Empress Of The North
To Cruise Alaska's Inside Passage
Small ship cruising becomes more accessible this summer, thanks to the long-awaited debut of the Empress of the North. Schedule to launch in June 2003, this sternwheeler cruise ship is reminiscent of the great passenger riverboats that cruised the Pacific Northwest in the mid-1800s.
Empress Of The North
The Empress of the North is actually a stretch version of her sister ship, the Queen of The West. Both ships are owned and operated by US-based American West Steamboat Company.
The Empress of the North has 112 staterooms including two that are wheelchair-accessible. Both accessible staterooms have roll-in showers, level thresholds and wide doorways. Square footage ranges from 216 square feet in the accessible CC First Class stateroom, to 228 square feet in the accessible BB Superior stateroom. Both accessible staterooms are located on the third deck, and have private verandahs. Two elevators provide access to all decks.
The Empress of the North will spend her summers cruising Alaska's famed Inside Passage. Her Alaska itinerary will feature 11-night northbound or southbound cruises from Seattle or Juneau. Ports of call will include Victoria, Vancouver, Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Sitka, Skagway, Juneau, Glacier Bay, Tracy Arm, Misty Fjords, Peril Strait, and Le Conte Bay. Come fall, The Empress of the North will reposition to Portland and join the Queen of the West on the Columbia, Snake, and Willamette Rivers.
All shore excursions are included on American West Steamboat cruises. Shore excursions are provided in lift-equipped busses, and the crew is more than happy to lend assistance to slow walkers and wheelchair-users. This cruise line is well known for its high level of personal service.
Shore excursion offerings range from a salmon bake and a tour of Petroglyph Beach State Historic Park on the Alaska itinerary; to a jet boat excursion and visits to Lewis and Clark sites on the Columbia River.
For more information about the Empress of the North, call (800)434-1232 or visit www.empressofthenorth.com. Check out the Spring 2003 issue of Emerging Horizons for more information (including access details) on the Queen of the West and her Columbia River itinerary.