Enjoy beautiful views of Seattle from the water on this relaxing cruise along the Ballard Locks, connecting Puget Sound, Lake Union and Lake Washington. Watch a parade of sailboats, tugboats and yachts passing through the complex Seattle locks system, and snap photos of the stunning city skyline and surrounding mountains. You'll also pass the floating houseboat community famously featured in the film 'Sleepless in Seattle.'
Your Seattle locks cruise departs from Pier 56 on the Seattle Central Waterfront. After hopping on the boat, cruise out along the Ballard Locks, formally the Hiram M Chittenden Locks, built in 1911 to provide a link for boats between the salt water of Puget Sound and the fresh water of the Ship Canal, which connects to Lake Union and Lake Washington.
Learn about the complex locks system from the live onboard commentary. You'll be treated with views of the stunning Seattle skyline, Elliot Bay, Puget Sound, Lake Union, Lake Washington, the surrounding mountains and a parade of sailboats, motorboats, tugboats, barges and yachts passing through the locks. Watch as the locks' water levels are adjusted to allow their safe passage, and spot the fish ladder, built to allow salmon to pass between the fresh water and salt water.
You'll also cruise past the iconic floating houseboat community that was featured in the movie Sleepless in Seattle. Take advantage of great photo opportunities here.When you disembark the cruise, you'll be taken back to Pier 56 by coach.
Great way to spend part of an afternoon. We really enjoyed this tour! Our guide was very informative and it was a great way to see Seattle. We loved seeing the locks.
Review by: Beverly B, November 2017
Fascinating
Review by: myrle h, November 2017
I think the tour was wonderful. Personnel good. Seattle is a beautiful city.
Review by: Sean O, October 2017
The ad was misleading, saying that we would see Lake Washington and Lake Union on a two and a half hour cruise leaving from Pier 55. We got there and were asked to board a bus that drove us to Lake Union. Then the tour went straight out the locks and around to Pier 55. The tour was nice but since the main reason for buying this package was to see Husky stadium from the water it turned out to be a bust for me and my out of town guest.
Review by: Edward B, October 2017
Really worth it.....great views ot Seattle and surrounding area from the water
Review by: Richard S, October 2017
Nice way to spend a few hours and see Seattle from the water. The boat was clean and comfortable. The narration during the trip was excellent. The locks were very cool, glad we got to experience them. The Sleepless in Seattle houseboat community was really interesting to see. I would absolutely recommend this tour.
Review by: bhh522, October 2017
Of all the tours in Seattle, this is one of the very best. The scenery is spectacular and the guide_br/_ is terrific. It was highly educational and the guide could not have been better. There were probably_br/_ 35-50 people on this boat, but it never seemed like you were crowded, and the length of the tour_br/_ was somewhere in the 3 hour range which was perfect. I highly recommend this tour!
Review by: Anna D, October 2017
The Panama Canal is on my bucket list. If I don't make it, I've now done the next best thing! It was so much fun seeing one gate close and the other open. I ran back and forth so as not to miss anything. Good narrative too.
Review by: Barbara D, October 2017
I took my 2 adult daughters on the Chittenham Locks cruise, 2 1/2 hours of education and entertainment, for our annual Girls Weekend! It was delightful. First of all the Seattle weather was at it's best! The boarding was efficient and on time. Seating was available for everyone on board. The food service was well designed and seemed to go on without a hitch. Cocktails were available making the cruise even more fun. The young woman doing the commentary had a clear voice and was easy to understand. She was extremely well versed in the views of the Seattle waterfront and about the history of the Locks which was celebrating it's 100 year anniversary. Our Captain was entertaining. He added to the uniqueness of the cruise by performing an original song which he had composed for the Centennial Celebration of the Locks. He played it twice...once for us a little early as property owners along the beach called for his performance. The second performance was as we proceeded thru the Locks, entertaining all the weekend Locks watchers!We all agreed it was the highlight of our weekend together.
Review by: Keeler225, October 2017
The ships captain set the tone and was very knowledgable and funny too. She started off with great information and then her first mate took over and WOW. What a fantastic tour. Helpful hints from my experience is to make sure you bring a light jacket or sweater no matter what the temp is, because it will be a little chilly. Additionally, we caught a cab to the harbor where we caught the ship. When the cruise was finished, everyone else got on the bus to take them back to where we started but we just walked across to our hotel Lake Union Courtyard Marriott, which was perfect. I would recommend this tour to everyone. Do not miss it! Loved it.
Review by: Valma H, September 2017
Definitely do not miss the Chihuly Glass and Gardens
Review by: Patti H, September 2017
The Locks cruise was amazing! My husband and I had no idea what the locks were all about so it was educational too. Loved seeing the tug boats, yachts and the floating houses. Truly amazing ride.
Review by: Mary Y, September 2017
This was a very good and educational tour. Would recommend to others
Review by: Charlotte F, September 2017
Really enjoyed the tour. Going through the Locks was fascinating!
Review by: Dale S, September 2017
Nice way to experience the locks as well as getting to see the community of boat homes. Was a beautiful day and relaxing trip.
Review by: David G, September 2017
Excellent and informative Seattle waterfront tour.
Review by: Connie C, September 2017
This was my first time in Seattle and I would highly recommend taking this short cruise. It was a beautiful day and the tour was just enough time to experience the city from the boat. Don't be afraid to walk around the boat and take lots of pictures. You catch a bus and it takes you to the dock where the boat is. It was fun talking to people on the boat. I flew in from DC in the am and took the 3:30 tour that day but I am so glad I could fit this in my business trip. The weather was perfect. interesting to learn about the locks system and see the house boat from the Sleepless in Seattle movie but seeing the lighthouse and the planes landing on the water in front of you was great too. Good view of Mt Rainer and Space Needle too! Worth the money. The tour guide was funny but knowledgeable about the area.
Review by: Roger P, September 2017
It was interesting to sail through the lock, see all the industry and house boats on the water, watch the seaplanes dodge the marine traffic to land on Lake Union. Although it was a good tour it would probably have been the one we missed if we had t cut one of the tours off. Not a necessity but a nice way to spend an afternoon in Seattle on a hot day.
Review by: Sheila E, September 2017
We completely enjoyed this tour. Very educational and relaxing.
Review by: Mildred N, September 2017
Really enjoyed this cruise the houses on the water, the marinas, the beautiful views. The locks were very interesting. Highly recommend!
Review by: kenheinco, September 2017
Good tour. It was a bad day for us because the weather was cold and rainy, but I would recommend this tour.
Review by: Catherine B, September 2017
lovely day. truly enjoyed it.
Review by: Homer B, September 2017
Interesting and so relaxing! The tour guide was both personable and very informative. Would highly recommend.
Review by: Katherine C, August 2017
Great tour through the locks. Very informative and interesting information about the city, waterways, and surroundings.
Review by: Michael P, August 2017
The weather was perfect and we enjoyed the cruise across the Puget Sound and through the locks to Lake Union and Washington. Kelly did an outstanding job and walked around through the crowd answering as many individual questions as time allowed. The thing we would fix was the directions to the Pier. We thought we had plenty of time for lunch before we got on the boat. But, we couldn't find where the trou started with the directions we were given. I am a former City Planner and we have travelled all over the country and we barely got to the boat in time to board. Hungry, thirsty and exasperated, the crew took good care of us and Samantha delivered a very nice Bloody Mary, which brightened our mood.
Review by: Kathleen S, March 2017
We really did not know what to expect and booked this on a whim to give us something to do the first full day of our trip. It was the perfect way to see Seattle and all the beautiful different districts, not to mention fascinating, to go through Ballard Locks. Our tour guide, Samantha, was fabulous - so friendly, approachable, and informative.
Review by: Nicole K, March 2017
The cruise was terrific. It was well narrated by the host as well as the captain. Informative but also humor added in. Fun way to see so much of Seattle from the water and the Lock was really interesting to see if you haven't seen that before.
Review by: Susan S, February 2017
Very interesting tour with lots of sites and history of Seattle. It was a cold and rainy day, but still glad we went. It was interesting to go through the Ballard locks. Tour guide was friendly and informative.
Review by: Bart C, January 2017
I enjoyed it!
Review by: Katie B, December 2016
Fantastic tour. The perfect way to see so many amazing sites and learn a ton from a wonderful crew. We would do this again. Don and #39;t miss it!!
Review by: Karen A, October 2016
Very knowledgeable guide and friendly staff.
Review by: patti, October 2016
locks tour was great but I would not have brought a groupon....price the same!!!
Review by: Janet B, September 2016
We really enjoyed this trip. Just the perfect length and the narration was excellent. Even the bus trip back to the Pier was great. The driver was great, and we loved the factual narration of his as well. It really added to the trip. If there were anything I would improve, it would be that the on top seating was really squishy. No room to move or manouvre around. Also, the email instructions that we received as to where to exchange our voucher for tickets, and the pier were incorrect, so we ended up getting dropped off at the wrong place by our taxi and having to walk several blocks.
Review by: Bridgette K, September 2016
This cruise started off at the Seattle Waterfront so we had some fabulous views of the city from the Puget Sound before rounding the headland towards the Locks. The locks were interesting and it was fascinating to see how quickly the water level rose in the lock. The cruise then continued on Lake Union where some of The Deadliest Catch vessels were moored, before we were taken by bus back to the Waterfront._br/_ A nice cruise and a good way to exeprience the Locks.
Review by: John P, September 2016
Great trip. Learned a lot about the locks.
Review by: Cindy H, September 2016
Great tour with on a comfortable boat with a friendly and informative crew. The bartender made us tasty cocktails and I appreciated there was kid friendly options and snack for my son. Loved seeing the lock system so close up and the scenery along the entire trip was spectacular. Nice restrooms and well kept. Will do again and recommend to others.
Review by: WENDY R, September 2016
The Seattle Locks Cruise was Fantastic! We enjoyed the 2.5 hour narrated tour and going through the locks. The Seattle Skyline is beautiful and we had a perfect view. I would definitely recommend this tour!
Review by: victorious1_i_am, September 2016
This tour was very informational and fun. Highly recommended.
Review by: David L, September 2016
Very informative, excellent
Review by: lewalker2, September 2016
Excellent trip on the Argosy cruise boat. Our guide was very informative and pointed out a lot of history as you make your way on the 2 hr cruise. Was awesome to actually go through the lock at Ballard locks!
Review by: Christiana B, August 2016
Very interesting with great commentary. We had a wonderful time on the locks tour. Plan to take different tours with this same company next time we are visiting Seattle.
Review by: pkatdoug, August 2016
This is a great way to get a picture of the layout of the land AND it was very relaxing!
Review by: Wayne R, August 2016
Informative.
Review by: Biddle E, August 2016
The tour was pretty good. We arrived early at the pier and were first in line, hoping to get the best seats on the boat. We ended up getting the best seats on the coach that drove us to the boat, but discovered to our dismay that the boat was already nearly full. Needless to say, our seats on the boat were not very good. Would give better than three stars if this had not been the case. What was the point in being early?
Review by: Gary B, August 2016
Great way to see Seattle from the water and learn a little about the area too. Very good guide who was knowledgeable and witty. The locks were very interesting and the bus was waiting for us when we completed the water tour to take us back to the starting point. Good value.
Review by: Robert H, August 2016
Wonderful cruise through the locks. The crew was professional and very helpful, and the tour guide made the experience fun and informative.
Review by: Yvonne W, August 2016
This was a very interesting trip. We enjoyed the narration provided by the crew.
Review by: Richard B, August 2016
Interesting trip including views of houseboats , overall a pleasant way to spend a few hours
Review by: gayle, August 2016
We throughly enjoyed this cruise. The Crew member who was our tour guide pointed out a lot of very interesting points. It was a completely different perspective I'm glad I didn't miss.
Review by: John V, July 2016
Very fun and informative cruise. Beautiful water. Going through the Locks was a fun experience. Narrator did a great job. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
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