Do you offer tours and activities before/after cruises?

We offer several options to fit your schedule:

Seattle City Tour: This 2.5 hour tour introduces you to our beautiful city, visiting many can't-miss viewpoints. We'll show you Seattle's birthplace (Alki Point), our historic Pioneer Square, we’ll drive through Seattle’s famous Pike Place Market, provide an extended stop at the Seattle Center (location of the 1962 World's Fair and the Space Needle), and many other highlights of our city.
Click here to learn more on our City Tour page.

Wine Tasting Tour: Washington State's wine industry has flourished over the past several decades, producing wines recognized around the world for excellence and winning many awards competing against well-known California and French wine producers. Our 5-hour Wine Tasting Tour takes you to 4-5 of these award-winning wineries in Woodinville, just east of Seattle. All-day or overnight tours to some of the largest and most famous Washington vineyards in the Yakima Valley and Walla Walla (east of the Cascade Mountains) can also be arranged for your group.
Click here to learn more on our Wine Tour page.

Specialty Tours: Special tours and excursions are limited only by your imagination. Examples include visiting a coffee roasting plant, microbreweries, public gardens, and museums. Been to Seattle before and already seen the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, and Pioneer Square? How about arranging for your group to visit the Ballard Locks and Fish Ladder, or Seattle's famous Museum of Flight.

If you have more time, we'll take your group to Snoqualmie Falls (they're 100 feet higher than Niagara Falls), or to Mt. Rainier. Let us know what you would like to see and we'll do our best to make it happen. Email us or call (425) 981-7000 to speak with a reservation specialist for information and to book your tour.

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Our flight departs mid-day, is there time to take a city tour after our cruise?

We offer a special Post-Cruise City Tour which departs from either of the Seattle Cruise Terminals and lasts about 2.5 hours. Available Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May through October. After the tour, we'll drop you off at SeaTac Airport.

The tour takes you through Pike Place Market, historic Pioneer Square, several viewpoints around Seattle, and the Seattle Center and Space Needle.

An advance reservation for the tour is strongly recommended to ensure a seat is available when your cruise ship returns to Seattle. Please check in with our coordinators at the Cruise Terminal by 9:15 am on the day of your tour (pick up 9:30 am).

Rates
Adult $52 (includes airport transfer fee)
Child (12 and under) $32
Does not include sales tax

To reserve your seat for our Post-Cruise City Tour, or any of our other tours and services, call our Reservation Center at (425) 981-7000.

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Where do we store our luggage during the tour?

For our Post-Cruise City Tour, we will load your luggage in your Tour Van and carry it with us as we travel around Seattle. At the end of your tour, we'll take you directly to SeaTac Airport, where your driver will unload your luggage at the curb near the entrance door closest to your airline on the Departure Level at SeaTac.

If your group would like to explore the Pike Place Market, Seattle Center, Pioneer Square, or the Downtown Shopping District on your own, we can drop you off and arrange to pick you up later in the day to get you to SeaTac Airport in time for your outbound flight. If you would like to do this, plan ahead and have your luggage sent on to the airport (contact your cruise line) because Shuttle Express has no luggage storage capabilities.

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How large are your wine tours?

Our public tours are typically up to 12 guests to ensure a comfortable experience for everyone. Many of the wineries we visit are "boutique" wineries with limited space for tasting, so a smaller group is best.

Our private tours vary from one to 32. Private groups contact wineries themselves, and often make appointments and special arrangements for larger groups.

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How many wineries do you visit?

Typically, our public tour visits 4-5 wineries in an afternoon, spending 30-40 minutes at each, with travel time in between.

If you book a private tour, you are welcome to choose your wineries, or we will help plan your itinerary if you'd like. wineries visited depends upon tour duration and guest preference. Tasting experts recommend visiting no more than 5 wineries, since your taste buds get overwhelmed with too many tastings.

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Do I pay tasting fees?

Our public tasting tours include tasting fees in the per person rate. Private tours do not include tasting fees. Most wineries waive the fee with wine purchases, however.

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What is your cancellation policy for wine tours?

Public Tours: If your plans change and you must cancel your public tour reservation, please let us know at least three days in advance (by Wednesday 12 pm) for 100% refund. If you cancel within three days of your tour, we will give a refund, less a $15 cancellation fee. No shows will be billed 100%.

Private Tours: If you cancel your private tour reservation, please let us know at least three days in advance for a 100% refund. If you cancel within three days of your tour, we will give a refund, less a $15 cancellation fee. If you cancel after your vehicle has been dispatched or are a "no show," you will be billed 100%.

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What vehicles do you use for wine tours?

We use our luxury line of limo vans and coaches for our public tours. Occasionally we use a van or stretch limo, depending upon tour size.

If you book a private tour, you choose the vehicle you'd like -- stretch limo, town car, luxury limo van, luxury limo coach ("party bus"), mini-coach or standard van.

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Where are your pick-up locations for the public tour?

Public Saturday Tours: We pick up in downtown Seattle at the following locations:

11:15

Amtrak Station Seattle, 303 South Jackson St.
Marriott Waterfront - 2100 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98121, guests meet in lobby

11:30

2200 Westlake Lot
2200 Westlake Ave, Seattle, WA 98121, ph # (206) 340-6177 -- guest should wait @ the corner of Westlake & Denny, inside the parking lot

Westlake Center Mall
400 Pine Street, downtown Seattle, WA 98101 -- guests should meet @ the front door on Pine Street side

Seattle Convention Center Tunnel
800 Convention Place, Seattle, WA 98101 -- guests should meet @ tunnel area, which is on the back side where all the buses go.

11:45
Madison Renaissance, 515 Madison Street, Seattle, WA 98104 -- guests meet in lobby

Private Tours: We pick up at your requested location(s) at your requested time.

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I've never taken a wine tour before. What can I expect?

Wine tours are a terrific way to learn about wine and taste a variety of options, while we do the driving! Here are some things to note:

• Please have a hearty meal before your tour. It's important not to taste wine on an empty stomach! We do offer a boxed lunch option if you'd like to have something during the tour. Or, feel free to bring your own lunch, we do have room for small coolers.
• After boarding the luxury coach, it's a 45-minute drive to Woodinville, where we'll stop at 3-4 wineries. We spend about 45 minutes at each winery, tasting several wines at each.
• At the time of booking, each guest is asked to review and sign a short agreement concerning conduct--if a guest drinks too much and causes a disruption, the guide will stop the tour, escort the guest off the coach and call alternate transportion for the guest at his/her expense. Then, the tour will continue. We want everyone to enjoy the tour!
• If you like the wine at a particular winery, you are encouraged to buy their wine! Many wineries will ship your purchases for you if you are from out of town. Your guide will store your purchases in the back of the coach--although in warm weather, this may be too warm for the wine, so shipping is encouraged.

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Should I have lunch before my wine tour?

Yes, please plan to have a good meal before your tour, since it's important not to taste wine on an empty stomach. You can bring your own lunch or snack if you like. We provide bottled water on all tours.

We offer boxed lunches from $10-$15 each, if ordered and purchased at least three days before your tour. Your reservation specialist will take your order. Please choose from the following:

• Bruschetta Chicken sandwich
• California Club sandwich
• Bavarian Ham & Swiss on rye sandwich
• Roast Beef on Ciabatta sandwich
• Vegan wrap with hummus
• Vegetarian Focaccia Margherita sandwich
• Farmer’s Market Salad
• Balsamic Chicken Salad

Sandwich, wrap boxes include: Chips, fresh fruit cup, cookie & bottled water. Salad boxes include:  Roll & butter, fresh fruit cup, cookie & bottled water.

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Can I ship wine to my home?

Yes, many wineries will ship your purchases for you. They are prohibited from shipping to some states, however.

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