Argosy Cruise, Seattle

If you like looking at architecture, particularly homes of the rich and famous, yachts, house boats, water homes, beautiful scenery then this is for you. They narrate during the cruise so it goes by rather quickly.

It is easily accessible by tram or bus.

Warning sitting on the top deck you are subject to seagulls pooping on you. It happened to us. Although it may sound like a long time it really goes by fast. They narrate throughout most of the ride giving the history of Seattle, the native Americans, and pointing out certain sites. The hike around the island is rather long and you will not be able to finish and get back onto the boat on time. The scenery is beautiful. The food is buffet style. You get to watch the salmon being smoked too. It is really good. There is a wood carver who you can talk to, watch, and buy pieces in store . The dance is really short and from what I saw not that great. I went to the bathroom during the performance. The septic system is awful and the smell is dreadful. Despite setbacks I really did enjoy this trip and would go again with someone else.

Take an Argosy cruise to Blake Island and visit Tillicum Village where you can enjoy the fresh salmon dinner and experience the Northwest Coast Native American culture. The meal was really good, and the show was entertaining. I learned a little about the culture of local tribes and the significance of their traditional blankets, dances and masks.

Visit their website at http://www.tillicumvillage.com/index.htm and look for the special pricing. The cruise, dinner, and show usually costs $69 per person, but I got mine for $49 per person.

You also have an hour to visit the beach or hike through the forest after dinner.

There is a company called Argosy Cruises that organizes 1-hour live narrated cruises of Elliott Bay and the Seattle Harbor. A basic cruise is included in the CityPass ticket booklet, and if you don't have this, here are the fees for the cruises. Adults: $12.75, Children (5-12): $6.00. In peak season, the Adult cost sixteen and the child seven. The cruise can be really rewarding if the day is fine, unfortunately I had no option other than Sunday and it was really overcast. Either way, it was still very informative and the skyline looked quite nice out on the water.

You must take an Argosy Cruise when your here. There are several different ones to choose from. They have dinner cruises too, we took a 2 hour day cruise and saw Bill Gates house and the sleepless in seattle house along with some other famous homes along Lake Washington. Very nice and relaxing on the boat, We had a great time.

If you are doing the an Argosy Cruise, try the Locks cruise. The cruise shows you how the locks separate and connect the salt water of Puget Sound and the fresh water of Lake Union via the Hiram Chittenden Locks. You are also treated to views of the city and the "Sleepless in Seattle" houseboat community. After the tour, why not go to the locks and see how they look from above. There is also a locks museum where you can see how the locks work. The cruise is both educational for the kids and beautiful/romantic for you.
This is a picture of us on the cruise. This is when the locks are drained of fresh water and then filled back up with salt water from the other side. Look at the water level!

As the ship went past the shipyard it was amazing to see the barges full of containers from all over the world. We were told that the barges could contain 3 (?) American football fields they were so long!

Views from the Argosy Harbor Cruise are excellent... usually! The day we went it was quite foggy for the first part of the tour, though the views were still interesting. The skyline is gorgeous as are views of the surrounding islands and West Seattle.

This cruise was quite lovely. We had a friend coming from Japan and wanted to show her the sights of Seattle and also a sort of ferry ride. The Argosy Harbor Cruise fit both bills. It is a 1.5 hour cruise around Elliot Bay starting at the piers and making a loop towards Magnolia, Ballard Locks, West Seattle, the shipyard, and then back to the piers.

Though quite cold in February, we really enjoyed our tour. It was rather foggy the day we took the tour though, making it both more and less interesting. Moreso because the skyline took on eerie shapes when blanketed with fog, and less so when the fog was so thick we could not see beyong ten feet.

The ship has both indoor and outdoor areas allowing one to choose between freezing (February) and warm and cozy. We chose the former... although it was a great guided tour just the same.

Fees are as follows for 2005:

Adults
$13.75 (Jan-Mar; Oct-Dec);
$17.25 (April-Sept)

Children (ages 5-12)
$6.25 (Jan-Mar; Oct-Dec);
$7.75 (Apr-Sept)

Groups (6 or more)
15% off regular prices

A great way to see the city is from the water, so get out onto Puget Sound.

We took an hour cruise from Argosy, which was part of our "City Pass"

Nothing like messing about in boats to put you in the holiday mood. Very relaxing with an entertaining but not obtrusive commentary.