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

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
(338 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Jennifer_t
Jul 23, 2025
Highly recommend - Amazing tour. Our guide was so much fun and gave us tons of information about the Seattle area. Would highly recommend.
Review provided by Viator
Sheree_f
Jul 23, 2025
Educational Locks Cruise - Beautiful cruise around bay with knowledgeable staff to explain history of area, point out landmarks and geography, and explain lock system. Beverages and snacks available on board.
Review provided by Viator
Barbara_w
Jul 22, 2025
If going in summer take a... - If going in summer take a hat and be prepared for an awesome tour-the guide was great -telling us about everything we were seeing on both sides of the boat.-Going through the locks was great. We enjoyed this tour.
Review provided by Viator
Yvonne_k
Jul 19, 2025
Best cruise ever - I had a wonderful time and learned so much from the tour about Seattle. Casey gave the best guide and recommendations around town.
Review provided by Viator
Linda
Jul 19, 2025
Argosy Lake Union Tour Incredible day! - The Argosy tour of Lake Union through the locks was awesome! Very clean ship, relaxing & beautiful views. They take you back to Seattle. Then you see spectacular city views & docked cruise ships. Fun times!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Wandering_lovebirds
Jul 19, 2025
- We recently took the Argosy Locks Cruise from Lake Union to Pier 54 and had a fantastic time. The whole experience took about 2 hours and offered some truly unique views of Seattle from the water. Our narrator Elijah was outstanding — friendly, entertaining, and full of interesting info about the city, the locks, and Seattle’s maritime history. He made the ride educational and fun! Samantha, our bartender, was lovely — and her huckleberry lemonade was delicious. It was the perfect drink to sip while relaxing on the boat and taking in the views. One of the most memorable moments was passing through the small lock — it’s like an elevator for boats! Super cool to experience firsthand. We highly recommend this cruise to anyone visiting Seattle or even locals looking for something new!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
378anastasias
Jul 15, 2025
Great way to see scenic Seattle! - The tour was great! We got lucky with great weather. The route is very scenic and the lowering of the ship via locks was really cool. The seating is first come first serve so i recommend arriving WAY early if you want front seats. Although in the end people ended up moving around anyway. All in all it's a good tour to take at least once.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Allan_b
Jul 12, 2025
Very fun and informative - Nice boat, great crew, excellent sightseeing. We saw some amazing boats, marine life and several interesting places seen in movies and tv shows.
Review provided by Viator
Cruiser582418
Jul 8, 2025
Great family tour - This cruise tour was excellent and one you don’t want to miss. We lucked out with great weather on our trip. The guide was wonderful and gave such great details on what we were seeing, as well as historical facts. We took the bus back which was waiting for us when we departed the ship.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Phylliso762
Jul 7, 2025
FANTASTIC Tour of Seattle - This cruise gives you the lay of the land in Seattle; AMAZING views & you'll learn fascinating facts if you're lucky to get Lars as your tour guide! Highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $63
up to 19 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).