15 nights · Oregon · River cruise · Departs Portland OR (USA) · Visiting Camas-Washougal WA, Astoria OR, Kalama WA, The Dalles OR, Richland WA, Clarkston WA, Glacier Bay · Aboard American Cruise Lines on the ACL American Encore
Image courtesy of American Cruise Lines ©
This river cruise sails the Columbia and Snake, departing Portland OR.
| Cruise line | American Cruise Lines |
|---|---|
| Ship | ACL American Encore |
| Duration | 15 nights |
| Port calls | 8 |
| Departures | 13 sailings |
| From fare | $15,120 per person |
| Year built | 2026 |
| Guests | 180 |
| Cabins | 94 |
| Crew | 43 |
| Length | 82 m |
| Beam | 17 m |
| Cruising speed | 12.0 kn |
Portland follows the Willamette River, with the Columbia to its north and Mount Hood on the eastern horizon. Begin downtown at Powell’s City of Books, a landmark independent bookstore spanning an entire city block. Visit the Japanese American Historical Plaza beside the waterfront, or head to Washington Park’s International Rose Test Garden. Food carts, craft breweries and seasonal produce give the city its distinctive taste. Allow time for the Columbia River Gorge, whose waterfalls and trails lie east of town.
At the Columbia River’s edge, Camas and Washougal offer a quieter Washington gateway east of Portland. Explore Camas’s historic downtown, shaped by its long paper-making heritage, then stroll Washougal’s riverfront. The Columbia River Gorge lies close by, with waterfalls, basalt cliffs and scenic drives within reach. Choose local history or a day on the water; this port rewards an unhurried pace.
Astoria stands where the Columbia River meets the Pacific, at the edge of Oregon’s rugged north coast. Its steep streets climb past Victorian houses and traces of a working port shaped by fishing and shipping. At the Columbia River Maritime Museum, exhibits bring the river bar’s dangerous reputation into focus. For broad river and coast views, drive or walk to the Astoria Column. Nearby Fort Clatsop recalls the Lewis and Clark expedition’s winter on the coast.
Kalama, Washington, sits on the Columbia River, where forested hills frame a working waterfront. The town grew around the Northern Pacific Railroad in the 1870s, and its railway roots remain part of the story. At Marine Park, stroll the riverfront and see the towering carved totem pole. Nearby, the Kalama Heritage Center traces local history. Portland lies about 35 miles south, making Kalama a quieter gateway to the region.
The Dalles stands on the Columbia River at the eastern gateway to the Columbia River Gorge. Celilo Falls nearby drew Indigenous peoples for generations to fish and trade. The falls disappeared beneath the reservoir after The Dalles Dam was completed in 1957. Walk the historic downtown and visit local museums for a closer look at the town’s past.
Richland sits where the Yakima River meets the Columbia, in Washington’s sunlit Tri-Cities region. River paths, broad skies and vineyards offer an inviting counterpoint to the area’s profound history. Follow the Sacajawea Heritage Trail, sample local wines, or discover how the Manhattan Project shaped this once-secret community. Beyond town, the Hanford Reach protects one of the Columbia River’s last free-flowing stretches.
Clarkston sits where Idaho’s Clearwater River meets Washington’s Snake, amid the Lewis-Clark Valley’s vineyards and orchards. From its waterfront, riverboats head into Hells Canyon, North America’s deepest river gorge, carved by the Snake. Explore Nez Perce history at nearby sites, or follow the Lewis and Clark Trail through landscapes that shaped their expedition. This quiet river town offers a rewarding pause, with big country close at hand.
Glacier Bay is Alaska at its most elemental: a vast marine wilderness where tidewater glaciers meet the sea. Cruise ships enter this protected national park, often with a park ranger aboard to interpret the landscape. Watch for calving ice, humpback whales, sea otters and bald eagles. The bay is also the ancestral homeland of the Huna Tlingit, whose connection to this changing coast reaches back generations. Bring binoculars, and stay on deck.
Published September 11, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard
Good to know: Prices are quoted per person based on double occupancy and include all applicable taxes and fees. Availability and prices can change quickly, so please continue through the booking process to confirm the latest availability and pricing before you pay.
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