Ride the Ballard Locks Between Elliott Bay and Lake Union
A narrated two-hour cruise through Seattle's Ballard Locks that leaves you across town from where you boarded.
Argosy Cruises runs this as a two-hour, one-way trip between Seattle's central waterfront and Lake Union, with a live local guide narrating the route. The boat starts at one end and finishes at the other. Pier 54 on Elliott Bay and AGC Marina on Lake Union are the two ends, and your booking names the one you board at.
On the way, the boat passes through the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, which Seattle mostly calls the Ballard Locks. The listing puts the change in water level at about 20 feet on average, between the freshwater of the Ship Canal and the saltwater of Puget Sound. Coming from Lake Union, you are lowered. Coming from Pier 54, you are raised.
The booking covers the cruise and the live narration, with indoor and outdoor seating and restrooms on board. Snacks and drinks, alcohol included, are sold on board, and Argosy does not allow outside food or drink. Gratuities are extra. Children 3 and under ride free but still need a boarding pass. The trip back to where you started is not part of the booking.
Seattle Locks CruiseA two-hour, one-way narrated cruise between Pier 54 and Lake Union through the Ballard Locks, with indoor and outdoor seating.www.viator.comBetween Saltwater and Freshwater in One Lock Chamber
The Locks are run by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the listing describes the system as more than a century old. On this route the boat makes a single passage through them, which a September 2026 reviewer put plainly: there is only one lock to pass through. Argosy's own description says the boat becomes the attraction for people watching from shore while it rises or drops.
Several reviewers from 2022 to 2026 mention seeing seals or sea lions on the trip. One wrote in September 2026 that near the Locks "there's a good chance of seeing sea lions and seals diving for salmon." Wildlife keeps its own schedule.
Fishing Boats, Floating Homes and Seaplanes on the Fresh Side
Between the Locks and Lake Union the boat runs the Lake Washington Ship Canal. It passes Fishermen's Terminal, where the listing says some of the boats from the show Deadliest Catch have been moored, and goes under the Fremont Bridge, a drawbridge the listing says the boat fits right under.
On Lake Union the floating homes come into view, including the one from the film Sleepless in Seattle. Gas Works Park, a former coal gasification plant that is now a park, sits on the shore. Argosy also lists seaplanes taking off and landing on the lake. On the saltwater side the listing adds Discovery Park, with West Point Lighthouse on its beach, and views back to the Space Needle.
The Day You Pick Sets the Direction
For the rest of 2026, the direction depends on the day. As of October 17, 2026, the booking calendar showed sailings Thursday to Sunday through October 25, at 10:30 AM from Pier 54 and 1:30 PM from Lake Union. From October 29 into late December it drops to one 12:30 PM sailing a day: Thursdays and Saturdays from Pier 54, Fridays and Sundays from Lake Union. Monday to Wednesday has no sailings in that stretch.
Pick by where you want to end up. Starting at Pier 54 leaves you in South Lake Union, where Argosy points guests to the Museum of History and Industry. Starting at Lake Union leaves you on the central waterfront, a few minutes from Pike Place Market. Argosy notes that the route can change with weather, vessel traffic and the captain's call, and that the boat on the day may vary.
Getting Back Is Up to You
Argosy's return bus, run by City Sightseeing, operates April through September only. For the rest of the year, getting back is on you. Several reviewers single out the one-way setup as the thing to know before booking, and a March 2024 reviewer wrote that it was an hour's walk back.
Argosy's transportation page lays out the options. The South Lake Union Streetcar runs between Lake Union Park, a short walk from AGC Marina, and Westlake Center downtown. King County Metro Route 40 runs along Westlake Avenue North near the marina, and Link light rail's Symphony Station is about a 5 to 10 minute walk from Piers 54 and 55. Argosy's own walking route between Pike Place Market and the museum on Lake Union is 1.6 miles. One 2023 family parked at Lake Union and took a rideshare to Pier 54 first, which left the car waiting at the finish.
📍 Waterfront departures check in at Argosy's ticketing on Piers 54 and 55, 1101 Alaskan Way, and the listing names Pier 54 for this cruise. Lake Union departures board at the south end of the AGC Marina parking lot, by the fence along Kenmore Air; Argosy suggests navigating to 950 Westlake Ave N.
- Check in about 30 minutes ahead. Boarding starts 20 minutes before departure, and the gate closes 5 minutes before.
- Seating is first come, first served. A September 2026 reviewer found the indoor seats filled quickly with a large group aboard.
- The listing marks the cruise wheelchair accessible and asks you to call 206-623-1445 ahead to arrange crew help. Argosy's accessibility page says the Pier 54 ramp is 65 feet long and can slope up to 25 degrees at low tide, while the Lake Union dock is flat with steps of up to 9 inches down to some boats. Electric scooters cannot board.
- Service animals only. Bicycles are not allowed on board.
- Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for a full refund.
Pack a light jacket, and head out to the deck when the boat enters the Locks.