FAQ

Tours booked through Portland Boat Tours are entitled to a full refund only if cancelled within 24 hours of the start time of your tour reservation.  We will make every attempt to re-schedule your tour should you need to cancel.  Cancellations with less than 24 hours notice will be billed for the full tour amount.

See the FAQ “What happens if it rains?” for answers to questions regarding inclement weather cancellation policy.

That’s entirely up to you!  A tip is never required but always appreciated.  It is customary in the private tour boat industry to tip the captain 15-20% of the charter fee if they did a good job for you.

Did you forget while you were on the boat or were embarrassingly out of cash at the time?

Don’t worry, take care of it here:

and THANK YOU very much!

Children under 12 years of age are FREE on Portland Boat Tours as long as they are accompanied by at least one adult per child (for their safety).  We have a variety of life jacket sizes for infant on up and will ask about your child’s size prior to your tour to make sure we have a good fit for your child.  Children (even on laps) count toward the maximum of 5 passengers at a time on the boat.

All cruises are weather dependent. We want your experience to be enjoyable. If your time slot is impacted by inclement weather, all efforts will be made to re-schedule or refund.

Unfortunately, we cannot allow pets on-board the boat at this time.

You’ll see the following bridges on the 10-bridge tour:

■ Sellwood
■ Ross Island
■ Tilikum Crossing
■Marquam
■Hawthorne
■ Burnside
■ Morrison
■ Broadway
■ Steel
■ Fremont

This tour mostly explores the back side of Ross Island and the Oaks Bottom area for maximum exposure to the local wildlife and ecology. Don’t worry, you’ll see the whole river through some of Portland too!

What to Bring

■ Camera
■ Beverages (Beer and wine are welcome on the boat)  Don’t forget glasses and a bottle opener!
■ Snacks (nothing messy please)
■ You are welcome to bring full meals (boxed lunches, cheese plates, etc) as well
■ A windbreaker or warm sweater
■ Sunglasses
■ Sunscreen
■ Hat
■ Binoculars
■ Dramamine, wrist bands, or other seasickness medication (although on this boat is has rarely been an issue even for sensitive folks).
■ Cash, Check, or Card for paying the balance due at the end of your tour.

Tips for a Successful Tour

■ Show up early and leave time for parking.
■ Your time slot is reserved for you but your tour will, of course, be shorter if you show up late.
■ If you have special needs let us know in advance. We’re happy to accommodate you.
■ Remember to bring the items on the “what to bring” list.
■ Be ready to have fun!

Please visit our Where to Park section for the best parking for each of the docks that we serve.

Some locations may require paid parking to use the lot listed. Please read all signs and postings at the parking lot you choose.

We also encourage the use of transit to get to and from your tour!

Specifically at Willamette Park where 99% of our tours depart, there is parking near the boat ramp:

We have you covered!

We have all the life jackets to provide you with one for your tour. If you have a particularly comfortable one that you would prefer to use, you are welcomed to do so. Adults are not required to wear a life jacket but will have access to emergency life jackets kept onboard.  At booking, please specify the age/size/weight of any children so we can make sure to prepare the correct size for your child in advance. For small children, if they have their own life jacket at home, we recommend that they bring it (and practice wearing it at home before their tour so they’re more comfortable).

We also carry the required United States Coast Guard Type I Emergency PFD (personal flotation device) for each passenger on the boat.  These do not need to be worn during your tour but are readily available for emergencies as required by the coast guard.

Portland 10-Bridge Tours

This is our most popular tour where you’ll experience the excitement of going under 10 of Portland’s famous bridges. Learn about the history of the Willamette River while you relax and enjoy our incredible city.
Duration: 75minutes

Eco Tours

Leave the dock for a tour of the Willamette River system in Portland. Can we guarantee you’ll see a nesting bald eagle? No. Will we try? Absolutely. Our eco-tours explore the back side of Ross Island, Ross Island Lagoon, and the Oaks Bottom area to observe wildlife only seen from the water.  Heron, Osprey, Eagles, and Deer are just some of the animals you might expect to see.
Duration: 75minutes

Sunset Cruises

Watch the sun dip below the west hills as you enjoy the glow from the Willamette River. There’s no better time or way to experience the Portland skyline than by viewing it from the river on our antique boat. Sunset times vary and availability is always limited so book early if you have a specific date in mind.
Duration: 75minutes

Half or Full Day Custom Tours

We’re available for half or full day custom tours too! If you have a special request, contact us today to book your tour. Popular half day tours include Willamette Falls/Oregon City or St. Johns/Multnomah Channel.

See our Tours page for pricing information.

This depends on the situation.  What will be required is a 20 yard walk down a boat ramp/dock followed by a step up and over the side of the boat and a step down into the boat.  If you have specific questions, please ask the captain prior to booking.  We do our very best to accommodate everyone possible.

Please visit our BOOK NOW tab to select a day and time that fits your schedule.

Click on the listed tour you’d like and scroll down to fill in the form to book that tour.

You will then be automatically redirected to PayPal to pay for your tour.

You will get a confirmation email confirming your booking.

We’re available for half or full day custom tours too! If you have a special request, contact us today to book your tour.

Popular half day tours include Willamette Falls/Oregon City or St. Johns/Multnomah Channel.

For simplicity, only the 75 minute standard tours are listed under the BOOK NOW tab. If you would like to book a longer tour (a two hour, half day, or full day), please contact us to schedule it.

Contact us to find out more!

Do you have a riverfront real estate showing? Contact us to show your clients the property from the water!

We’re sorry you had trouble. Please contact us and we’ll make sure you get properly booked as soon as possible. We apologize for the inconvenience.https://portlandboattours.com/?page_id=30

Call:  503-893-2283  Email also works:  info@sailscovare.com

At booking, there is a place in the booking form asking for the number and sizes of the children on the tour so that we can make sure to have the properly sized life jackets on the boat. No other ticket is required. Children under 12 are free!

Portland Boat Tours is a seasonal business.  We operate when the sun is out and you want to be on the Willamette River!  This is typically Memorial Day through the end of September each year.

If you can’t find a date/time on our booking calendar, we also maintain a wait list in case there are cancellations or we are able to add additional time slots to accommodate your tour.

If you are unable to find availability and have tried our wait list, might we suggest the following other local businesses.

Tours booked through Portland Boat Tours are entitled to a full refund only if cancelled within 24 hours of the start time of your tour reservation.  We will make every attempt to re-schedule your tour should you need to cancel.  Cancellations with less than 24 hours notice will be billed for the full tour amount.

See the FAQ “What happens if it rains?” for answers to questions regarding inclement weather cancellation policy.

That’s entirely up to you!  A tip is never required but always appreciated.  It is customary in the private tour boat industry to tip the captain 15-20% of the charter fee if they did a good job for you.

Did you forget while you were on the boat or were embarrassingly out of cash at the time?

Don’t worry, take care of it here:

and THANK YOU very much!

Yes!  We have several ways to do this.  Contact us to set up the one most convenient for you.

Sure, we’re happy to provide custom tours!  Contact us with your special event.

We also do engagement photo shoots, etc.

Yes!  We have several ways to do this.  Contact us to set up the one most convenient for you.

Sure, we’re happy to provide custom tours!  Contact us with your special event.

We also do engagement photo shoots, etc.

We got started in 2011 through a successful Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign.

See our original Kickstarter project.

Thank you to the 71 generous backers that allowed us to make this dream a reality!

Yes!  As long as it complies with our policy:

Donation Request Policy

Portland Boat Tours LLC is an active part of the community and is happy to support worthy charitable causes with donations as a corporate good citizen. As a small business, we try to accommodate as many donation requests as possible each tour season but unfortunately the number of requests received far exceeds our ability to provide those tours.

In order for your organization to be considered for a donation, please be aware of the following guidelines to be considered:

• All donation requests must be submitted online through our contact form. Phone requests are not accepted.
• Your organization must be located in the city of Portland, Oregon. We like to keep our donations local.
• Your organization must not have received a donation from us during the previous year. We like to spread out the love.
• Your request for a donation must be submitted during our regular season (typically Memorial Day to Labor Day). We are a seasonal small business so requests in our off-season cannot be accommodated.
• Please submit your request at least 4 weeks prior to your event for consideration.
• Your non-profit organization must have 501(c)(3) tax exempt status. Please include your organization’s valid Tax Exempt ID number in the contact form in order for your request to be considered.
• Recipients of donations from this program are our brand ambassadors in the community. As such, requestors should know what Portland Boat Tours is and does. For instance, requests from people who have never been on a Portland Boat Tour are unlikely to be good ambassadors and may not be considered. Please include a brief description of your experience with Portland Boat Tours and how it pertains to your organization in the request to be considered.
• Notifications are typically not sent if you are not selected for a donation. Expect a response only if you are approved and should be expecting a donation for your event. If you are approved, you can expect a response within two weeks of your request.
• You may choose to gift a tour to a cause of your choice at any time. Tell us your story! We may offer a discount on our gift certificates for you to purchase and present to your recipient organization to use as you see fit.

Thank you for understanding that only a small fraction of the requests we receive can be accommodated.