Frequently Asked Questions

Book your cruise online

Call our office: 503-224-3900

Visit our Ticket Booth at Salmon Street Springs. The Ticket Booth is open Friday – Sunday from 12 pm – 5 pm in June & September and daily from 10 am – 7 pm in July & August.

Walk-on guests are welcome when space is available, though you are strongly encouraged to call ahead to verify day-of cruise availability. Many Saturday and holiday cruises sell out in advance.

The following starting prices apply to standard cruises only and are subject to change. Our pricing is based on demand and will increase based on the popularity of the date selected. Quoted prices do not include tax, fees or optional upgrades.

Proceed to booking to view the current rate. It is recommended to book early for the best pricing. There are discounts for groups of 10 adults or more.

Dinner: Adult from $99 | Youth (0-12) from $79
Sightseeing only: $60/Adult | $30/Youth (0-12)

Lunch: Adult from $69 | Youth (1-12) from $34.50 | $10 Infants (0-1)
Sightseeing only: $44/Adult | $25/Youth (1-12) | Infants (0-1) free

Brunch cruise: Adult from $79 | Youth (1-12) from $39.50 | $10 Infants (0-1)
Sightseeing only: $44/Adult | $25/Youth (1-12) | Infants (0-1) free

Happy Hour Sightseeing (July – September): $33/Adult | $28/Youth (1-12) | Infants (0-1) free

Columbia River Jetboat Adventure Cruises: Adult from $70 | Youth from $62 (up to age 12; not recommended for small children)

Cinnamon Bear Breakfast Holiday Cruises: Adult from $70 | Youth (0-12) from $50

Service gratuity (tip) is not included with reservations unless:

• You book an Admiral’s package
• Reserve a group of 10 or more people.
• You are reserving a holiday cruise that includes it (see below).

You can add gratuity at the end of your cruise. Suggested tip amounts, based on your total bill, are printed on your onboard receipt.

Holiday Cruises:
Some holiday cruises include a gratuity in the price, such as:

• Cinnamon Bear Breakfast
• Valentine’s Day
• Mother’s Day
• Father’s Day
• Fourth of July

Check the “What’s Included” section on the specific cruise page for details.

Explorer Jetboat Tours:

Tipping your guide and captain is not required, but is appreciated. It is customary to tip $5-$10 (or more) per person, which is split with the guide and captain.

If you have additional questions, you may call us at 503-224-3900.

We offer discounts for groups of 10 or more passengers.

Our email newsletter is one of the best ways to learn about upcoming events, specialty cruises and occasional sales on cruises. You can sign up via the form at the very bottom of our website.

• Free Advance Transfers/Exchanges: You can switch to another cruise of the same type (e.g., dinner cruise to dinner cruise) for free at least 2 weeks prior to departure. Exchanges must be made by calling 503-224-3900.
• Within 14 Days: Transfers within 14 days incur a small transfer fee, unless you have Ticket Assurance.
• No Refunds: Refunds are not offered unless Ticket Assurance is purchased.

If Portland Spirit cancels a cruise, you can transfer to another date or receive a full refund.

Ticket Assurance:
Add Ticket Assurance to your reservation for a 10% fee at the time of booking to enjoy extra flexibility:

• Cancel or Transfer Without Fees: Transfer to another date or cancel for a refund, less the cost of Ticket Assurance.
• Partial Refunds: Available if only part of your party can attend.
• Peace of Mind: Covers cancellations for any reason, such as illness, traffic delays, or emergencies.

Ticket Assurance can be used:

• Online: Up to 2 hours before departure.
• By Phone: Within 24 hours after your cruise by calling our office.

Price differences apply if transferring to a higher-priced cruise. Ticket Assurance must be added at the time of reservation.

Most cruises travel south (upstream) on the Willamette River from downtown Portland. The return leg heads north (downstream), looping through downtown and under Portland’s famous bridges. Due to varying cruise lengths, our turn around point varies:

• • Happy Hour Sightseeing Cruises: To Waverly Country Club.
  • Lunch & Brunch Cruises: To the Historic Milwaukie Waterfront.
  • Dinner Cruises: To Lake Oswego.

View our cruise route and attractions.

Explorer Jetboat Cruises:

These high-speed cruises travel north on the Willamette River and east on the Columbia River into the breathtaking Columbia River Gorge.

Explore the Explorer cruise route.

Special Cruises:
Twice annually, we offer a cruise from Portland to Astoria aboard the Portland Spirit.

Note: Routes may vary due to river activity and conditions.

We offer a variety of enhancements for your special occasion aboard the Portland Spirit. Enhancements are not available on every cruise.

Admiral Package Additional $74 per person — Save $24 per person
Treat yourself to a truly luxurious dining experience at the Admiral’s Table with a guaranteed window table, appetizer, upgraded dessert, complimentary tea, coffee or soft drinks, a drink ticket for beer, wine or a cocktail, boarding photo and keepsake cocktail glass. Perfect for a date night or celebration with friends and family. Service gratuity also included.

Celebration Package Additional $42 per person — Save $9 per person
Put the finishing touch on your special celebration. The Celebration package includes a drink ticket for beer, wine or a cocktail, upgraded dessert, complimentary tea, coffee, or soft drinks and a boarding photo. (Service gratuity not included.)

Keepsake Package Additional $35 per person — Save $4 per person
Includes one drink ticket for beer, wine or a cocktail, souvenir glass and a boarding photo to remember your special occasion with the Portland Spirit. (Service gratuity not included.)

Guaranteed Window Table starting from $15 per person
Available on meal cruises only, your party will be guaranteed a table at the window. Limited number available per cruise.

Boarding Photo $15 each
Your visit will be captured by our photographer as you arrive. Before you leave, you will have your picture in a custom Portland Spirit frame to take with you.

Cheese Sampler Plate $30 each
A curated selection of local Northwest cheeses, chosen for flavor and presentation. Served with crostini and fruit.

Seafood Plate $30 each
Smoked lox, steelhead, seared tuna, mussels and prawns. Served with crostini, cream cheese, lemon and cocktail sauce.

Mediterranean Plate $30 each
Pre-order only. Vegan option featuring a variety of vegetables, Beyond hot Italian sausage slices, GF tortilla and house-made hummus.

Shrimp Cocktail $12 each
Five tiger prawns served with our chef’s special recipe cocktail sauce.

You may also choose to pre-order floral arrangements at a variety of sizes and prices. If you let us know, we would be glad to announce your occasion on board. Please add any special requests in the booking notes when reserving a cruise online, or let your customer service representative know when booking by phone at 503-224-3900.

Meal Cruises:
We recommend business casual or dressy casual attire.

Sightseeing Cruises:
Casual attire.

Footwear:
We strongly advise against high heels, especially ones with thin heels. Opt for solid, non-slip shoes for safety in the marine environment.

Weather Considerations:

• Wear layered clothing as river climates can be unpredictable.
• For Explorer Jetboat cruises, prepare for a thrill ride with potential exposure to varying weather, wind and river conditions.

The Portland Spirit, Willamette Star and Crystal Dolphin offer fully enclosed climate-controlled dining decks.

All our food is prepared fresh on board in our galley and our menus change daily. For plated meal cruises, we offer seafood, beef, poultry and vegetarian options. A menu will be at your table upon boarding, and you can pre-order appetizers, desserts and other items during your reservation.

View our sample menus.

Dietary Restrictions & Food Allergies:
We accommodate most dietary needs but have some limitations due to the small galley space.

• Vegetarian options are always available.
• Vegan and gluten-free modifications can be requested in advance.
• Please inform us of dietary restrictions or allergies when booking, by calling 503-224-3900 or via our website chat.

For severe allergies requiring ingredient separation, please provide detailed notes in your booking. While we’ll do our best to meet your needs, we appreciate your understanding of our limitations due to preparing food in a boat’s galley with limited space. Please note, we use extra virgin olive oil and canola/olive oil blend in our Galley.

Outside Food & Beverage

Outside food and drinks are not permitted, except on Bigfoot and 7 Wonders of the Gorge Explorer Jetboat cruises. You may bring your own wine to a meal cruise for a corkage fee of $25/bottle. Please note that all carry-ons and bags are subject to inspection.

The Portland Spirit, Willamette Star, and Crystal Dolphin are wheelchair-accessible on the Willamette Deck (1st level), including wheelchair-accessible restrooms. They can accommodate most manual wheelchairs and some power chairs up to 32 inches wide. Power wheelchair users may request seating near a power outlet.

Please note, the bow and observation deck on the Portland Spirit are accessible only by stairs. The Willamette Deck is fully enclosed and accessible via ramp.

Ramp Considerations:

• There is a 90-degree turn at the bottom of the ramp.
• River levels may cause the ramp to be steep, particularly in summer months.
• At Salmon Street Springs Dock, a Wheelchair CartCaddy, which attaches to the frame of the chair, to safely assist passengers up and down the ramp. At Caruthers Landing, assistance may be provided down the ramp, and for those able to transfer, a golf cart may be available to transport passengers in need down/up the ramp.

When Booking:

• Add details about your wheelchair and other accessibility needs in the booking notes when reserving online.
• While there is no weight limit on the ramp or vessel, our team may request details such as: Whether the passenger is weight-bearing, the type & size of the chair, and if the chair is equipped with a leg rest.
• For assistance or further questions, please call us at 503-224-3900.

For more details, view our accessibility listing on Wheel the World.

Dock Location

Most public cruises board at Salmon Street Springs in Waterfront Park, but some may depart from Caruthers Landing. Boarding locations and vessels are subject to change, so check your booking confirmation or event organizer for the correct address. You can also view the departure location in the booking section of our website. For questions, call us at 503-224-3900 during business hours.

Public cruises start boarding 30 minutes prior to departure and private cruises typically board 15 minutes prior to departure.

Boarding Process

When you arrive at the dock (check your booking confirmation for the correct address), you’ll be greeted by our captain and members of the crew. We take a required boarding photo of everyone who boards, but it is optional to purchase the printed souvenir photo at the end of the cruise.

Please be prepared to show the QR code from your confirmation email for check-in at the bottom of the ramp. Your party can also check in under the last name it was booked under.

We are U.S. Coast Guard regulated so as part of our safety and security plan, passengers 18 years of age and older must carry photo identification. The boarding photo is also required to board. However, those that are uncomfortable with a photo may request the photographer destroy the printed souvenir photo. All carry-on bags are subject to inspection.

Cruises departing from the Salmon Street Springs Fountain
1010 SW Naito Pkwy, Portland OR 97204
We suggest either the World Trade Center parking garage or Smart Park parking garage on SW Jefferson. Street parking may also be available. Bicycle parking is available nearby. EV parking is located one block west on SW Salmon Street.

Cruises departing from Caruthers Landing
110 SE Caruthers St, Portland, OR 97214
We have a private parking lot available at no additional cost, available on a first come, first served basis.

Additional information on parking/public transportation.

We cruise regardless of rain or bad weather. In the case of ice or heavy snowfall, we will reach out at least 2 hours prior to the cruise in the event of a cancellation.

The Portland Spirit, Willamette Star and Crystal Dolphin have two interior climate controlled decks as well as partially covered outer decks for exterior viewing. Be sure to bring a jacket or layers, even in the summer, as it can be cooler on the water.

We recommend these gift card amounts to fully cover two people, including processing fees and tax:

• Dinner Cruise: $250
• Brunch Cruise: $200
• Lunch Cruise: $180
• Jetboat Excursion to the Gorge: $175
• Happy Hour Cruise: $70

How do you redeem a gift card?

Digital gift cards can be used for any cruise and never expire. To redeem:

1. Choose your cruise, date, and number of passengers.
2. Enter the 10-digit gift card number in the “Gift Card” box under “Billing Information” at checkout, after adding special requests and enhancements to your order.

Children are welcome on all cruises, except for those cruises specified as limited to age 21 and over. Most cruises have a discounted youth rate. Please let us know in the booking process if your party will include any children.

Please note, the entertainment on regular meal cruises caters to adults and young children may find themselves restless, particularly on a longer dinner cruise that for many kids runs past their bedtime. We recommend daytime sightseeing for families with young children or our Cinnamon Bear cruises during the holidays. If you are dining with a small child, please ask your server for crayons and a children’s activity sheet.

View images, videos and other resources for each vessel via the links below.

Portland Spirit
Willamette Star
Crystal Dolphin
Explorer

We love dogs! Unfortunately, our vessels are considered a restaurant and dogs/pets are not allowed on board. Only service dogs that have been trained to perform tasks that assist disabled people are permitted.

Smoking of any substance via any device or method, including e-cigarettes and vaping, is not allowed on any vessel.

No. We are U.S. Coast Guard regulated, meaning it is a violation of federal policies to board any of our vessels with a concealed firearm, knife or weapon on your person.

If you lost an item during your cruise, please call us at 503-224-3900 during business hours as soon as possible. Be ready to describe the item in detail and let us know the date and time of your cruise.

Lost & Found Process:

• Lost items are transferred from the boat to our office typically within 1-2 days after a cruise.
• Items are securely stored for up to 6 months. After 6 months, unclaimed items are donated to a local charity.
• Lost and found items may be picked up at our office located at 110 SE Caruthers St.