COLUMBIA / SNAKE RIVER Wine Cruise

SEPTEMBER 22-29, 2021

You’re invited to join us this September for an incredible one week cruise to the Columbia and Snake Rivers in Washington on American Cruise Lines. DuCard Vineyards is sponsoring this cruise and we will have DuCard wine on board (!) and feature a number of private group wine events. We have sponsored cruises to Alaska, the Mississippi River and Cuba over the past few years and had such a great time that we’re doing it again, this time out West .

Our ship, the American Harmony holds a maximum of 200 passengers and features large staterooms, private balconies, excellent cuisine, sundecks, cultural activities and on-board entertainment while cruising.  Our group will be limited to 24 (12 cabins), with about half already reserved by prior cruisers.

Here’s the overall itinerary:

• Portland, OR departure, with pre-cruise hotel night included (maybe tour the famous Rose gardens, or the many craft breweries in this funky town).
• Astoria, OR on the Pacific:  Of Lewis & Clark fame (“ocean in view, oh the joy”)
• Mount St. Helens day trip
• Columbia River gorge cruising:  magnificent scenery, with on board lecturer / historical interpreter plus insider tour of Bonnevillle Dam – literally, inside it.
• The Dalles:  excursion to a winery, naturally.  The Washington/Oregon wine region is top notch and they have an interesting tour set up, plus a special secret DuCard only excursion
• Pendleton Woolen Mills:  historical site and home of this iconic brand
• Snake River’s Hells Canyon jet boating excursion – deepest canyon in the country, thrill ride, with views and wildlife.

And of course DuCard group “meetings” on the fan deck late night sipping and yakking and such…. And fellowship generally throughout.

We know that many of us are anxious to travel again, and in setting this us we anticipate of course that pandemic concerns will largely be behind us, with all of us being vaccinated, and the American crew as well – but with appropriate safety and sanitation procedures still in effect.  As with any significant travel program, we recommend travel insurance, of course.

Transportation:  fly into Portland, which is one stop/change from Cville (or DC) and then home from Spokane, Washington.  We arrive at disembarkation point in Clarkston, WA in the morning, with shuttle busses up to Spokane airport and ability to catch the mid day flights (one stop / change to Cville or DC) and arrive home same evening.  You could extend and spend a couple of days checking out eastern Washington and Idaho, as desired.

We’ll have wine receptions and private tastings (wines from Scott’s cellar), a viticulture and winemaking seminar, a late night cigar and Port event on the back deck and more. And DuCard wine will be available at lunch and dinner.

American’s overview, the day-by-day details and the cabin pricing levels for the cruise are here

If you’re interested in this cruise, just email Scott at scott@ducardvineyards.com or call to 434-409-4378 and Scott will contact you to answer any additional questions. We can connect you with people who participated in our prior cruises as references, or whatever else you need. Scott will get you in touch directly with the travel agent concierge who is handling the reservations and taking the deposits which will be needed immediately (balance due later on). NOTE:  Do not book on the American site – this is a special program, at the same prices as on the American website, but arranged exclusively for us through our concierge.

All aboard !