(ID 297249781 | Pier 66 Seattle © Elenic | Dreamstime.com)

I will be upfront – accommodations in Seattle are expensive. It hasn’t quite reached New York/San Francisco levels, but it’s getting close.  Having been here about a half-dozen times over the past 15 years, I can say with some authority that this is general trend, and there doesn’t seem to be an off-season where travelers can take advantage of discounted rates.  

Part of the reason why Seattle has such elevated costs is its base for cruises to Alaska during the summer months, along with Vancouver, BC. Since the window here is relatively short (just about five months), the demand rises and supply falls accordingly. Even when the sailing is done for the year, the city still has plenty of events during the non-cruise months that keep that curve on the high end. And that applies to hotels and rentals.

This year, I don’t have any plans to cruise to Alaska (I may go in summer 2027, but that’s not confirmed yet). But if I were to do a pre-cruise stay in Seattle, I would probably choose one of these hotels, especially if I secured a good rate, which is hard but not impossible to do. Here are the five I would go for in the Emerald City before I would sail (four at which I have stayed)

Seattle Marriott Waterfront

This is one of the closest hotels to Pier 66, which is where Norwegian Cruise Line and Oceania dock, with a fantastic central location that’s across the way from the Seattle Aquarium and Great Wheel. Popular attractions such as Pike Place Market and Seattle Center are close by. The rooms, which have recently been renovated, fittingly have nautical décor. And it's across the street from one of my favorite pathways.

I only stayed here one night, and the one thing I didn’t like about it was the noise. Because it’s on the busy waterfront, there’s always a lot of traffic on the road separating the hotel and the shoreline, as well as a train line on the other side of the building. But like other flagship city Marriott hotels, Seattle’s has plenty of amenities and perks that make it both comfortable and convenient stay. Just bring your best earplugs.

Hyatt House

While this hotel is about a five-minute drive and a 20-minute walk to Pier 66 and a 10-minute drive to Pier 91, you can’t get any closer to the Space Needle unless you were camped beneath it. That means you can also see Chihuly, Museum of Pop Culture, the Pacific Science Center, the Children’s Museum and Climate Pledge Arena, which are all part of Seattle Center. It’s also close to the Monorail, which is a short ride that heads to the downtown Westlake Center.

The hotel itself offers spacious rooms with extended-stay features like a full-size kitchen in case you would like to stay longer before or after your cruise. Most are standard rooms, but there are also suites and one-bedroom options. If you’re not wanting to prepare your own meals, they serve a daily full breakfast and have a bar with food selections and a convenience store with snacks and quick-serve items.

Edgewater

Perhaps the most famous fact about this luxury hotel, which is on a pier and directly over the Puget Sound water, is the Beatles stayed here in the mid-1960s. Local photographers captured them fishing from an open window from one of their rooms. It’s also one of the two hotels on this list that I haven’t yet stayed at (but I’d like to). While the hotel has been around for decades, it looks modern and refreshed, and it’s one of the city’s most coveted stays.

You can essentially walk from the hotel to the Pier 66 since it’s less than a quarter mile point to point. At the hotel, there are city view rooms, over-water rooms and suites, all of which are light and bright in their appearance. The hotel also has the Six-Seven Restaurant and Lounge (named after the pier, not the trendy kid-oriented hand and arm gesture), as well as a coffee shop. But since you’re at the heart of the waterfront, plenty of other dining options are readily available.

Mediterranean Inn

Of all the hotels here, this distinctive lemon-hued five story in the Queen Anne neighborhood could be consider a boutique property. Like the Hyatt House, it’s close to the Seattle Center and all its attractions and is only five blocks from the waterfront and the must-see Olympic Sculpture Park. The surrounding area is also ideal for locally owned restaurants and shops, and if you’re willing to hike a bit, you can see the city’s best view at Kerry Park, a little over a half-mile away.

The rooms, which include king, queen and doubles, have great natural light and kitchenettes for convenient meal options. Each have windows that open so you can let breezes cool your room, but there’s also air conditioning and heating. Other hotel amenities include a fitness center, garage parking, loaner bikes with locks and (my favorite feature) a rooftop seating area which has superb city and Puget Sound views. The cruise ports are equidistant from the hotel.

Homewood Suites

My family and I have stayed twice at this extended-stay hotel, which is close to both Pier 91 and Pier 66. A pedestrian overpass takes you to the waterfront, which is a three-park two-mile long greenbelt going from Olympic Sculpture Park to Pier 91. It’s a welcome and quiet alternative to the boisterous and frenetic touristy spots further south and ideal if you want to take a run or walk outdoors.

One reason I like Homewood and its sister Hilton property Embassy are the two-room suites that allow for larger space. Each of them also serves a hot, made-to-order breakfast and a late-afternoon happy hour. The difference with Homewood is their rooms have full kitchens versus the efficiency setup with Embassy. The Seattle property is located just off a busy street, surrounded by a tranquil residential neighborhood.