aquarium, ALL INCLUDED with our passes.

We arrived in Seattle mid-morning, tired and in need of a shower, but our room wasn’t going to be available until later in the day, so we dropped off our bags and forged ahead to visit the Seattle Aquarium and check out a haunted Irish pub before our scheduled cruise at 4:05pm.

The Argosy Cruises dock and the boat were not hard to find, with big signs and friendly employees eager to point out which way to go. They recommend getting there a half-hour early so you don’t miss the cruise (they leave on time, with or without you), but it also helps to ensure you get a good seat, as the covered deck fills up fairly quickly on dreary days. We opted to head up to the open-air top deck to ensure the best views, but the best seats along the side railings of the boat were already full there too.

We won’t lie; the chairs on the boat are cheap. It’s the biggest thing that they could improve upon. Those on the top deck are made of plastic, all facing forward to the tour guide instead of outward towards the views. Either get there either, or better yet pay extra to board first, or you’ll likely have to deal with the heads of strangers in all of the photos you take from the boat.

Argosy Boat Tour Review Harbor Tour On Open Air Boat Seattle Washington Downtown Skyline In The Great Wide Travel Blog

Something else to bear in mind: when slowed down or docked, the boat is very wobbly. Seasickness is a real thing, so if you suffer from any motion sickness, make sure you have some non-drowsy Dramamine so you aren’t spending your entire cruise in the bathrooms. The boat travels around Elliott Bay at a leisurely pace, so when we were moving, it was much less noticeable.

The tour guide was knowledgeable and friendly, joking around with the cruisers. He was a young man who had grown up in Seattle, so he was happy to offer up restaurant recommendations too. He narrated our tour on the top deck into a microphone so the audio would also play on the lower deck for those not willing to deal with the weather, even though the views from the lower deck are far inferior. It was pretty chilly up on the open-air top deck and quite a few people couldn’t hack it for the entire hour-long cruise, so even though the best seats were taken when we initially boarded, we were able to get up and move around for better views later on as fellow passengers gave up to go inside.

Pro Tip: Bundle up for this cruise! The temperature drops dramatically as the sun goes down and it can get windy out on the water but the best views are on the open-air top deck of the boat.

We want to mention, however, that there is also a small concession inside serving beer, wine, and some cocktails, as well as coffee and hot cocoa. The only problem you run into with that is that there is nowhere to put your drink down while you take pictures of the views unless you get there early and snag one of the small tables on the lower deck, but again, the views upstairs are far superior.

Elliott Bay Marina Boat Docks In Northern Seattle Argosy Cruises Review Harbor Tour With CityPass In The Great Wide Travel Blog

The Cruise is really just a big hour-long lap of Elliot Bay in Puget Sound, narrated by a tour guide. We were able to see some amazing panoramic views of the downtown Seattle skyline, including the Space Needle, which gave us an idea of just how tall it actually is, but you still don’t really comprehend it until you’re standing on the glass floors in the observation deck there . Some other sight highlights include:

Seattle Great Wheel, which is the tallest ferris wheel on the west coast at 175-feet

Edgewater Hotel, which was the only hotel who would allow the Beatles to stay in 1964 during their first North American tour. They famously fished out the window and the city promptly banned fishing into the Bay from hotels.

Seattle cruise ship port, with incredibly large cruise ships mostly destined for Alaska

Smith Cove, a marina on Elliot Bay with hundreds of small boats

Lumen Field, where the Seahawks play

Also quite impressive was getting right up next to some really large cargo ships. Seattle is a major hub for receiving cargo ships from across the Pacific, so the industrial side of the Bay was on full display. It’s not something that we would’ve taken our time to do if it wasn’t on the cruise, but some of the cargo ships are upwards of a quarter-mile long and can hold 7500-8000 cargo containers. The sheer enormity of the ships and the idea that they carry so many shipping containers across the ocean is mind-boggling.

We also were able to see the Smith Tower, a 38-story tall building that was Seattle’s first skyscraper and the tallest building outside of New York City when it opened in 1914. It seems small in comparison now, but what sets it aside is the penthouse on top, a 3-story apartment with windows on each facade, creating a pointed top to the building and allowing fantastic views of the city. It was just recently renovated along with the rest of the building and offered up a 12-month lease to a lucky renter at $17,000 a month.

Seattle Cruise Port Washington State Boat Tour CityPass Argosy Cruises Review In The Great Wide Travel Blog

Ticket Prices and Reservations at Argosy Cruises

The easiest way to acquire tickets for ONLY the harbor cruise is to book directly through the Argosy Cruises website , but we went with the CityPass (more on that in a second). The reservation system on their website is updated in real-time, so you’ll have the best chance of knowing if a specific cruise time is available.

During the winter, there are only three harbor cruise times (leaving between 12:05pm and 2:45pm), due to the colder weather and the sun going down much earlier. In the summer, there are 12 cruise times (leaving between 10:45am and 7:20pm).

Argosy Cruises also offers a ‘first to board’ ticket for an extra cost. The amenities for this higher priced ticket are:

First to board, first to the bar, first to find a seat (which could be very useful!)

15% off all beverages during your Harbor Cruise

Access to an exclusive covered seating area

Dedicated concierge available prior to boarding to answer questions and provide tips for your Seattle adventure

Argosy is raising ticket fares in 2023, although it’s still fairly reasonable. The new price breakdown is:

Given the value of the cruise, these aren’t bad prices, but if you’re going to be spending 2 days or more in Seattle, we highly recommend the Seattle CityPass for $115. The CityPass grants you access to 5 attractions in Seattle for the price of 3, including a day/night pass at the Space Needle, admission to the Seattle Aquarium, and your choice of 3 more activities between a harbor tour with Argosy Cruises, admission to the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP), the Chihuly Garden and Glass, or the Woodland Park Zoo. We chose to do all except the zoo, since it’s the furthest away while all the other attractions are so close together.

It’s also good to know that Argosy will allow you to upgrade your CityPass ticket to a ‘first-to-board’ ticket for the $15 extra charge. Check out this webpage for more info.

Puget Sound Harbor Tour In Seattle Argosy Cruises Review Of CityPass In The Great Wide Travel Lifestyle Blog

We love having local-guided tours of museums and cities, so this was high on our list of things to do for our first time in Seattle. The tour was informative, fun, and had some really great views of the city, even though it was a bit chilly. With such a great deal with the CityPass, we highly recommend checking it out!

Pin this article!

Travel Blogger Adam Neubauer For In The Great Wide Travel Lifestyle Blog

We’re Phoebe & Adam the couple behind In The Great Wide!

This is our travel lifestyle blog where we not only share stories from our adventures while traveling the world, but also our thorough research of the places we visit & practical advice on how to save money so you can travel more too!

Featured Blog Posts

Wild Elephant Seals of Central California

Wild Elephant Seals of Central California

Sulphur Springs Land and Sea Tour

Sulphur Springs Land and Sea Tour

Sulphur Springs

Sulphur Springs

Sandbar SXM at Maho Beach

Sandbar SXM at Maho Beach

Steepest Zipline in the World

Steepest Zipline in the World

Recent Blog Posts

123 Farm Lavender Festival

123 Farm Lavender Festival

Bristols Cider House

Bristols Cider House

Shell Creek Road Wildflower Field

Shell Creek Road Wildflower Field

Guavaberry Rum

Guavaberry Rum

Destinations

St Thomas Travel Blog In The US Virgin Islands In The Great Wide Caribbean Travel Blogger Couple

St. Thomas Travel Blog in Virgin Islands In The Great Wide

Denver Travel Blog In Colorado In The Great Wide Couple Travel Bloggers

Denver Travel Blog in Colorado In The Great Wide

Los Angeles Travel Blog By Locals In The Great Wide

LA Travel Blog by Locals In The Great Wide

argosy harbor cruise review

Follow our adventures!  

Harbor Cruise or Locks Cruise? How to choose the best Argosy Cruises cruise for your Seattle Visit

  • June 8, 2022
  • one comment

Sitting on the top deck of the Argosy Cruises Locks Cruise that goes through Ballard Locks to Seattle Waterfront

This post is a sponsored post on behalf of Argosy Cruises and as always the thoughts in this post are always my own.

I recently had the chance to try out two fabulous Argosy Cruises with my family, the Harbor cruise and the Locks cruise . If you’re only in Seattle for a short time, how do you choose which sightseeing cruise is the best cruise for your day ? 

heading under the Fremont Bridge in a boat with Argosy Cruises Ballard Locks Cruise

Let’s start with the Argosy Cruises tour that takes you under bridges and through the Ballard Locks.

Ballard Locks Cruise route and map from Argosy Cruises

For this cruise, your tour either starts on the Seattle Waterfront or in South Lake Union and both are great areas to get an idea of how locals might also spend a day in our city. On the Seattle Waterfront you have easy access to Pike Place Market , the Seattle Aquarium and all the shops and restaurants that line the downtown piers. In South Lake Union you can watch the seaplanes take off and land, learn about Seattle’s history at the MOHAI, check out the hidden bar beneath the Seattle Spheres or if you’re around on a weekend you might be able to tour the  Seattle Spheres too.

Starting point for Argosy Cruises in South lake union

My boys and I were on a weekday 3:25pm Argosy Locks tour that started in South Lake Union. We were able to find street parking right near the Kenmore Air lot and we only needed to pay for the hour because our spot only charged until 4pm. I think our total came to under $1 for parking which is pretty fantastic for Seattle-make sure you check all the signs near your parking spot if you choose to street park too, our city’s signs are notorious for being confusing, but sometimes that helps with landing a lucky spot as well.

The coolest thing about the Locks tour is that it takes you through the Ballard Locks

The Ballard Locks are like an elevator for boats-there is a difference in water level between the ocean water on Seattle’s Waterfront and the lake water in Lake Union and boats can travel through the locks to travel to and from these areas. You can even ride a kayak or canoe through the Ballard Locks too. But touring the Locks via one of the comfortable Argosy Cruises ships means that you have indoor and outdoor seating options and lots of space to view all the happenings around you. We could see everything from seals fishing near the salmon ladders to people crossing the bridges and other nearby boats going through the locks as well. (Here’s a link from my Instagram @helloterumi if you want to see a video of what you might see on the the Locks Cruise too.)

Going through the Ballard Locks on the Locks Cruise with Argosy Cruises

How long is the Argosy Cruises Locks Tour?

We arrived at the meeting spot for the Argosy Cruises Harbor tour about 30 minutes before our tour departed and then our boat ride was about 2 hours long. Because this tour is a one way tour, ours started at South Lake Union and ended at the Seattle Waterfront. We could choose to take a car-share, public transportation, rental bike/scooter or walk back to our parked car.

kids walking in South Lake Union holding sizzle and crunch

The weather was really nice and we like to walk so we walked up through Pike Place Market, through downtown and South Lake Union and back to our car. We spotted a new coffee shop on our way up the hill (Welcome to the neighborhood Pike St Coffee !) picked up dinner at Sizzle and Crunch (one of our Seattle favorite spots!) and the walk back took about an hour so it took us about four hours total to do the whole trip. 

Pike St Coffee, the newest coffee shop in Pike Place Market on the stairclimb from Seattle Waterfront

If we had more time in our day before our tour we might have had lunch at Ba Bar or Cactus , spent some time at the MOHAI, and maybe grabbed a coffee and pastry at Fresh Flours. After the tour we might have spent time on the patio of the Fisherman’s Restaurant or we could have extended our route by walking along the waterfront to the Olympic Sculpture Park before connecting to the Market to MOHAI walking route. There are so many things to do in Seattle in both of these areas that we always run out of time before we run out of ideas.

walking back through South Lake Union from Argosy Cruises Seattle Waterfront

And what is the Harbor Cruise with Argosy Cruises all about?

Argosy Cruises Harbor Cruise Route

I originally thought that the Harbor cruise would be very similar to the last 45 minutes of the Locks Tour and I was completely wrong. My husband and I decided to take the last Harbor Cruise of the day and we went on the 5:25 Harbor Cruise that departs from the Seattle Waterfront. We decided to make this a bit of a date adventure-we biked from our home along the Expedia Bike Path, through Myrtle Edwards Park and the Sculpture Park to the Seattle Waterfront. We passed many rental bikes and scooters along the way if you’re thinking of doing a similar ride. 

baby airplanes along our bike ride in Seattle to get to Argosy Cruises Harbor Cruise

We upgraded our tickets to be “First to Board” tickets . This is an additional 15 dollars per ticket and you might be able to do this with a CityPass ticket too. Upgrading the ticket gives you access to an undercover patio about 30 minutes before boarding, priority boarding so you can get the best seats and be first to the bar, 15% off bar drinks for the cruise and a 20% discount on a future Locks Cruise for up to 4 people (through December 2022 so you have a lot of time to come back)

there is a bar on the Argosy Cruises Harbor Cruise and you can get 15% with the "First to Board" ticket upgrade

What do you see on the Seattle Harbor Cruise?

We learned so much about our own city as we cruised away from the pier and south of Seattle towards where the cargo ships unload their containers. We even saw one of the giant cranes at work-this doesn’t happen all the time-it’s a working dock. And even after living in the city for nearly 20 years, I don’t think I’ve ever seen this part of the city from the water. We also circled back and got some phenomenal views of the city as well. This is a great tour to take if you like to take photos-I could barely stop taking pictures. It was also neat to hear facts about the city that I didn’t know. Ryan was the same tour guide on both of the tours we took and he was very knowledgeable and current on everything going on in the city.

View of Seattle downtown from a Harbor Cruise from Argosy Cruises and Citypass

So which is the best Argosy tour to choose?

Drinks and snacks on the Locks Cruise

We enjoyed popcorn, mixed drinks (cocktails and non-alcoholic mixed drinks too), Ruby Jewel Ice cream sandwiches and clean bathrooms on both the tours we went on. Ultimately, I would pick my cruise based on the amount of time I had to spend-if I had 4 hours I would choose the Ballard locks tour, if I only had a short time and wanted to stay closer to downtown, I would pick the Harbor Cruise. I would also be tempted to do both tours now that I know what these tours are-it was really cool to float through the Locks and it was also really cool to see some of the cranes at work in Seattle Harbor. 

Do you ever do boat tours in your home city? Please feel free to message if you have questions about Seattle or these tours. (PS if you are a Washington Resident, there is a discount for you on the Argosy Cruises website too.)

Terumi

Terumi Pong is a Seattle-based family travel writer and mom of twin teenage boys.  She loves coffee and pastries, shopping local and looking for greener ways to live.  She is also known as Scout’s mom (Scout is a 5ish pound little black yorkie-poo)

  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Made in Seattle
  • Seattle events
  • Seattle family
  • Washington State

One thought on “Harbor Cruise or Locks Cruise? How to choose the best Argosy Cruises cruise for your Seattle Visit”

  • Pingback: 1 day in Seattle - An Emerald City Life

Comments are closed.

Argosy Cruises - Seattle Waterfront

argosy harbor cruise review

  • See all photos

argosy harbor cruise review

Seattle Harbor Cruise

argosy harbor cruise review

Seattle Locks Cruise - One-Way Tour

argosy harbor cruise review

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Zoe T

ARGOSY CRUISES - SEATTLE WATERFRONT - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Argosy Cruises Reviews

Argosy cruises.

  • Quality of service 4.9 out of 5 rating 4.9
  • Average response time 4.7 out of 5 rating 4.7
  • Professionalism 5 out of 5 rating 5.0
  • Value 4.8 out of 5 rating 4.8
  • Flexibility 4.8 out of 5 rating 4.8

3 User photos

  • Quality of service 5.0 out of 5 rating 5.0
  • Average response time 5.0 out of 5 rating 5.0
  • Professionalism 5.0 out of 5 rating 5.0
  • Value 5.0 out of 5 rating 5.0
  • Flexibility 5.0 out of 5 rating 5.0

Argosy brought the vision of our boat wedding to life!

Argosy Cruises's reply:

Outstanding place to have a wedding!

Stunning Views of Skyline and So Romantic!

Are you interested?

A Fun Wedding on the Water

argosy harbor cruise review

  • Quality of service 4.5 out of 5 rating 4.5
  • Value 4.0 out of 5 rating 4.0
  • Flexibility 4.5 out of 5 rating 4.5
  • Quality of service 4.0 out of 5 rating 4.0
  • Average response time 3.5 out of 5 rating 3.5
  • Flexibility 3.0 out of 5 rating 3.0

argosy harbor cruise review

  • West Coast Departures

Seattle - ferry to Bainbridge Island or Argosy Harbor Cruise

VermeulT

By VermeulT , March 29, 2015 in West Coast Departures

Recommended Posts

Cool Cruiser

the Seattle City Pass includes the Argosy Harbor Cruise... but it's not the infamous Seattle ferry.

I imagine the views of the city would be similar... which would you do?

Link to comment

Share on other sites.

10,000+ Club

mapleleaves

I guess some people find a working harbor to be interesting, but I don't find that industrial look to be very scenic. What's the priority ... a city view or a ride on a ferry?

We usually take out of town guests on the water taxi to Alki Beach at West Seattle. Spectacular skyline views, plus there's a beach and some interesting restaurants closeby. There are usually seals on the buoys in front of Saltys restaurant next to the dock. There are also resident bald eagles in West Seattle so watch for them (there's a nest across the street from Salty's.

Hopefully Gardyloo will see this thread and post some lovely photos of Alki Beach. Or do a search on Alki to find past threads and photos.

If the weather is crappy we take the Bremerton ferry, primarily because it travels closer to the shore of W.Seattle.

Water Taxi info http://www.kingcounty.gov/transportation/kcdot/WaterTaxi.aspx

here's an old thread with a couple of gardyloo's photos.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2015908&highlight=alki

Casagordita

Are you deciding whether to buy the City Pass, or are you already buying it and you just want to know whether to do the Argosy cruise?

If you're buying it anyway, you might as well do the Argosy tour. While the harbor tour is one of their least scenic and interesting (personally, I would pick any of their others first--Tillicum Village and Blake Island, or the locks, or one of the lake tours), it's going to be pleasant enough, and it's the only one the City Pass covers.

If you haven't decided to buy the pass...just my opinion here, I know people buy it and feel like they got a great deal, but I would not. You have such a limited time to use it, and a limited list of things it covers. It looks like kind of a forced march to cram it all in, and at least personally, I would end up doing a couple of things I really wanted to do and a few more that were just meh, because I'd paid for them already. I would rather set my own agenda based on my own interests, without feeling the need to maximize the benefits of the pass.

If you don't buy the pass (or even if you do, if it leaves you the time), I would definitely take the ferry to Bainbridge. It's far cheaper to walk on the ferry than to take an Argosy cruise, and every bit as scenic. You can get off on the other end and walk up into Winslow (10-15 minute walk up a small hill) and have lunch ( Streamliner Diner , Blackbird Bakery , and the Harbour Public House are all highly recommended), or an ice cream at Mora , or do some shopping before you head back. Or grab a cab or a bus from the ferry dock and visit the Bloedel Reserve , a gorgeous public garden with lovely paths throughout.

Argosy cruises are for tourists--the ferries are real deal Seattle. If getting a true feel for the place is a priority, take the ferry.

The Bremerton boat has better scenery, but downtown Bremerton approaches charm-free for tourists. The Bainbridge boat has equally good skyline and harbor scenery, and ends up somewhere interesting and charming. I'd heartily second all those dining and treat recommendations and add in Restaurant Marché for lunch or dinner. Bremerton takes an hour each way, Bainbridge :35.

The Argosy Harbor cruise is pretty meh.

PNW Traveler

I'm a Seattle native and have spent a lot of time riding ferry boats. The Bremerton ferry has the best route for viewing central Puget Sound scenery. I'd buy some gourmet snacks in Seattle, board the ferry, and have a grand picnic. We almost always see an abundance of marine mammals and sea birds on our way to Bremerton, especially when going through Rich Passage. You don't have to get off the boat in Bremerton. Just take the return boat to Seattle. If shops and restaurants are important, explore the Seattle waterfront and Pike Place Market.

You don't have to get off the boat in Bremerton. Just take the return boat to Seattle.

The most minor of quibbles; even those wanting to sail back on the same boat need to (briefly) disembark at Bremerton and reboard. To visitors who would like to do so, don't worry about time or complexity (there will be no issue there at all), but do plan to have your things together and proceed off the ferry.

Gardyloo

Nothing against the ferries or Bainbridge, but I think the water taxi offers comparable scenery bang for the buck, it's shorter, and the walk/bike/free shuttle along the shore from the ferry dock to Alki beach is infinitely more scenic than the schlep through Winslow to get to the Harbour Pub or Doc's.

The water taxi summer schedule is now up - http://www.kingcounty.gov/transportation/kcdot/WaterTaxi/WSeattle.aspx

20,000+ Club

Many thanks for all of the above information. It will be most helpful when I am in Seattle in September before embarking on the Statendam's final voyage for HAL.

Nothing against the ferries or Bainbridge, but I think the water taxi offers comparable scenery bang for the buck, it's shorter, and the walk/bike/free shuttle along the shore from the ferry dock to Alki beach is infinitely more scenic than the schlep through Winslow to get to the Harbour Pub or Doc's.   The water taxi summer schedule is now up - http://www.kingcounty.gov/transportation/kcdot/WaterTaxi/WSeattle.aspx

Hmm, to each their own...scenic definitely is in the eye of the beholder! To me, gliding into Eagle Harbor on the ferry is breathtaking, the walk through Winslow is perfectly pleasant, and coming back to Seattle at sunset, with the sky not quite dark and the city lights just starting to come up, is just about the prettiest sight I've seen. I do like the water taxi (and Korean tacos at Marination Ma Kai on the Alki end, and a walk along the beach), but as a tourist, shorter really isn't the point, is it?

Well of course to each their own, and to be sure the BI ferry ride is no slouch (although I agree the Bremerton run is more scenic en route.)

...and coming back to Seattle at sunset, with the sky not quite dark and the city lights just starting to come up, is just about the prettiest sight I've seen.

Yes, and seeing it with the ferry in the view from West Seattle might even be better...

Are you deciding whether to buy the City Pass, or are you already buying it and you just want to know whether to do the Argosy cruise?   If you're buying it anyway, you might as well do the Argosy tour. While the harbor tour is one of their least scenic and interesting (personally, I would pick any of their others first--Tillicum Village and Blake Island, or the locks, or one of the lake tours), it's going to be pleasant enough, and it's the only one the City Pass covers.   If you haven't decided to buy the pass...just my opinion here, I know people buy it and feel like they got a great deal, but I would not. You have such a limited time to use it, and a limited list of things it covers. It looks like kind of a forced march to cram it all in, and at least personally, I would end up doing a couple of things I really wanted to do and a few more that were just meh, because I'd paid for them already. I would rather set my own agenda based on my own interests, without feeling the need to maximize the benefits of the pass.   If you don't buy the pass (or even if you do, if it leaves you the time), I would definitely take the ferry to Bainbridge. It's far cheaper to walk on the ferry than to take an Argosy cruise, and every bit as scenic. You can get off on the other end and walk up into Winslow (10-15 minute walk up a small hill) and have lunch ( Streamliner Diner , Blackbird Bakery , and the Harbour Public House are all highly recommended), or an ice cream at Mora , or do some shopping before you head back. Or grab a cab or a bus from the ferry dock and visit the Bloedel Reserve , a gorgeous public garden with lovely paths throughout.   Argosy cruises are for tourists--the ferries are real deal Seattle. If getting a true feel for the place is a priority, take the ferry.

You hit the nail on the head here. Thanks so much.

"I would end up doing a couple of things I really wanted to do and a few more that were just meh, because I'd paid for them already. I would rather set my own agenda based on my own interests, without feeling the need to maximize the benefits of the pass."

That's exactly what I was trying to figure out. Thank you so much for your input.

And Gardyloo - thanks for the pix!

You hit the nail on the head here. Thanks so much. "I would end up doing a couple of things I really wanted to do and a few more that were just meh, because I'd paid for them already. I would rather set my own agenda based on my own interests, without feeling the need to maximize the benefits of the pass." That's exactly what I was trying to figure out. Thank you so much for your input. And Gardyloo - thanks for the pix!

You're most welcome!

3,000+ Club

If you do the Argosy trip sit on the starboard side as they travel counterclockwise and your views will be better. We've done it and thought it was good but would probably not do it again.

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in

  • Welcome to Cruise Critic
  • New Cruisers
  • Cruise Lines “A – O”
  • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
  • River Cruising
  • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
  • Special Interest Cruising
  • Cruise Discussion Topics
  • UK Cruising
  • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
  • Canadian Cruisers
  • North American Homeports
  • Ports of Call
  • Cruise Conversations

Announcements

  • New to Cruise Critic? Join our Community!

Features & News

LauraS

LauraS · Started Yesterday at 09:31 PM

LauraS · Started Yesterday at 07:54 PM

LauraS · Started Yesterday at 04:18 PM

LauraS · Started Yesterday at 12:04 PM

LauraS · Started Thursday at 08:15 PM

Screenshot_20180522-184800_Prime Photos.jpg

  • Existing user? Sign In
  • Find Your Roll Call
  • Meet & Mingle
  • Community Help Center
  • All Activity
  • Member Photo Albums
  • Meet & Mingle Photos
  • Favorite Cruise Memories
  • Cruise Food Photos
  • Cruise Ship Photos
  • Ports of Call Photos
  • Towel Animal Photos
  • Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos
  • Write a Review
  • Live Cruise Reports
  • Member Cruise Reviews
  • Create New...

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

argosy harbor cruise review

  • Parking & Directions
  • (888) 623-1445
  • Harbor Cruise and Sky Views
  • Deals & Combos

See Seattle from Sea & Sky

Combo Ticket Prices 

Adult: $51.73 Youth: $35.20

See Seattle from sea and sky with this one of a kind ticket opportunity. Receive discounted admission to both Argosy Cruises and the Sky View Observatory with the Harbor Cruise and Sky Views Combo ticket. Cruise the Seattle harbor and experience the tallest public observatory in the Pacific Northwest!

Redeem Skyview Voucher

Sky View Observatory

Take in the glory of the Pacific Northwest from the city’s highest peak. Get whisked up 73 stories in only 70 seconds! This attraction is open select days, please view the current schedule.

  • Receive an immersive elevator experience
  • At 902 feet to witness unobstructed panoramic views
  • Natural beauty from the Olympics to the Cascades, Mt Baker or Rainier and the San Juans
  • See Seattle in its entirety including our stadiums, shipping port, and skyscrapers
  • Head to the Skyview Café & Bar to enjoy some refreshments with an amazing view

Argosy Cruises Harbor Cruise

Seattle’s Original Harbor Cruise™ is a 1 hour, fully narrated tour around Elliott Bay and offers fun, unique facts about the Emerald City. Departs daily from Pier 55.

  • Enjoy front-row seats to views of the ever-evolving Emerald City skyline
  • Great photo ops of the surrounding Olympic and Cascade Mountain ranges – plus Mt. Rainier
  • Up-close look of one of the West Coast’s busiest shipping ports
  • Full-service bar includes specialty cocktails, beer & wine, non-alcoholic beverages, and snacks

*Price is pre-tax and excludes a web transaction fee. Prices are in US Dollars (USD). For a detailed breakdown, visit our Fees Overview page.

Redemption Details for an Argosy Cruise

Reserve your seat on the 1-hour Harbor Cruise if you purchased your combo with Sky View! Your voucher code can be found in the confirmation email. Pick your preferred date and time to cruise, select the number of guests, then enter the unique redemption code for each guest before checkout – this code starts with SKY .

Redemption Details for Skyview Observatory

Show this confirmation email in person at Sky View Observatory to receive your timed entry ticket. For hours and directions visit SkyViewObservatory.com .

Combo ticket valid thru 1/31/2024

IMAGES

  1. THINGS TO DO IN SEATTLE: GO ON AN ARGOSY CRUISE IN SEATTLE

    argosy harbor cruise review

  2. Argosy Cruises

    argosy harbor cruise review

  3. Argosy Harbor Cruise

    argosy harbor cruise review

  4. Argosy Cruises harbor tour, a fun way to go sightseeing in Seattle

    argosy harbor cruise review

  5. Argosy Seattle Harbor Cruise

    argosy harbor cruise review

  6. Seattle Boat Tours & Events

    argosy harbor cruise review

VIDEO

  1. Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour Seattle, Washington 4

  2. Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour Seattle, Washington 2

  3. Argosy Cruise Tour

  4. Argosy cruise 🚢

  5. 🚢🚢view from water Argosy cruise ship Seattle

  6. Argosy Christmas Cruise 11/27 2021

COMMENTS

  1. Argosy Cruises

    Enjoy a narrated sightseeing tour - Runs Daily Harbor Cruise (1-hr) of Elliott Bay. Learn Seattle history, be dazzled by the Emerald City skyline, explore the workings of our shipping port, get a close-up view of Seattle's historic waterfront, and enjoy Seattle's natural beauty with mountains and city views. One-Way Locks Cruise (2-hrs ...

  2. ARGOSY CRUISES

    Specialties: Argosy Cruises offers narrated sightseeing cruises in and around Seattle, private charters, & special events. Sightseeing cruises from this location: Harbor Cruise - 1 hr, from Pier 55. Learn Seattle history, be dazzled by the skyline, explore the workings of our shipping port, get up-close views of the waterfront. Locks Cruise - 2 hrs, departing from Pier 54 and AGC Marina. Be ...

  3. Harbor Cruise is Worth It

    Review of Argosy Cruises - Seattle Waterfront. Reviewed November 17, 2016 via mobile. This was a fun way to see parts of the harbor, complete with a tour guide! The guy who was our tour guide explained everything we saw, provided fun facts & trivia, and shared some history. The tour guide uses a microphone and is clearly audible.

  4. A Great Harbor Tour

    This is a fun boat tour, meeting at Lake Union and traveling through the locks into the Puget Sound and finishing in Elliot Bay. The crew was excellent, very helpful and knowledgeable. Lars was a standout for his knowledge of history, restaurant recommendations, places to visit, local trivia. The highlight is actually going through the locks.

  5. Everything you need to know about Argosy Harbor Cruises in Seattle

    Argosy Locks Cruise: A 2-hour, one-way tour which links the saltwater of Puget Sound with the fresh water of Lake Union via the historic Hiram M. Chittenden Locks. Live historical narration gives you the background story of Seattle's amazing waterways. Plus, the exciting experience of passing through the locking system.

  6. Argosy Cruises

    Book your tickets online for Argosy Cruises - Seattle Waterfront, Seattle: See 4,940 reviews, articles, and 1,220 photos of Argosy Cruises - Seattle Waterfront, ranked No.764 on Tripadvisor among 764 attractions in Seattle. ... Enjoy a narrated sightseeing tour - Runs Daily Harbor Cruise (1-hr) of Elliott Bay. Learn Seattle history, be dazzled ...

  7. Argosy Cruises Review

    The CityPass grants you access to 5 attractions in Seattle for the price of 3, including a day/night pass at the Space Needle, admission to the Seattle Aquarium, and your choice of 3 more activities between a harbor tour with Argosy Cruises, admission to the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP), the Chihuly Garden and Glass, or the Woodland Park Zoo.

  8. ARGOSY CRUISES

    Specialties: Argosy Cruises offers narrated sightseeing cruises in and around Seattle, private charters, & special events. Sightseeing cruises from this location: Harbor Cruise - 1 hr, from Pier 55. Learn Seattle history, be dazzled by the skyline, explore the workings of our shipping port, get up-close views of the waterfront. Locks Cruise - 2 hrs, departing from Pier 54 and AGC Marina. Be ...

  9. Harbor Cruise of Seattle Waterfront

    Seattle's Original Harbor Cruise™. A Harbor Cruise is a unique and fun way to enjoy Seattle from the water! During this 1-hour narrated cruise, you'll see all of the beauty and history of the Emerald City. From the skyline to the shipping port, there's views and history everyone will enjoy.

  10. ARGOSY CRUISES

    Specialties: Argosy Cruises offers narrated sightseeing cruises in and around Seattle, private charters, & special events. Sightseeing cruises from this location: Harbor Cruise - 1 hr, from Pier 55. Learn Seattle history, be dazzled by the skyline, explore the workings of our shipping port, get up-close views of the waterfront. Locks Cruise - 2 hrs, departing from Pier 54 and AGC Marina. Be ...

  11. Harbor Cruise

    Review of: Seattle Harbor Cruise. This harbor tour fully met our expectations. The top deck is where you really want to be; however, it does get a bit windy up there so hold on to anything that might blow away. Unfortunately I lost the name of the young man who provided the narration on board as we moved along the shore.

  12. Seattle Harbor and Elliot Bay Narrated Cruise 2024

    Day Cruises in Seattle: Check out 1575 reviews and photos of Viator's Seattle Harbor Cruise. a Tripadvisor company Top Seattle activities. Explore by category. Art & Culture ... Argosy Cruises Main marina location/reservation center is located at Pier 55 on the Seattle waterfront. Address: 1101 Alaskan Way, Seattle WA 98101

  13. Argosy Cruises Locks and Seattle Harbor Cruise

    Let's start with the Argosy Cruises tour that takes you under bridges and through the Ballard Locks. For this cruise, your tour either starts on the Seattle Waterfront or in South Lake Union and both are great areas to get an idea of how locals might also spend a day in our city. On the Seattle Waterfront you have easy access to Pike Place ...

  14. Seattle: Harbor Cruise with Live Narration

    Full description. Admire the beauty of Seattle's vibrant and historic harbor on this narrated cruise. Enjoy the fresh air and a bit of history while taking in all the impressive sights, including the famous Space Needle. Start your tour from the Seattle Central Waterfront and get an impressive and comprehensive look at the city's most beautiful ...

  15. ARGOSY CRUISES

    Argosy Cruises - Lake Union. 4.5. 306 reviews. #8 of 97 Boat Tours & Water Sports in Seattle. Boat Tours. Closed now. 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM.

  16. Argosy Cruises

    Seeing Seattle from the water is a must! Enjoy a narrated sightseeing tour - Runs Daily Harbor Cruise (1-hr) of Elliott Bay. Learn Seattle history, be dazzled by the Emerald City skyline, explore the workings of our shipping port, get a close-up view of Seattle's historic waterfront, and enjoy Seattle's natural beauty with mountains and city views.

  17. Great experience!

    Argosy Cruises - Seattle Waterfront: Great experience! - See 4,923 traveler reviews, 1,220 candid photos, and great deals for Seattle, WA, at Tripadvisor.

  18. Argosy Cruises Reviews

    5.0. Flexibility. 5.0 out of 5 rating. 5.0. Argosy cruises was absolutely a fantastic wedding venue. Peter worked with us closely to ensure our needs were met, even when we needed to make changes halfway through. He and Jennifer were very responsive, and the crew really made sure the day was special and wonderful.

  19. Seattle

    The Bainbridge boat has equally good skyline and harbor scenery, and ends up somewhere interesting and charming. I'd heartily second all those dining and treat recommendations and add in Restaurant Marché for lunch or dinner. Bremerton takes an hour each way, Bainbridge :35. The Argosy Harbor cruise is pretty meh.

  20. Seattle Boat Tours & Events

    Deals, Special Offers and More. Receive an occasional email update about Argosy Cruises deals, news and special offers. Argosy Cruises offers fun, narrated sightseeing boat tours of Seattle around Elliott Bay and Lake Union. Private charters & events available!

  21. Harbor tour 1 hour

    Argosy Cruises - Seattle Waterfront. Argosy Cruises - Seattle Waterfront. 4,942 Reviews. #4 of 97 Boat Tours & Water Sports in Seattle. Tours, Boat Tours & Water Sports, Outdoor Activities, More. Seattle, WA. Open today: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Save.

  22. Harbor Cruise and Sky Views

    Argosy Cruises Harbor Cruise. Seattle's Original Harbor Cruise™ is a 1 hour, fully narrated tour around Elliott Bay and offers fun, unique facts about the Emerald City. Departs daily from Pier 55. Enjoy front-row seats to views of the ever-evolving Emerald City skyline;

  23. Great views. Great time.

    All reviews locks cruise hour cruise harbor tour great cruise tour guide top deck seattle waterfront ballard locks elliot bay nice tour sea lions puget sound boat ride sunny day space needle narrator crew . ... Argosy_Cruises, Front Office Manager at Argosy Cruises - Seattle Waterfront, responded to this review Responded March 22, 2023.