There are no shops at the terminal itself. The nearest grocery and pharmacy options are the QFC on Dravus St in Interbay (5 min drive) and Walgreens on Denny Way. Stock up before you arrive.
Port of Seattle · What to Pack
What to Pack for Port of Seattle
The complete cruise packing checklist. Every essential item with explanations — so you don't forget anything for your cruise from Port of Seattle.
Provenance: 29 packing items · researched from public reviews and official sources
Packing for a cruise from Port of Seattle
Cruise terminals are not shops. Whatever you forget has to be bought before you reach the curb, so pack the checklist below and use these Port of Seattle notes to plan the last stop on the way in.
Being downtown, you have easy access to shops. Pike Place Market is a 10-minute walk south. There's a Walgreens on 3rd Ave (5 min walk) for any forgotten toiletries or medications. Grab a coffee at any of the dozens of cafes within walking distance.
Forgot something? Stops near Port of Seattle
QFC — Interbay — Full grocery store closest to Pier 91 — snacks, drinks, sunscreen, Dramamine
Walgreens — Denny Way — Pharmacy, toiletries, phone chargers, and last-minute essentials
566 Denny Wy, Seattle, WA 98109
Target — Downtown — Everything last-minute — clothes, sunscreen, snacks, electronics, travel gear
1401 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
USPS — Magnolia — Post office — drop your mail before you sail
3211 W McGraw St, Seattle, WA 98199
The complete cruise packing checklist
Packing for a specific itinerary or wondering what each cruise line actually lets you bring aboard? Read the full cruise packing guide, or jump to the Alaska and Caribbean lists.
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Carry-On Day Bag
Pack these in a bag you keep with you at boarding — your checked luggage won't arrive until 3-4pm
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Swimsuit and flip-flops — Head straight to the pool after boarding
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Phone charger and portable battery — You'll drain your battery exploring and taking photos on Day 1Amazon
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Medications — Both prescription and over-the-counter medicines. Don't risk them being in delayed luggage.
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Passport, or birth certificate plus physical photo ID on a U.S. round trip — A photo ID alone, REAL ID included, is not accepted. Neither is a phone or digital license. Keep these in your carry-on
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Letter from any parent who is not sailing — Royal Caribbean requires a notarized one for a child sailing without a guardian. Bring papers that link different surnames
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Sealed snacks and an empty refillable bottle — Kids get hungry in the boarding line. Carnival and Royal Caribbean allow factory-sealed snacks. Carnival and Norwegian refuse bottled water, and Margaritaville at Sea refuses all outside food and drink
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Change of clothes for each kid — Pool splashes, spilled drinks, cruise ship excitement — be ready
Cruise Essentials
Things that make the whole trip better
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Magnetic hooks (for cabin walls) — Cabin walls are metal — these give you hanging space for hats, lanyards, wet swimsuitsAmazon
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USB multi-port charger (no power strip) — Cabins have 1-2 outlets. Royal Caribbean bans power strips and Celebrity bans extension cords; Carnival allows strips without surge protection — a USB-only charger is safe on every line
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Insulated tumbler — Fill it at the buffet drink station — stays cold by the pool all afternoonAmazon
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Lanyard for cruise card — Your cruise card is your room key, ID, and payment method — keep it around your neckAmazon
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Over-the-door pocket organizer — With three or more in one cabin there is no counter space — the pockets hold toiletries, chargers and sunscreen on the back of the bathroom door
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Pop-up laundry hamper — Folds flat in the suitcase and keeps a week of kids' dirty clothes separate from the clean ones in a cabin with nowhere else to put them
Easy to Forget
The things people buy overpriced at the port gift shop
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Wrinkle release spray — Irons aren't allowed on cruise ships — this saves your formal night outfitAmazon
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Highlighter or pen — For marking up the daily activity schedule — old school but effective
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Small over-the-counter medicine kit — Pain reliever, antacid, anti-diarrheal, cold and allergy tablets, bandages. The onboard shop stocks little of this and the medical center charges for a visit — the pharmacy at home is where it costs a few dollars
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Small battery clock — Many cabins no longer have a bedside clock, and an interior cabin at 3am is too dark to find a phone
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Small whiteboard for cabin door — Leave messages for teens: 'We're at the pool deck' — most cabins don't have cell serviceAmazon
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Children's medicines (their usual brand and flavor) — Ships rarely sell children's formulas at all, and a feverish kid at midnight is not the moment to discover that
Alaska Weather
Seattle is the homeport for Alaska sailings — the Inside Passage stays cool and often wet even in July and August
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Waterproof rain shell — Seattle's port-day forecast is rain more often than not, even at the height of summer
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Packable fleece or warm layer — Alaska sailings run cool on deck even on a mild day in the terminal
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Warm hat and gloves — Glacier viewing and early morning excursions get cold fast
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Waterproof shoes — Flip-flops don't work for a wet walk around the pier before boarding
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Binoculars — Wildlife and glacier views reward anyone who brought a pair
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Restaurants, activities, hotels, terminal tips, parking, packing lists, and boarding advice — all in one page.
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