Steamship Furry Cruise: Locks Edition!

 

A passion of mine is classic steamships, and lucky for me, there's one in Seattle that is the only of its type operating in North America. A wooden, propeller drive passenger steamship, still running with it's original steam engine. 

And it's time for a furry cruise on the ship! Tickets are $30 for a 5 hour cruise through the Locks to Puget Sound!  https://tinyurl.com/furrycruise 

The SS Virginia V is a 103-year-old wooden steamship that used to be a ferry from Seattle to Tacoma via Vashon Island. But now she does sight-seeing cruises around the Puget Sound. Let's fill her up with furries!

AUGUST 23RD, 10:30 boarding, 11:00 SHARP departure from Lake Union Park in Seattle. (Behind MOHAI)

Landing in beautiful Port Orchard, estimated time of arrival 4pm (Locks dependent.) Yes, this means going through the Ballard Locks with the ship, a marvel of engineering and a place where hundreds of tourists will gawk at the sight of a 100 year old steamship full of furries!

(This is a one-way trip, as the ship is repositioning for a cruise the next day. Virginia V will be docking directly next to the Port Orchard ferry dock. The convenient foot ferry runs to Bremerton, where you can choose to take the fast ferry or Auto ferry back to Seattle. Or the 186 bus, which runs from Port Orchard to the Southworth Foot Ferry, which will return you to Seattle) 

 

This cruise also serves as a fundraiser for the 501c3 non-profit that keeps this ship operating. Half a million was spent on the Virginia V in 2025 alone to keep this incredibly unique piece of history in action! All profits from ticket sales go direct to the Steamer Virginia V Foundation, as well as all the raffle tickets for the charity raffle that will be held onboard. 

 The ship is stopping for gas along the way, so a Pizza Party lunch will be served during the stop! This is included in your ticket, vegan and gluten free will be made available. 

See Puget Sound from the only authentic steamship in Seattle! Experience the cool sea breezes of Puget Sound. See some wildlife, astonish tourists at the locks, and have fun with other furries! Help us support this icon of the Northwest while enjoying a Cruise! The entire ship will be open to passengers. Go up to the wheelhouse and try your paw at steering the ship or blowing the steam whistle! Go down to the engine room and marvel at the 121-year-old triple expansion steam engine!

 

 

Getting to the ship: We recommend public transit to reach the ship at SLU. From the Light Rail, get off at Westlake Station and take the Streetcar to Lake Union Park/MOHAI. Or bus routes 62, 40, 70, and the C line stop at the park. (the C line is also a direct connector from the ferry dock to SLU, if you need to return to the park after the cruise)

Parking is available in the area on weekends, including street parking, private lots, and the garages of Amazon buildings in SLU.  

There will be space on the ship for fursuit totes (please consider soft-sided luggage for more space), and limited space for bikes and scooters. (Including e-bikes/scooters, no gas engines)

The ship's bar will be serving up Soda, Sparkling Water, Beer, Cider, and Wine for guests! As well as snack items such as bags of chips, peanuts, fruit snacks, and goldfish. You can also shop the ship's gift shop there and buy raffle tickets. 

Passengers are welcome to bring their own food items to picnic aboard the ship (no BYOB, alcoholic beverages must be purchased aboard)
 

 

Learn more about the Virginia V at her website: www.virginiav.org

Or on the ship's youtube channel! https://www.youtube.com/@virginiavfoundation1922