Columbia/Snake east bound vs west bound?

[DaveinCharlotte]

11 hours ago, CarolynFH said:

IOW, if ACL says you need to make your own way from airport to their hotel for embarkation, that’s what I’d expect.

OK, thanks for the clarification!

 

As adstz says, "Shuttles are only at the end of the cruise" and I agree this is the general case.  But when we were on a cruise a year or two ago, the manager pitching the new cruises told us the Florida Keys cruise would include a pre-cruise shuttle from the Tampa airport to the ship in St Pete.  We signed up, only to find that a few months later ACL changed their mind and would not be offering this transfer after all.  So I agree...if the precruise info doesn't explicitly say there's a transfer (and it probably won't), this means no shuttle.

[goinmobile68]

Wow! More Windjammer veterans! We also did the Yankee Clipper (honeymoon) & Flying Cloud w/Captain Adrian. We've never done a river cruise but are considering the Columbia/Snake init. How would you compare the 2?

[DaveinCharlotte]

8 hours ago, goinmobile68 said:

Wow! More Windjammer veterans! We also did the Yankee Clipper (honeymoon) & Flying Cloud w/Captain Adrian. We've never done a river cruise but are considering the Columbia/Snake. How would you compare the 2?

Except for the fact we greatly enjoyed both, I'd say no comparison at all.  On our half-dozen Windjammer cruises (all on the Mandalay) 25 years ago, we were in our 50s like most of the passengers.  On our two-dozen ACL cruises, most passengers were in their 70s or even 80s (as we are now).  So the excursions are much less active, and the food, cabins, and lounges much better (and, of course, more expensive).

 

We've done the Colombia/Snake cruise twice (though on a different cruise line -- "Uncruise") and found the locale to be super.  In fact, in 2 weeks we leave for our 3rd one, which will be different because of the national parks land program tacked on the end.  The Colombia/Snake is very popular...in fact, ACL has no fewer than FIVE ships doing the itinerary.  I think you would enjoy it.