Planning your Onward Adventure? Here are answers to our most common questions about tours, cruise-ship arrivals, pickup locations, private groups, accessibility, weather, and more.
Cruise-Ship Questions
What happens if our cruise ship cancels its stop in Astoria?
If your cruise ship cancels its Astoria port call, please contact us as soon as possible. For reservations made through our website, Onward Adventures will refund the tour price. Please note that booking or service fees charged by our reservation provider may be nonrefundable.
You may also choose a transferable tour credit to use during a future visit to Astoria. Reservations made through TripAdvisor, Viator, or another third-party company are subject to that company’s cancellation and refund policies.
Will we return to our cruise ship on time?
Yes. Cruise-day tours are planned around the ship’s scheduled departure, and we allow time for guests to return to the port. Please follow your guide’s meeting times at each stop so the entire group can stay on schedule.
Where do cruise passengers meet the guide?
Independent tour vehicles are not permitted to pick up passengers next to the ship. Your confirmation will include easy walking directions to our meeting location outside the secured port area.
Because the tour normally begins approximately one hour after your ship docks, you will have time to leave the ship and walk to the designated meeting point.
How are tours adjusted for cruise ships and special events?
Cruise-day tours and special-event transportation are planned around the day’s schedule. We may adjust the departure time, meeting location, route, order of stops, or length of time at each location.
Weather, tides, traffic, road closures, and the ship’s arrival and departure times may also affect the itinerary. We will always work to give you the best possible experience while returning you with plenty of time for your ship.
My cruise ship’s arrival time is different from the listed tour time. Can I still book?
Yes! On cruise days, we plan the tour around your ship’s actual arrival. We normally meet approximately one hour after the ship docks, giving guests time to leave the ship and walk to our meeting location. Please include your ship’s name and arrival date when booking.
What happens if our cruise ship arrives late?
Don’t worry—we will still be there! We monitor the ship’s arrival and normally meet approximately one hour after it docks, even when it arrives later than originally scheduled. We limit the number of guests accepted on cruise days so we can remain flexible and provide an enjoyable experience.
Tour of Astoria
Will we stop at the Goonies House?
Yes! The Tour of Astoria stops near the Goonies House. Guests who would like a photo in front of the house must be able to walk approximately two blocks.
The driveway is shared with neighboring homes, so all visitors must walk up rather than be driven to the house. Following these rules helps keep the area open and welcoming to Goonies fans.
Will we have time to shop in downtown Astoria?
Shopping time depends on the day’s itinerary, the interests of the group, and how much time is spent at stops such as the beach, South Jetty, and Astoria Column. If downtown shopping is important to you, please tell your guide at the beginning of the tour, and we will try to include it when time allows.
Guests can also visit the Astoria Column gift shop, which offers a fun selection of Astoria souvenirs and locally inspired gifts.
How many people are on the Tour of Astoria?
We keep our tours small so guests can enjoy a more personal experience and have opportunities to ask questions. Group size varies depending on the day, reservations, and vehicle being used. On busy cruise days, we may use more than one vehicle while still keeping each group comfortable.
Do we visit the Astoria Column?
Yes! The Astoria Column is one of the featured stops on the Tour of Astoria. Guests may climb the Column’s 164 steps, enjoy the views from the grounds, visit the gift shop, and launch one of the famous wooden glider airplanes. Climbing the Column is completely optional.