Ultimate Guide to the Argosy Christmas Ship: Heartwarming Family Fun

Searching for the best holiday events in Seattle? Try the one-and-only Argosy Christmas Ship!! Bursting with live songs, shining lights, & Santa, it’s something worth looking forward to all year long.

Let’s Explore: Argosy Christmas Ship

What is the Argosy Christmas Ship Festival?

On any given day, you can look out at Elliot Bay and see iconic ferries, fast ferries, and sightseeing boats. Most known for their classic Harbor Cruise, Argosy Cruises provides some of the best tours in Seattle, Washington.

Even as a local, there’s no better way to discover local history than by sailing on the saltwater (some say “ocean”) as you’re hugged by the skyline and the Olympic Mountains.

Roughly between Thanksgiving and Christmas, Argosy Cruises hosts a very special boat tour celebrating the holiday season. For over 70 years, the Christmas Ship Festival has been cherished by the greater Seattle community. This is when the Spirit of Seattle sports lights, Christmas trees, carolers, and even Santa Clause himself. 

But, the fun isn’t limited to the boat. In coordination with Seattle Parks & Recreation, you can also enjoy the 20-minute choir performance from the shore. 

Where is Argosy Cruises located?

The heart of Seattle has always been her waterfront, which is where you’ll find Argosy Cruises. Specifically, Pier 55 – easily walkable to Ivar’s Acres of Clams, the Seattle Great Wheel, and the Seattle Aquarium. 

1101 Alaskan Way Pier 55, Suite 201, 1101 Alaskan Wy, Seattle, WA 98101

Please note that for the Christmas Ship festival departs from multiple locations, including the Kirkland City Dock and Shilshole Marina. If you have a preferred location, you can plan your visit accordingly.

What makes the Argosy Christmas Ship special?

Besides the heart-warming atmosphere and jaw-dropping views of the skyline at night, this event helps the community beyond bolstering holiday spirit. A portion of ticket sales is donated to The Seattle Times Fund for Those in Need. Every year, the fund raises money for Puget Sound organizations like the Salvation Army, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Kent Youth & Family Services. So, sailing on the Christmas Ship helps support the local community. 

Of course, the opportunity for an on-shore experience also makes this event memorable. See the schedule to see which parks are hosting public events. 

What to Pack 

• Winter clothes (See my guide on what to wear in Seattle!!)
• Winter accessories like beanies, gloves, and scarves
• Holiday gear 
• Flat shoes like boots or sneakers
• No outside food or drink

How much do tickets for the Argosy Christmas Ship cost?

We started 2023 with a Harbor Cruise, so it’s fitting that we closed out the year with the Christmas Ship. 

Typically, opening weekend is the most expensive. Then, the base price for our tickets was $74 each. After tickets and fees, our total was $172.05.

After opening weekend, tickets are usually $54 for adults aged 13-64 (before taxes and fees).

Here’s a breakdown of cost by age:

• 65+ years old: $50
• 4-12 years old: $40
• 3 years old and under: free with purchase of an adult ticket 

When is the best time to go?

Take your pick of sailings between Black Friday and December 23. Personally, opening weekend was perfect for us. It got us excited for the holidays (and to put our tree up!!) Plus, the second sailing (8pm) was considerably less booked than ours (5pm) so if you wanted less crowds, that would be possible. 

Although the Argosy Christmas Ship is primarily offered on weekends, there are weekday sailings the week before Christmas. These are also great because you won’t pay the premium for opening weekend.

Lastly, it’s worth mentioning the Parade of Boats. Since it sold out by the end of November in 2023, it’s safe to say that this is the most popular. If you haven’t heard of the event before, it’s a magical, celebratory experience in which many private boats (plus The Spirit of Seattle) line up in Lake Union and sail together to the Fremont Cut.

Sounds fun right?! Don’t worry if tickets are no longer available, because you can join the onshore viewing party at Evanston Plaza. With hot drinks, food trucks, and yummy desserts what more could you wish for?

How to book your adventure on the Argosy Christmas Ship

Head to Argosy Cruises’ website to book directly. Before doing so, you may want to check the schedule for various departure locations to choose from.  

When possible, walk-up tickets are available if they do not sell out online ahead-of-time. 

What to expect during the festival 

Musical performance by Christmas carolers

If you’re one of the first groups to board, I recommend snagging seats in the first rows of the 2nd deck (near the microphones). This way, you’ll be in a great position for the performance. We enjoyed a 20-minute performance by the Dickens Carolers. It was simply beautiful. 

In the event that the 2nd deck is full when you arrive, you’ll also be able to experience the performance from the 1st deck via a television screen. 

Please note that the performance happens a good chunk of time into the cruise, when the ship is off-shore from whichever park it is broadcasting to that night.

Reading of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas

After the carolers, we headed to the 3rd deck (all outside) to soak up the city lights and glimmering reflection of the boat in the water. To our surprise, we heard an announcement saying that Santa was about to read ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. This is primarily for children, and they can gather around him to listen. 

If this sounds like something you want to see, then you may not want to leave your seats on the 2nd deck like we did. 

Food & drinks

Without a doubt, sipping a festive drink is a must. Guests will find a variety of alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages such as:

–Santa’s Nightcap: hazelnut espresso vodka, hot chocolate, & whipped cream with chocolate curls

–Peppermint Hot Chocolate with whipped cream

–Prancer’s Punch: Cherry, ginger, & maple alcohol-free beverage with a dash of bitters served over ice

During the cruise, menu options like grilled sandwiches, fruit & cheese trays, and clam chowder are available for purchase on the 1st deck. We ordered 2 bowls of Ivar’s Clam Chowder. Not only is it a classic, but it was affordable compared to the other selections. 

At the same time you purchase tickets, you can pre-order food. The advantage of this is that your selection will not sell-out before you have a chance to order. We did not opt for this, and had no issue ordering food about halfway through the cruise.

Time

Generally, boarding begins 45 minutes before your scheduled sailing time. We arrived ~25 minutes before then and were some of the first to arrive. 

In total, the ship cruised for an hour and half before docking back at Pier 55. 

Parking

For sailings departing from Pier 55, we find it most convenient to park at either the Waterfront Parking Lot across the street (“Platinum Parking Lot” according to Google Maps) or the Pike Place Market Parking Garage.

On the one hand, the former requires little walking but costs a premium. On the other hand, you can opt to walk a few blocks and park next to Pike Place Market (which is what we did). Naturally, this means it’s easy to grab a bite to eat in the market before your sailing. 

This post was all about the Argosy Christmas Ship.