Argosy Locks Cruise: Through the Ballard Locks Between Elliott Bay and Lake Union, $56

Argosy Cruises

Locks Cruise with Local Guide

★ 4.8 (97) · from $56

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Prices and timetables checked 2026-10-17. This page contains an affiliate link, explained in the booking section.

The Argosy locks cruise is the only boat in my Seattle data that moves between salt water and fresh water, because it sails through the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, known as the Ballard Locks, on the way between Elliott Bay and Lake Union. It lasts two hours, costs $56 per person, and earns a 4.8 average from 97 GetYourGuide reviews. It is the cheapest boat here per hour, at $28.

The detail that changes the decision is that it is one way. You start at one dock and finish at the other, so you need a plan for getting back, and Argosy sells a return bus only in spring and fall. My Seattle boat tours guide compares the loop cruises that return to their start, and the home page lists other harbors.

What does the Argosy locks cruise show between Elliott Bay and Lake Union?

It shows the working canal behind the postcard skyline: fishing boats, floating homes, the lock chamber and the bridges, with the city in the background at each end.

• Ballard Locks: the boat enters a chamber, the gates close, and the water level rises or falls until it matches the water ahead.
• Floating homes: the itinerary names the Floating Homes Association, on Lake Union.
• Fishermen's Terminal: the base of the fishing fleet, listed on the itinerary.
• Waterfront and lighthouse: the Seattle Waterfront, Pier 91 and West Point Lighthouse appear at the Elliott Bay end.
• Lake Union: Gas Works Park view point, with seaplanes landing and taking off, according to the description.

The live guide narrates throughout. A June 2025 reviewer enjoyed seeing the whole skyline from the lake and bay, and another wished the boat could stop at the park by the West Point lighthouse. The listing sells no landing at any point.

Where does the Argosy locks cruise start and finish?

The Argosy locks cruise starts on the waterfront or at South Lake Union, depending on the option you choose, and ends at the other one.

The listing says the activity has two meeting points and two drop-off points but does not name the dock. Argosy's harbor tours board at Pier 55, and the locks page names the AGC Marina for the lake side. Read your voucher. Boarding starts 20 minutes before departure, with first-come, first-served seating.

What is the route, stop by stop?

The route links the two ends in roughly this order, shown here from the waterfront side, and it reverses if you start at South Lake Union.

The Space Needle also appears in the itinerary as a skyline view. Argosy states that weather, vessel traffic and the captain's judgement can change the route, and that the vessel on the day may differ from the one pictured.

How long is it and how do you get back?

The cruise lasts two hours, and you finish at the opposite dock, so the return is your job.

• Return bus: an optional City Sightseeing return bus add-on is available in spring and fall only, selectable at checkout, per Argosy.
• Otherwise: public transit, rideshare or walking, per the same page.
• Fares: an adult Metro single ride is $3.00 and a Regional Day Pass is $6.00, per King County Metro.

A guest in August reported trouble with the bus ride back, which Argosy resolved. Another guest in June praised the double-decker open-air bus back to the start. The page does not say which dates count as spring or fall, so check at checkout.

What is on board and what is included?

Your ticket covers the sail and live narration, while drinks, snacks and the return trip cost extra.

The listing marks the cruise as wheelchair accessible, and Argosy says its crew help with wheelchairs, strollers and scooters on the docks and the vessel. For ADA questions, Argosy lists 206-623-1445.

How does it compare with Seattle's other boat tours?

It is the longest of Argosy's low-priced sails and the only one that changes water level.

For a first view of the city from the water, the harbor cruise is shorter and loops back. For something the harbor cruise cannot give you, a lock passage and a look at Lake Union, I'd book this one. The hub holds the rest.

Is the Argosy locks cruise worth it against the one-hour harbor cruise?

It is worth it for $13 more if you want to see how Seattle's canal works, but not if you need to return to the start without extra effort.

• For it: $28 per hour, the lowest rate on the list, a lock passage, and houseboats and Fishermen's Terminal that the harbor cruise's itinerary does not list.
• Against it: one-way travel, a return bus only in spring and fall, and only 97 reviews behind the 4.8 score.
• Use case: a rainy afternoon, when the lock chamber and the canal are more interesting than a skyline hidden in cloud.

I would book this over the harbor cruise on a day you are staying near Lake Union or are happy to ride transit back. Otherwise the Argosy harbor cruise is the easier choice.

When is the best time to go?

June to September gives the driest decks, and summer and early fall are when the fish ladder at the locks is at its busiest.

• Fish ladder: Argosy names Chinook, coho and sockeye salmon at the ladder next to the locks, with summer and early fall the popular time to visit.
• Rain: October and November 2025 each had 16 rain days, so pack a rain shell.
• Return bus: only in spring and fall, so a July trip means public transit back.

$8.8 billion was the record visitor spending in Seattle in 2024, with 2.4 million international visitors.

With that many visitors, summer weekends sell out first. Check the National Weather Service Seattle forecast for the day.

What do passengers say?

Passengers praise the guide and the variety of sights, and the repeated problem is the return trip.

• Guides: knowledgeable, with fun facts and stories about Seattle history, in about half of the ten reviews I read.
• Variety: the mix of skyline, locks and canal gets credit for showing more than a loop does.
• Return: one guest had trouble with the bus back, fixed by Argosy; another liked the open-air bus.
• Wish list: a stop at the park by the lighthouse.

The sample I could read is all five-star, dated from September 2024 to August 2026, so it leans positive. Sub-scores are 4.8 for the guide and for transportation and 4.7 for value; no AI summary was available for this listing.

Who should skip the Argosy locks cruise?

Skip it if you want a round trip, cannot manage the return journey, or want wildlife or a meal.

• Round trip: the harbor cruise returns to Pier 55.
• Meals: the dinner cruises seat you at a table.
• Wildlife: the whale watching trips reach orcas.
• Pets: not allowed, apart from assistance dogs.

Boarding opens 20 minutes before departure, so allow 2 hours 20 minutes for the whole outing before the trip back.

How do you book the Argosy locks cruise?

Pick a date and a starting dock on GetYourGuide, then add the return bus at checkout if it is offered for your date.

1. Choose the starting dock that suits your hotel and your journey back.
2. Check whether the return bus add-on is open for your date.
3. Arrive 20 minutes before departure.
4. Bring a layer; locks and lake air are cooler than the street.

Argosy Locks Cruise FAQ

Sources: GetYourGuide listing 317067 (read 2026-10-17); Argosy Cruises Locks Cruise page; Argosy on the Ballard Locks; King County Metro fares; National Weather Service Seattle; Visit Seattle, 2024 visitor data; Open-Meteo and OSRM APIs.