After three decades of ferrying passengers along the Columbia River, the paddlewheeler American West has made its final voyage. The historic riverboat officially retired on October 29, closing out a 31-year run on the water that helped define Pacific Northwest river cruising for generations of travelers.
American Cruise Lines says the ship will be responsibly recycled, according to KATU, which first reported the retirement. The company has told the station it plans to replace American West with modern riverboats designed to keep showcasing the Columbia and Snake rivers as a premier river cruise destination.
The ship's history stretches back further than its American Cruise Lines years. Built in 1995, the vessel originally sailed under the name Queen of the West, according to CruiseMapper. American Cruise Lines acquired the ship in 2009, and after a complete redesign and refurbishment in 2021 and 2022, it was renamed American West, the same source notes.
A New Fleet Steps In
American West isn't the only classic paddlewheeler plying these waters. American Pride, another paddlewheeler, is already operating in the region, per American Cruise Lines' account to the station. But the company's broader strategy is clearly leaning toward newer builds: American Encore began sailing the Columbia and Snake rivers in May, per the KATU report, and American Anthem is set to launch in April 2027.
That expansion fits into a larger pattern for the company. American Cruise Lines currently operates 28 vessels across the U.S., with eight assigned to the Columbia and Snake rivers, according to Seatrade Cruise. The outlet also reports that American Anthem and a sister ship, American Grace, are scheduled to begin sailing the same rivers in 2027 and 2028, respectively.
What Riverboat Travelers Can Expect
American Encore, the newest addition to the Columbia and Snake rivers fleet, carries 180 passengers and includes a forward-facing signature suite spanning more than 1,000 square feet with a wrap-around balcony, Seatrade Cruise reports. The ship's inaugural season on those rivers was scheduled to run from early May through mid-November, per the same outlet.
More broadly, American Cruise Lines markets its Columbia and Snake River vessels — whether modern riverboats or classic paddlewheelers — as accommodating between 150 and 180 guests each, according to the company's own ship listings. That consistent passenger capacity suggests the line is aiming to preserve a similar onboard experience even as it swaps out older vessels for newer ones.
American West isn't the only aging ship getting phased out. American Cruise Lines has also confirmed that two other vessels, American Countess and American Duchess, will be recycled, according to Seatrade Cruise's reporting on the company's fleet decisions. The moves reflect what the company has described, per the same outlet, as a broader focus on modernizing and elevating the domestic cruise industry with new ships.
For now, Columbia and Snake River cruising continues aboard American Pride and the newer American Encore, with American Anthem set to join them next spring. American West's three decades on the water end with a retirement that, according to the cruise line, was always headed toward responsible recycling rather than a second life elsewhere.
