October 29, 2003 - The U.S. is currently underway with a three-year-long commemoration of the bicentennial anniversary of Lewis and Clark's sweeping exploration of the North American continent. You can experience part of their journey through the Pacific Northwest's waterways with a luxury river cruise from American West Steamboat Company. Lewis and Clark wish they could have had it so good.
The Columbia River Gorge, which I visited for the first time recently, should be called the Columbia River Gorgeous. It reminded me in many ways of the fabulous Li River south of Guilin in China, with small islands, sudden outcroppings of rock in sugar lump formations, a mighty waterfall at Multnomah, and verdant hills sheltering from both sides the water rushing down to the sea.
American West has two new sternwheeler cruise ships, both built in Washington's San Juan Islands: the Empress of the North (costing $50 million, with maiden voyage in August, 2003) and the slightly smaller Queen of the West. They are, in fact, the largest (and most elegant) of all US-flagged small cruise ships operating in western America. Each stateroom has a private bath with shower, the bathroom said to be the largest of any small cruise ship. Every cabin faces the river and most have their own verandahs. There are elevators, gift shops, dining rooms and bars. Live entertainment of the showboat variety is featured every night. Onboard historians interpret the history, nature and points of interest along the route. The dining rooms have just one sitting, avoiding the "early or late" dining hassle.
Cruises take place along the Snake, the Columbia and the Willamette rivers, as well as up the Washington state coast and into Puget Sound as far as Seattle.
Four Lewis & Clark Cruise dates remain for this autumn and winter (Nov. 15 and Dec. 16, 2003 and Feb. 29 and Mar. 7, 2004). You start in Portland, cruise the Willamette and visit the Lelooska Cultural Center for Native American presentations, then go to Pillar Rock, where Lewis & Clark first spied the Pacific in 1805. You visit Cape Disappointment and the expedition's winter camp, followed by an excursion to Mt. St. Helens and a trip up the Columbia River Gorge. Prices for the eight-day (seven-night) journey start at $1,076 for the "value stateroom."
A Three Great Rivers Cruise, again eight days and seven nights, has seven more departures in 2003 (November and December), and nearly three dozen (averaging more than three each month) starting in April 2004. You visit the Columbia River Gorge, the Bonneville Dam, Multnomah Falls, Pendleton (Oregon), Hell's Canyon, a replica of the Stonehenge Circle (a war memorial in this US version), enjoy wine tasting, visit Mt. St. Helens, and check out Astoria, the end of the line for Lewis & Clark. Prices for the "value stateroom" begin at $1,195 per person, based on double occupancy.
An eight-night Path of the Explorers Cruise takes you along the Columbia, Willamette and Snake rivers, visiting Lewiston ID and Fort Walla Walla, as well as The Dalles in Oregon. Nine departures in 2003 (November and December), 23 in 2004 from February through December). Prices for the value stateroom with verandah start at $1,799.
If you can spare 11 nights, try the Voyage of Discovery, covering many of the spots mentioned before, but adding a ride on the Mt. Hood Railroad for a scenic trip through Oregon's largest fruit orchards. You also board a Hell's Canyon jet boat on this cruise. Departures in 2004 only in April (two dates) and October (two dates). Prices for a value stateroom begin at $3,339.
The company's longest, and priciest, tour is Northwest Exploration, also taking up 11 nights, visiting the Columbia and Snake rivers, Puget Sound and Canada. Although you take in many of the sites previously mentioned on other tours, you add a trip up the Washington State coastline, stopping at Westport, where you board a bus for a tour of the Olympic Peninsula, its rain forest and national park. After you reboard the ship, you visit Victoria in British Columbia and cruise through the San Juan Islands to Seattle, where you also have a tour of the city, then a cruise to Lake Union and Lake Washington. Prices for the value stateroom with verandah begin at $4,199. There are only two departures in 2004, May 9 and September 23 (the latter a reverse cruise from Seattle back to Portland).
If you book by January 31, 2004, you can save up to $800, or even more, per couple. On some of the November and December 2003 departures, you can get free air round trip to Portland, so inquire when booking, this offer good up to the date of sailing.
For all cruises in 2003, add $124 per person for port charges, ground handling and fees, including tax. For 2004 departures, make that $134 per person.
Due to work on one of the dams en route, including its complete closure for March, 2004, the full schedule for 2004 will not begin until April 1, 2004, though all 2003 sailings will operate as planned. The rates will remain the same as noted above and in their brochure, though there may be slight variations on schedules. For the latest fine-tuning of the schedule, see the company's website.
For more information and to book, contact The American West Steamboat Company at 800/434-1232 or visit www.columbiarivercruise.com.
For information on Lewis and Clark's journey and other trip opportunities associated with the explorers, please visit www.lewisandclark.com.
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