I don't know if this is right place for this, but I hope it will do and be found by anyone who might have some input for us.

Clay and I are thinking about doing this US river cruise this year. I wonder if anyone here has done it? Anyone have any comments about Cruise West? Also, anyone have any comments or suggestions about Portland, OR? We are also planning to see Crater Lake while in the neighborhood. Anyone have any comments or suggestions on that? Lastly, I am pretty sure Ngaire doesn't book Cruise West, so any suggestions on booking or agents, etc.? If I am wrong, Ngaire, please contact me!!

Thanks in advance to any and all who might have some information for us!
Debbie

Hi Debbie:

A high school friend used to work for Cruise West and she really enjoyed the company and thought it to be first-class in what they do. You really get up close and personal with the sites you encounter.

Crater Lake. We used to live in Eugene and we found Crater Lake to be breathtaking. The lake is so clear and free of pollution it is unbelievable. When you look down into the water you think you are looking straight up to the sky. Since a meteor hit that area
eons ago, vegetation is limited even now. Depending on time of year you go, snow can be a problem in getting there. The drive to/from is quite scenic.

Portland. Visited there several times and it is a lovely city and don't miss driving up the coast. We loved Oregon and miss it to this day and that was after living in there for only 13 mos. ('79-'80)

Memories are made of this ; > )

Cheers! Ray

Ray, It sounds like we won't be disappointed with any time we wind up spending out there. Thanks Ray!

Anyone else out there have any suggestions, warnings, comments, etc?
Debbie

Hi Debbie,

A friend did this several years ago, but it was on one of the paddle wheel boats, America West?? (Old age is really attacking "the little gray cells!") They loved the cruise and if you want more info, can find out.

Portland was lovely when we visited, including the Columbia river drive, as far as The Dalles. Also visited some remote areas, DH researching logging equipment. Good weather is, of course, helpful, but who can predict that? :D

Kathy, Thanks. For some reason I thought those paddlewheel boats were all out of service, but I just looked and there is a company called American Cruise Lines with a ship called Queen of the West with a 2 year schedule up online. So, thanks to you I have requested another brochure!

Anyone else have any information for us?
Debbie

Debbie,

Just took a brief look at American Cruise Lines and I Think it's the same line as a friend from Greenville, NC took a few yrs ago "up north," a New England itinerary. She was More than well pleased and took a second one and her only prior cruise experience was 1 or 2 on Celebrity.

I'll confirm with her if you have interest after receiving brochure.

Thanks Kathy, I will let you know after I have seen their brochure. Right now I am still leaning towards Cruise West. Anyone out there have any personal experience with them? Anyone here have a hotel recommendation in Portland, or a prefered area of town? Anyone advice about Crater Lake Lodge?
Thanks again, Debbie

Debbie, I cruised on Cruise West I loved it. We left out of Seattle and sailed around the San Juan Islands. It is a very different type of crusing more nature walks. Lots of time spent on deck looking and identifying animals. There is a meeting everynight after dinner to talk about where you will be the next day and what you may see. We booked directly with Cruise West. The ships are small and the rooms are small but nice. I hope this helps.

Carolyn

Carolyn, Thanks! It does help. I requested a brochure from the Cruise West website and within 3 hours I was getting emails from a TA with Avoya/Americas Vacation Center about my request. I didn't know what to make about that as it appeared that you could book directly with CW and yet the TA must have gotten my contact info and brochure request in real time from CW. So far I am just ignoring him, but it made me wonder about how to book?!

A couple of questions, if you can remember. CW says no tipping, was that your experience? Also, do you remember how inclusive it was and what had extra charges? This will help us compare prices between lines, if we understand what extra charges there will really be...

Thanks again, Debbie

Just want to say I contemplated this awhile back and hope to do it some day, so let us know what's what if you go please

Diane, will do, if we do it... still checking things out at this point...
Debbie

Debbie, they do mean no tipping for the ship personnel except if I remember correctly I did give the main gal who did all the talks and pointed out animals and certain types of trees and flowers to us a tip. I was not much just a little thank you. I do not remember it they charged for cokes or wine. They had coffee out all day long. We did our trip at the end or March or early April so it was still pretty cold, so the coffee was there to warm us up after spending time out on the deck.

That does seem strange that CW gave your name directly to a TA. I think I would call CW to see what they say. Could be a CW employee is getting something from the TA, again I would check with CW.

Carolyn

Thanks! Carolyn, the wording in the brochure is "Prices include: Service charges to all personnel onboard Cruise West vessels." Now that doesn't actually say tips are inclusive, but I can't imagine what else it would mean. Update: I just opened a new brochure from today's mail and under the description of our cruise it states: "Onboard gratutities are neither required nor expected." So I think taken together it means tips are included in the fare. Just like Regent.

I have emailed CW to ask about the TA receiving my information so quickly, but a week has passed with no reply. You are right, I would probably have to call CW about it. It is strange because I read the Privacy Policy pretty closely before filling out the online form and I saw no cause for concern.

Thanks again.

If anyone else has any feedback regarding Cruise West or Oregon suggestions, I'd love to hear from you!
Debbie

We cruised with them 3 years ago around Japan. It was a wonderful cruise. Loved the experience with Cruise West. Food was simple but excellent and good quality. Alcoholic drinks were not included but tipping was. All tours/excursions were also included so the only expense was our bar bill. Service was good, staff friendly. Expedition leaders were fun and knowledgable. If you love the experience with Cruise West you may want to consider the cruise round Japan in March/
April to see the cherry blossoms.....it was wonderful.

We were in Portland 18 months ago? Loved it and stayed at the Governor Hotel which we liked very much but hardly there ....recommend the Heathman Hotel said family - our visit was too short but can understand why people enjoy this city - Nike headquartered there, I think - people looked very "fit" to me :) PS the G Hotel had fun bar and restaurant Jake's? we had very good meal!

Sheila and Joanna, Thanks to you both. The more I hear from people who've been the more I think we have made a good choice. Glad to hear that people have also been pleased with the Cruise West experiences also.

Has anyone here done a Snake & Columbia River cruise? Anyone stayed at Crater Lake Lodge?

Debbie

Kathy, I have received the American Cruise Lines brochure and I am really interested now in Queen of the West paddle boat (any information about cabins, layout, etc.) and also whether the excursions described are included in the cruise fare. They are described online, but do not have prices, so it seems that are included, but I don't want to assume that. So, any additional information that your friends might have on the boat or the company and its operations would be most appreciated. Thanks again, Debbie

Reviving this post, since we sailed and are back. We did wind up on Cruise West. Sadly, Cruise West has now ceased operations. I am still working on finishing adding photos to our blog of the trip for anyone interested. Though Cruise West will not be there anymore, I believe that National Geographic/Lindblad still has a ship on the Columbia & Snake Rivers as well as the Queen of the West. I can highly recommend the cruise and visiting Oregon as a destination. This trip was a reminder of how powerfully scenic the USA still is after years of travel overseas. Debbie

http://oregoncruisewest.blogspot.com/

Debbie:

It's a football weekend for me but I had to take a peek of your travels within the PNW with Cruise West.

What hit me first of all is your organization and discipline Blog-wise. Really well done and i'll read more after this weekend. Plus your photos will be a joy to see as well.

To prove that I did do some reading, must say i enjoyed your sense of humor when you spoke of your motion sickness problem.

Cheers! Ray

Thanks Ray. No rush, it is taking me forever to get the photos inserted. I think I only have up to day 2 done. I hate the Blogger interface, so slow! Plus other things that seem more urgent just keep cropping up!
Debbie