We met the American Empress in Clarkston WA, so we flew into Spokane WA and stayed at the luxurious Davenport Hotel in Spokane. American Queen Steamboat Co pays for your stay at the Davenport, including a great breakfast buffet the next morning. Cruise check in is at the hotel, and the following day you are placed on a two hour bus ride to Clarkston WA to meet the boat. No toilets on the bus, so make sure you use the bathroom at the Davenport. There is no WiFi on the bus, despite a sign that says there is. It would be nice if the driver had explained some of the sights we were seeing along the way. There is no charge for the bus ride to Clarkston, WA, but the company makes up for it by charging you $25/person for a ten minute ride to the Portland airport, when you disembark. Your luggage is waiting for you in your cabin, and embarkation was quick and easy.

Do not take the Davenport van from the airport for $25. You can take a taxi for less than $18. I used Advanced Taxi, and the service was great. The fare from the Spokane airport to the Davenport was $17.86 and I let the driver keep the change from a $20 bill, which he appreciated. He loaded and unloaded our luggage for us.

I requested early seating for dinner, when I made my cruise reservations. Seating is open, and there are two venues for dining, the Astoria dining room and the River Grill. River Grill requires reservations for the evening meal. The Astoria serves three meals a day, with waiter service. The River Grill is buffet style for breakfast and lunch but waiter service only for the evening meal. Food is always plentiful at the River Grill, and you can go there for light snacks between meals. I just wish the River Grill had provided sandwiches, particularly ingredients for sandwiches, but there was plenty of other choices. The morning omelettes are lacking and would better be described as scrambled eggs mixed with vegetables. No problem though, there were many other food choices for breakfast. Read more