portland spirit sightseeing cruise

Got a question? Text us on Whatsapp

+1 617 404 2125

• Tours in Portland

Portland Attractions

Portland spirit cruises and events, attractions details, find it on google maps.

5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star 5.00/5 - (2 Votes) Colm Local tour guide "Make sure to check the weather before your Portland Spirit River Cruise; Portland's climate can be temperamental, and you'll want to dress accordingly to enjoy the beautiful views from the deck. Also, try booking an evening cruise for a chance to see one of Portland's stunning sunsets over the Willamette River—locals say it's an experience not to be missed."

What is Portland Spirit River Cruises?

Portland Spirit River Cruises offer a unique blend of gastronomy, sightseeing, and entertainment atop the sparkling waters of the Willamette River. Imagine gliding underneath the Hawthorne Bridge as you savor a perfectly grilled salmon, sharing a toast with someone special as the Portland skyline twinkles at dusk.

Our Most Popular Tour:

Without  doubt, Chicago is one of the best cities in the world to explore on foot. Whatever the time of year, you’re sure to enjoy our Chicago Walkin...

It's more than just a dining experience; it's an intimate journey through Portland's waterborne avenues, with glimpses of wildlife, local watercraft, and the synchronized dance of bridges rising for ships passing through. For natives like us, it's a chance to view our city from a different angle - an escape right in the heart of it.

History of Portland Spirit River Cruises

The story of Portland Spirit starts with the vision to bring something exceptional to the Willamette River scene. Launched in the early 1990s, the flagship vessel, the Portland Spirit, set the standard for river cruising in the city. Crafted to showcase the beauty of the Pacific Northwest, its construction symbolizes the meeting point of elegance and sustainability.

Since then, the fleet has expanded to include other vessels, each with their own personality and purpose. But they all share the same commitment to quality and the same spirit of providing guests with a memorable experience, one cruise at a time. It's the voyages over these years that have woven the Portland Spirit into the fabric of the city itself.

Why is Portland Spirit River Cruises Important?

For starters, Portland Spirit River Cruises play a significant role in the local tourism industry. They open a maritime perspective on the city, combining the rich narratives of the past with the panoramic views of the present. It also serves as an emblem of Portland's eco-conscious ethos, emphasizing clean water practices and wildlife protection.

But their importance goes beyond the economic. The cruises are a hub for community engagement and celebration, a place for weddings, anniversaries, and any festivity seeking a memorable backdrop. They foster a connection between residents and their river, reminding us why our waterways are vital to the city's identity and charm.

Things to Do & See at Portland Spirit River Cruises

Abandon any preconceptions of what a river cruise might entail; here, each voyage is a tapestry of experiences. There's the ever-popular dinner cruise, where the combination of fine dining and soulful music sets the stage for a magical evening. And let's not forget the sightseeing tours, where the commentary brings Portland's history alive, right off the rippling canvas of the Willamette.

Specialty cruises? Absolutely. There is a rotating collage of themed cruises – think holiday brunches, Cinnamon Bear Cruises for the little ones during Christmastime, or even a heart-pumping Halloween dance cruise. Each offering is thoughtfully curated to provide engaging, immersive experiences for all ages.

Our Top Trending United States Tours:

The Ultimate Wine Country Experience

Chicago Instagram Walking Tour

San Francisco Walking Instagram Tour

For the adventurous souls, there are also jet boat excursions, offering a more exhilarating take on river exploration. Whether you're here for the tranquility or the thrills, the Portland Spirit fleet is poised to deliver an unforgettable glimpse into the heartbeat of our city - on the very waters that sustain it.

Frequently asked questions

Portland Spirit River Cruises offers a variety of cruises including sightseeing cruises, dinner cruises, brunch cruises, lunch cruises, and specialty cruises for holidays and events.

The duration of a Portland Spirit River Cruise can vary, but a typical sightseeing cruise lasts around 2 hours, while lunch, brunch, and dinner cruises can last 2 to 3 hours.

Portland Spirit River Cruises typically depart from downtown Portland at the Tom McCall Waterfront Park, but the location can vary depending on the specific cruise.

Yes, Portland Spirit River Cruises offer meal options on their dining cruises, including lunch, brunch, and dinner with a menu that features locally sourced ingredients and a variety of dishes.

While there isn't a strict dress code for Portland Spirit River Cruises, the dinner cruises tend to be more formal, and guests often choose to dress up for the occasion. Casual attire is generally acceptable for sightseeing and lunch cruises.

Eastmoreland Golf Course

Oregon Rail Heritage Center

Gray's Landing

• Things to Do

Portland Spirit Cruises - 2024 Best Deals

Dinner Cruise Through Downtown Portland

Portland Spirit: Happy Hour Sightseeing Cruise

7 Wonders of the Gorge Jetboat Cruise

Bigfoot Adventure Cruise

Champagne Brunch Cruise Through Downtown Portland

Lunch Cruise Through Downtown Portland

Embrace the sights of portland oregon, indulge in a brunch with a view, cruising through culinary delights, an evening of fine dining and elegance, book your portland spirit cruise with us.

• Portland Boat Tours
• Portland Dinner Cruise
• Portland Wine Tasting
• Portland Trolley Tour
• Portland Wine Tasting - 2024 Best Deals
• Portland Boat Tours - 2024 Best Deals
• Portland Dinner Cruise - 2024 Best Deals
• Portland Trolley Tour - 2024 Best Deals
• Indoor Skydiving Portland Oregon: 2024 Best Deals

Now Searching...

Customer Support

• Frequently Asked Questions

Useful Links

• Portland Sitemap
• Map of Portland

Our Company

• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use
• Purchasing Policy

Our Partners

• Travel Suppliers

Call and Book Your Next Trip Today!

• 1-800-590-8125

We accept a variety of payment methods for your convenience:

• Guided tour

River Cruise on Luxurious Radisson Boat

• Description
• Choose date

Equipped with ice-breaking technology, these huge fancy yachts are the only river cruisers running all year around. The round trip journey takes two and a half hours and floats past all the big sights like the White House, Novodevichy monastery and the Kremlin. There’s a large open air observation deck up top, while the main body of the ship houses a restaurant with a dance floor for a romantic post dinner dance. For a particularly romantic experience take one of the evening boats and admire the bright lights of the city skyline at night.

The most relaxing and picturesque tour that Moscow can offer: a great way to see the city center and its main attractions. This is a perfect alternative to exploring the city by car, if you only have time to do sightseeing during weekday rush hours.

Your English-speaking guide is eager to share every bit of their knowledge about the surrounding landscape, the architecture and historical details.

We conduct Moscow river tour on Radisson Flotilla boats all year around!  It’s warm inside during winter months, while there’s air conditioning during hot summer days. You may also treat yourself to drinks, lunch or dinner on board (drinks and food are not included in tour price).

The cost of an excursion with a personal guide for 1 person

Quay at Radisson Collection Hotel

Government Headquarters ("the White House")

Kievsky Railway Central

Novodevichy Convent

Luzhniki Stadium

Academy of Sciences

Monument to Peter I

Cathedral of Christ the Saviour

Moscow Kremlin

St.Basil's Cathedral

Novospassky Monastery

U-turn and back to Quay at Radisson Royal Hotel

Choose your dates

Who's going.

• Excursion River Cruise on Luxurious Radisson Boat
• Date and time:
• Who's going:

See photo of the meeting point

Best of Moscow by high speed train

By shuguley , February 15, 2014 in Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Recommended Posts

Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.

Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?

My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

Link to comment

Share on other sites.

If you are considering this on the 2015 June Baltic cruise on Voyager; my suggestion is don't. There is so much to do in St. Petersburg and although a train is one of my favorite ways to travel the time would be far better spent in St. P.

Thanks for the advice. Yes, this would be on the Voyager during the 2015 season but not yet sure exactly which cruise.

We did the Moscow excursion "on a different luxury line", but from your brief description it sounds very much like the same trip, so I will operate on that assumption. It is a VERY long day! We left the ship at 5:30 AM and returned at 12:30 AM. The highspeed train trip is comfortable, and while they call it "Business Class" it does not compare well to the equivalent class on say Rail Europe. When we did it in 2011, we did have highspeed both ways, and the trip back seemed much longer as the adrenaline and excitement had worn off!:D

Moscow itself is not that terribly different from any other big city in the world, but this Cold War kid never thought he would ever stand in Red Square, never mind walk the grounds of The Kremlin, or tour The Kremlin Palace, or see (but not visit) Lenin's Tomb, or visit The Armoury. But he did, and he loved every minute of it! Yes, it is a long day, and you barely scratch a scratch on the surface, but it is worth it. There is a tremendous amount to see in St. Petersburg, but every Baltic cruise goes to St. Petersburg, so you can go back if you choose to. Not every cruiseline offers you the chance to see Moscow.

I have not personally done this tour, but our last time in St Petersburg, the private guide that we hired for a day was leading the regent tour to Moscow on the high speed train the next day. He said it was way better than the previous alternative, which was flying to Moscow and back. He said that you actually got to Moscow faster because you didn't have to deal with airline checkin etc. it did seem like a very long day to me, and there is so much to see and do in st. Petersburg that I didn't consider doing it.

countflorida

We toured to Moscow from St. Petersburg via the hi-speed SAPSAN train last September, from a Baltic cruise on the Oceania Marina. You need to have a two-night, three day port call in St. Petersburg to take this tour because the tour typically leaves the ship around 5:00 - 5:30 AM and doesn't return until after midnight the next day. We didn't take the ship's tour; we made private arrangements with TravelAllRussia for three days of touring, the first and third days in St. Petersburg and the second day the tour to Moscow by train. Our cost for the private tour for three days was about the same as what the ship charged for the excursion to Moscow alone. There are a number of private tour agencies that operate in St. Petersburg and offer the Moscow train tours; we would strongly recommend them over the ship's tours.

All three days had private guides with car and driver. The second day, the driver picked us up at the ship and took us to the train, but we were alone on the train, and met in Moscow by the guide on the station platform. After our tour and dinner, we were brought back to the train and after the return train trip met by the driver and taken back to the ship. Because you are alone on the train you must have your own Russian visas.

If this is your first visit to St. Petersburg, I would agree there is much more to see there. We found Moscow somewhat a disappointment, particularly Red Square. The Kremlin and the cathedral in Red Square were also worth seeing. But the best thing we saw was the Moscow subway! I worked for the Washington Metro system back in the 1980s as it grew from 40 to 80 miles and although I was in the computer area, I learned a lot about the challenges of running a subway system. We used the Moscow system to get across the city from where we had dinner to the train station, and I was amazed at the cleanliness', speed of operation, the short headways maintained, and the courtesy of everyone involved. A very impressive experience!

We had been to St. Petersburg before, and so had the time to take a day and go to Moscow. Also, I really like trains, and the SAPSAN is a German train set running on Russian rails. Seats are like first class domestic air, spacious but not too plush or comfortable, but with enough room. Not too much recline, and almost 8 hours on the train in two shots is a lot for an old man. They come through and sell drinks, candy, etc. but the sellers don't speak English and no one around us helped, so we had just poor coffee once coming, and brought stuff with us for the trip back. Not too much to see from the train either, particularly on the return when it is night the whole way.

If you decide to go, take a private tour and avoid the overly expensive ship's tour. I'm glad we did it, but wouldn't bother to repeat the tour; we've seen Moscow.

Thanks so much to all of you for the thorough and thought insight. Yhe information you have provided is most helpful.

countflorida: Your detailed post is very helpful. We are not quite ready for a Baltic cruise but should do so within a year. Time enough to do our pre travel research, bookings and visa gathering.:) Thank you!

Emperor Norton

Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.   Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?   My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

I did this on Seabourn. IMO DONT. Take Aeroflop (er Aeroflot). The train has non folding seats where you are literally knee to knee with your fellow passenger (facing each other). Further they don't believe in air conditioning. It's also the worlds slowed bullet train. I think I would have found more enjoyment wandering around the St. Petersburg and Moscow airports.

Countflorida,

This is a little off topic,, however we had planned a river cruise in Russia but decided we would rather stay on land and have booked about two weeks with Travel-All-Russia using the private guide and driver. I'm curious as to how you found them as a tour company.

The guides they provided were fine. We had a different guide each of the days in St. Petersburg, but both were flexible, pleasant, knowledgeable and spoke English very well, as did the guide in Moscow, incidentally. She was a bit aloof, distant, not too friendly, but otherwise fine. In fact, she was the one who suggested taking the Metro, which unexpectedly became one of the highlights of the Moscow excursion. If I have a complaint with AllTravelRussia, it is with their plan and its execution (more later).

I had requested emphasis on World War II (in Russia, the Great Patriotic War) sites and info. In scheduling us, they weren't careful about dates and a couple of the sites we wanted to see were scheduled on the third day, after we'd been to Moscow. But both sites were closed that day of the week, and that info was readily available, right on web sites describing them. Also, the included meals (lunches in St. Pete, dinner in Moscow) were not what we asked for: light meals with some choices, so we could avoid things we didn't like and choose things we did like. My request was ignored; we were given full Russian meals with a fixed menu, no choice. On the first day, a fish dish was the entre, but I am allergic to fish. Fortunately, I had the e-mail I'd sent with me and showed it to the guide, and she was able to change my entre to chicken, which was very good actually. But we didn't want a 3-4 course lunches or dinner (in Moscow). We had the guide drop the lunch the third day, although we never got any credit or refund. But, particularly in contrast to the ship's tours, the prices were so reasonable we didn't worry too much about it.

The people who were on the ship's tour to Moscow saw us boarding the same train for which they were forced to queue up and wait on the way back, and asked us what we had done. I was candid and open so they were not happy when I explained what we had arranged and particularly what it had cost. Also, when we returned to the ship, we found they had laid on a late supper for those who had gone to Moscow, so up we went and had something. Well, it turns out the late supper was supposed to be just for those on the ship's tour, but we and others on 'independent' tours, there were a dozen or more of us, crashed the party, actually got there first, and they didn't realize it until the larger group arrived and there weren't enough tables/places set. By that time, the 'independents' had all gotten served and were eating; what could they do?

A couple from the larger group sat down with us and asked us about our tour, and they were the ones I told about our arrangement and its cost. They turned to others who’d been with them and announced the details, loudly enough so the whole room heard, which started a lot of bitching and complaining. I gathered they weren't very happy with the ship's tour to begin with, and this was the straw that broke the camel's back. We finished up and beat it out of there, but overheard later that one of the excursion staff came to check on something and ran into a real mess. I caught a cold on the trip, which forced me to bed the second day following in Tallinn, so by the time we reappeared we heard about the contretemps' but apparently no one recalled who started it, thankfully.

Because of what happened to us, I would probably not use AllTravelRussia if I were to go again, or if I did, I would be sure to get confirmation of every detail of the tour. They do have good reviews generally, and we were certainly helped by their visa department and liked the guides and drivers. Their weakness, I say now with full 20:20 hindsight, is that once the sales person who plans the tour, sells it to you and collects your money, he (or she) transfers the plan to their Russia office for implementation; there is no follow-up to make sure it gets done right. And that is where our problems arose; we paid for a custom tour but got a standard package with a few destinations switched, and no one checked them out, even to see when they were open the day we were scheduled to go. If you check every detail that’s important to you, it should be OK, but that’s a hell of a way to have to do business, in my opinion.

Thank you for the 20/20 hindsight observation on your Russian tour operator, and better priced than the ship's excursion cost.

Thanks very much for the feedback.

We had the same experience as you so far as price. We originally booked a Viking Cruise but, hearing some things about the river cruises that made us unhappy, looked into other options. T-A-R cost the same or less than a cruise and had us in hotels for 11 days. We opted for the private tour. They have three tour levels, based on hotels. We originally opted for the four star as it did not cost much more than the three star hotels. Finally we decided to throw it all in and upgraded to five star. In Moscow we will be at the newly opened Kempinsky which is two blocks from Red Square. In St. Petersburg it is the Grand Hotel Europe, one of the most vaunted luxury hotels in Russia. Location is important for us as the tours use up only part of the day so being in the center of everything for our independent touring is important. As with many other cities, the less you pay, the farther out of the center of town you are.

We have been working with our salesman in D.C. and he seems to get back to us with the changes we want. He recently returned from Russia so is up on everything. When I asked they said they paid the full TA commission if I wanted so I got my usual TA on board so he is watching our back and giving us that extra level of comfort. He also set up our air, which I know pays him little or nothing, and got us business class for much less than T-A-R wanted for economy, though it took working for a while with a consolidator. He's happy to get his 10 percent on this trip without having booked it. He also took care of the trip insurance. We've been doing a lot of research on the CC sister site Trip Advisor and will write a report there. We will, I guess, become a source of info for CC members after having spent 5 days in Moscow and 6 in SP.

• 4 months later...

scubacruiserx2

Anybody considering a day trip to Moscow from St. Petersburg on the Sapsan may want to look at our travelogue filled with pictures.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1927687

Very informative. Thanks dor sharing. Jeff

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in

• Welcome to Cruise Critic
• Hurricane Zone 2024
• New Cruisers
• Cruise Lines “A – O”
• Cruise Lines “P – Z”
• River Cruising
• Cruise Critic News & Features
• Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
• Special Interest Cruising
• Cruise Discussion Topics
• UK Cruising
• Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
• Canadian Cruisers
• North American Homeports
• Ports of Call
• Cruise Conversations

Announcements

• New to Cruise Critic? Join our Community!
• How To: Follow Topics & Forums (Get Notifications)

642 What Kind of Cruise Ship Decor Do You Like Best?

1. what kind of cruise ship decor do you like best.

• Colorful and wacky! It sets the vibe for fun.
• Serene and soothing! Greige helps me relax.
• Arty and sophisticated! Whimsical pieces make me smile.
• Nautical and classic! I want to feel like I'm on a ship.
• Mod and shiny! Give me all the glass and chrome.
• Please sign in or register to vote in this poll.

Write An Amazing Review !

Click this photo by member XFrancophileX to share your review w/ photos too!

Parliament, Budapest

Features & News

LauraS · Started 8 hours ago

LauraS · Started Monday at 09:24 PM

LauraS · Started Monday at 08:36 PM

LauraS · Started September 12

Cruise Planning

Find a cruise, popular ports, member reviews.

© 1995— 2024 , The Independent Traveler, Inc.

• Existing user? Sign in OR Create an Account
• Find Your Roll Call
• Meet & Mingle
• Community Help Center
• All Activity
• Member Photo Albums
• Meet & Mingle Photos
• Favorite Cruise Memories
• Cruise Food Photos
• Cruise Ship Photos
• Ports of Call Photos
• Towel Animal Photos
• Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos
• Write a Review
• Live Cruise Reports
• Member Cruise Reviews
• Create New...

If you are already a Cruise Critic member, please log in with your existing account information or your email address and password.

Reservation Terms and Conditions

• Sightseeing Cruises
• Meal Cruises

Portland Spirit Lunch Sample Menu

Starters Freshly baked focaccia bread (included with cruise) Mixed greens salad with a house dressing — $5 add-on

Entrées Included with Lunch Cruise | Choice of One Below

Parmesan Crusted Chicken Breast Topped with a rustic marinara sauce served with white rice and mixed vegetables

Oven-Baked Pacific Northwest Steelhead Topped with a mango slaw served with white rice and mixed vegetables

Herb-Roasted Beef Tenderloin* Topped with a horseradish demi-glace served with roasted red potatoes and mixed vegetables

Yellow Thai Curry (Vegetarian) Served on rice with mixed vegetables and tofu

Children’s Chicken Tenders -or- Buttered Pasta Served with steamed vegetables and potatoes

Dessert Options – $7

Chocolate Cake : Contains velvety chocolate mousse between layers, a chocolate cookie crust, chocolate ganache and chocolate chips.

Lemon Berry Vanilla Cake : This crumb cake contains a lemon berry cream mascarpone filling and real blueberries and cranberries.

Entrées on menu can be modified to be vegan/GF when requested in advance of the cruise. We use extra virgin olive oil and canola/olive oil blend in our Galley.

Please add any accessibility requirements in the booking notes when reserving a cruise online, or let your customer service representative know when booking by phone at 503-224-3900.

Portland Spirit