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.
    -…
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

Embark on a scenic cruise to explore the best of Seattle, featuring the iconic Hiram M. Chittenden (Ballard) Locks, a unique ‘boat elevator’ that links Puget Sound with the Lake Washington Ship Canal. As you sail on the saltwater of Puget Sound, marvel at the stunning city skyline and the majestic mountain ranges. Then, navigate through the freshwater…

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
(383 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
T6133jsphyllism
Mar 17, 2026
So fun! Even in chilly drizzle! - So much fun! It was a bit too chilly to stay in the top deck (although we did go up for a bit when we went thru the locks). But even inside it was just fantastic! We loved every minute and the tour guide told us so many interesting and fun facts. It was extra nice to be able to enjoy a beverage and snack from the bar onboard. A lovely day with family and I highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Elizabethmf7200bj
Feb 22, 2026
The Locks Tour - Took this tour on a very cold, blustery February weekday. Plenty of room to move around the boat, inside and outside spaces. Captain and narrator/deck hand did an excellent job of navigating through Elliott Bay, through the locks and into Lake Union. Very interesting to watch the process of passing through the locks as a small vessel and also watching two commercial vessels in the large lock next to us. We have been to Seattle many times and enjoyed the harbor portion of this tour as we headed north to the locks. Good history from the narrator and we learned a lot about the area. A nice combination of harbor, history, locks and lake views. Would recommend on your next trip to Seattle!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Vickiebypass
Oct 18, 2025
Worth the Price - Really enjoyed the Seattle Locks Cruise! Informative commentary; lots to see on both sides of the boat; going through the Ballard Locks was a highlight - fascinating to see the process up close. Food/beverages sold on board are expensive but you can't bring any on board.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Happiness49081929110
Oct 15, 2025
Well worth it. - Good boat, grest narration, good variety of snacks and beverage. Interesting sights. Yes, I recommend for young and old alike
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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
Mary_c
Nov 8, 2025
Good tour - Very interesting. It was a good tour. The only thing that got it 4 stars, was the two different locations.
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 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).