Learn More
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.
Personalized
Work with one specialist to select, confirm & prepare for cruising the Pacific Northwest.
Active
Immerse in the region by hiking, paddling, rafting, whale watching, biking & enjoying tastings.
Experience
Founded by a former naturalist guide in the region, our company provides key insights.
Value
Save with our early-booking deals, airfare credits, & more. We link you to the best deals.
Pacific Northwest
River Cruises 2023 & 2024
Small river 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 river cruises in 2023 & 2024 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, whitewater rafting, photography, wine tasting and more, in a safe way.
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, 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 Portland river cruise offered by AdventureSmith will also transit through a series of 8 locks, moving the ship over 700 feet up or down.
Orca 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.
“Pacific Northwest cruises feature cool coastal mountains to warm high desert, during superb spring & fall weather.”
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. Rain |
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
A Snake River cruise, 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.