Chicago

Lake Michigan and Chicago River Architecture Cruise by Speedboat

Chicago, USA
Lake Michigan and Chicago River Architecture Cruise by Speedboat
  • 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

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Overview

Discover Chicago's world-renowned architecture during this sightseeing cruise. Board a comfortable riverboat for a cruise on the Chicago River, viewing landmarks like the Willis Tower and the Tribune Tower while listening to engaging commentary from your guide. Then board a speedboat for an exciting ride up the shore of Lake Michigan for views of Grant Park, the Chicago Harbor, and the Museum Campus.
  • Explore the city through the historic Chicago locks and up the Chicago River
  • Enjoy up-close views of all the famous bridges of the Chicago River
  • Hear fascinating stories about the city’s most famous buildings including the Tribune Building and Willis Tower
  • Experience a thrilling speedboat ride along Lake Michigan

What's Included

  • 75 minute Architectural tour and speedboat ride on Lake Michigan
  • Passage through the historic Chicago River locks and up the Chicago River to Willis Tower
  • Unobstructed views of the beautiful Chicago architecture
  • All Fees and Taxes
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

  • 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA

    Seadog cruise departs from the south side of the Navy Pier

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Make your way to Navy Pier to meet your guide and tour group. Board the riverboat for the first portion of the tour, a relaxing cruise up the Chicago River.

Pass the Tribune Tower and the Willis Tower, among dozens of other landmark buildings. Learn about Chicago's architectural history, including its pioneering role in the popularity of skyscrapers from your guide. Hear how the flow of the Chicago River was reversed, a feat of modern engineering. Ride through the historic locks that separate the Chicago River from Lake Michigan.

After the leisurely river cruise, board a speedboat for a high-speed ride along the shores of Lake Michigan with views of the spectacular Chicago city skyline. Pass the Museum Campus, home to the Shedd Aquarium, the Adler Planetarium, and the Field Museum. Zip along the edge of Grant Park, which features the impressive Buckingham Fountain and then admire views of the Chicago Harbor.

Return to your starting point at Navy Pier after your tour.

City Cruises Chicago Navy Pier

55 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Tribune Tower

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Grant Park

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Buckingham Fountain

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Chicago River

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
  • Not recommended for travelers with back problems
  • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Coast Guard regulations require a photo ID for each guest to board
  • All cruises are weather permitting
  • Stroller accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Near public transportation
  • Infant seats available
  • Transportation is wheelchair accessible
  • Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
  • Most travelers can participate
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 19 travelers

Cancellation Policy

This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
  • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

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Featured review
MADHURA_M
Our trip and speedboat experience was wonderful! The crew were cool, and the guide had a great sense of humor and kept us entertained besides sharing details about the architecture and Chicago's history.

Reviews

4.5
206 reviews
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
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Reviews by Viator travelers.
Showing 1-10 of 206 reviews
Beautiful scenery
Saretha_B, Apr 2024
Beautiful scene at night, I recommend this tour at night or early as possible. My go to when visiting
Architecture cruise
Jacob_S, Oct 2023
Our tour guy Jake was great, and really showed us the history of the skyscrapers in Chicago followed by a fast ride in the speedboat out in Lake Michigan.
Malia is awesome
Carissa_M, Oct 2023
Highly recommend the 515 trip for sunset. Malia was an amazing tour guide. Great mix of all information and a little humor
Cruzing The Water Way
Nicholas_H, Oct 2023
Jake and the crew where awesome it was great seeing all the buildings and learning about the great city of Chicago.
Brilliant
Deborah_P, Sep 2023
We all just loved this trip with Seadog. Very comfortable boat and so many interesting pieces of information provided. Sean was a brilliant guide. Would recommend to anyone!
The tour guide was a...
Nancy_T, Sep 2023
The tour guide was a wealth of knowledge. We thoroughly enjoyed leaning about Chicago’s architecture and ending with the speed boat was fun.
Terrible
Nancy_K, Aug 2023
Terrible experience. They canceled our boat tour due to weather and did not refund us any money and no one will return my emails or phone calls.
Cancelled but didn’t tell us
Jonathan_W, Aug 2023
It was cancelled but nobody told us. We re-scheduled later in the day, but again that was as cancelled and nobody told us. It looks like it would be fun, it was a light rain all day so cancelling makes sense but seems there should be a way to tell us. Then we were told to request a refund…Will see.
Fun and informative
Emma_F, Jul 2023
The speed boat tour of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan was great. Starts off with a speed cruise on the lake then they take you on a tour of the river. Leo our tour guide was a lot of fun, entertaining and provided history of the architecture of the buildings along the river. He also offered to take photos of us with our phone which is so much better than taking a selfie. We really enjoyed the tour.
Good but…
Jonelle_G, Jul 2023
The actually excursion was good, the crew and the host were helpful. The issue was that there aren’t any directions on how to find the location; no signs anywhere once you reach Navy Pier.
Great experience! Very...
Alice_F, Jul 2023
Great experience! Very detailed about history of buildings. Tour started promptly and ended on a high note of a speed boat ride.
Our tour guide! Loved his...
Rachel_S, Jul 2023
Our tour guide! Loved his upbeat personality….and the speedboat ride at the end. The overall knowledge of the city was also very nice
Enjoy and go for it!
Dolores_S, Jul 2023
The staff was professional, friendly and the guide was excellent. (Patrick) better when he was telling the facts of the history and buildings rather than his stand stand up comedic attempt 😉. I highly recommend this trip.
Architecture tour, boring, Good speed tour at end !
Samuel_C, Jul 2023
The architecture tour is kind of boring, the tour guide didn’t make fun. At the end of speedboat experience is great!
Great mix of architecture and fun
Julie_L, Jul 2023
My kids and I really enjoyed this tour. We learned a lot about the river, city and buildings. Jaime was a great guide. We got to see the locks in action as we went through them. And everyone enjoyed the speedboat ride on the lake at the end!
Horrible
Darwin_B, Jun 2023
It was a long waiting time, the tourist guide is weird. His voice is annoying. He always talk a lot, and they are people that sometimes, they need quite moment to appreciate the view
Chicago by Water
Tracey_H, Jun 2023
This was a wonderful tour for those who want to xperience Chicago. It brings the buildings that you pass by daily to life!! Don't miss it!!
Rescheduled without a phone call or text message
Arun_B, Jun 2023
I received an “email” my tour (speed boat tour) was cancelled. Last minute I saw the email, and they gave us a choice to take the earlier boat and we all ran to it, and we got the only toe of seats which the hard canopy which obstructed our view. The late evening option that was offered was not convenient for us because we had booked for our dinner around that time. Someone could have called to say it’s is canceled, instead of an email! Overall it was disappointing!
Best Boat
Cristiane_T, May 2023
Nice ride on the boat! The crew was amazing and we got 45 minutes more on the water. Awesome! The best way to see Chicago and I really recommend it.
Awesome tour
Stephanie_G, Oct 2019
went on the cruise our first day in chicago, our tour guide was Andy who was informative and hilarious! shared a lot of interesting facts without going overboard, speedboat ride was awesome!
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-You will not receive a refund if you cancel.

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