American Queen Steamboat Co. and American Cruise Lines have been sailing the southeastern United States for a month under guidelines approved by the federal centers for disease control and prevention during the coronavirus pandemic.
While ocean cruises will be suspended until at least the fall, cruises on the Columbia and Snake Rivers are expected to resume in early May following coordination with state officials and ports between Astoria and Lewiston, Idaho.
American Cruise Lines’ American Song ship is scheduled to sail to Astoria in early May before heading to Columbia River Gorge.
Clatsop County Manager Don Bohn described the situation as fluid, but said local officials had been told that the American Song, one of four regional American cruise lines, was arriving at 17th Street Dock in the first week of May with fewer than 40 passengers Astoria will stop.
“I heard that the first ships will be around 50% full,” said Bohn. “But I also know that if things are going well, maybe they can improve them. But even at the maximum they would run with about 25% vacancy. “
A spokesman for the American Queen Steamboat said the company hoped to begin cruising with its star wheeler, the American Empress, later in the spring. A reservation specialist for the company said cruises on Columbia would not start until June and would be fully booked by November.
Overnight river cruises were suspended more than a year ago due to the pandemic. However, a conditional sailing order from the CDC has allowed ships to carry up to 250 combined passengers and crew.
American Cruise Lines and American Queen Steamboat started the 2021 season in mid-March with coastal voyages between South Carolina and Florida and along the Mississippi between Memphis and New Orleans. Companies have implemented improved security measures, such as: B. reduced capacity, mask requirements, screening of passengers and additional medical personnel.
Charles B. Robertson, CEO of American Cruise Lines, told Travel Weekly, “The popularity of domestic small ship cruises has been stronger than ever before the pandemic, and demand in 2021 is already at a new record high.”
American Cruise Lines has its regional vessels based at the North Tongue Point shipyards on the eastern edge of Astoria, where local WCT Marine & Construction shipbuilders have provided maintenance.
Oregon has approved river cruises if they dock with CDC water guidelines and county-to-county virus guidelines.
Clatsop County on Friday entered the state’s at least two-week high risk flag for the coronavirus, reducing capacity and hours of operation in bars, restaurants and other venues. But Bohn and Astoria Mayor Bruce Jones said they were more concerned about the bulk of tourists arriving by car than about smaller, partially empty cruise ships carrying older passengers who are more likely to be vaccinated and follow improved health protocols.
“If they follow all state guidelines, there really isn’t a basis on which other operations can be banned, especially those related to the level of tourism that’s already happening in Astoria,” Jones said. “Most of the hotels on the coast are full or almost full.”
Health officials expect cruise lines to follow any necessary guidelines based on the county’s level of risk, Bohn said. “If we take extreme risk we will speak to the governor’s office about what that means,” he said.
Washington State on hold
Cruises on the Columbia and Snake Rivers include stops upstream in Washington state, where Governor Jay Inslee banned all cruise ship docks until May 15. Thereafter, the conditions will be reevaluated.
American Cruise Lines has all four of its Columbia River cruise lines stationed at North Tongue Point while they waited for the season to begin.
“We have spoken with the local health authorities and state public health and determined that this is the minimum time required to resolve some of the health and safety concerns raised by domestic and international travelers visiting the ports of Washington dock, “said Jon Snyder, a policy advisor in Inslee’s office.
American Cruise Lines frequently docks at Skamania Harbor in Stevenson, Washington. Pat Albaugh, the port’s executive director, said 130 dockings were canceled last year, costing the agency much of its port revenue and preventing some seasonal adjustments.
“The bigger impact has had a bigger impact on the community as the passengers and crew in particular visit our local stores,” Albaugh said. “So none of that happened.”
Instead of Stevenson, the American song is expected to dock in the port of Cascade Locks in early May. Olga Kaganova, the port’s general director, said the municipality welcomed the additional tourism revenue. But she doesn’t see the logic of allowing cruise ships on one side of the narrow Columbia Canal, but no less than two miles away in Stevenson.
“We want these cruise lines to get out of here and have a more consistent experience on both sides of the river,” she said. “It’s a bit arbitrary between our ward and Stevenson to draw that line in the middle of the river.”
American Cruise Lines cruises typically travel upriver to Richland, Washington before exiting Columbia for the line and ending the trip in Clarkston, Washington. Wanda Keefer, the port manager at Clarkston, said American Cruise Lines was negotiating a stop in Lewiston, Idaho instead.
Keefer said local officials were trying to let states know how much safer the river cruises are than tourists arriving by car.
“Personally, I am confident that those who manage the cruise lines have done so with great intent to keep their passengers safe,” she said. “And they consulted with the congregations along the way. The cruise on the Mississippi has reopened. We don’t hear about it because it’s successful. I assume we will have a good season. “
Ocean cruises when in doubt
While river cruises are slowly starting out, the Port of Astoria has canceled all ocean cruise ship docks until the MS regatta is due to take place on September 11th. The ship had been anchored in Astoria since October, but went to work in Mexico in late March.
The port canceled 19 of 28 planned berths for ocean cruise ships this year. Will Isom, the port’s executive director, recently said he expected more short-term berths in the next month or so.
“If we don’t have regular cruise lines this fall, I think there’s a good chance we can moor in Astoria for longer periods of time later this year,” said Isom. This ship sails because of its good income every month. But I think there will be opportunities on the horizon. “
