Flying home from Seattle after a cruise: the earliest flight to book

Book a flight at 1 p.m. or later if you’re flying home the day your ship returns. An 11 a.m. domestic flight means being at SEA by 9 a.m., which is a tight bet on prompt disembarkation. For an international flight, start your search at 2 p.m. or later.

SEA asks you to arrive at least two hours before a domestic flight or three before an international one. The drive depends on traffic, and it does not include disembarkation or waiting for your ride. Start with the time you must reach SEA, then work backward to the pier.

Ask your cruise line for your disembarkation time and for its plan if the ship arrives late.

Before your last night aboard

Check your ship’s actual return pier through the Port of Seattle cruise page. Pier 66, the Bell Street Cruise Terminal, is at 2225 Alaskan Way and serves Norwegian and Oceania. Pier 91, Smith Cove, is at 2001 West Garfield Street and serves Carnival, Celebrity, Cunard, Holland America, MSC, Princess, Royal Caribbean and Virgin Voyages. Your ride needs the right pier, and the two terminals have different pickup layouts.

Decide whether you’ll carry your own bags off, collect them in the terminal, or use Port Valet. If you’re chasing an early flight, ask your cruise line whether self-assist is available and when you may leave.

Arrange your ride before the final morning. If you bought a cruise line airport transfer, confirm its departure and where to meet. At Pier 91, taxis and airport shuttles use the ground transportation lot near the entrance, and the rideshare lot is separate. Pier 66’s ground transportation lot is directly in front of the terminal. Some cruise lines also run a motor coach straight from SEA to Pier 91, so ask yours.

The Link light rail does not start at either cruise terminal. From Pier 66, allow about six minutes by car to Westlake Station or a 20-minute walk. From Pier 91, the Port puts the car ride to Westlake at about 15 minutes. The Port puts the ride from downtown Seattle to SEA at 38 minutes. Sound Transit’s adult fare is $3 one way. From SeaTac/Airport Station, take the walkway into the north end of garage Level 4 near Alaska Airlines. If you’re carrying bags, the free Train-to-Plane cart runs daily from 5 a.m. to midnight between the station and garage Level 4 near Skybridges 5 and 6. Otherwise, cross the garage to Skybridge 6, which leads into the terminal above baggage claim near Carousel 16.

Port Valet gets your bags to the airline

Port Valet transfers eligible checked bags from your ship to your airline. Enroll online before the cruise or use the form in your cabin early in the sailing. The night before you leave, the crew delivers boarding passes and special bag tags. You tag your checked bags and leave them outside your cabin for collection. Keep your passport, medication, chargers, valuables and anything you need on the trip in your carry-on.

Airline bag fees still apply. The Port lists Alaska, American, Delta, Horizon, JetBlue, Southwest and United, and your cruise line has to take part too. Book a flight that leaves in the afternoon. Domestic and international flights qualify, except Delta flights must be domestic. Ask guest services to confirm eligibility if you have a connection. Local customs rules put Port Valet passengers in the first disembarkation group.

Port Valet does not transport you. If your boarding pass or tags do not arrive, speak to guest services before you set out your bag. You can track bags on the Port Valet website. With Port Valet complete, the Port says you can go straight to security at SEA. Without it, collect your bag in the cruise terminal, clear the exit process, then check the bag with your airline at SEA.

From the pier to your flight

Without Port Valet, collect your bag and pass through U.S. Customs at the cruise terminal. Taxis and rideshares take you to SEA. Once you can leave the pier, compare the time with your SEA arrival target in the table. If that target has passed, contact your airline about your booking while you arrange the ride.

At SEA, the Port says airlines may not accept checked bags more than two to four hours before departure. Confirm your airline’s window if you have a late flight. If you arrive too early, Smarte Carte Baggage Storage is on the baggage claim level, between Carousels 9 and 10. It lists hours of 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, with closures from 11:30 a.m. to noon and 6 to 6:30 p.m. Storage is first come, first served. Oversize items have separate prices, and the price list does not say whether a charge is per day or per stay.

You can use any of SEA’s six regular checkpoints to reach any gate. Checkpoint 1 is on the baggage claim level, closest to the A and S gates. Checkpoints 2 and 3 are also closest to those gates. Checkpoint 4 is closest to the Central Terminal and B and C gates. Checkpoints 5 and 6 sit closest to the C, D and N gates. Pick one that is open at your flight time. Our security wait-time guide shows when lines peak.

The Port’s flight status page gives approximate updates, so confirm your flight with your airline. If your ship or ride runs late enough to miss your SEA arrival target, contact the airline before you reach the airport.

For a later departure, Pier 66 and Pier 91 each list same-day bag storage at the terminal, with pickup by 3 p.m. to avoid a late fee. At Pier 66, the Port places the desk in the Crew Center at the south end of the terminal building. At Pier 91, it places the desk in the Crew Center north of the ground transportation lot. Use this only if you’ll return to the pier for the bag. If you’re eligible, Port Valet lets you spend the gap away from the terminal.

Sources

• Our flights page, transport directory and security checkpoints
• Our luggage storage page, Pier 66 cruise parking, Pier 91 cruise parking and security wait-time guide
• Our Link light rail page
• Port of Seattle’s traveler updates and tips
• Port of Seattle’s cruise page
• Port of Seattle’s cruise transfer guide
• Port of Seattle’s flight status page