Our journey on the Columbia and Snake Rivers was fabulous. Small ship cruising is definitely for us! We had a sense of intimacy not available on our other cruises: no long lines getting on and off, wonderful American young people on the crew willing and able to help, getting to know both passengers and crew, delicious food (I even had several desserts for lunch one day – next day was salad so don’t judge) – I could go on and on! How delightful to go out on the balcony every morning and marvel at the gorgeous scenery which ranged from desert-like to lush forest along the river.

Safety was a prime concern. The ship was spotless and was cleaned several times a day. Passengers and crew all had Covid vaccinations and testing.

We learned a lot of history that isn’t included in textbooks. We learned about the Lewis & Clark expedition and how Sacagawea provided much-needed supplies and protection from native tribes. The history of the settlement of the region from early fur traders and loggers to the pioneers on the Oregon Trail, to its “wild west” years of brothels and lawlessness, to development through steamships and railroads was laid out for us through excursions and lectures. We also learned about the formation of this once wild and dangerous river, and how it was tamed through dams, locks, and dredging. Geology, history, nature, and technology all in one region! Read more