Seattle Pelicans - Need Some Logistical Advice Please
 

We are flying into SEA Friday morning and heading out on a cruise Sunday morning. We are staying in downtown Bellevue Fri & Sat nights (lot cheaper for 2 rooms there then downtown Seattle).

Couple of logistical questions since I wasn't planning on renting a car:
1) what's the best option to transport 5 of us with luggage from the airport to the hotel?
2) what's the best option to get from the hotel into downtown Seattle ? We plan on going both Friday afternoon and Saturday so we'll be making a couple of trips.
3) what's the best option to get from the hotel to the cruise dock on Sunday morning ? We can board as early as 9am.

Before I call the hotel and ask thought I'd gather some local opinions.

The only other logistical issue I have right now is the following Sunday. We return to dock and we have to be off the boat by 10am but our flight doesn't leave until 11pm. We plan on spending most of the day in downtown Seattle again and I was going to check with the downtown Marriott (figure my rewards status has to be worth something, right ?) about leaving our luggage with them during the day. I figure whatever transportation works for us in question 1) above will work in reverse getting us back to the SEA.

Thanks in advance for the local advice !

Not sure you are going to save $ being in Bellevue once all your transport cost are figured in. The only option for getting in/out of Seattle from Bellevue is busses or taxi service. That said, the bus system is very good and I would not hesitate to take it. You could hypothetically take the light rail from the airport to downtown, then a bus out to Bellevue, but with all you luggage that would be a PIA.

Have you checked out the Silver Cloud hotels? Nothing fancy, but clean and great locations. The one on Lake Union has nice views, and it central to lots of things. Not too far from the cruise ship docks either (I'm assuming you are going out of the docks at the base of Magnolia).

I have visited Seattle once so I am obviously an expert (HardDrive used to live there I believe).

We hopped on the light rail at the airport that took us to a few blocks from our hotel.

However, We just had a couple of rolling suitcases... the walk from the airport to the light rail isn't bad... but it is not inside the airport either, as I remember we slept our bags through the parking structure to get to the rail station.

We plan on going back and doing the same thing, packing light, airport to rail to accommodation's and no rental car.

I presume going on a cruise you may have multiple bags per person, if that is the case I would not recommend the light rail.

I agree with the hotel price vs. transport costs staying in Bellevue, esp with 5 people, but it's probably too late to change that.

Best option is probably try to get a 5 passenger Uber, though with luggage to airport and the ship you may need two unless you can get a big Suburban scheduled. (Uber can't pick up at the airport, so that's a taxi or hotel shuttle situation)

We live near the airport and took an Alaska cruise last fall and it was $70 to get from here to the ship with one of the booked services, Uber would have been a little less but not pre-scheduled.

Being stuck in Bellevue, there is no light rail, so an Express bus or rental car, or Uber/taxi are really the only options.

After all that rambling, the quick answers:
1.) Hotel shuttle or 2 taxis
2.) Express bus or Uber
3.) Schedule a some sort of big car/van or 2 of them or see if the hotel can arrange something

I'd say you're free to leave luggage at our place, which is <10min from the airport, but that'd probably mean sending someone down here with all of it and then picking it up on the way out, so I'm not sure if that'd be more trouble than it's worth.

Getting back to the airport, light rail if your bags are mobile enough or Uber again are the best options.


*Did I mention our mass transit options kinda suck?

Re-book your rooms to stay near the airport. Take light rail into Seattle to look around and then call ur hotel shuttle to get back to your room during your 2 day stay. If you shop, airport hotels won't cost any more than Bellevue; probably less.......On one of your Seattle days, walk on the ferry to Bremerton or Bainbridge and walk around a few hrs; more to do in Bremerton. Cheap boat ride and a great way to see the city and Mt. Rainier.

IF I still lived closer, I'd pick up your luggage and deliver it to the airport for your flight out....Enjoy Alaska.

Thanks for all the suggestions and offers to help, appreciate both !

I'll look into these ideas tomorrow and figure out what we are doing.

Thanks again ... gotta love the Pelican community !