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August 16, 2007

New Photo Gallery is Live

   We are so excited about our new photo gallery.  Several weeks ago, we quietly released it to our website.  Many of our Quyana Members (past guests) have loaded their photos to the gallery.  Our CEO, Dick West has also loaded his South Pacific cruise photos to the web.  There's a E-Postcard feature as well as the ability to send a link of your entire album to your friends and family. 


The gallery is still in beta mode and we'd love to have your feedback.   What's working?  What needs improvement? Email us and share your thoughts with us.



Posted by Leigh Strinsky on August 16, 2007
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April 02, 2007

Spring Season Begins

April 1st was a big day here at Cruise West.   Special, because it marked the official start of our spring cruising season.  And for the first time in our history, we launched spring cruises on both coasts.  On the East Coast, our Spirit of Nantucket greeted guests in Jacksonville, Florida for the first of five Antebellum South cruises.  On the West Coast, our Spirit of Discovery boarded her guests in Portland, OR for the first of five Columbia & Snake River cruises.

Having sailed on our vessels for six years, I can say there there's no better feeling than that experienced during the first few minutes of boarding.  Knowing that the crew is trained and excited about the upcoming season is as much fun as seeing the first smiles of guests as they walk up the gangway.  Wondering what the summer will bring, what we will see, who we might meet and how we will change are all questions that we ponder.  A single handshake and the first "hello" to each guest is a sincere and meaningful moment for each of us. Though I no longer sail on our ships, the thought of this single moment in time takes me right back to my cruising days.  

Instead, I will wish each crewmember a season filled with meaningful experiences and pride in knowing that you're a part of something much bigger than yourself.  Fulfilling our guest's dreams is a true pleasure and an experience that you will cherish.  To all of our guests, I wish a travel experience filled the pleasure of soaking in the destination in the way that only Cruise West can deliver, but also with the pleasure of meeting our wonderful crew and knowing that you are the reason that they come to work every day.

Fair Winds & Following Seas to you all.

Posted by Leigh Strinsky on April 02, 2007
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January 27, 2007

Our Bear Cares on the Columbia and Snake Rivers

This year we worked with the Union Gospel Mission in the Tri-Cities to provide educational assistance for the migrant workers’ children. We thought they would need backpacks and other basic school supplies. In June, we delivered a check for $2,500 to the mission so they would have time to purchase supplies before school started in the fall.

I received a call from Meg Riley at the mission in early September. The local Costco had donated school supplies for the migrant workers’ children and they were requesting direction on what to do with the money. Meg wondered if we were interested in buying coats for the children who didn’t have them. Because of the cold weather, unless children have coats they are not permitted to go to school. We thought Meg’s idea was a good one.

By the end of November Meg had purchased 28 coats and delivered them to the Longfellow school, where the majority of migrant children go. You will see the message from the school nurse below. In addition, Meg told me some of these children have never had any new clothes in their lives and most of the coats came with mittens, scarves or gloves, so they were even more delighted!

                    

Dear Cruise West –

On behalf of the Longfellow School staff, I thank you for your generous donation! You can’t imagine the looks on children’s faces – and parents’ too- when warm coats are made available to these little ones. Your generosity has overwhelmed us! May you all have a peaceful holiday season - thank you all again!

Susie Wells, School Nurse 

After purchasing the coats there was still some money left over, so Meg used it to buy Christmas presents for the party they give at the mission. Every child who comes to the party gets a present and with our help, every child did and they were also able to purchase some educational tools for use by children at the mission.

What a good use of Our Bear Cares contributions – and thank you to all the Columbia & Snake Rivers guests who participated.

Funds from onboard photo CD sales support Our Bear Cares Projects. Founded and managed by the employees of Cruise West, financially supported by the Company and by donations from our guests, the goal of the Our Bear Cares Program is to support local charities and organizations at every destination Cruise West visits. A team of employees at Cruise West works closely with each organization to ensure our support has a direct and positive impact . Groups are carefully selected and supported by the Our Bear Cares Committee. Support ranges from cash donations to clothing, school and medical supplies. Organizations we support are as diverse as a remote village in Costa Rica, an orphanage in Mexico, an educational program for children of migrant workers in the Pacific Northwest, whale research in Alaska and medical supplies for various islands in the South Pacific . The committee meets monthly and welcomes input from guests, employees and vendors. Contact us in writing at Our Bear Cares Committee, Cruise West, 2301 5th Avenue, Suite 401, Seattle, WA 98121

Posted by Gail Manahan on January 27, 2007
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October 14, 2006

A Day in Hell's Canyon

Please enjoy the exerpt from our "Hell's Canyon Day" aboard the Spirit of Discovery, currently operating on our Columbia and Snake Rivers cruise.

In the fall of 1805, the Lewis and Clark party camped at the confluence of the Clearwater and Snake Rivers during their overland journey to the Pacific Ocean. At this strategic spot, the point where the Snake River turns due south, the twin cities of Lewiston, Idaho and Clarkston, Washington grew up on opposite sides of the river.

From just south of Clarkston and continuing for 100 miles, the Snake is a free-flowing whitewater wilderness river, flowing through the deepest gorge in North America. Separating the Blue Mountains of northeastern Oregon from the Seven Devils Range of western Idaho, Hells Canyon is rich in history, scenery, and wildlife, all guests had your cameras and binoculars in hand. Our adventure by jet boat took us many miles deep into the canyon. This was an exhilarating experience as we rocketed up shallow, whitewater rapids and cruise around the many bends in the river. Along the banks guests spotted mountain goats, wild turkeys, deer, and elk.

Humans have a long history here. Ancient rock petroglyphs are scattered along the riverbanks. On the scree slopes rising above the relatively rare fords, watch for the diagonal traces of old Nez Perce horse trails mounting the canyon rim. On our way up river we paused at Nez Perce Crossing. It was here in 1877, Chief Joseph led his band of 250 warriors and 500 women across the boiling water towards the Lapwai Reservation. Instead, he led his people on an impressive trek across 1,400 miles of the most rugged terrain, trying to reach Canada, hoping to meet Sitting Bull and his people who were already there. They were halted just 40 miles shy of the Canadian border.

A rest stop on the riverbanks will allowed us to stretch your legs and enjoy a home-cooked meal at Kirby Creek.

Posted by Leigh Strinsky on October 14, 2006
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August 28, 2006

How We Handle Tipping

Today, I found an online article by Linda Garrison about cruise line tipping policies.  As I read it, I found myself reliving a recent family vacation.  Before we left, my husband handed me a stack of bills- ones & fives, so that I would be prepared to tip when necessary.  Throughout the trip, I always kept track of my smaller bills- making sure not to spend them lest I get caught in an embarrassing situation, where a tip was required and I had nothing to give. 

Several years ago, we realized that our guests had this same concern.  So, we implemented our  No Tipping Policy.  At Cruise West, gratuites are neither expected nor required.  When you cruise aboard our small ships, travel on our exclusive land tours or even enjoy one of our included shore excursions- your gratuities are covered.  One less worry when you travel with us. 

Linda did a great job of mentioning our policy in her article.  If you'd like to see how we compare to other lines, be sure to read the article.

 

Posted by Leigh Strinsky on August 28, 2006
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August 21, 2006

Meet Our Oldest Cruising Quyana Club Member

Sylvia Ryder has been cruising with Cruise West since the 1950s when she met Chuck West on a July 4th Alaska cruise he was running. She’s been a Cruise West fan ever since. Now 98, Sylvia has cruised with us at least six times. She and her daughter, Barbara, “Bobbie” Stoermer, have voyaged Mexico’s Sea of Cortes, the Columbia & Snake Rivers, Alaska’s Inside Passage, Costa Rica & Panama, British Columbia and the Bering Sea. They both agree their favorite trip was the Bering Sea adventure.

Sylvia isn’t sure when or where they’re going next but she does plan to go again. What does she like best about Cruise West cruises? Sylvia says, “You get to know everybody right away.”

We believe Sylvia is our oldest cruising Quyana Club Member at 98.  Do you know otherwise? If so, please let us know! Call your Quyana toll-free number 1-888-851-4132

Posted by Leigh Strinsky on August 21, 2006
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August 14, 2006

Chef's Recipes

My local grocery store is having a big seafood sale right now, with Alaska prawns readily available.  I love shrimp & prawns, but am not very original when it comes to preparation.  While I love to eat great food, I'm not much of a Chef. So, when I need to really dazzle a crowd, I turn to our Vessel Culinary Manager, Doug Kramer for advice.  Doug is always happy to help me and is even happy to share advice with our guests.  I've published his Shrimp Scampi recipe on our website.   I hope that you enjoy the recipe.  We do have a cookbook in the works, but if you have a favorite recipe that you enjoyed while onboard, just post your request in the comment section of this post and I'll be happy to publish it to our site.  Bon Appétit!

Posted by Leigh Strinsky on August 14, 2006
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August 11, 2006

Flight Security Tips

With the latest news on tightened airport security, I thought it might be useful to share a few tips.

The Department of Homeland Security has published a lot of useful information on their website and I'm republishing some of it down below:

  • No liquids or gels of any kind will be permitted in carry on baggage. such items must be in checked baggage. This includes all beverages, shampoo, sun tan lotion, creams, tooth paste, hair gel, and other items of similar consistency.

    Exceptions: Baby formula and medicines*, which must be presented for inspection at the checkpoint.  *Be sure that your medications are in the original, labeled pharmacy bottle and not in a pill minder.

  • Beverages purchased in the boarding area, beyond the checkpoint, must be consumed before boarding because they will not be permitted onboard the aircraft.


  • Passengers traveling from the United Kingdom to the United States will be subject to a more extensive screening process.

And now, a few helpful hints from me:

  • Get to the airport early, early, early.
  • Have your bags organized and ready to be searched.
  • Keep your tickets and ID in an area that is easy for you to locate.
  • Don't forget, TSA still expects you to take your shoes, jackets, belts when passing through security.  Dress comfortably and sensibly for a smooth pass through.
  • All those liquid items that now must go in your carry-on luggage should be stored inside a plastic zip type bag.  I've had more shampoo explode in my luggage than I care to remember!
  • Ladies: play it safe and pack your make-up in your checked luggage.  You'd be heartbroken to throw out that favorite color that only works for you!
  • Pack your patience and your humor.  Just think of all the great people-watching you'll get to do!
  • Many gift shops on the other side of security have stopped selling bottled liquids, so don't expect to be able to stock up these items once through security.
  • If you forget all of these tips and have to throw out your personal items, you'll find shampoo, conditioner and soap inside your cabin onboard the ship.

And finally, don't forget why you are traveling.  You are headed on the trip of a lifetime and this little inconvenience will all be worth it when you receive your first of many warm, welcoming smiles and a hearty "Welcome Aboard" from our crew. 

And as we sailors like to say, "Fair Winds and Following Seas."

Posted by Leigh Strinsky on August 11, 2006
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July 21, 2006

The Columbia River meets Microsoft

I love the Columbia River.  From 1994-1997, I served as Captain aboard the Spirit of Columbia - which was on full-time assignment on our Columbia/Snake River cruises.  While there, I became fascinated by the history of the river.  From The Great Floods, to the history of early man, the exploration of Lewis & Clark and most recently, the taming of the river through the locks and dams that have been built - it all intrigues me. 

A lifelong dream of mine, is to follow the Columbia River all the way to it's source in Canada.  In the meantime, I continue to follow the news and issues of the rivers.  Recently, the Seattle Times published an article about how Microsoft, Yahoo! and Google are building massive server buildings along the river.  They are doing this to take advantage of the inexpensive hydroelectricity that these massive dams supply.  The fact that the internet has become so vital to Americans that companies like Microsoft and Google are taking advantage of the power generated by the mighty Columbia to build bigger servers is mind boggling to me. I wonder what Lewis & Clark or even Roosevelt would think about this?

There's no doubt that the river is a crucial to the economy of the region.  The waterways are filled with barges moving supplies to the interior of the northwest, nearly half of all hydroelectricity in the US is generated by this river system and the water from the river is used to irrigate many of the farms along these fertile lands.  Washington's wine country, apples, potatoes, asparagus, cherries, hops, pears and other crops all benefit from this endless supply.  Of course, where there is gain, there's loss.  The once abundant salmon are now near extinction and there is an ongoing effort to breach the dams in order to allow the salmon to repopulate.

I found a fantastic article at the National Geographic website that I thought was worth sharing.  The article, A River Dammed written by Fen Montaigne and photographed by Jim Richardson explores these issues and offers wonderful interactive features, including audio interviews with the photographer and a map that does a great job of explaining the river system.

Where do I stand on the issues?  Squarely in the middle.  After spending three years on the river, absorbing the history, and witnessing the power and life that the river supplies to our economy, I remain undecided.  What I know for sure is that the river is life - past, present and future.  The cruise is wonderful and a great way to learn about the history, get to know the people who's livelihood depends upon the river, follow the waterways of great explorers and gain a better understanding of the issues.  If you've traveled with us on the river, I'd love to hear from you.  Was there a particular part of the experience that really spoke to you?  How would you describe the complexities of the river to someone who's never seen it?    

Our River Voyages of Discovery operate in the spring and fall, round-trip from Portland. 

Posted by Leigh Strinsky on July 21, 2006
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July 10, 2006

Meet Quyana Member Mike Morse

Guest aboard the Spirit of ’98 sees a need and takes action...

Mike and Debbie Morse were first drawn to Cruise West by Lewis & Clark Bicenntenial cruise information. They took the Spirit of ’98 on the Columbia & Snake Rivers in the spring of 2005.

It so happened that Cruise West Chairman, Dick West, was on their cruise and Mike mentioned to Dick that although the bathrooms on the vessel were spacious, the pedestal sinks offered no storage. He told Dick he had an idea for a shelf and Dick said, "Send your shelf idea to us. If we like it we will get them.”

In the picture you can see the shelf that Mike made. This is an extra. The rest can be found being put to good use in the bathrooms on the Spirit of ’98.

This spring Mike and Debbie took the British Columbia cruise on the Spirit of Endeavour. They loved the trip and of course, Mike has another shelf idea in the works.

Quyana, Mike!


 

Posted by Leigh Strinsky on July 10, 2006
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June 19, 2006

Our Bear Cares on the Columbia River

Friday I visited the Union Gospel Mission in Pasco. I had prearranged to meet my contact for the past year, Mark Heritage. The building, which is the old telephone company building, is clean and swept-up, but tightly secured so we had to ring a bell to be let in. We received a tour of the women's/children's shelter and the store rooms of donated clothes and supplies. We met the children you see in the first picture who, in this case, have been staying at the shelter. All the migrant workers staying there had their children out in the fields with them that day. The second picture shows the playroom for the children and the third picture shows some of the donations the workers can take from. There are three woman from a local church who have come every week to sort donations for the past 10 years. If donations come in dirty they take them home and launder them.

We learned that the majority of the migrant families are either Hispanic or Russian, with the Russian families having many children - up to 18! They come to the mission to get clothes, personal hygiene supplies and to take a shower. During the school year, they drop their kids off there to eat and shower and a bus picks them up and transports them to school.

(More...)

Posted by Gail Manahan on June 19, 2006
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May 30, 2006

Back for her 16th Trip!

Submitted by John Kreilkamp, Vice President of Alaska Operations.

Yesterday my family got a treat.

Quyana Member, Ila G. arrived in Anchorage for her 16th cruise with Cruise West.   She has sailed on almost all of our cruises and Prince William Sound is her favorite (her 4th trip to this area). Each year, she celebrates her birthday by giving herself a cruise with Cruise West.   Because I had a previous engagement with my visiting family, I asked Andy Compton  to take her out to dinner but to bring her over for a glass of wine first.  He did and Ila delighted us all...she was in her prime....she held court over the gathering of my 12 relatives and they realized that they had met a rather significant person in history.

What makes her so special?  Ila is a nuclear physicist.  Not just any nuclear physicist but a pioneer physicist.  Beginning in 1948, she worked at the Los Alamos research lab and was there for 34 years...she witnessed several atom bomb detonations in the Nevada Desert, she knew Robert Oppenheimer.  She was one of the first women to work at the Los Alamos site in the post war development of the Bomb.  Ila is fairly unpretentious...she disdains those who thought their work was too important.  She recalled with a devilish wink when Oppenheimer went into a local restaurant with shorts on one day for lunch and the waitress, who noticed he was not wearing the required apparel refused to give him service....no slacks - no service.

Ila is celebrating her 82nd birthday with us on the Spirit of Columbia this weekend, she almost missed her cruise with us after last year's heart attack.  Her doctor advised her not to go...but she told him if she was going to go, she would rather have it be in front of a glacier in Prince William Sound.

The Sheraton Anchorage upgraded her to a Jr. suite and last night she thoroughly enjoyed her Copper River Salmon at her favorite restaurant in town.

Posted by John Krielkamp on May 30, 2006
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May 18, 2006

The Lust for Travel

Last Sunday's New York Times featured a great article by Susan Lehman, called Books That Triggered Writers' Wanderlust.   The article got us all thinking about what books have inspired our own travels.  When I worked aboard the Spirit of Alaska and later the Spirit of Columbia, I entertained myself with travel stories that pertained to the route I was assigned. 

One of my favorite books about the Inside Passage is a memoir written in 1927 by Wylie Blanchet, called The Curve of Time.  Wylie was widowed at age 37, with five children.   In spite of this (or maybe because of it) she spent every summer aboard their 25' boat, cruising the Inside Passage of British Columbia.  Having sailed these waters many times myself and realizing how remote they truly are, gave me a great appreciation for her adventurous spirit.  There was nothing tame about her experience!

My other favorite Northwest author is Nard Jones.   I'd categorize his work at historical fiction, that borders on what we would call pulp-fiction today.  Definately not politically correct, but an accurate portrayal of the attitudes and social issues of the Northwest and Columbia River during his time. He was also writing in the 30's.  All of his books are out of print, but can sometimes be found in used bookstores in our area and online at Powell's Bookstore. (No, I'm not getting paid by Powell's to plug them, I just happen to think they are the greatest bookstore in the world- put them on your "must-see" list if you ever visit Portland, OR.)

So- those are a few of the fun but, obscure authors who have inspired and entertained me.  Who are your favorite travel writers?  Which books have inspired you to drop everything and get on a plane -or boat?  What destinations are on your life list because of their influence?

Post a comment and share your favorites.

Submitted by Leigh Strinsky, former Captain and now Manager of Online Initiatives.

Posted by Leigh Strinsky on May 18, 2006
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March 20, 2006

Roll On Columbia

The Spirit of Discovery and Spirit of '98 are still several weeks away from the start of their Columbia/Snake River cruises, but, with spring here, my thoughts have turned to the awakening of this mighty river.   I spent three years cruising the river and developed a healthy respect for it's power and it's importance to the Northwest. But mostly, I fell in love with the folklore and stories of the people have been influenced by the Columbia River.

While doing research for another project, I stumbled across an interesting article, "Ten Songs for a Dollar" written by Robert C. Carriker for the Columbia Magazine.  The article is about Woody Guthrie and his commission to create a series of folk songs to promote the work of the Bonneville Power Adminstration (BPA).  Guthrie was paid $266.66 for 30 days of work and was expected to submit three songs each day.  In the end, he contributed 26 songs and created a persona for the Northwest. In fact, the State of Washington has designated "Roll-On Columbia" as the official folk song.

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Posted by Leigh Strinsky on March 20, 2006
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