Columbia and Snake River Cruise on the American Empress

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June 16-24, 2024
9 Days and 8 Nights
Starting in Spokane, WA

Here’s our itinerary:

• June 16: Arrive in Spokane for an overnight in a downtown hotel. Your transfer to the Atlanta airport is included, as well as your transfer to the hotel too.
• June 17: Enjoy an included breakfast, followed by an included city tour. There’s so much here to see! Afterward, board the motorcoach to travel to Clarkston and board the Empress. You’ll be treated to fabulous meals throughout the entire journey, along with wonderful regional wines!
• June 18: Today you can enjoy the city tours of the town, and Lewiston, Idaho. Perhaps you’d like to take the optional Snake River jet boat ride up Hell’s Canyon. It’s highly recommended for all.
• June 19: Our port of call is Richland, WA where you can enjoy the hop-on, hop-off tours in town.  Sites include Sacajawea State Park, the local Historical Museum, and the Handford Reach Center.
• June 20: Dalles, Oregon is our next stop. It’s here that many pioneers ‘jumped off’ the Oregon Trail and settled in the area. You can enjoy the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center here as well as the Courthouse Museum.
• June 21: Stevenson, WA plays host to the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center, Bonneville Dam, and an optional tour to Multnomah Falls with its 611-foot drop.  It’s an iconic spot here in the ‘Gorge’ area and not to be missed. This area is highlighted by a rich, dense forest of evergreens.  Truly a lovely area.
• June 22: Stevenson, WA in the morning with an optional tour to Mt Hood; followed by cruising through Camas.
• June 23: Astoria, Oregon with its lovely Victorian charm downtown.  Great stops at the Astoria Column, Heritage Museum, and beautiful overlooks of the river at this picturesque port city. 
• June 24: Port of Vancouver, WA (Portland, Oregon). Our journey comes to an end and we will take the included transfer to the Portland airport.  Those who wish can arrange later flights and take in the optional Portland city tour with a stop at the famous Rose Garden.

Included features of this cruise:

• Pre Paid gratuities for ship staff
• All port fees and taxes
• 1 – pre-night hotel stay in Spokane, including transfer to the first hotel from Spokane airport.
• City tour of Spokane which includes stops at Gonzaga University, the Bing Crosby House, and the city carousel.
• Live, daily onboard entertainment and enrichment throughout the journey.
• Unlimited Wifi
• Unlimited guided tours on board their motorcoaches that follow our route. (Premium optional tours available)
• Unlimited beverages including an extensive wine list, choice spirits, local craft beers, and specialty coffees.
• Open bars and lounges throughout the vessel including a juice bar every morning.
• Locally sourced and regionally inspired cuisine from land and sea.
• Gourmet selections daily/3 meals per day.
• In-room dining.
• Atlanta airport transfers on the way out and on the way back.

Your airfare is not included in the price.  American Queen Voyages does not sell air with their cruises.

I will notify the group when the air is for sale and each person will have the opportunity to purchase their own air.   You’ll then be able to buy your air with the carrier that YOU want, use airline miles if you can, and select YOUR own seats.  I will guide you through this process and help you to select times that will work with the actual cruise.   It also allows for those people who want to do the 3-hour city tour in Portland and take a later flight.  Your airport transfers will still be covered from there too.  In checking prices, a non-stop flight round trip on Delta just priced out at $778 as of July 15.  Your actual price may be different, but this will allow you to see the estimated cost of the flight.  Again, you will be given information from me approximately 9 months before the trip to do this; that’s when the air schedules come out.  I will also coordinate with you on all the airport transfers too.