American Queen Voyages on the Columbia & Snake at a glance
American Queen Voyages currently operates 1 river-cruise vessel on the Columbia & Snake, with an average passenger count of 223. The line is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and was founded in 2012; American Queen Voyages operated a four-ship paddle-wheel fleet — the iconic American Queen, American Empress, American Countess and American Duchess — across the Mississippi, Ohio, Cumberland, Tennessee and Columbia rivers. The brand suspended operations in 2024; ship profiles remain published for historical reference.
The Columbia & Snake itself flows through United States over 2000 kilometres. The Columbia and Snake itinerary follows the Lewis and Clark trail across the Pacific Northwest from Portland to Clarkston. Ships transit eight locks, including the 100-foot John Day Lock, and stop in the wine country of Walla Walla and the basalt cliffs of the Columbia Gorge. Headline destinations served by American Queen Voyages on this river include Portland, Astoria, the Columbia Gorge, Hells Canyon, Walla Walla.
American Queen Voyages ships sailing the Columbia & Snake
| Ship | Passengers | Launched |
|---|---|---|
| American Empress | 223 | 2003 |
Featured itineraries
| Itinerary | Length | Sample ports |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia & Snake Rivers | 8 nights | Portland · Astoria · Stevenson · Hood River · The Dalles · Pendleton · Clarkston |
| Pacific Northwest Heritage | 9 nights | Portland · Astoria · Kalama · Hood River · Umatilla · Lewiston · Clarkston |