The Roaming BoomersRiver Cruise: Columbia & Snake Rivers
River Cruise: Columbia & Snake Rivers
A river cruise on the Columbia & Snake Rivers in the Pacific Northwest has been on our bucket list for quite some time.
Well, consider that checked.
Carol and I are just home from a river cruise on the Columbia & Snake rivers sailing with our friends from American Queen Voyages.
Before I write the review about our experience with American Queen Voyages, I thought it might be helpful to discuss why you might consider such a cruise yourself.
Seven Reasons to Consider a Cruise on the Columbia & Snake Rivers
Beautiful Landscapes – I was unprepared for the beauty we found sailing on the Columbia & Snake Rivers. I shot the photo above as we looked down from The Palouse towards the confluence of the Clearwater & Snake Rivers. And, the photograph to the right is from our ship as we began sailing westward on the Snake River. As we learned from our Riverlorian aboard ship, water carved this whole region from a cataclysmic glacial lake outburst flood at the end of the last ice age. Be sure to click the photographs for larger views. 
Waterfalls – As you proceed down the river, you will have the opportunity to witness a large number of waterfalls. And the granddaddy of them all is the Multnomah Falls located in the Columbia River Gorge.- Louis & Clark – The explorers Meriwether Lewis and Willam Clark loom large in this region due to their famous expedition, which stretched from St. Louis, Missouri, to the Pacific Ocean. Our river cruise caught up with them as they popped out of the mountains to meet the Nez Perce natives who would befriend them and teach them the ways of the land. And of course, this is where Sacagawea joined the expedition to the Pacific with her baby in tow.
- Fresh Salmon – If you enjoy fresh salmon, then this river cruise is for you. While there were many options on our menu each night, I chose to enjoy the fresh local salmon every day. I enjoyed fresh salmon prepared in a variety of ways and also greatly appreciated the fresh smoked salmon we found in native shops along the way.
- Washington & Oregon Wines – If you consider yourself an oenophile, then you are in for a real treat. These rivers are dotted with vineyards, and you’re sure to love Washington’s famous red wines as well as Oregon’s world-renowned pinot noir wines. YUM!
- Towering Volcanoes – Mount Saint Helens and Mount Hood are close to the Columbia River. You can visit both with an optional shore excursion on your cruise. And if you fly home from Seattle, you can capture a wonderful photograph of Mount Rainier from your plane. Carol shot this photograph with my iPhone, looking out from her window seat.
- Close to Home – and perhaps best of all, it’s close to home!
How to Book American Queen Voyages and Get Our Exclusive Perks
American Queen Voyages is a part of our Virtuoso Voyages program. This means that when you book an American Queen sailing through Roaming Boomers Travel Services, you will receive exclusive complimentary amenities that you wouldn’t get by booking directly with the company.
Additionally, you will also enjoy our hands-on expert service and care for your booking. And, the price is the same booking with us or booking with the company.
For more information or to book an American Queen Voyages cruise, please call Roaming Boomers Travel Services at (480) 550-1235 or use our convenient online information request (click here), and we’ll reach out to you.
Additional Reading: Our Review Sailing with American Queen
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Roaming Boomers Travel Services is an Independent Affiliate of Cadence, a Virtuoso® member. CST#201120-40
6 Comments on “River Cruise: Columbia & Snake Rivers”
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We went on the Columbia Snake river, river cruise. It is not scenic, there were highways on one side trains on the other. Not pretty, you only get a glimpse of the waterfalls unless you take a $79 extra excursion. We went to see it free before we got on the boat. All of their hop on hop off busses were of museums, some not to good. Last day the boat broke so we never went down the Snake river. Not the most scenic or or best trip I’ve been on. Not worth the money.
Hi Sherri,
Boy, our experience was completely the opposite. We sailed from Clarkston and found the scenery stunning until we popped out of the Columbia River Gorge. While some of the stops along the way were rural towns, and a few of the museums were small-town museums, we sure enjoyed learning the history of the region, sampling the local cuisine, as well as enjoying the fall colors against the blue sky. We did pony up the $79/person for the Multnomah Falls tour, but it also included several stunning long-range views looking out over the river. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your point of view.
Where do you catch the cruise
The cruise sails from Clarkston, WA (with an overnight in Spokane) and ends in Vancouver, WA. It also travels in the reverse direction.
Does AQSC arrange for the transportation from Spokane to Clarkston and is it included in the fare? I mapped the distance at 2 hours.
Hi Marc,
Yes. The transfer from the hotel in Spokane to the ship in Clarkston is included.