Press Release

CRUISE WEST CELEBRATES 200th ANNIVERSARY OF LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION – RETRACES THE HISTORIC ROUTE ALONG THE COLUMBIA AND SNAKE RIVERS

Jul 15 2004 12:00AM

Seattle, July, 2004 -- Celebrating the bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark expedition, Cruise West is retracing the historic route of the skilled frontiersmen along the Snake and Columbia rivers with its seven-night "River Voyage of Discovery" itinerary. The trip is detailed in a newly-released 18-page Lewis and Clark brochure.

Three Cruise West ships have been deployed in the Pacific Northwest and will sail roundtrip from Portland, OR, on 19 scheduled departures from September 9 to October 22. Rates range from $1,499 to $4,549 per person, double, including port charges, shore activities at all stops and airport transfers. One-night pre- and post-cruise extensions to Portland and Mount St. Helens are offered at $155 per person, double.

The program follows the final leg of the cross-country expedition of Lewis and Clark and the buckskin-clad members of the Corps of Discovery, who paddled and portaged in dugout canoes through hundreds of miles of cataracts and rapids along the great rivers to the Pacific Ocean. The rapids are gone -- submerged by huge dams and locking systems -- but the magnificent scenery and Old West flavor remain in the form of museums, historic sites, forts and art collections.

The trip covers more than 1,000 miles, including an exciting whitewater jetboat excursion deep into Hells Canyon and the transit of locks to eight major dams. Cruise stops, many reported in the explorers' journals, include the reconstructed log fort at Fort Clatsop National Historic Park near the Oregon coast, where the group established a winter camp in 1805; Whitman Mission, site of an Indian massacre in 1847 and where a Conestoga wagon sits in the ruts of the original Oregon Trail; and the U.S. Army cavalry-era museum at Fort Walla Walla.

Other excursions are a tour through the inner workings of Bonneville Dam; 620-foot-high Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River Gorge; the Columbia River Gorge Discovery Center, with dioramas and displays depicting the region's geography and history; Maryhill Museum, a historic mansion perched on a bluff overlooking the Columbia, exhibiting Native American arts and European paintings; and the Civil War-era Fort Stevens, guarding the mouth of the Columbia.

The region's pioneer history is brought to life through presentations by the on-board exploration leader and guest speakers, such as a Nez Perce poet and storyteller. In traditional ceremonial dress, he relates the story of Chief Joseph, who in 1877 led his people on a tragic 1,000-mile retreat from the U.S Cavalry.

The Spirit of Alaska, Spirit of Discovery and Spirit of '98 carry 78 to 96 passengers. Each has a large forward lounge and ample outdoor deck space for viewing and photographing wildlife and scenery. Cabins have private facilities and the atmosphere aboard is casual. Open seating in the dining rooms encourages travelers to form new friendships. Exploration Leaders, experts in regional history, cultures, wildlife, ecology and geology, accompany the cruises and shore excursions, and present lectures on board.

Reservations, additional information and brochures can be obtained from travel agents and Cruise West, Suite 401, 2301 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121, telephone (800) 888-9378; fax (206) 441-4757; web site www.cruisewest.com ### Gillies and Zaiser 110 Riverside Drive New York, NY 10024 CW-15-July, 2004

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Cruise West – a second-generation, family-owned business based in Seattle – offers the opportunity to explore remote, worldwide locales by providing distinctive, one-of-a-kind, personalized itineraries not offered by the traditional larger cruise lines. Cruise West’s smaller ships – nine in all – hold between 78-138 people each, and the casual style onboard encourages relaxation and congenial interaction between guests and crew alike. The experience is personally enriching through expert Exploration Leaders providing onboard narrative and lectures, special local guests from a wide variety of backgrounds, and the library provided on each vessel. All have forward lounges and ample outdoor deck space for viewing and photographing wildlife and scenery. All vessels are also equipped with inflatable landing boats for close-up exploration of remote areas and shore landings.

Destinations served include: Alaska and the Bering Sea, British Columbia, Columbia & Snake Rivers, California Wine Country, Mexico's Sea of Cortés, Costa Rica & Panama, Japan, the South Pacific, and the Kuril Islands.