Chicago · CRUISES & BOAT TOURS
46 reviewed
This is the shortlist we would hand a friend: the 15 cruises & boat tours worth booking in Chicago, each with its price, its verdict, and the one thing to know before you commit.
Chicago River architecture cruise with live English commentary, iconic skyline views, pets welcome, and a restroom onboard.
“It’s a nice ride, and our tour guide was a great storyteller . Lots of great information about Chicago history and architecture.”
90-minute Chicago River architecture cruise with expert guides, indoor or open deck options, skyline sights, and local drinks at a cash bar.
“The host was outstanding, very knowledgeable but also humouress”
Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise on the First Lady. 90 minutes of docent narration, iconic skyline views, and a cozy onboard bar.
“Well worth the money on a beautiful sunny day. We did not venture inside so I can’t speak to that. Guide was very knowledgeable and added her personality to make her presentation lively.”
Skip the ticket line for a live-narrated Chicago River architecture cruise covering all three branches and about 40 landmarks for $39.
“Love this cruise! Even if you have done it before, you always learn something new!”
45-minute Chicago River architecture cruise with a live guide, indoor and outdoor decks, and a cash bar. Prebook to skip the line.
“A great boat ride with an extremely knowledgeable tour guide. We had the best time and it was a great way to end our trip!”
See Chicago’s architecture from both the Chicago River and Lake Michigan on a 90-minute cruise with expert narration, deck or indoor seating, and a cash bar.
“We LOVED our guide Lucas, he was hilarious and very informative. 10/10 recommend!!”
A 90-minute narrated Chicago River cruise with skyline icons, three river branches, and easy deck viewing for $37.
“Heath was an energetic, knowledgeable, and funny tour guide. Throughly enjoyed the tour and some drinks on board!”
Sunset cruise from the Chicago River to Lake Michigan with skyline views, warm lounge, and a full bar on a 1.5-hour Wendella ride.
“Beautiful boat ride and would highly recommend. Convenient to get to by taxi or walk from where we stayed on Monroe Street. Did get a little bumpy.”
30–45 min Lake Michigan skyline cruise from Navy Pier. Dog-friendly, restroom onboard, pre-recorded audio, and great night photos.
“It’s a beautiful scenic option to see the skyline (I recommend the night time view) you’re able to see the beautiful lighting of the buildings.”
Cruise Chicago’s river with a friendly guide on a 90-minute architecture tour, with options for a small-boat upgrade or land-and-sea combo.
“This tour was great! Non stop information and lots to learn. Would definitely recommend. It’s a good way to see the city and know its history.”
90-minute Chicago River architectural cruise with live docent narration, 50+ landmarks, and complimentary non-alcoholic drinks for about $50.
“Nothing that I can think of. It was well informative and the captain and crew were great. The building were beautiful”
Night views of Chicago River and Lake Michigan, plus Harbor Lock thrills, on a 1.5-hour cruise with live English narration.
“Night time lights up Chicago..left in daylight ended at night perfect”
30-minute Lake Michigan cruise from Navy Pier with skyline photo stops, skip-the-line entry, and English or Spanish audio commentary.
“This was a fun experience. We were in a large group of 24 people and the process was simple when purchasing tickets online. We loved the convenience of the small bar and the tour itself. The only down side was that the instructions on the meeting point were not very helpful. We walked around the pier for about 20 minutes trying to find the correct boarding location until we noticed the small light colored print at the bottom of the email that said it was with Shoreline.”
Take a 90-minute Chicago sunset cruise on Lake Michigan via the Chicago Lock, with skyline views, onboard bar, and guaranteed boarding.
“I’m very happy and satisfied. Guide was speaking bit too fast which was hard too follow the whole speech.”
A small-group Chicago minibus tour with skyline stops and an optional Chicago River architecture cruise. Fast, easy, and built for first-timers.
“Chicago Bob was exceptional with the amount of information he had to share. Excellent, non-stop commentary. All of us enjoyed it immensely.”
