Chicago Boat Tours Comparison-Lakefront & River

Odyssey Cruises, Mystic Blue Cruises, Seadog Cruises, Spirit of Chicago, Shoreline Sightseeing, Wendella Boats, Windy Chicago, Chicago's First Lady, Chicago from the Lake & Anita Dee, Spirit of Chicago

This page provides a brief comparison of various Chicago boat tours and cruises which are available to Chicago visitors. Links are provided to allow you to confirm cruise details regarding boat departure times, credit card acceptance, menus, etc. You can also view more choices and descriptions of selected cruises by visiting the Chicago Sightseeing Cruises, Tours & Private Charters page. All information is subject to change. Be sure to check with the Cruise Company to verify cruise types, pricing and hours/dates of operation. Price ranges typically indicate differences pertaining to day of week. Prices generally do not include taxes, fees, or gratuity. Some cruises are summer only, and in general cruise schedules are limited in the cold months.

SPIRIT OF CHICAGO HOLIDAY CRUISES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!
	This season, come aboard for a traditional holiday: ● Thanksgiving or Day-After Thanksgiving Cruise, ● Santa Lunch Cruise or ● Holiday Lunch/Dinner Cruise. Pull out all the stops, ring in 2010 with a ● New Year’s Eve Fireworks Dinner Cruise. Reserve your seats today.

SEE HOW THE CHICAGO LAKE MICHIGAN & CHICAGO RIVER BOAT CRUISES COMPARE

INDIVIDUAL & GROUP CRUISES

Boat Name	Boarding Location	Cruise Type	Season	Duration	Dining	Other Info	Fire Works Cruises	Adult Rate
Odyssey	Navy Pier	Lakefront Sightseeing	Year-Round (limited winter)	2-3 hrs	Plated Dinner Plated Lunch Buffet Brunch	Entertainment Charter Available	x	$40-$160
Mystic Blue	Navy Pier	Lakefront Sightseeing	Year-Round (limited winter)	2-3 hrs	Buffet Dinner Buffet Lunch Buffet Brunch	Entertainment Late Nite Cruise Charter Available	x	$35-$120
Seadog	Navy Pier	Lakefront & River Speed Boat; River Architectural	Apr - Oct	30-75 min	None	Wet 'n Wild Charter Available		$10-$30*
The Redwitch Sailboat	Burnham Harbor @Museum Campus	Lakefront Sightseeing (Sailboat)	Apr - Oct	2-3 hrs	Soft drinks & snacks incl. BYOB is OK.	Friday Happy Hour Cruise	x	$40-$65*
Shoreline Sightseeing	Navy Pier	Lakefront Sightseeing; River Architectural	Apr - Nov	30-60 min	Concessions		x	$14-$32*
Shoreline Water Taxi	Various Locations	Water Taxis	May - Aug	na	None			$3-$13*
Tall Ship Windy	Navy Pier	Lakefront Sightseeing	Jun - Sep	60-75 min	Concessions	Themes Vary	x	$24-$30*
Spirit of Chicago	Navy Pier	Lakefront Sightseeing	Year-Round (limited winter)	2-3 hrs	Buffet Dinner Buffet Lunch	Entertainment Cabaret Lunch Cruise Charter Available	x	$35-$125
Chicago's First Lady	Michigan Avenue @Chicago River	River Architectural	May - Nov	60 min 90 min	Concessions			$28-$32
Mercury Cruiseline	Riverside Gardens at Michigan Ave. & Wacker Dr.	Urban Adventure Wacky Pirate Cruise Canine Cruise Lakefront Fireworks	May - Sept Jun - Aug Jul - Sept Mid-Summer	90 min 90 min 90 Min 2 hrs	BYO Drinks+ BYO Lunch BYO Dog BYO Beverage	River + Lakefront River + Lakefront River + Lakefront Lakefront only	x	$23 $23 $23
Chicago Line Cruises	North Pier /River East Plaza	River Architectural	Apr - Oct	90 min	Coffee, soft drinks & cookie incl.	Historical Cruise		$36*
Wendella Boats	Michigan Avenue @Chicago River	Lakefront Sightseeing; River Architectural	Apr - Nov	1-2 hrs	Concessions	Sunset Cruise	x	$22-$25*
Anita Dee	Navy Pier	Lakefront Sightseeing	Apr - Oct	45 min	Concessions		x	$15-$25*

* = senior and/or kids rates offered

PRIVATE CRUISE CHARTERS ONLY

Cruise Company/Location	Type	Duration	Price	Food/Bar/Entertainment
Anita Dee Navy Pier	Custom Yacht Charters
Chicago's First Lady	Evening Private Charters, Weddings	2, 3, 4 hrs	$700-$990 hourly Private CAF Guide add'l fee	Custom food/beverage packages, additional fee.
Kanan Cruises, Inc. Navy Pier	Seated Dinner & Lunch cruises for up to 300. Private events from 150-400. Group events from 50. Private Post Prom Cruise	2 hours	All pricing INCLUDES vessel fee, bar service and taxes! (Discounted rates for larger private groups) $44/person	Live DJ, Soda/Juice Service, Snack Buffet
	Private Cocktail Cruise	2 hours	$55/person	Hors D'oeuvres, open bar, live pianist after 5 pm
	Group Lunch Cruise	3 hours	Contact us for pricing.	Buffet, open bar, piano music
	Private Lunch Cruise	3 hours	$60/person	Open bar, piano music
	Group Dinner Cruise	4 hours	Contact us for pricing.	Buffet, open bar, live pianist
	Private Dinner Cruise	4 hours	$75-98/person	Open bar, live pianist

Lakeshore Sail Charters Burnham Harbor / Museum Campus Tall Ship Red Witch Charter Everyone encouraged to raise the sails!	Weekday Private Cruise We'll accommodate your schedule	2 or more hours	Hourly $575 – up to 49 guests /	Free soft drinks, water and snacks Perfect for private parties BYOB is always ok Catering is available, or bring your own food.
	Weekend Private Cruise We'll accommodate your schedule	3 or more hours	Hourly $650 – up to 49 guests /	Same as above.
	Weekday Cruise – We will accommodate your schedule/	2 or more hours	Hourly starting from $300, for the first 10 guests	Free soft drinks, water and snacks Perfect for private parties BYOB is always ok
	Weekend Cruise We'll accommodate your schedule	3 or more hours	Hourly starting from $300, for the first 10 guests	Same as above.
	School Sponsored Sailing Instructional tour/ We can be flexible to fit your classrooms curriculum.	2 or more hours	Hourly starting from $300 per hour	Instruction material provided, including sailing terms and nomenclature Make the next field trip a memorable one.
Crescendo Charter Tours	Weekday - Private Luxury Sailing Charter	2 or more hours	$140 per hour	Free soda, water, and snack Can be a private sailing lesson if you want! Swimming is allowed! Up to 6 passengers
	Weekend - Private Luxury Sailing Charter	3 or more hours	$165 per hour	Same as above.
Cruise Chicago Chicago River & State Street	Weekday Private Charter Cruise	2 or more hours	Hourly $775 - up to 200 guests	Customized Catering & Bar Packages, Live DJ or Live Band, Custom Décor ~ Accommodate private charters of all kinds.
	Weekend Private Charter Cruise	2 or more hours	Hourly $995 up to 200 guests	Same as above.
	Private Charter Fireworks Cruise	2 or more hours	Hourly $1,275-Saturday $975-Wednesday up to 200 guests	Same as above.

ATTENTION TOUR BOAT OPERATORS: Send us your updated tour information so that we can provide your current boat details for the 2008 season. Send the specific changes to us at support@ChicagoTraveler.com. Thanks.

Shoreline Sightseeing's Cruises from Navy Pier!

Shoreline Skyline Lake Tours & Architectural Cruises

Shoreline Architecture Cruises Run Daily through November

There’s still time to enjoy a Shoreline Architecture Cruise! Led by professional and entertaining docents, Shoreline Architecture Cruises highlight more than 40 landmark buildings along the historic Chicago River. One hour cruises depart Ogden Slip at Navy Pier. Multiple cruises daily through November: Mon-Fri from 11:30 am and Sat-Sun from 10:00 am. More Info (All cruises weather permitting)