Day 1: Canada to Astoria ✅
Day 2: Astoria to Cannon Beach ✅
Day 3: Cannon Beach to Portland
Day 4: Portland to Mount St. Helens and Union
Day 5: Union to Canada
As we walked past the Columbia River Maritime Museum, a riverboat immediately caught our attention. Passengers were boarding with luggage in hand. We looked at each other and thought, “I wonder what a river cruise would be like?” Just like that, another travel idea was added to the list.
Discover one of America’s most scenic river cruise experiences
When we were in Astoria, Oregon, we enjoyed taking the riverwalk along the waterfront. There was a lot to see from small businesses, parks, restaurants overlooking the river, the Columbia River Maritime Museum & more.
What we really thought would have been cool was something we saw happening as we ate fish and chips on the dock… travellers taking their luggage from a tour bus on to a boat that would be cruising on the Columbia River.
Apparently, there are a couple of different “riverboat cruise” options in Astoria depending on what you’re looking for:
Multi-day U.S. River Cruises that stop in Astoria – these are the big small-ship cruises that sail the Columbia & Snake Rivers. Astoria is usually the western-most stop at the mouth of the river.
American Cruise Lines ships – the American Encore & the American Jazz do 6-10 day cruises from Portland ↔️ Clarkston. It seems a new 16-day “Grand Columbia & Snake Rivers” cruise starts in 2027 from Portland.
There’s a National Geographic / Lindblad – expedition style Sea Lion and Sea Bird cruise (62 passengers) cruise. The typical itinerary looks like: Portland → Astoria → Hood River → The Dalles → Richland → Clarkston/Hells Canyon. Most are 7 nights.
In Astoria they usually include:
A guided tour of the Columbia River Maritime Museum (so worth it!),
Fort Clatsop/Lewis & Clark sites, the Astoria Column, Victorian homes, and the waterfront.
The season normally runs from April to November & prices start around $3,890 to $6,150+
There are some shorter/local boat tours from the Astoria area such as the Columbia River Bar cruises: 2+ hour tours out of Ilwaco, WA just across the river from Astoria. They go near the Cape Disappointment Lighthouse and out to the Columbia River Bar. This one is good for seeing the “Graveyard of the Pacific” up close.
There’s also the Astoria Scenic Waterfront Biking + Riverwalk: not a boat, but Holland America offers a 3-hour bike tour along Astoria’s Riverwalk with views of the Columbia River, the Astoria-Megler Bridge, and you’ll spot sea lions.
Cruising from Astoria means you’re at the mouth where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean. You’ll see the Astoria-Megler Bridge, fishing boats, the Columbia River Gorge with Mount Hood & Multnomah Falls, plus learn the
history tied to Lewis & Clark & early fur traders.
Tips:
Book early, small ships sell out, especially Summer/Fall.
The shortest cruise is 5 days, most are 6-8 days. Embarkation is usually Portland, with a stop in Astoria.
Why We’d Love to Try a Columbia River Cruise
Watching passengers wheel their luggage from the coach directly onto a beautiful riverboat instantly caught our attention.
After spending time exploring Astoria and learning about the Columbia River’s remarkable history, we realized a river cruise would offer an entirely different perspective, travelling through spectacular river gorges, visiting charming waterfront communities, learning about the Lewis and Clark Expedition and seeing landscapes that simply aren’t accessible by road.
It’s the perfect combination of relaxed travel, history, wildlife and scenery, making it an experience we’d genuinely love to include on a future My Return Ticket adventure.
Plan your next trip:
- Hotels
- American Cruise Lines
- Rental Cars
- Tours
- Travel Insurance
- e-Sim ( best for online access)
- Packing Lists
Nearby Attractions:
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