Pacific Northwest Cruises

7 Cruises
1 Offer
Island hop or enjoy a casual river float away from tourist crowds. Our Pacific Northwest cruises pair you with regional highlights: migrating whales, dramatic canyons, seasonal nibbles, regional sippers and fascinating history.
Tandem kayakers in yellow boat paddle wide, slow river in deep canyon with beige & brown walls on a Pacific Northwest cruise.
Trips, Tours & Cruises

Small & Immersive Pacific Northwest Cruises

Pacific Northwest cruises reveal close-to-home treasures, such as the orcas of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula and San Juan Islands, and the expedition history of the Columbia River. Think outside the boat with guided off-vessel activities including hiking, kayaking, tasting tours and more. Onboard historians and naturalists enhance your experience. Our active, overnight small ships make a river cruise in Oregon and Washington more than a lazy float. And our multiday, flexible itineraries explore Puget Sound, the San Juans and Olympic National Park away from the tourist crowds. Experience rich fall colors and spring blooms with our selection of small and immersive northwest cruises.

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Pacific Northwest Cruises with AdventureSmith

Cruising the Pacific Northwest with AdventureSmith ensures that your experience is personalized, high quality, educational, active and immersive. We have lived and worked in areas where our northwest cruises operate, and we have sampled the itineraries firsthand. Let us play matchmaker to find and book your ideal Columbia River boat cruise or Puget Sound small ship expedition.

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Personalized

Work with one specialist to select, confirm & prepare for cruising the Pacific Northwest.

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Active

Immerse in the region by hiking, paddling, rafting, whale watching, biking & enjoying tastings.

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Experience

Founded by a former naturalist guide in the region, our company provides key insights.

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Value

Save with our early-booking deals, airfare credits, & more. We link you to the best deals.

Pacific Northwest Cruises 2024 & 2025

Pacific Northwest cruises in the U.S.A. run by reputable domestic companies are a popular option for easy, close-to-home travel. As such, Pacific Northwest cruises in 2024 & 2025 are in high demand. Our selection of Pacific Northwest small ships get you and newfound friends out exploring daily with hiking, biking, kayaking, inflatable skiff excursions, stand-up paddleboarding, whale watching, photography, wine tasting and more, in a safe way.

Tall Columbia River canyon with crumbling tan walls carved in steps & grassy areas above & below.

Columbia River Cruises

A Columbia River boat cruise between Oregon and Washington will stretch from the cool coast to the warm interior. These are often also considered a Snake River cruise or cruises on the Columbia and Snake Rivers, as they’ll connect the two waterways. Oregon river cruises hub out of Portland and are offered in the spring and fall, when harvests and blossoms are at their best. Each Portland river cruise will sample dramatic canyons, seasonal nibbles, regional sippers and fascinating history. Every cruise down the Columbia River offered by AdventureSmith will also transit through a series of 8 locks, moving the ship over 700 feet up or down. Select departures offer a winemaker’s tasting on board, for a Columbia River wine cruise.

Orca Whale Watching on Pacific Northwest Cruises

Small ship cruises in the Pacific Northwest, particularly those that cruise among Washington’s Puget Sound and British Columbia’s Johnstone Straight, offer excellent odds of encountering orca. San Juan Island cruises take advantage of a rain shadow and are home to resident pods of orca. While northbound cruises from Washington State can reveal migratory orca that come to feed during seasonal salmon runs.

An black orca whale with a white spot around its eye is swimming at the surface of the water in front of a snowcapped mountain peak.

“Pacific Northwest cruises feature cool coastal mountains to warm high desert, during superb spring & fall weather.”

Climate

Pacific Northwest Cruises

Temperature & Rainfall

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Avg. High (F) 45 48 52 57 62 66 70 70 66 58 50 45
Avg. Low (F) 34 36 37 40 44 47 49 50 47 43 38 35
Avg. Rainfall (Inches) 3.9 2.8 2.3 1.9 1.7 1.4 1.0 1.1 1.3 2.4 4.4 4.0

Spring & Fall Small Ship Cruises in the Pacific Northwest

Snake River cruises from Portland, Oregon, as well as a Columbia River boat cruise or voyage in Puget Sound will operate on either end of the Alaska travel season, as ships position north and south. Catch spring blooms or fall harvest colors on northwest cruises, with misty mornings giving way to sunny afternoons and evenings. Note that the climate data referenced above is for San Juan Island, Washington; an inland Snake River cruise or Columbia River boat cruise is likely to be slightly warmer.

When Should You Plan Your Pacific Northwest Small Ship Cruise?

Book with the confidence that comes from experience.

100+ combined years of experience, 7 continents explored, decades of expedition cruising around the world & here to help you find & book your dream trip.

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