Where the river meets the Pacific
A river cruise day in Astoria
Astoria is the river's mouth and the far end of the sailing. It isn't on every itinerary — Lindblad puts it on the 8-day route only.
- 1805the year Lewis first saw the Pacific, from Cape Disappointment
- 8-day onlyLindblad's Astoria call is on its 8-day itinerary, not the 6-day ones
- 125 ftAstoria Column: 164 steps to a 360-degree platform; free to enter
- $18Columbia River Maritime Museum, adults
- From the shipBerth unpublished; Column shuttle
- Time neededA morning and an afternoon
- Best doneCape Disappointment first, as Lindblad does
- Skip ifYou sail Lindblad's 6-day route
Plan the call
How long do you have ashore?
- Astoria Column60 min
164 steps to a 360-degree platform; Lindblad runs a shuttle.
- Columbia River Maritime Museum90 min
At 1792 Marine Drive, in town; open from 9:30 am.
- Bowpicker fish and chips30 min
Albacore from a bowpicker boat; confirm its limited hours first.
About 3 h for the day, by our planning estimate
- Cape Disappointment State Park90 min
Where Lewis first saw the Pacific in 1805.
- Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center60 min
Fresnel lens and a deck over the Columbia River Bar.
- Lunch in town60 min
A brew pub for albacore or halibut, or Mo's for chowder.
- Columbia River Maritime Museum90 min
The afternoon choice on Lindblad's Day 2.
- Astoria Column60 min
Free to enter; parking is $5 a vehicle.
About 6 h for the day, by our planning estimate
Times are our planning estimates for a typical call, not the line’s schedule. Your daily programme sets the all-aboard.
The call
What the call looks like
Lindblad's 8-day eastbound sailing arrives on Day 2. The morning is Cape Disappointment, where Meriwether Lewis first saw the Pacific, and the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center.
The afternoon is your choice: the Columbia River Maritime Museum, a shuttle to the Astoria Column, or free time in town.
On the Venture round trip the ship arrives on Day 6. Day 7 is the museum or the Column in the morning, then an afternoon cruise with wine tastings.
ACL sails west to Astoria on its 16-day Grand cruise and lists Fort Clatsop and Cape Disappointment State Park. Whether you stay overnight isn't stated.
From the ship: The berth isn't named, so plan by landmark: the museum and Bowpicker are in town, the Column is on the hill above it, with a Lindblad shuttle, and Cape Disappointment is across the river in Washington.
In town
Cape, museum and Column
Cape Disappointment State Park
Lindblad opens its Day 2 here, where the Columbia meets the ocean in Washington. ACL lists the park too.
SourceLewis & Clark Interpretive Center
At 244 Robert Gray Drive, Ilwaco: exhibits on the expedition, the Chinook tribe and local maritime history, a First Order Fresnel lens, and a glassed-in deck over the Columbia River Bar. Open 10 am to 5 pm daily April to October, Wednesday to Sunday November to March. Adults pay $5, ages 7 to 17 pay $2.50.
SourceColumbia River Maritime Museum
At 1792 Marine Drive, open daily 9:30 am to 5:00 pm, closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. Adults pay $18, seniors $15, ages 6 to 17 $8, lightship only $5. Confirm the fees on the museum's own site.
SourceThe Astoria Column
A 125-foot tower dedicated by the Great Northern Railway in 1926, with 164 steps to a platform that takes in the Columbia. Open dawn to dusk. Entry is free; parking is $5 a vehicle, and large groups should call ahead.
SourceFort Clatsop
ACL's Grand cruise lists it as the place the Lewis & Clark expedition spent its winter. Lindblad doesn't name it.
SourceAstoria on the Columbia and Snake. Open its card on the river map for lines, season and nearby calls.
Beyond the town
Further out
The Oregon coast by road
A 7-hour day through Astoria, Warrenton, Seaside and Cannon Beach starts from $300; a 3-hour Astoria and Warrenton tour from $100.
SourceMount St. Helens
ACL's Grand cruise lists it, and its 5-day Columbia cruise names the Johnston Ridge Observatory. Neither page says which port the coach leaves from.
SourceExtra days, booked ahead
Things to do in Astoria
Astoria's bookable options are short, so we've kept to three.
- Astoria and Warrenton guided tour3 hours, from $100. For an included day that's short on town time.
- Full-day coast: Astoria, Warrenton, Seaside and Cannon Beach7 hours, from $300. For guests whose cruise covers the Interpretive Center and who want the beaches.
- Astoria scavenger hunt2 to 3 hours, from $24 to $29. A self-guided walk for a free afternoon in town.
Viator is an affiliate link: we may earn a commission at no cost to you. Your line’s included excursions stay with the line. Disclosure.
Eat and drink
Albacore, halibut and chowder
Bowpicker Fish & Chips
At 1634 Duane St., beer-battered albacore fried out of a 70-year-old Columbia River bowpicker boat. Last published hours were 11 am to 3 pm, Wednesday to Saturday, with long summer lines and limited seating — confirm before you plan a meal around it.
SourceBrew pubs for albacore and halibut
Fort George Brewery does beer-battered albacore, Astoria Brewing Company tempura halibut, and Rogue Ales' Pier 39 Public House halibut and salmon.
SourceMo's and South Bay Wild Fish House
Mo's Seafood & Chowder serves cod, halibut, shrimp and clam strips; South Bay Wild Fish House, petrale sole and rockfish. The sit-down seafood names.
SourceThe lines
Who calls at Astoria
From the lines’ published itineraries, October 2026.
When
Lindblad sails the Columbia and Snake in March, April, September and October, with the Venture in October; ACL gives April to November. The Interpretive Center is open daily April to October and Wednesday to Sunday after that. The maritime museum closes Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Why trust this page
The Seabound standard
Sources, read at the source
Every fare, berth and timetable here was checked on October 22, 2026, at the line, port or hotel wherever they publish it. Where they don’t, we name the source we used, or say nothing is published.
Paid placements
No line or hotel pays to appear here or to rank higher. Affiliate links are labelled, and they never decide what we recommend.
Advisors, not a booking engine
A Seabound Journeys advisor reads your brief, compares the lines for your dates and answers you personally. CLIA-affiliated, Florida Seller of Travel ST15578.
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Quick answers
Astoria on a river cruise: questions
Is Astoria on every Columbia River cruise?
No. Lindblad's page says Astoria is on its 8-day itinerary only, not the 6-day ones. ACL's 16-day Grand cruise sails to Astoria, and its 5-day round trip names Cape Disappointment State Park.
What does the cruise show you here?
On Lindblad, Cape Disappointment and the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in the morning, then a choice of maritime museum, Astoria Column shuttle or free time. Details vary by departure.
What does the Astoria Column cost?
The Column is free to enter; parking is $5 a vehicle. On Lindblad's shuttle, ask whether that's covered.
Where do you eat?
Bowpicker for albacore fish and chips if its hours suit you, a brew pub for albacore or halibut, or Mo's for chowder. Check Bowpicker's hours before you count on it.
How we checked this page 9 sources
Every fact above comes from a source listed here, checked on October 22, 2026: port and city authorities, the lines’ own pages, the hotels and the rating guides. Where nothing official is published, the page says so rather than filling the gap.
- Lindblad: Columbia and Snake Rivers
- Lindblad: Columbia River harvests (Venture)
- ACL: 16-day Grand release
- ACL: Highlights of the Columbia River
- Washington State Parks: Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center
- Oregon Museums Association: Columbia River Maritime Museum
- Astoria Column Foundation
- Daily Astorian: fish-and-chips in Astoria
- Viator: Astoria tours