Portland
Photo: Brett Sayles · Re-encoded to WebP.
American Cruise Lines
Columbia River Gorge Cruise
US Rivers
Sailing Itinerary
Trip Details
Speak With A Specialist
Ready to Book?
Our travel experts are standing by to help plan the perfect getaway. Call us, or send a note and we will come back to you.
Your Ship
American West
The one hull in the fleet Salisbury did not build, and a working sternwheel aft
Aboard
- Built in 1995 by Nichols Bros. Boat Builders on Whidbey Island, not at the line's own yard
- Sailed her first fifteen years on the same rivers under the name Queen of the West
- A stern paddlewheel that drives her, replaced during the 2011 reconstruction
- Renamed and redecorated in 2022 when the line rebranded its four paddlewheelers
- Around seven feet of draft, on the Columbia and the Snake out of Portland
- Runs the standard eight-night Portland to Clarkston week, the same one the new boats sell
- A six-night Columbia River Gorge round trip for anyone who cannot spare the week
Ashore
Where You Stop
Portland
Cruising the Columbia River
The Dalles
Kalama
US Rivers
America's Rivers
The Mississippi, the Columbia and the Snake aboard small ships that dock in the middle of town: no passport, no flight over an ocean, and a different American city every morning.
- Best Time to Go
- April to November, with fall color on the Mississippi in October
- Typical Length
- 7 to 15 nights
Compare Dates
The Same Trip, Other Weeks
The identical itinerary on this ship, priced by departure. Fares move week to week, and the difference is often larger than anything else on this page.
| Departs | Inside | Oceanview | Balcony | Suite | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 18, 2026This sailing | |||||
| October 23, 2026 |
Compare Alternatives
Sailing the Same Week
Other vacations of about the same length leaving within a few days of October 18, 2026, nearest departure ports first.
American Cruise Lines • 8 Nights
Columbia & Snake Rivers Cruise
American Pride
Oct 18, 2026 • departs Portland
From
American Cruise Lines • 8 Nights
Columbia & Snake Rivers Cruise
American Harmony
Oct 16, 2026 • departs Portland
From
American Cruise Lines • 8 Nights
Columbia & Snake Rivers Cruise
American Jazz
Oct 16, 2026 • departs Portland
From
American Cruise Lines • 8 Nights
Columbia & Snake Rivers Cruise
American Song
Oct 20, 2026 • departs Portland
From
American Cruise Lines • 8 Nights
Columbia & Snake Rivers Cruise
American Encore
Oct 20, 2026 • departs Portland
From
Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic • 7 Nights
Columbia and Snake Rivers: Food, Wine and History 8-Day (8-Day Eastbound)
National Geographic Sea Bird
Oct 17, 2026 • departs Portland
From