Is it engineering? Is it an excuse to have cocktails and dance on deck? Yes and yes. One passenger described her first time going through a river lock whilst on an American Cruise Lines cruise as a ‘lock-party’. A lock party is a casual event which occurs when the ship goes into a lock. Passengers will get their cocktails and find the best spot to watch the boat go up or down in elevation.
What Exactly Is a Lock Party?
A lock party is where passengers gather on deck with music and cocktails flowing as they watch the ship go through a lock. This is a casual cruise ritual.
The Simple Steps to Join the Fun
Grab your cocktail, learn a couple of dance moves (no skill required), get into position and watch the gates shut and the water rise/fall.
How a River Lock Actually Works
A lock acts like a sealed bath with doors at both ends. The ship will enter and the doors will close. Water will then flow in or out until the water levels match, this will then open the far doors. This usually takes between 10-20 minutes.
Gravity Does the Heavy Lifting
Whilst on these rivers there is no pumping required. The chamber will fill/empty due to gravity.
The Columbia and Snake River Lock System
There are eight locks along this popular route for American Cruise Lines. Bonneville, The Dalles, John Day and McNary on the Columbia and Ice Harbour, Lower Monumental, Little Goose and Lower Granite on the Snake.
Impressive Numbers Behind the Locks
The chambers are around 675ft long and 86ft wide. Most locks will lift the ship around 100ft however the John Day Lock will lift the ship 113ft. This lock had a record for the highest vertical lift in the world when it opened in 1968.
What It Feels Like On Board
Sometimes the walls of the lock will be very close to the ship. You may notice the water rising in stages, this can give the impression that the ship is slowly moving up like an elevator. A few passengers will feel slightly sick. The best spots to view this are on the top deck or a lounge with large windows. In spring and autumn there can be powerful winds in the chamber making it a dramatic entrance. Around 90% of guests will be on deck during the day.
A Brief History of Locks
Locks have been used for over 2000 years. The pound lock was developed in 984AD in China. The first of today’s lock on the Columbia River was Bonneville in 1937. The Snake River system was completed in 1979.
Why Passengers Rush to the Deck
This gives guests an amazing opportunity to see some great engineering up close, the changing scenery and means they have an instant cocktail hour. This makes it one of the most memorable parts of a river cruise.
