Beyond Seattle.
A new cruise center is emerging in Eastern Washington.
The confluence of two major rivers in the Pacific Northwest will become a new passenger terminal for American Cruise Lines Inc., a Guilford, Conn.-based river cruise operator with an active presence on the Columbia-Snake system.
American Cruise Lines is finalizing a deal to lease the underutilized Burbank High Pier, near the confluence of the Columbia and Snake rivers in Burbank, as a passenger terminal.
ACL will use the terminal as a stop for cruise ship passengers who can take buses to Walla Walla wineries, parks and other destinations.
The Walla Walla Port Commission this week unanimously agreed to the terms of the 20-year lease, pending final legal review.
Visit Walla Walla is excited to have a new way to connect visitors to local wineries and showcase the physical geography of the Palouse and Blue Mountains as well as the area’s tribal and pioneer history.
American Cruise Lines will use the Burbank High Pier near the confluence of the Columbia and Snake rivers as a passenger terminal. The company had previously used the dock to winterize one of its ships, the American Song. (Bob Brawdy/bbrawdy@tricityherald.com)
“This is exciting news,” said Guy Gaeser, executive director of the regional tourism bureau. He told the Tri-City Herald that cruise ship passengers are valuable tourists.
“We know from experience that many visitors first learn about a destination through cruise travel. River cruises tend to attract curious and engaged visitors who are eager to explore communities beyond the dock, which often leads to return visits and longer stays,” he said.
American Cruise Lines previously used the terminal as winter storage for one of the ships in its Colombian Snake fleet. The American Song, carrying 180 passengers, will be anchored across the Snake River across from Sacagawea State Park for the winter of 2024-25.
Performances during the 2017 Heritage Days at Pasco-Sacagawea State Park. (Noel Haro-Gomez/Tri-City Herald)
The terminal and associated roadways will be upgraded, and Burbank is expected to welcome passengers in 2027. That’s when ACL launches the Columbia Snake system, a 14-day round-trip cruise.
Mark Freeman, ACL’s director of government affairs in Portland, told the port it would welcome suggestions as it develops itineraries for future passengers similar to its ship’s stop in Richland, about 20 miles away.
American Cruise Lines will use the Burbank High Pier as a passenger facility under a new agreement with the Port of Walla Walla. The company had previously used the dock as winter storage for its American Song vessel. (Bob Brawdy/bbrawdy@tricityherald.com)
colombian snake drama
Freeman told commissioners that American Cruise Lines operates nationwide, but the Columbia Serpent system is special.
Passengers are captivated by the dramatic transition between the Inland Empire east of the Cascade Mountains and the ocean region west of the Columbia River Gorge.
“This is an important area for us,” he said.
The cruise line is expanding its Columbia Snake fleet with the launch of a sixth ship in the 2026 season. The ship is being built in Maryland and will arrive via the Panama Canal next month.
More ships are expected to come online in 2027 and beyond.
In 2023, a pair of early morning walkers hiked through Howard Ammon Park and passed the American Harmony cruise ship docked at the Lee Avenue Marina on the Columbia River in Richland. (Bob Brawdy/bbrawdy@tricityherald.com)
Test the waters
American Cruise Lines intends to upgrade the pier to accommodate passengers, but has not ruled out using it as an embarkation point in the future.
That means cruise ship passengers will head to Burbank to begin their journeys.
Port of Walla Walla officials hope this will bring more traffic to the local airport. Walla Walla Regional Airport is one hour away. Pasco’s Tri-Cities Airport is approximately 10 minutes’ drive away.
The confluence of two rivers is picturesque, but Burbank’s waterfront is industrial.
There is a grain terminal and a metal recycling facility nearby. An ACL spokesman previously said the character was not offensive. Passengers were interested in the working waterfront and pepper crews, asking questions about the barges and other commercial activity they saw on or near the water during their voyages.
Cruise season begins later this month.
Rent starts at $58,000 in the first year and increases to nearly $85,000 in the 20th year. The lease includes provisions for third parties to use the terminal during the day, with costs shared by the port and ACL.
Visit americancruiselines.com.
