Seattle Travel Memories:
The Most Unforgettable Experience with Argosy Cruises Locks Cruise
If the Space Needle offers a view of Seattle from above, then taking the Argosy Cruises is a way to see Seattle from Lake Union and Elliott Bay. The landscapes and views presented by these two experiences are entirely different, each with its own unique charm. If you have enough time, I recommend trying both. The Seattle CityPASS includes these two attractions.
However, since I wasn't particularly interested in the other three attractions included in the Seattle CityPASS and didn't have much extra time, I decided not to purchase the pass. Instead, I bought individual tickets for each attraction. Argosy Cruises offers several different route options, including the 1-hour Seattle’s Original Harbor Cruise, the 1.5-hour Summer Views Cruise, and the 2-hour Locks Cruise. I personally recommend the 2-hour Locks Cruise, as it provides a more comprehensive experience if you have enough time. This route also allows you to experience the Ballard (Hiram M. Chittenden) Locks. Passing through the Ballard Locks is somewhat reminiscent of cruise ships passing through canals—like a boat elevator, the locks raise or lower the vessel from one level to another, allowing it to pass through areas of differing water levels.
Argosy Cruises Locks Cruise has two boarding locations. I boarded at the AGC of Washington dock on Lake Union, while the other boarding point is at Argosy Cruises - Seattle Waterfront, near Pier 55. The Seattle Waterfront boarding point is also very close to the Seattle Great Wheel. When purchasing your tickets, be sure to double-check the boarding information and confirm the location so you don’t end up at the wrong place.
From here, the route enters the locks, marking the moment when the captain's skills are truly put to the test. The locks can only accommodate vessels up to a certain size, such as our cruise boat or local yachts. Large cruise ships are unable to pass through these locks, which connect Lake Union with the harbor.
On the shore, many tourists stop to watch the process of boats passing through the locks! Most people haven't seen this type of transit before and are unfamiliar with how a boat elevator works.
The width of the cruise boat was already at the maximum width of the locks, leaving very little space between the boat and the walls. At that time, a small speedboat also followed through the locks with us!
Once the boat enters the locks, the doors on both sides close, and the water level inside the lock is adjusted to accommodate the height difference of the water surface.
Seeing Seattle from Elliott Bay is a great experience, and the narration throughout the 2-hour cruise makes the journey engaging and informative. The shorter 1-hour cruise only covers the harbor, so the Ballard (Hiram M. Chittenden) Locks definitely add more to the experience. If you disembark at the Seattle Waterfront location, you’ll be close to the waterfront area, downtown, and Pike Place Market, making it easy to explore further.
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