A Sternwheeler Christmas
Spend a December weekend on the water with Santa. Cruise the Columbia River Gorge from Cascade Locks, with a cookie, a candy cane and a photo with Santa for the kids, and hot cocoa and soup at the bar for everyone. 🎟️ Booking is open now for December 2026
Cruise the Gorge with Santa
Pick a weekend, then pick your sailing. Children 12 and under ride free with a paying adult.
🎅 Sightseeing with Santa
About an hour on the Columbia River Gorge with Santa aboard. Take in the scenery from the Main Deck or the covered indoor seating, get a photo with Santa, and warm up with something from the bar.
Your Day Aboard
Each sailing is about an hour and has its own tickets. There are 30 minutes between sailings for photos with Santa. Boarding opens 15 minutes before departure.
For the Kids
Santa has a few things set aside for every child.
- Children 12 and under ride free with a paying adult
- A cookie and a candy cane when they step aboard
- A photo with Santa
- Kids can order their drink from our bar
Ready to Book?
Choose your date and sailing in the next step.
Good to Know
What should we wear?
It's December on the river, so dress warmly and in layers. Every sailing has covered, heated indoor seating as well as open-air deck space for photos, so you can duck inside anytime.
Where do we check in?
Cascade Locks, Oregon. Arrive at least 30 minutes before departure; your digital boarding pass (emailed after checkout) has the exact dock location. Parking is owned and paid to the Port of Cascade Locks. The Sternwheeler has no influence over parking.
How long is each cruise?
About an hour. We run three sailings each day: two down the river to Bonneville Dam and one heading east, with 30 minutes between sailings for photos with Santa. Every sailing has its own tickets, so pick the one that fits your day.
Can kids come on the Santa cruise?
Absolutely. It's built for the whole family. Children 12 and under ride free with a paying adult, and each child gets a cookie and a candy cane when they step aboard and a photo with Santa. Kids can order their drink from our bar.
Is there food and drink aboard?
Yes. Our bar has hot cocoa, soup and snacks, plus beer and cocktails for the grown-ups. You can also preorder at checkout and it will be ready when you board.
What if our plans change?
Cancel 7 or more days before departure and you get a full refund to your original payment method. Inside 7 days there is no refund, but you can move your booking once, free of charge, to another sailing this season. Add Flex Cancellation at checkout (optional, 10% of your booking) and you can cancel for any reason up to 24 hours before departure; the Flex fee itself is not refunded. If we cancel, everything is refunded.
Is the vessel accessible?
The Main Deck is accessible from the dock ramp with an accessible restroom. The Second and Third Decks are stairs-only; there's no elevator or lift aboard. You'll be asked about this during checkout so our crew can be ready to help.