Travel aboard the Queen of the West, a modern paddle wheeler built in the style of early Columbia River sternwheelers. Trace the path of the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery to Fort Clatsop near Astoria where the Columbia empties into the Pacific. Be awed by the dramatic geology of the region as we cruise through the Columbia River Gorge past its 4,000-foot cliffs and on an excursion to Mount St. Helens. Marvel at the eight massive locks that tamed the mighty Columbia and created a water super-highway.

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from $5,790

Friday, June 15
HOME / SPOKANE, WASHINGTON
Depart home and travel to Spokane, Washington. Check in to our elegant and historic hotel and meet fellow travelers at a welcome reception. The Davenport Hotel

Saturday, June 16
SPOKANE / CLARKSTON / EMBARK
Drive along the Palouse Scenic Byway en route to Clarkston. The byway traverses a major agricultural area of the northwestern United States called the Palouse, renowned for its scenic rolling hills, rich farmland and small town charm and named after a Native American tribe whose present-day descendants inhabit northeastern Washington. Arrive in Clarkston, named after William Clark and situated at the confluence of the Clearwater and Snake Rivers. Embark the Queen of the West and depart in the late afternoon. Queen of the West (B,L,D)

Sunday, June 17
PENDLETON, OREGON / WALLA WALLA, WASHINGTON
In Pendleton, tour the famous Pendleton Woolen Mills, renowned for its blankets that reflect geometric Native American patterns, and the Tamastslikt Cultural Institute, which preserves the traditions and practices of the Umatilla, Cayuse and Walla Walla Indians. The Walla Walla Valley is home to more than three dozen wineries. Visit one to taste the local varietals. Queen of the West (B,L,D)

Monday, June 18
ALONG THE COLUMBIA RIVER
Enjoy the scenery and shipboard activities as we cruise through the heart of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, a spectacular river canyon where the Columbia River has carved the only sea-level route through the Cascade Mountain Range. Today our ship transits several locks before reaching the port of Stevenson this evening. Queen of the West (B,L,D)

Tuesday, June 19
STEVENSON, WASHINGTON
Disembark in Stevenson for a visit to the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center Museum, where exhibits reflect the natural and cultural history of the region. The Museum’s logo is the petroglyph, Tsagaglalal (“She Who Watches”). The original petroglyph is one of the best examples of aboriginal art in the United States. Also visit Bonneville Lock and Dam, comprised of several run-of-the-river structures (which don’t disturb the natural flow of water) spanning the Columbia between Oregon and Washington, and Multnomah Falls, which is credited as being the second-tallest year-round waterfall in the U.S. Queen of the West (B,L,D)

Wednesday, June 20
RAINIER, OREGON
This morning enjoy the spectacular scenery as the Queen of the West cruises along the Columbia River to Rainier, Oregon. In the afternoon visit the Mount St. Helens Visitor Center, featuring walk-through interpretive exhibits and award-winning theater programs about the events that led to the volcano’s catastrophic eruption in May 1980. Mount St. Helens is part of the Cascade Volcanic Arc, a segment of the Pacific Ring of Fire that includes more than 160 active volcanoes. During our visit, enjoy an opportunity to peer into the crater of the volcano, which is well known for its ash explosions and pyroclastic flows. Queen of the West (B,L,D)

Thursday, June 21
ASTORIA
In Astoria, visit the Columbia Maritime Museum, where exhibits provide visitors the chance to experience what it’s like to pilot a tugboat, participate in a Coast Guard rescue operation on the Columbia River Bar and live in Astoria during the height of the salmon fishing season. Also tour historic Astoria, named after American millionaire John Jacob Astor, whose American Fur Company founded Fort Astoria in 1811; various Lewis and Clark sites including the Interpretive Center at Cape Disappointment; and Fort Clatsop, where the Corps of Discovery spent the long, cold winter of 1805-06. Queen of the West (B,L,D)

Friday, June 22
PORTLAND
Spend the morning cruising upriver from Astoria to Portland. Arrive in Portland this afternoon and visit the beautiful “City of Roses” located between the Columbia and Willamette Rivers. Portland’s place in history is based on fortunes tied to these two great rivers. Relive a moment in history as we approach the city on the Queen of the West paddle-wheeler. Our tour of modern-day Portland includes the Portland Art Museum and the International Rose Test Garden. Enjoy a farewell reception and dinner aboard our ship this evening. Queen of the West (B,L,D)

Saturday, June 23
PORTLAND / DISEMBARK
Early this morning disembark and transfer to the Portland airport for flights home. (B)

WHAT TO EXPECT
We consider this to be a moderately active program. Daily excursions involve one to two miles of walking at historic sites, museums and other outdoor venues, sometimes over uneven terrain. Participants must be in good health and able to keep up with the group without assistance. Busy days are balanced by relaxing times onboard the Queen of the West, when travelers will have ample opportunity to take in the beautiful scenery from the comfort of our riverboat. We welcome travelers 15 years of age and older on this program.

SIZE
Limited to a total of 120 passengers and tour staff, including travelers from Stanford, Harvard Alumni Association Travels and American Museum of Natural History Expeditions

COST*



Cost per person, based on double occupancy:

Cost per person, based on single occupancy:

*Association nonmembers add $200 per person.
**Single accommodations are limited.

INCLUDED

• 1 night of superior hotel accommodations in Spokane, Washington
• 7-night cruise aboard the Queen of the West
• 8 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 7 dinners
• Welcome and farewell cocktail receptions
• Bottled water on excursions
• Gratuities to porters, guides, drivers and riverboat crew for all group activities
• All tours and shore excursions as described in the itinerary
• Transfers and baggage handling on program arrival and departure days
• Port fees and embarkation taxes
• Minimal medical, accident and evacuation insurance
• Educational program with lecture series and pre-departure materials, including recommended reading list, a selected book, map and travel information
• Services of our professional tour manager to assist you throughout the program

NOT INCLUDED

• Airfare from your home to Spokane and return from Portland
• Medical expenses and immunizations
• Meals other than those specified as included
• Dishes and beverages not part of the included meals
• Alcoholic beverages other than as described above
• Optional excursions or deviations from the scheduled tour
• Trip-cancellation/interruption and baggage insurance
• Excess-baggage charges
• Personal items such as email, telephone and fax calls, laundry and gratuities for nongroup services

ABOUT THE QUEEN OF THE WEST
The 230-foot Queen of the West, launched in 1995, was the first overnight passenger paddle-wheeler to be built and operated in the West in 80 years. Designed to showcase the wide-open vistas, forested riverbanks and small towns of the Pacific Northwest, the vessel completed a multi-million-dollar renovation in the fall and winter of 2010–11. The Queen of the West has four decks offering panoramic views from every angle and features a dining room on the lower deck, two indoor lounges, a sun deck, a library and an elevator servicing all decks. There are 70 outside staterooms, some with private balconies, accommodating a maximum of 120 guests, with an average size of 240 square feet per cabin. The Queen of the West is powered by a paddlewheel with a hydraulic propulsion system that uses environmentally safe biodegradable hydraulic oil.

FUEL COSTS
In the uncertain, often volatile oil market of late, it is difficult to predict fuel costs over the long term and, more specifically, at the time of operation of this voyage. Our prices are based upon the prevailing fuel rates at the time of brochure printing. While we will do everything possible to maintain our prices, if the fuel rates increase significantly, it may be necessary to institute a fuel surcharge.

Eligibility
We encourage membership in the Alumni Association as the program cost for nonmembers is $200 more than the members' price. Parents and their children under 21 may travel on one membership. For more information or to purchase a membership, visit www.stanfordalumni.org/membership or call (650) 725-0692.

Deposits, Payments and Cancellations
A $1,000 deposit is required to hold space. Deposits and any payments are fully refundable, less a $500-per-person cancellation fee, until the final payment due date, 120 days prior to departure. After that date, refunds can be made only if the program is sold out and your place(s) can be resold, in which case a $1,000-per-person cancellation fee will apply.

Insurance
Stanford Travel/Study provides all travelers who are U.S. or Canadian citizens with minimal medical, accident and evacuation coverage under our group-travel insurance policy. We strongly recommend that you subscribe to optional baggage and trip-cancellation insurance. A brochure offering such insurance will be mailed with your confirmation about one week after we receive your deposit. The product offered in this brochure includes special benefits if you postmark your insurance payment within a specified window: 15 days of the date listed on the confirmation letter for the Waiver of Pre-Existing Conditions and coverage for Financial Insolvency; 21 days for the Cancel for Any Reason benefit.

Responsibility
The Stanford Alumni Association, Stanford University and our operators act only as agents for the passenger with respect to transportation and ship arrangements and exercise every care possible in doing so. However, we can assume no liability for injury, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity in connection with the service of any automobile, motorcoach, launch or any other conveyance used in carrying out this program or for the acts or defaults of any company or person engaged in conveying the passenger or in carrying out the arrangements of the program. We cannot accept any responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, quarantine, force majeure or other causes beyond our control. All such losses or expenses will have to be borne by the passenger as tour rates provide arrangements only for the time stated. We reserve the right to make such alterations to this published itinerary as may be deemed necessary. The right is reserved to cancel any program prior to departure in which case the entire payment will be refunded without further obligation on our part. The right is also reserved to decline to accept or retain any person as a member of the program. No refund will be made for an unused portion of any tour unless arrangements are made in sufficient time to avoid penalties. Baggage is carried at the owner's risk entirely. It is understood that the ship's ticket, when issued, shall constitute the sole contract between the passenger and the cruise company. The airlines concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time passengers are not on board their plane or conveyance. Neither the Alumni Association, Stanford University nor our operators accept liability for any carrier's cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a nonrefundable ticket in connection with the tour. Program price is based on rates in effect at the time the brochure is printed and is subject to change without notice to reflect fluctuations in exchange rates, tariffs or fuel charges. As a condition of participation, all confirmed participants are required to sign a Release of Liability.

California Seller of Travel Program Registration #2048 523-50