Cruze4Ever

Hi, we are Debbie and Mike from Albuquerque. We are on this cruise also, a first river cruise. See you soon.

Hello!

We have been on river cruises in Europe and really liked them a lot! This is our first river cruise in the U.S. and it should be great!

~Carol

Good morning from Stevenson. Yesterday morning was too busy for an update, so here is two days. Beautiful sunrise with the sun just peaking over the mountains to the east. No sight of any smoke haze here.

 

From Richland we had a day of river cruising to The Dalles. We participated is some game shows and attended the two talks by the riverlorian Mary. The topic was Lewis and Clark Corp of Discovery. Very interesting and well presented. We did dinner in the upstairs River Grille. They serve lobster every evening. Not being a lobster fan, it didn’t really matter to me. We enjoyed the beef and lamb offerings.

 

Yesterday was The Dalles. Started early on the first HO-HO bus with stops at the gorge museum, old county courthouse and then the neon museum. By then it was time for lunch and we found a nice in town location. Two more small local museums and a short walk back to the boat.

 

Let’s talk about entertainment! We have Greg, the cruise director and his assistant Sammy. They do the before/after dinner entertainment shows accompanied by a four piece showboat band. Greg’s wife, Lindy, who is the hotel director, is an accomplished soprano. She did a one woman show one evening and Greg did a one man show another evening. Last night we had step on entertainment with our special guest singer/comedian cowboy Kevin. He was great! I personally enjoy the entertainment on the smaller vessels with the up close and personal aspect. There is always pre dinner piano playing in the Paddlewheel Lounge with Bob. He also provides the later night entertainment in the lounge.

 

Talk to you all tomorrow.

I love reading your updates! So nice of you to keep us informed! Thanks for posting!

Good morning from Richland on the Columbia River....arrived here Wednesday and will be sailing west this morning after the full day excursion to Pendleton departs. We did the Manhattan Project premium excursion yesterday and found it to be excellent. As a history buff itwas very interesting with it’s important role in the WWII war effort.

 

Let’s talk about the food a bit now, we’ve been on dozens of cruises, at sea, and the rivers of Europe and the USA. I am a big fan of the AQSC menus and at dinner last evening they had one of my favorites, split pea! Delicious!

 

As to a smoke report, still just a haze out on the horizon, maybe if you are sniffing you might sense a tinge. Nothing to impact our day.

 

Today is a day of river cruising and we have our one night in the River Grill this evening.

So nice of you to post and keep us updated! Thank you!

We left Clarkston yesterday after lunch and that section of the river, while having wonderful scenery is quite isolated. As such, this is the first we have Internet and cell phone service.

 

Okay, Spokane, it was raining Sunday afternoon and night which helped to cut back the effects of the smoke. The rain stopped by about 9:30 am giving a nice time for a walk about. We’ve been to Spokane about a dozen times as our SIL was stationed twice for 4 years each at Fairchild AFB. We are not foodies so we looked for comfort food enjoying the Safari Grille in the evening and Soulful Soups and Spirits for a lite lunch before the bus trip to Clarkston. Others said that the Post St. Ale House was also good. All are within walking distance of the hotel.

 

We’re in cabin 336, so right next door to your location. I am not hearing any noise or feeling vibration. We find that the cabin size is quite reasonable. It has a balcony that includes two chairs and a small table. I would say that a similar marketed cabin category on the Queen was much tighter and you heard more noise around you.

 

One last comment on the smoke, we noticed some haze on the horizon yesterday morning at sunrise. We definitely are not smelling any and as we got underway on the river the sky was clear and sunny.

Great information! Thanks for posting!

Just booked a cruise on Wind Surf and what a joy to know I could come here and instantly know which cabin I want and don't want. Thanks MNgardens. This is great.

It is a great idea :p

I cross-referenced my research against MNgardens' most recent, updated list (12-31-17), & can add the following:

 

Noisy: 121, 123, 125, 139

 

Quiet: 126, 127, 137, 138, 142, 219, 228, 234, 246, 254

 

My research showed 124 to be noisy, which is different than what MNgardens found, so I don't know what to tell you there. MN gardens had 2 votes for it being a good cabin, so maybe we should go with that.

 

I believe there was one post that mentioned that folks in cabins 154, 155 & 157 might hear chatting from those waiting for the elevator. Someone who's stayed in one of those cabins may want to weigh in on that.

 

Also, those in cabins 222 through 230 may be bothered by people lining up for the tender in the hallway.

In January, 2018 we stayed in Cabin 235 and it was quiet.

~Carol

Hello!

We are Carol & Frank from Massachusetts and will be on this cruise. Anyone else?

~Carol

You might want to read my review https://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=621323 as we just returned from this cruise. Had a wonderful time and I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

Great review!!! Thanks so much for all of the details!!!

We just returned from a wonderful cruise on the Surf. On our sea day we sat down with a Windstar trip planning assistant (not sure that was his actual title) to discuss future itineraries. We were told that the 2019 schedules are not full because each of the 6 ships will be out of commission for approx. 6wks to do renovations (mostly cosmetic). I was pretty surprised that they would do all of them in the same year but he said that is the plan.

Thank you for sharing the information!

Hi Carol,

Never been on Riverboat but have heard great things and some not-so-great about American Empress condition, etc. Currently booking for the sept 22 cruise. Would appreciate candid review and recommendations on tours. Enjoyed your pictures. Maybe I can leave my "good camera" at home.

There are two popular cruise lines - American Cruise and American Queen. I have read much better reviews about American Queen.

We leave Saturday to go Vancouver to Spokane. Will report back on the excursions and the hop on hop off. Really looking forward to the trip. Pat

Thank you! Have a wonderful trip and I am anxious to hear about it!

Took the cruise Clarkston to Vancouver in October 2016. Didn't take any of the paid tours. However, wish I would have done the UNCOVERING THE SECRETS OF THE MANHATTAN PROJECT. After visiting the Hanford Reach Museum (Hop On, Hop Off), I wish I would have done that excursion.

Thank you so much for the info. I enjoyed looking at your amazing pictures!

~Carol

We are taking a Snake & Columbia in September and was wondering what paid excursions anyone can recommend.

Thanks!

~Carol

Yep, still waiting. What can the reason be?

Windstar is going to lose cruisers to other cruise lines!

We fly September 17th, I'll let you know how it goes.

Enjoy the cruise and let me know how it goes leaving the ship early.

Thanks!

~Carol

Do any of you Windstar experts know when they will release the rest of there 2019 schedule?

 

Thanks

I called and they told me April.

I heard back from corporate. The confirmed the 5AM docking but indicated it will take time for the crew to tie off ect. They recommend a 11:30 or later flight but she added a note to our reservation and said to talk to guest services when we board so they are aware and they will work with us so that we can get off as early as possible. They will arrange for a taxi to be waiting for us to take us to the airport.

 

We're going to go for it. I'll report back after the trip to let you know if it was one of the dumbest things we ever tried or if we were successful.

I found a direct flight to Boston at 9:25 am on October 1st and called the cruise line yesterday with the same question. I was told that the people who buy the ship transfer to the airport for $25 get off the ship first, which is at 7am and the rest of the ship will disembark starting at 8. The airport is only 15 minutes away and it shouldn't be a problem. I booked the flight, since the other flights were very late afternoon or evening. What date is your flight? Keep me posted!

Good luck!

~Carol

I will check it out! Thank you so much for posting!

I am interested in the Martinique Snorkel Excursion and would like to know more about it. Did you get to see a lot while snorkeling? Was the guide good and was it worth the money?

Thanks!

Carol

Thanks for posting the list!

We have traveled twice with Windstar- once on the Windsurf and once on the Star Legend. They will open up the Marina when the ship is at anchor ( in a quite port) and the conditions are ok. Swells were too big to open it more than once on our last trip. They will take you waterskiing, there are kayaks and paddle boards, or you can simply lounge on the blue rafts or trampoline. It is a fun, unique benefit of these ships. Windstar is great!

I didn't know about this and it sounds great! Thanks for the info...we are going on Feb.10.

I am currently sitting in the Davenport Hotel in Spokane awaiting the bus to take us the two or so hour drive to catch the AMERICAN EMPRESS this afternoon. It is grey outside with occasional rain showers; the high today is only in the mid 50's. It looks as if that pattern will be with us for the entire week on board. That won't stop me from having a great time as there are places aboard to sit in comfort and watch America go by, and I've come prepared with the appropriate rain gear.

Looking forward to hearing all about your cruise! Have a great time!

Cruz4Ever Sorry I didn't check our roll call before inviting you over ---So I C U are already one of the 5 or so following that Roll Call Welcome---Judy

We are going September 2018 and really looking forward to it!

I've not yet cruised on the Empress but I've read that the Paddlewheel Lounge on the back of deck 2 can get noisy at night so you might want to look to the center or forward sections of the boat

I heard the same thing. Thanks for posting!

Whoops...should be American Empress, not Queen!

I knew that you meant American Empress from reading your previous post.

Thanks again!