Cruise Question

[vegas]

Ok another question about our Alaskan cruise.  I'm getting ready to book airfare.  Our cruise is Friday-Friday.  Here are our options (flight prices are exactly the same either way):

(1)  Leave after work on Thursday and fly out around 6pm.  It's a 2 hour flight to Seattle so that would get us in around 8pm.  We'd probably head straight to the hotel and grab a late dinner.  Hotel prices are around $200 a night for the places we'd be interested in staying.

(2) Leave Friday morning--same day as the cruise.  Take the first flight out of Vegas on Southwest at 8am, arriving at 10:30.  Head straight to the pier and get ready to board.  We have early boarding so we could probably get on the ship once we get there.  Ship leaves at 4pm.

We've never been to Seattle so we were thinking of doing option 1 and spening the night there, but when I started looking I realized we are really only getting a few hours there and it would cost us an extra $200 or so.   We'd basically arrive and head straight to the hotel, although we would have some time in the morning to walk around and check it out.  One more consideration, and this sounds sad, but this is our first time away from our kids, so part of me wants that extra night with them. 

Option 2 would be cheaper in the long run but it makes me a bit nervous to fly in on the day of the cruise.  The good news is that it's the first flight out and since Southwest doesn't do red eyes, the plane for the first flight out is almost always there from the night before and ready to go.  There are also two more flights after ours that would get us there by 3, worst case scenario.

So WWYD knowing our options? 

[kateross]

I would choose option 1. I've done option 2 and our flight got delayed a few hours. We only made it because the ship ended up delaying too, but that was not pretty.

[SJ]

#1

[chicago]

I'd go with #1 for the peace of mind.

[Deleted]

#1. It'll be nice to have an evening and half-day in Seattle, and I would be nervous about flying in just a few hours before the ship leaves.

[kcbmarek]

Option #1. We flew from Las Vegas (yes I am here with you) to Seattle a couple of days prior to our cruise but as a standard, I always go in the day prior. Seattle is a fun city and you must visit Pikes Place and the waterfront while in Seattle. Who are you cruising with and when is the cruise? Dress in layers in Alaska as it will not be as "hot" as it is here in Vegas

[vegas]

Thanks kcbmarek! I'm cruising with DH at the end of August. I think we are going to try to go early on Thursday now and get the entire day there. I'm working on DH, I'm not worried about my work schedule!

[stumpy]

Do not . . . I repeat . . . do NOT fly in the day of for a cruise.
Do option one and try to get an earlier flight so you can actually see Seattle.

Seattle is so much fun. I have done two Alaska cruises and enjoyed Seattle for a couple of days prior to each cruise.
If you need any ideas or recs, let em know.