Touch Grass: Portland Spirit
The view from the stern of the boat. Photo credit Adrian Keller Feld.
The views of the Willamette River from downtown Portland are beautiful, especially from Tom McCall Waterfront Park, featured in the March 2 2024 Touch Grass. However, these walks are not always accessible, especially not to cover a long distance and get a glimpse of most of Portland’s iconic bridges. Luckily, launching from a dock off of the park is the Portland Spirit, a boat offering many cruises up and down the river. These quick trips provide a unique glimpse of the city and surrounding areas, as well as often, including a meal. While this is an expensive trip, it is good to keep in mind for special occasions and family visits. The boat’s staff is also fully prepared for mobility issues, and are able to bring wheelchair users onto the Portland Spirit, so, this is a safe activity for the whole family as you can stay seated and watch the water or take a walk out on deck.
Per its website, the Portland Spirit describes itself as “Operating a fleet of four boats for public and private events, Portland Spirit offers year-round dining and sightseeing cruises — an experience unlike anything else in Portland, Oregon.” While there are four boats, this article is only about the largest in the fleet, named the Portland Spirit. Cruises on their ships are not cheap, with prices starting at $60, and moving up depending on timing, food offerings, and the add-ons of alcohol and souvenirs. The main options are a weekend brunch and a dinner cruise. According to the Portland Spirit website, cruises are offered year-round and cruises are about two hours long. There are also special occasion cruises, including a Valentine's Day dinner cruise, as well as being available for private events.
With years of history on the Willamette, the Portland Spirit “combines the classic nautical experience with a fine dining atmosphere. Two levels are fully enclosed and climate-controlled, each with a sound system and full-service bar. A built-in marble dance floor is available on the Columbia Deck and the top Starlight Deck is an open-air viewing deck,” according to the website. As the holidays approach and the weather gets colder, the warmth inside the boat still allows for some sightseeing in the winter. To learn more visit the Portland Spirit website, and check them out on Instagram @portlandspirit. So, go out and touch (okay, see) grass on the Portland Spirit!