This is also the first overnight river cruise in the US with passengers and crew members 100% COVID-19 vaccinated.
‘I’m very excited. The boat looks phenomenal. The crew on board is thrilled, ”AQSC President Shawn Bierdz told Seatrade Cruise News.
American Empress, who has not sailed in 20 months, emerged from her berth at Sun Dial Marine in Troutdale, Oregon, where the ship spends its normal November through March off-season.
Even with full vaccination, a PCR test before embarkation
The paddle steamer cruises in the Pacific Northwest cross Washington and Oregon, and even with AQSC’s full vaccination mandate, Washington still requires a PCR test prior to embarkation – something AQSC has been doing in the heartland since March, where it has been sailing.
The American Empress is today heading west from Clarkson, east Washington, to Vancouver, Washington, across the river from Portland, Oregon, and will initially carry no more than 166 passengers. It’s currently certified for 215 passengers (249 souls, with crew), and Bierdz AQSC will be talking to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week about an increase to 200.
“We’re sold out so we’re looking for more capacity,” he said.
‘Very normal look and feel’ on board
According to CDC guidelines for fully vaccinated travelers on ships with at least 95% vaccinated passengers / crew, masks and social distancing are not required.
That means: “Apart from the reduced capacity, it will be a completely normal appearance on board,” said Bierdz. “There are some privileges to be vaccinated.”
For fully vaccinated ships, buffets from the CDC are fine too, but American Empress won’t offer a self-service buffet. Before the pandemic, the ship had very limited buffets anyway. And in his alternative River Grill on the upper deck, the waiters will deliver buffet items to the guests’ tables.
Travelers must mask themselves when traveling by coach and must follow the rules of each travel destination and venue. Bierdz said it was a bit of a challenge to get space on premium tours like Mount Hood and Multnomah Falls due to local capacity constraints, but in general there is plenty of content for the line’s hop-on hop-off tours.
Clarkston, Lewiston and Hell’s Canyon
American Empress is today in Clarkston, Washington, on a trip west to Vancouver, Washington, across the river from Portland, Oregon.
Clarkston has “a rich history with Lewis and Clark and Nez Perce and is the gateway to Hells Canyon,” said Michelle Peters, president of Visit Lewis Clark Valley.
“The river cruises are important to the economic impact on our community, but also the historical significance of the paddlewheel ships that come here to the most inland seaport in the west,” said Peters, noting that in the past cargo was shipped from Astoria on steamers was, Oregon, on the Pacific Coast. (Astoria is also a stop for the American Empress.)
AQSC passengers embarking in Clarkston on the Snake River arrive at the historic Davenport hotel in Spokane, two hours away by coach, after an overnight pre-cruise. Those who end their cruise in Clarkston stay on board overnight and explore Hells Canyon on hop-on, hop-off tours, or hike by jet boat. This five-hour adventure begins on the Clarkston Waterfront and takes you into the deepest river canyon in North America, deeper than the Grand Canyon and so remote that it is not easily accessible by land.
Clarkston’s hop-on, hop-off stops include the Nez Perce City Museum and Nez Perce National Historical Park, with its museum and visitor center, and shopping in Lewiston across the river in Idaho, where Newberry Square shops sell Idaho gifts and souvenirs; Nez Perce Crafts, jewelry and gifts; and there’s a bakery, winery, tea shop, and Hawaiian restaurant.
A new company, Nez Perce Tourism, founded by local resident Stacia Morfin, features members of the Nez Perce tribe who tell their own story through song and dance. Programs can be created for delivery on river boats, in the Nez Perce National Historical Park, and on board jet boat tours of Hells Canyon.
Visit Vancouver USA
The American Empress’s western terminus is Vancouver, a vibrant city known for restaurants, wineries, craft breweries, and history.
“Restaurants, cafés, boutiques and tasting rooms appreciate the visitors who come from American Empress”, says Erica Lindemann. Director of Marketing, Visit Vancouver USA, who said passengers enjoy exploring downtown on foot. Those embarking in Vancouver receive a free pre-cruise hotel night at the Hilton across from Esther Short Park.
Gramore Development started out in 2018 with a $ 1.5 billion investment, The Waterfront, with high-end restaurants like WildFin American Grill, Grant Street Pier designed by public artist Larry Kirkland, Barlow’s Public House for self-serve beer and ” six wine tasting rooms in a nutshell “to be eight,” said Lindemann. The new Indigo boutique hotel, the AC Hotel Marriott and the Port of Vancouver Public Market are coming.
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site preserves a Hudson’s Bay Company and US Army Vancouver Barracks border fur trading post, while the adjacent Officers Row is made up of restored 19th-century houses.
In 2017, the American Empress received the Spirit of Tourism Award from Vancouver, “which underscores the importance we serve the Empress,” said Lindemann.
AQSC COVID-free for three months
AQSC’s fleet-wide vaccination mandate begins July 1st. The company has now sailed 25 heartland cruises on the American Duchess and the new American Countess since March 15 with no COVID-19 cases. Bierdz said that a person found positive on PCR tests prior to embarkation was denied boarding.
Copyright © 2021. All rights reserved. Seatrade, a trading name of Informa Markets (UK) Limited.
[ad_2]
