post cruise day in Seattle
 

We are disembarking from Alaskan cruise on July 7th in am in Seattle. Our flight is very early the next morning. I know airport in 30 min. from downtown. We will have luggage and two kids. Is it worth booking expensive downtown hotel and getting up at 5:00 am to get to airport? Any ideas? Princess offers a tour of Seattle excursion.

Why not get a hotel room near the airport, drop your bags, rent a car and spend the day exploring, then drop the car at the airport that night, take the hotel shuttle back to the hotel and again to the airport the next morning? The cost savings for an airport hotel (compared to downtown) will probably cover the cost of the car.

Another option: Take the cruise line's bus to the airport when you disembark and hop in one of the airport hotel shuttles to get a room and drop your bags. Catch the hotel shuttle back to the airport and then the airport/downtown Seattle bus into town. I think it leaves every 20 minutes and it's not very expensive. Once you rent a car you have to deal with directions and parking in downtown Seattle...very pricey! And there's plenty to do in downtown Seattle for the day. I would go to the Pike Place Market and then ride the ferry to Bainbridge Island and back. You can walk from the market to the ferry terminal.

I've done this ... I took the cruise line transfer and picked up a car at the airport. I stayed in Renton (about s 15 minute ride up the freeway to Downtown Seattle). I got my hotel room through Priceline it was an Extended Stay and was very good and a good price. Renton is also close to the airport :)

Thank you, Thank you; great ideas everyone
If I use the airport/downtown Seattle bus, how easy is it to get around on foot to see a few things?
Should we just plan on Pike Place Mkt. and Bainbridge Island to take up the day?

Once you are in downtown Seattle it is VERY easy to get around on-foot. Metro bus has a *free zone* in the central area, so you can hop on & off. Also riding the monorail and the new Seattle Streetcar are fun. Also taxis.

One day walking around the Pike Place Market, Pioneer Square, the Waterfront, with a ferry ride to Bainbridge and back would nicely fill a day.