Went on a little ride down the Colombia to the Bonneville dam and back. The crew very kind and helpful. The views were amazing and the boat was awesome! I preordered a gourmet hot dog and it was good! read more

Sternwheeler Columbia Gorge Cruises - Bonneville Dam and the Colombia River - Boat Charters Near Me - Cascade Locks, Oregon

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Ok, what a cool paddle boat to spend two hours on running up and down the Columbia River! Tha tour came with "Endless Mimosa's" and a buffet. I was disappointed in the buffet as the chicken, potato's, bacon (but the bacon was crunchy and that was excellent) and quiche were all cold. The Apple turnover and salad dressing on the salad were on point. The cost was $85 for Seniors so B all in all, we had a good time. The Captain also have an extensive narrative on the history of the Columbia River. read more

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The best way to see and get a feel for the Columbia River is by boat. We took the two hour Sternwheeler cruise and loved every single minute of it. It was a beautiful day so we stayed outside on deck the entire time. Everyone was rushing to get to the open top deck so it was crowded but the secret middle deck is where its at. For those interested, it's replica of the sternwheelers that cruised the Columbia beginning in the 1850's and was built in Hood River by Nichols Brothers boat builders. Sorry, I'm a history buff and love this stuff. During the whole cruise Captain Tom provides narration about the river's history and points out the various species of wildlife. We saw Osprey and a Bald Eagle during our cruise. You also get an incredible view of the 800 foot high Beacon Rock. . The vessel is wheelchair accessible - including the bathroom and main deck bar area - but I'm not sure how you get to the upper decks if you can't climb stairs. I never saw a public elevator but of course, I wasn't in need of one. Our cruise ticket price ($40 each) did not include meals but there is a snack bar that offers sandwiches, chips, candy and both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages for purchase. It was so cool buying a "glass" of wine and sitting back to watch the river go by. I'd also suggest you bring a jacket since it can get mighty windy out on the water. Oh, and buy the picture they take of you before you board. It's not required but is a great souvenir. I have ours framed and sitting on our dresser at home. Reminder of a beautiful day. Want to go back and take the Bonneville Dam & Lockage cruise next year. read more

Undeniably delightful dinner cruise! The food was delicious, the service spectacular and the captain of the ship navigated his Sternwheeler flawlessly. We participated in this cruise during the Fall and enjoyed it immensely. We will be returning this summer with our grandsons so that they can experience the magic. We're looking forward to partaking the views (more daylight) and a sunset. We highly, highly recommend this experience and this company. read more

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We had a great time on this dinner cruise. The food was excellent.The service was awesome. The crew was very helpful and nice. Would definitely recommend. read more

WOW! Super fantastic experience! Very easy to book tickets through your smart phone Easy to find, the boat was vintage beautiful, with plenty of seating on the top two decks for sightseeing. Once the cruise starts, there is a full bar and food (think stadium food like hot dogs and such). There are brunch and dinner cruises available with all the bells & whistles too. The stern wheel is super cool, actually really operational and not just for show. The Captain shares info tidbits along the way (if you want to hear every word you need to be on second deck/inside where bar is). What's also great, you pay for the East or West along the Columbia; you're invited to stay and ride the other way for free! What's not to love?! read more

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I enjoy taking this cruise every few years. It's a nice and relaxing way to see a different side of the scenery around the gorge. I'd recommend people who are visiting and even locals to take a brunch/lunch or dinner cruise. read more

Best $76 I've spent on a two person boat cruise. Especially considering this was a spur of the moment decision after my muscles were too sore to see the Columbia River from a hike. The captain had great commentary. There were so many wild birds to be seen. Wind surfers and kayakers were out. And the scenery was stunning. So many colors of blue with beautiful trees and landscapes. And we got to go both east and west for two hours total of cruising time! I'm also normally prone to seasickness - didn't even need my Dramamine for this trip. Pro Tip: Eat at a restaurant in town (2 minutes past the cruise location) Double Pro Tip: Expect to pay $7 in parking at the lot. You can actually pay this in the gift shop rather than having to pay on your phone. Triple Pro Tip: The lower bow is usually empty so you can get there early and stake it out for yourself Quadruple Pro Tip: Book this cruise already! read more

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BEWARE: We paid $175 for a dinner cruise that never happened. Their website is bonkers when it came to reservations, as its cell-phone web functions are misaligned, showing regular cruises alongside dinner cruises. We spent an absolutely outrageous $175 for a 2-hour boat ride IN THE DARK. Why, in the name of all that is holy, would anybody do that?? When we inquired as to what happened after telling her why we thought it was a dinner cruise, the main stewardess of the boat said, "Oh, yeah... we have kind of a wonky website." ARE YOU KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW? That was her response??? A total rip off, and dullards for customer service. This was the same woman who told us onshore to use the bathroom "over at the Pavilion" where, we discovered too late, a FUNERAL was taking place! We were mortified. What an idiot. Also, the music played along the route is just godawful. It's like the Captain's driving home music - CCR and The Beach Boys and The Doors... it's "okay" music if you're over 70, but, coupled with the hideous wallpaper all over the boat, it felt like we were on a field trip from a retirement home. Finally, dear lord: The Captain... whooooo boy... this guy needs to hand over the reins as "tour guide" to someone 40 years younger. He sounded like a manure salesman with his mouth full of samples. The guy is barely audible as he smack-smack-smacks his lips through every sentence like he's perpetually sucking on a Werther's candy. Cannot recommend. Terrible experience. read more

For sightseeing only: When we went there was no indoor seating available at all, the entire cruise you have to sit outside. It is very windy so bring a hair tie or hat. You can purchase food in the cafe gift shop and bring it aboard to eat, there is basic cafe drinks, sandwiches and chips. You can also buy drinks/cocktails at the bar inside. For a warm summer night this was a ton of fun and a special date night. The views are absolutely gorgeous. You have to pay for parking either inside the gift shop or via a parking app. read more

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We took a Sunday brunch cruise in June 2024. The cruise was fun and the staff were very nice. Great narrative from the Captain as well. I'd like to say the food was good too, but it was totally cold. I mean like it sat out all night cold. Eggs Benedict, bacon, sausage, biscuits and gravy, fruit. It was a shame because it was tasty. They need to work on that. read more

Incredible experience. The ship is quite old, but it is still beautiful. Seeing the wheel turn in the back is truly incredible. The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful. They truly want you to have the best experience possible. The views are stunning. Never a bad view from the three levels of the ship. The food was also exquisite. Salad was just alright, but the beef tenderloin plate certainly made up for it. Simply delectable. Overall, just an awesome experience that is totally worth the money. Take your partner out for a date, or take the kids too for a fun time. One of the best things to do around read more

Sternwheeler Columbia Gorge Cruises - One of the lesser views from the ship. I'm telling you, the views are totally worth it. - Boat Charters Near Me - Cascade Locks, Oregon

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Great food and atmosphere. The service was excellent. Will definitely be back next time we are in town.

A great way to hear about the local lore and industries of yesteryear. A quick ride on the Columbia rive. beautiful scenery--what's not to love! read more

A friend and I decided to take one of the Christmas ships tour cruises. We had such a great time! What a great way to experience the Christmas ships also so that you are not fighting the crowds up at the waterfront etc. It was about $80 per person and includes a three course dinner. We were impressed too that the food was prepared with excellence though we opted to way a little more to get the extra fancy dessert instead of just taking the cheesecake which comes with it. We were able to wander out to the deck between dinner and dessert and get some great photos of all of the ships which were super fun. Such a great and truly Portland experience! read more

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So if you have never really seen the Columbia River Gorge or you have friends or relatives in town that like the outdoors with all its magnificence... this gorge tour is for you. There are several different types of cruises such as brunch, dinner and scenic cruises. We chose the 2 hour scenic cruise. Boarding is in Cascade Locks. The process is you can purchase the tickets online or at the office. You should show up 30 minutes ahead of time because you're going to stand in an extremely long line to board with lots and lots of people. So be ready and patient. Before you can board they will tell you it is mandatory to take your photo prior and you will then be herded to your mandatory photo session. Once you board and get seated you find out the real reason is because they hunt you down and try to sell you your photo. So we felt like they had lied to us about why they took our photo originally. Not cool! The cruise itself was awesome. We went East and back to the dock for the first half of the two hour cruise. Docked, picked up more people and then headed West and back for the second half. There were lots of windsurfers and so on in the river so it was really cool to see them close up. We also got to see a Native American fishing platforms and learned that they are allowed to fish year round. The cost for the 2 hour cruise was $35 each. The boat does need some updating, has no air conditioning and the photo thing is just wrong. read more

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My family and I did the brunch cruise and it was amazing! Well worth it. All you can eat delicious food, attentive and friendly staff (Thanks Jeff), and informative narration. They recognized our special family get together and they also recognized birthdays and anniversaries of passengers which really personalized the experience. A must do for visitors because you can explore the gorge from a vantage point that you don't get from the highway. We saw eagles, windsurfers, sailboats, and the extra long trains that pass through the gorge. Great value. read more

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While the commentary and views were great the rest of the experience was pretty terrible today. The first half was actually quite nice but then the captain had to make 3-4 attempts to dock the boat because there was no wind. Kind of odd. Then a group of guests got off while others were boarding and ordered food, causing the rest of us to wait 20+ minutes extra for the 2nd half of the cruise. To "stay on schedule" I overheard the staff saying they would have to shorten the trip to the Locks & Bonneville Dam. It's pretty poor customer service to make everyone wait because a small group was selfish. After the 2nd half of the trip it took the captain another 3 tries to dock the boat. The views are awesome, the info is great, the rest of the trip, staff, and condition of the boat ruined what should have been a fun activity for us. I would recommend spending your money and time elsewhere. read more

We went to celebrate my fiancés birthday. We got right on, and it happened to be a pretty cold day unfortunately. The main doors were wide open and I was freezing but they closed it halfway through. The service was AMAZING! Hannah was our server and checked on us quite often and made sure we had everything we needed. The views were so pretty and it was definitely something we would like to enjoy again. read more

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DO NOT BOOK! I would give this a zero if I could! #1 our boat was changed from what we booked, but we were ok with this. We booked this dinner cruise for our anniversary, I regret the choice. We called in advance to ensure social distancing would be in place and we're told it would be. The tables were 2-3 feet apart max rather than 6; I specifically asked if the tables would be adequately spaced and was ensured they would be. We were also said that if not eating, masks must be worn, but this was not enforced. I never took a bite of food or a drink as the rules we were told were in place due to COVID we're not honored. We paid $230.00 to sit in a corner with a mask on as the company gave us false information. read more

Bro... If you like PNW history. Hit this up. I'll separate this review into two sections that I believe deserve complete different evaluations. Food and Ambiance. Ambiance: We'll start with my favorite part. I'm a nerd, and I love historic and old things. I know the boat we were on isn't exactly historic but it was quite epic. If you haven't seen a stern-wheeler powering a large boat, it's hard to explain. Very impressive and powerful looking. The boat feels a bit dated but I feel adds to the charm of the whole experience. I feel like the cruise without the meal would be worth the price to be honest. Food: Started out with a salad that was poorly dressed. It wasn't bad but definitely needed more dressing. Entree had a few options, a vegetarian lasagna, grilled chicken with a mango chutney, steelhead topped with gremolata (I had this.), and beef tenderloin finished with a burgundy demi-glace. From what I heard from my fellow party goers the food was good. The steelhead was dope, the gremolata was even better. I was surprised with the quality of the cook on the fish given the size of service and the speed at which it came out. Once we had spent some time on the top deck taking in the sights, our waiter found us to gather the dessert orders which was impressive. The standard choice was a coconut banana creme cake/pie type of dessert. I wasn't too fond of it, but I ate it none the less. Conclusion: Do this. It's fun and the food was quite surprising. On a good weather day it is fantastic. Honestly I'm almost edger to book this on a stormy day. I think it would be just as exciting if not more. read more

lovely dinner cruise for our anniversary. The view and cruise is the best part. Learn a little history of the area from the narration. the dinner and salad is nothing special but not bad for serving on a boat. read more

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We decided to change it up and take a Columbia River cruise, rather than our annual Willamette River cruise on the Portland Spirit. The Columbia Sternwheeler is part of the Portland Spirit fleet and there were many similarities. It was nice to have a change of scenery and we did see some wildlife during our 2-hour brunch cruise. There is a sea lion that regularly hangs out on one of the islands by the Columbia River Dam and bald eagles make their nests on trees and wooden docks along the route. The typical itinerary, although I'm told the captain can modify this at his or her discretion, is to start the cruise from Cascade Locks by heading East for about 30 minutes, then turning back and passing under the Bridge of the Gods to get relatively close to the dam. The cruise was fully booked, so reservations are highly recommended if this is an important activity for your family or group. When you arrive, the visitor center is modern, clean and has complimentary coffee. It is a nice place to wait for the cruise to begin. By comparison, the Sternwheeler ship seems almost painfully dated and not in a cute, historic way. While the Portland Spirit isn't glam, this is a couple steps down. In particular, the buffet space feels very cramped and the bathrooms could use some work. The floral wallpaper and carpets could also use refreshing. The food you are served is quite similar to the Portland Spirit and our brunch came with complimentary champagne, orange juice and coffee. I think the crew did a good job of restocking items on the buffet during the trip and refilling our drinks, even though they were understaffed (one employee didn't show up). There are two levels of observation decks, with the lower level partially covered. This was a good thing since it rained during our cruise. On the top level, the captain left the wheelhouse open and would happily answer questions and let guests steer the boat. He also provided some commentary during the trip. I'm certainly happy we made the voyage, but if you are visiting the area and only want to take one cruise, I personally would recommend taking the Portland Spirit cruise in Portland and then experiencing the Columbia Gorge by car and foot. read more

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We did the gorgeous dinner cruise for our 5th anniversary. The dinner was good. The cruise was beautiful! The sternwheeler was built in 1983. The decor inside probably hasn't changed since then, but it's nice enough. We were at one of only two reserved tables on the upper floor. We paid extra for the "Romance Package" which included souvenir glasses and a photo. I also opted for the guaranteed window seat which may not have been necessary with this few people. It was nice sitting upstairs and having the whole side of that deck to ourselves. We dressed nice for dinner but the dress is generally casual. Our table setting was nice. The chairs are the same kind you will find in any VFW hall. The food was good and the servers were nice. We both had the beef tenderloin dinner which was pretty good. I had the New York style cheesecake for dessert which was amazing! We ordered Spanish coffees after dinner and the bartender came up to make them at the table. They may not do that on a busier trip. He did a good job with the showmanship. The drinks tasted good but he over-heated the glass so the sugar was completely melted into amber. They also use whipped cream as opposed to heavy cream. Not a bad thing, just different than I'm used to. The cruise was excellent! We went up river for a while before turning around and heading all the way back down to the locks at Bonneville Dam. The captain gave historical information about the Cascade Locks, Bonneville Dam and surrounding area throughout the trip. I would recommend this experience to anyone with the caveat that they temper their gourmet expectations if they do dinner as well. read more

Sternwheeler Columbia Gorge Cruises - Who wants to water ski? - Boat Charters Near Me - Cascade Locks, Oregon

What a great surprise! A two hour Sternwheeler ride and dinner. The whole experience was a 10. The food was good the bread was great and we ate way too much, so good. The dinner included a salad, main course with vegetables, and a cheesecake desert topped by a local berry topping (very good). The staff was awesome. They looked like they were having fun and the service was the same level of a five star Resturant. The captain kicks off the experience with a safety talk and adds local and historic information during the ride. It was very interesting. We even got to go in with the captain as he maneuvered the ship. The bar drinks seemed small and costly. They were however very good. This is an area of opportunity. This was a Father's Day surprise trip that I would like to do every year! A big thank you to the staff and owners! read more

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Just a real pleasure. The two-hour evening tour around the gorge is unrushed and the staff is always looking out for the passengers. While making sure you get a window table is recommended, there is lots of room to wander around out on the deck and take in the amazing scenery between courses. See some ospreys, do the mandatory "Titanic" pose near the bow, get lightly splashed by the paddle wheel on the second deck! (Yes, they warn you about that possibility). We went for a birthday dinner, so got all the bells and whistles with the Admiral's Table package (window seat, take-home glasses, pics, complimentary drinks). Price seemed a little high at first, but the birthday girl smiled at the end of the cruise, so apparently it was just right. The food was great, neither too light nor overwhelming, and the staff was always on point. Try the steel head, then go outside and just enjoy the slow trek down the river. You can also buy a ride only ticket and just hang out on the deck enjoying the summer evening, as several did. Had a great time and would do it again in a minute! read more

Sternwheeler Columbia Gorge Cruises - Boat Charters Near Me - Cascade Locks, Oregon

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I came in expecting a really nice dinner especially for the price, but was very disappointed. Our server told us at 6:00 pm that our dinner would be at the table by 6:30, so we went out to take pictures and enjoy the view. We came back in at 6:20ish and our dinner was served until 7:10 PM. Our food came in very cold and tables around us also said their food was very cold, so we asked for our food to be reheated and the server said she couldn't do that until the manager came out. We had our food reheated and brought back out until 7:29 pm. The cruise ended at 8pm, so we had to rush our dinner and took our dessert to go. Not a good experience.... read more

Sternwheeler Columbia Gorge Cruises - Boat Charters Near Me - Cascade Locks, Oregon

Note: We went during the Covid restrictions so there were only about 60 people on the boat. We had a really nice evening. The staff was very nice and helpful. The dinner was OK. Note, I had the vegan option which was a bit disappointing. My wife had the vegetarian option and it was better. We enjoyed the captains commentary as we sailed up and down the gorge. The views were great and it was a beautiful evening on the water. Keep in mind that it is a bit pricey, but we felt it was worth it. read more

We did the dinner cruise the first week of July 2021. We had blue skies and a light wind. We stepped on to the stern wheeler right at 5:30 for the dinner cruise. We were promptly seated and our server came by shortly afterwards. We got our drinks and headed to the outside top deck. Amazing beautiful views of the gorge and surrounding mountains! We had the shrimp appetizer and tenderloin beef with roasted vegetables for dinner with a wonderful chocolate brownie for dessert. We had the Desert Wind Cab. Sauv with dinner. Fun overall experience! read more

We had a wonderful evening and dinner celebrating my sister's birthday. Everyone was friendly, efficient, and professional. The food was outstanding and it was just a perfect memorable occasion. read more

My husband booked this river cruise for Mothers Day as a surprise. When he told me, I was super excited and I'm happy to say that this not only lived up to my expectations, but exceeded them. The brunch buffet was full of quality food--including eggs Benedict, bacon and French toast. We were seated on the second floor (there were 3 floors total) and had a window table so we could see the view the entire time. The brunch was all-you-can eat, so we went back a few times for seconds. The best part of it all was when we went to explore the outdoor portion of the boat. There were new views from each level and the back of the boat had a water wheel (not sure this is the correct lingo) but it was pretty cool to see. Stunning scenery and was definitely worth the price per person. They surprised us with dessert, which was mini cheesecakes. Will definitely book this experience again for another special occasion. read more

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This review is for the 2 hour dinner cruise. Quick summary is this is a TOURIST TRAP. Do not go. Continue for my broken down review. Columbia Views - 10/10 If you've never seen the Gorge this is a great way to do that. I would suggest doing the cruise only and expect to sit outside because this company has given up on the interior. It's musty but has the potential to be beautiful. Narrator - 2/10 The narrator was the equivalent of that teacher from the Ferris Bueller movie. He was just unenthusiastic and the script needs updating. This was my biggest issue as I feel like i was just being talked to in a classroom and not on a fun exciting dinner cruise for my anniversary. Food - 3/10 The food was about Applebee's quality, except at Applebee's you aren't paying $100 a person. When you look at the pictures of the food in the reviews it looks looks amazing but that's not what you're going to get. Far from it. Service - 8/10 There was nothing particularly bad about the service. Carlos was very nice and attentive. Our waters were never empty and they cleared our plates in reasonable times. Our food didn't take long to come out either, everything was pretty smooth. Price - 1/10 For $100 per person I was expecting a lot more. The reason this feels like a tourist trap is because there are so many additional fees. $5 for parking, upgraded desert, $15 drinks, etc. You get to the menu and see there are tons of extra add ons which they continue to ask if you would like to purchase throughout the whole cruise. I would never recommend this dinner cruise to anyone, but I might suggest the non-dinner cruise. Maybe once they revamp the boat, the food, and the script I'll try it again! read more

This was my second time on this cruise, sightseeing only(no lunch). The young woman that checked us in inside the ship also our bartender was very sweet. I would like to say the rest of the staff were somewhat surly. The ship is in very much need of freshing up. The inside of the ship smells musty. The men's bathroom was dirty and smelled as well. I noticed another paddle ship across the river on the Washington side. Looked beautiful practically new. I will check that one out next time. read more

This was a very fun way to spend an afternoon. The boat is showing its age if you sit inside but upon deck the views are stunning. We enjoyed the historical commentary and stunning views of the dam. You can ride both 1 hour trips for the same cost, though 1 hour was the perfect time for our family. Perfect addition to a trip to Multnomah falls. read more

So the out of town relatives show up, what do you do? Throw 'em on a boat up the river. My dad got a kick out of this boat tour. We booked in advance for the morning cruise leaving at 11am, which got kinda of crowded, but nothing like the cruise that booked for 1pm. We could barely exit the building there were so many waiting. We had a coupon that got us lunch at the restaurant there, but if you have this same opportunity, do take note, we had to wait until they opened. Our cruise left at 11am and they open at 10:30 and not a minute sooner, that is a quote you can take to the bank, from the manager. They are, literally, in the lobby. We placed our order to take on the boat and five minutes later a woman walked up and asked for the same grilled chicken sandwich I had and they told her they had no time to cook it. The boat is a little worn out, but it doesn't detract from the fun of a boat ride. The captain had some good river stories and we were able to move all over the boat with ease. I would recommend as something to do if you are looking to get out on the water. read more

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Had a great time with my mom and daughters. We did the one hour cruise which was just enough time. Explore the area before boarding as it's beautiful. The apple pie and fries were delicious at the Grill. read more

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We did the dinner cruise on the Sternwheeler and really enjoyed it. The captain was very informative about the area. The boat was clean, including the bathrooms. The staff was wonderful, they were very friendly and all had great personalities and smiles. The food was delicious. We booked last minute too and it was well worth it. I will definitely do this again next time I'm in the area. read more

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We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Loved the narration of the History of the River. Also a gracious young man retrieved my handicapped husbands cap that blew away. The staff was fantastic. My husband is going to try to get his brothers to do it with him read more

My Wife and I loved it ! The food , staff and the cruise was amazing !! We were on the Friday August 24 2018 dinner cruise , the ship was over half full plenty of space for all read more

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Thought a cruise of Columbia River would be a fun activity for my relatives visiting for the weekend. What at a disaster! We arrived at 12:30. Our cruise was to set to depart at 1:30. We paid for parking, waited to board, only to be told that the Sternwater was broken. The staff knew that the cruise was broken--but they choose to tell only AFTER we ordered lunch and paid for parking. What a scam! We had to call the Portland Spirit Cruises on our own. Portland Spirit Cruises didn't even apologize. Instead, they tried to sell me on a dinner cruise in Portland--we didn't pay for a cruise of Portland, we paid for a cruise of the Columbia River Gorge. I had to fight to get a refund. What a disaster! Response: Several families arrived at 1:30PM--which means that they were NOT notified in a timely manner. Furthermore, I discovered that the charge was NOT reversed as promised. Instead, the entire cruise fee was posted to my card the day AFTER the cruise was cancelled. Unacceptable! read more