Seattle Locks Cruise: Explore Lake Union and Puget Sound

Embark on a one-way Seattle Locks Cruise to explore Lake Union and downtown Seattle. See famous floating home communities, seaplanes, and historic neighborhoods while passing through the Ballard Locks. Enjoy stunning views of Seattle’s skyline, the Olympic Mountains, and Mt Rainier.

Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Lake Union - Start or finish (depending on your tour direction – refer to your ticket) your cruise at the vibrant southern end of this lake located in the city’s core. Lake Union is a natural water body encircled by urban structures and highways. It’s a favored location for recreational activities such as paddle boarding, kayaking, and boating.
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What's Included
  • Live narration
  • 2-hour sightseeing cruise
  • Interior and exterior seating areas
  • Restrooms available on board
What's Not Included
  • Snacks and beverages (available for purchase)
  • Gratuities
  • Transportation between start and end location (return bus ticket available for purchase seasonally)
Additional Information

Explore the highlights of Seattle on a picturesque cruise through the city’s core, featuring the renowned Hiram M. Chittenden (Ballard) Locks, a ‘boat elevator’ that links Puget Sound with the Lake Washington Ship Canal. While on the saltwater of Puget Sound, admire stunning views of the city skyline and the impressive mountain ranges. Then, smoothly…

Location
Argosy Cruises - Seattle Waterfront
Alaskan Way
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(380 Ratings)
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1 star
David_m
Sep 26, 2025
Superb - A really excellent way to see Lake Union, get out onto the sound and learn more about the history of the bay.
Review provided by Viator
Cathy_h
Sep 22, 2025
Don’t Miss Out! You will have wished you had. - Don’t miss it. Fascinating experience. Sisters and brother in law are from Wisconsin. They felt the Argosy tour through the locks was their highlight of a week long trip in the Seattle area
Review provided by Viator
Shelsouthshore_ma
Sep 18, 2025
Fun Informative Cruise in Seattle - Took the locks cruise on a beautiful September morning from Seattle Waterfront to the Ballard section of Seattle! The narrator was so well versed on the area: the sights, the boats, the locks, the houseboats, the sea planes! We learned so much and saw places you can only see from the water! The ship was nice and clean with a great staff !
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Thomas_h
Sep 18, 2025
It’s a beautiful one way... - It’s a beautiful one way trip and the narrator did an excellent job. There were plenty of chairs outdoors and several inside with good views too.
Review provided by Viator
Yvonnery1834cb
Sep 16, 2025
A Seattle Must Do! - Perfect weather made this experience even better! Highly recommend taking this trip. Enjoyed every moment of what there was to see, along with a great commentary.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kristen_h
Sep 12, 2025
Great tour of the Ballard Locks and Puget Sound for ALL ages! - My mother and I were looking for something interesting to do in Ballard while we visited with my nephew and partner. They had never done the Ballard Locks so they joined us on the tour. We all 4 really enjoyed the scenery, the narration, and even the snacks and drinks aboard the boat. Highly recommend this tour for all ages!
Review provided by Viator
Chelsoi
Sep 7, 2025
So Interesting! - This was a great tour - got to see and learn so much. Getting to experience the Locks by boat was a once in a lifetime experience! Elijah was such a great tour guide and so knowledgeable about the area and excited to share it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rebecca_b
Sep 7, 2025
Locks cruise - Bring a jacket! Cold until you go through the lock and in to lake water. Very good commentary! Enjoyed the whole excursion!
Review provided by Viator
John_k
Sep 6, 2025
Nice boat. Comfortable.... - Nice boat. Comfortable. Roomy. Crew very nice. Safety Paramount concern. Clean and pleasant. Know that you are dropped not where you boarded.
Review provided by Viator
Margaret_o
Sep 29, 2025
Parking confusing and expensive - Boat tour was very good. Information about parking at the Marina was not good. Once I signed up for the tour I wanted info on parking. I called the tour co. and heard a recording that said I’d get more info on the discount for the parking but I couldn’t figure out how to get that info. I ended up just showing up and interacted with a tour worker who didn’t know much about how much of a discount I should get but they provided the steps to get a whole $1 off! This whole parking thing needs to be made explicit. I wasted a lot of time trying to find out about the parking before I got there and had to take a whole lot of time from the worker to get that tiny discount.
Review provided by Viator
From $63
up to 19 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).