What to Expect on a Seattle Ice Cream Cruise for Kids

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The Seattle Ice Cream Cruise (also called the Sunday Ice Cream Cruise) is a little boat ride offered by the Seattle Ferry Service.

This post about the Seattle ice cream cruise was written by Seattle family travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.

We’re all big fans of cruises and ice cream! So, it’s a bit obvious that we would go on the Seattle Ice Cream Cruise as our little family getaway that’s within our reach.

It’s definitely an excellent way to experience and appreciate Seattle’s unique and vibrant waterway. More than a unique ice cream experience, it’s also a narrated tour where our kids (and everyone!) get to learn about Seattle and its rich history.

I’ll share all about our experience in this blog so you can gauge if this is something you would want to do with your kids. So buckle up and prepare to go all aboard!

What’s the Seattle Ice Cream Cruise

The captain narrates this Seattle’s Lake Union cruise and explains a bit about Seattle’s history and the sights you’ll see.

When he’s not talking, you can jam out to oldies music! It’s a short boat ride on a small boat, perfect for exploring Seattle with kids! 

Where is the Seattle Ice Cream Cruise Located?

They are next to the Museum of History and Industry clock at South Lake Union Park. You’ll see a sandwich board sign with balloons on it. That’s where you’ll line up to board.

When Can I Go?

The Seattle Ice Cream Cruise is available year-round on Sundays at the hour of 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., even during rain or snow.

Personally, you can’t beat cruising around Seattle in the summer, but I think it would be fun to do it in the fall/winter and sip hot chocolate!

How Long is this Seattle Boat Ride?

The Sunday Ice Cream Cruise in Seattle is about 45-50 minutes long, which is perfect for families with little kids.

What Will I See?

This Seattle boat ride takes you past Gasworks Park, Dale Chihuly’s glass studio, Ivar’s Salmon House, Seattle floating homes (including the Sleepless in Seattle houseboat), and more.

Plus, you can see seaplanes, kayaks, and lots of other boats!

How Much Does it Cost?

The Sunday Ice Cream Cruise in Seattle is cash/check only.

• Adults: $12
• Seniors: $11
• Kids 5-13: $8
• Kids under 5: $3

What’s the Seating Situation Onboard?

There is bench seating on the top deck, and we also saw a few chairs scattered around. If you want to be indoors, there are some adorable painted chairs inside.

What Type of Ice Cream is Available?

When we were there in August 2018, they had Haagen-Daz bars, ice cream sandwiches, traditional root beer floats, chocolate root beer floats, orange Crush floats, and Strawberry soda floats. They were $2-5 each.

Do They Have Anything Besides Ice Cream?

They offer chips, coffee, soda, and hot chocolate, and they might have other items available in cooler weather.

What if it Rains?

There’s an indoor space inside the Seattle boat that is set up with chessboards, checkers, and other fun games. Plus, you can still grab a treat and look out the window!

Or, wear a rain jacket and enjoy the views from the top deck!

Where Should I Park?

Parking on Sundays is FREE! You can try your luck at any of the nearby street parking. There were quite a few spots available in the lot West of South Lake Union Park. Just check to see if the pedestrian bridge is down, or you’ll need to walk around the long way.

[irp posts=”7363″ name=”Take a Seattle Argosy Cruise to Kid-Friendly Tillicum Excursion”]

Seattle Ice Cream Cruise Tips for Families

SHOW UP EARLY

I believe the boat’s seating is limited to 45 people. Since you don’t book your tickets ahead of time, they are first come, first served. Arriving 20 minutes early would be good.

For our cruise in August, they turned a few people away who had to wait for the next cruise.

RESTROOMS

There are 2 restrooms on board. The bathrooms have an electric foot pedal to flush, and the Captain stated that kids have a hard time with them.

So, you might go potty before you go (there are restrooms at the Cafe nearby.)

BRING CASH

They don’t have credit card machines, so you’ll need to pay cash or check for your tickets and any treats you’d like.

Check to make sure you have enough before boarding, especially if you’ve promised your kids ice cream!

KNOW WHAT YOU WANT BEFORE YOU ORDER

The line for ice cream gets long, and it takes a while to make the orders (especially the floats). Don’t be the person who holds up the line debating what you want to order.

It helps them if you already know what you want so they aren’t standing there waiting. And the people behind you in line will appreciate it!

BRING WET WIPES

Maybe it’s just my kids, but the second they start eating ice cream, it’s all over their hands, faces, hair, clothes, etc.

Bring lots of wet wipes to thoroughly scrub them down after their treats. They have garbage cans on board, so this will be a lot easier than taking them to the restroom.

STAIRS

The stairs to the top deck are steep. We had our kids turn around and go down them like a ladder, which felt a lot safer.

What Else to Do in Seattle’s Lake Union Park

Lake Union Park is in an awesome location for kids to play. There’s a little beach where you can play in the water, and there are lots of grassy areas to run around!

We love watching the seaplanes take off and land. And, of course, watching the boats!

TOY BOATS

My kids have been obsessed with the little toy boats since they played with them at Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris last year.

We were THRILLED to discover that the Center for Wooden Boats has them available to borrow for a $5 suggested donation at the pond right at South Lake Union Park. Find out more about the pond boat sailing here.

MUSEUM OF HISTORY AND INDUSTRY

The Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) has been at its Lake Union location for a few years now. It focuses on Seattle’s history, from the pioneer days to today!

This is where you’ll find the famous Rainier “R” sign, a Boeing B-1 plane, and more! Kids ages 14 and under are free, and MOHAI is free every first Thursday of the month.

Their next traveling exhibit is about World War I in America (September 1, 2018 – February 10, 2019).. If you are a genealogy nut like me, you can access their on-site research library to discover photos, books, movies, newspaper clippings, etc.

CHECK OUT OTHER BOATS

The Center for Wooden Boats offers free boat rides every Sunday. The rides are based on a first-come, first-served system.

Sign-ups start at 10 a.m. When we arrived at 10:30 a.m., the line wrapped around the building. They can only accommodate 200 people total, so if you’d like to do this, plan to arrive early to get in line. Or at least drop off one person to wait in line to sign up. You can find out more here.

SPRAY PARK

If you go in the summer, bring a change of clothes and play a bit at their splash pad! It’s basically just water shooting up from the concrete, but it’s the perfect way to cool off in the summer heat!

Fun with Kids in Seattle

Riding The Sounder Train to Seattle’s International District for a Play Date
Take a Seattle Argosy Cruise to Kid-Friendly Tillicum Excursion
Spend the Day at Pier 57 in Seattle with Kids
6 Reasons Your Kid Should Ride Seattle’s Monorail
6 Tips for Enjoying the Pacific Science Center with Toddlers