Seattle Locks Cruise

CRUISE LENGTH

2 hours · One-way

Departs from

Seattle Waterfront or Lake Union

Detail

Led by Local Guide

See More of Seattle in Just 2 Hours

Experience Seattle from two distinct waterfronts on a scenic two-hour journey through the Ballard Locks, the city’s famous “boat elevator.”

Cruise between Lake Union and the Seattle Waterfront, traveling from freshwater to saltwater or vice versa depending on your departure. Along the way, take in skyline and mountain views, floating homes, seaplanes, commercial fishing vessels and some of Seattle’s most distinctive waterfront neighborhoods.

A live local guide shares stories about the city’s history, landmarks and working waterfront as the scenery changes throughout the route.

Choose the direction that works best for your day, with departures from either Lake Union or the Seattle Waterfront and seasonal return transportation options available.

One Cruise. So Many Sides of Seattle.

Ride through the Ballard Locks: Watch the vessel rise or lower as you travel between the freshwater Ship Canal and saltwater Puget Sound.
See Lake Union up close: Cruise past floating homes, houseboats, marinas and seaplanes taking off and landing on the lake.
Pass beneath Seattle’s bridges: Travel under iconic drawbridges along the Lake Washington Ship Canal and see the city’s infrastructure from the water.
Take in two skyline perspectives: Enjoy views of downtown Seattle from Elliott Bay and a completely different angle from Lake Union.
See Seattle’s working waterfront: Pass fishing vessels, shipyards, tugboats and maritime businesses that remain an active part of the city.
Spot standout landmarks: Look for Discovery Park, Gas Works Park, the Space Needle and other familiar sights along the route.
Hear the stories behind the sights: Enjoy engaging narration from a live, local guide who brings Seattle’s history, neighborhoods and waterways to life.
Cruise comfortably: Choose indoor seating or open-air decks, with drinks and snacks available for purchase.

Please Note: This cruise is a one-way journey, ending at a different location than where you boarded. Be sure to check out our Transportation Tips page for easy return options.

If you or someone in your party needs assistance with boarding/disembarking, please call ahead of your Locks Cruise to let us know.

Plan & Save

Purchase tickets in advance and save! Secure the best price possible by booking ahead and reserving your spot.

Groups of 20 or more: Purchase group tickets (Minimum 20) on the Locks Cruise and save

CityPASS® reservations: First, purchase CityPASS® tickets online for immediate mobile ticket delivery. Next, upgrade your CityPASS® tickets online to reserve your visit date & time and receive your Locks Cruise boarding pass. LEARN MORE about saving up to 47% off a Locks Cruise plus 4 more top Seattle attractions with Seattle CityPASS® tickets.

Amenities

Full-service bar – Sip on local alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages like margaritas (Please, no outside drink permitted)
Variety of local snacks – Purchase from a menu of delicious pre-packaged sandwiches, salads and snacks (Please, no outside food permitted)
Indoor seating/Outdoor space – Whether you enjoy the breeze through your hair or like to stay cozy, you have the choice of indoor seating or the spacious outdoors
Restrooms – All of our vessels are equipped with gender specific, gender neutral or single stall restrooms
ADA accessibility – Our crew is trained to help guests with wheelchairs, strollers, scooters, etc. to navigate our docks, vessels and facilities. For specific ADA questions, please call our office at 206.623.1445

Departure Information

The Locks Cruise is a one-way journey that departs from the Seattle Waterfront or the AGC Marina in South Lake Union. The departure location is noted in the subtitle of the cruise or please check your confirmation email for location and address.

Parking Info

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

Cruise route is approximate and can change based on each sailing’s weather patterns, vessel traffic, and other non-predictable factors, and based on our experienced captains’ discretion. Seating on board our vessels is first-come, first-served and will begin 20 minutes prior to departure. Vessel available on the day of your sailing may vary.

No outside food or drink allowed onboard.

Hiram M. Chittenden Locks

Seattle Skyline

Gas Works Park

Floating Home Communities

Ballard Bridge

Fremont Bridge

Seattle CityPASS® saves up to 47% on admission to Seattle’s top 5 attractions, including a Harbor Cruise. Upgrade to a Locks Cruise by buying CityPASS tickets, then return to redeem your upgrade.

Combo Tickets

Have plans for more than just a cruise? Combo tickets are a great way to enhance your trip with additional sights.

Groups

Traveling or visiting with a larger crew? We got you! Experience Seattle altogether on one of our public sightseeing cruises.

Plan & Save

Purchase tickets in advance and save! Secure the best price possible by booking ahead and reserving your spot.

      
 Excellent4.79329 reviews
 4.7
 Excellent9329 reviews
  Write a review 
 
 
 
    
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Marsha Amraen 
 1 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Very informative tour guide.  We learned alot about Seattle.
Highly recommend..
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Zoë Lawrenson 
 2 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. +1
Excellent cruise, we really enjoyed it and had a great guide. The warm adult ciders with local spirits were a great addition a slightly chilly day so we could still be outside / in seat service was great. Views were pretty and guide was knowledgeable.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Flower Le 
 4 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Crew and captain explained everything so well. Nate, our guide, was excellent! It was a short trip, but I learned a lot about the history of Seattle. I would definitely recommend for anyone visiting the city for the first time!
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Arslan Akhtar 
 4 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. +4
Simply amazing tour of Seattle from the sea. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and pointed everything that you would want to learn about. I would definitely recommend the one hour tour. The boat was very large and comfortable.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   David Schexnayder 
 5 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. +12
A glorious day in and around the city and the bay, with perfect weather and views of the skyline.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Kendra Brumley 
 5 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had an amazing time on this boat tour! Our host was the perfect mix of fun, engaging, and incredibly knowledgeable. You could tell they genuinely enjoyed sharing the history and interesting facts about Seattle, and they kept everyone entertained the entire time.

The tour struck a great balance between sightseeing, local history, and the classic tourist experience. We saw beautiful scenery, learned a ton, and had a lot of laughs along the way. Highly recommend for both first-time visitors and locals looking to see the city from a different perspective!
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Keith Bellamy 
 7 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The tour was interesting and informative!  All crew members were very welcoming and delightful!  The ship was very clean and well maintained!  It also gives you a different view and perspective of the city!  I would strongly recommend to anyone.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Maria T 
 7 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. +0
While visiting Seattle before our Alaska Cruise we decided on this attraction. We were blessed with a beautiful sunny day which is rare in this city. The waterfront cruise was relaxing and the tour guide was very informative. Highly recommend and is only an hours and there are beautiful views.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Mike Hughes 
 7 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I loved my 1 hour cruise.  Beautiful scenery.  Information provided by "Mike" was interesting and entertaining.  Having the option of indoor and on deck seating was great.  I highly recommend!
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Elisabeth Emptaz 
 8 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We did the locks tour and enjoyed a lot the variety of landscapes, the pace and even more Elle's great explanations and stories.
  
 
 
  
 
 
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