Scenic view of Nashville skyline and pedestrian bridge reflecting in the Cumberland River at sunrise.

American Cruise Lines

Columbia River Gorge Cruise

US Rivers

Sailing Itinerary

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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
Read the Full Guide

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.

DepartsFrom
October 18, 2026
October 23, 2026This sailing