Chicago
Mercurys Urban Adventure Cruise

Chicago Urban Adventure River and Lake Cruise

Recommended by 95% of travelersChicago, USA
  • 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Overview

See the the Second City from the water with a sightseeing cruise along the Chicago River and the Lake Michigan shoreline. Take in towering skyscrapers and spot the gargoyles that live on to of the city’s historic buildings. Hear stories about the city’s history and culture as you pass Chicago landmarks, museums and iconic buildings. Capture unforgettable images of the city skyline from Lake Michigan, and get a unique look at Chicago that’s perfect for all ages.
  • Family friendly
  • Travel by boat and see the sights from the water
  • Fully narrated tour
  • Excellent value for money
  • Perfect introduction for first-time visitors

What's Included

  • All taxes, fees and handling charges
  • Live commentary on board
  • Gratuities
  • Food and drinks

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

  • 112 E Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60601, USA

    On Michigan & Wacker Drive, at the northeast corner of the intersection. Upon arrival, please take the stairs down to Chicago's Riverwalk and visit the box office (right after/bottom of the stairs) for guidance to your cruise boarding dock. A departure board is available for your reference.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Start time

What To Expect

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Discounted parking available at 111 E. Wacker Drive. Please visit the dockside box office for parking ticket validation
  • Stroller accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • Most travelers can participate
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 115 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

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Reviews

4.7
353 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 353 reviews
Great time!
Lacy_C, Nov 2024
We went on the 6pm cruise. It was amazing. The time of year we went allowed us to see everything in daylight then see the skyline at dark. I would suggest this cruise to any age group. Our tour guide, Jacob, was amazing! He was very knowledgeable and entertaining.
The architectural boat...
Saundra_T, Nov 2024
The architectural boat cruise was better than I expected. The skyline of the high rise buildings along the river in downtown Chicago was absolutely beautiful with all the colorful lights once nightfall hit. The commentator told interesting facts and tales about most of Chicago's skyscrapers that we passed. It was a chilly cruise in October so be prepared for the weather. My only complaint was the long wait in line before boarding. The instructions said to arrive 30 minutes early, but boarding didn't begin until an hour later and there wasn't anywhere to sit down. That may not be a problem for most people but my back was hurting from standing in line.
Amazing experience!
Amber_A, Oct 2024
Great tour. Gave beautiful views of the city. View that you can only get from the water. Tour guide was amazing and knowledgeable.
Amazing Tour
Christopher_M, Oct 2024
Spectacular tour!!! Doug was a great guide! We learned so much and had so much fun! He really gave us an amazing background on the architectural history of Chicago!
Breathtaking
Michelle_K, Oct 2024
We were on the boat at sunset and the views of the city were amazing! Learned a lot about the city. Highly recommend to anyone
Chicago
Laurie_M, Oct 2024
Excellent experience. Knowledgeable crew. The commentator was funny , personable and mingled with everyone. Would recommend highly !!!!
It’s a beautiful day
Janine_H, Oct 2024
We had a beautiful day on Lake Michigan. We enjoyed Mike’s commentary and knowledge of the sites. The boat is in great condition and very clean.
Great
Sasha_S, Oct 2024
Great great great!!!!!most definitely going again, there was a lot of picture opportunities and we had fun
Chicago history cruise
Annette_B, Oct 2024
Learning about the history of Chicago was enlightening. Traveling with children can be challenging, but the crew was very accepting of the 4 year olds.
Chicago Tour
Beth_W, Oct 2024
Was an amazing experience and Nick was great! Chicago has came a long way, and love the river! My husband and enjoyed the tour a lot!
Excellent tour
Johan_A, Oct 2024
Great trip! Our tour guide, Nick, provided excellent information about the architecture and history of Chicago. Along the way, he added personal insights and humor!
Sunshine on the River
Beth_L, Oct 2024
Nick did a beautiful job with pacing; emphasizing certain points; and was very informative without making it sound like a boring drone! The Stockyards tossing carcasses etc into the river was something I will NEVER forget; and the fact that they are still decomposing after 100 years.
Great trip
Christopher_C, Sep 2024
Guide was great, very informative. It was good to sail onto the lake to see the city skyline. Boat was well equipped and run.
Great Lake and River Tour
Ken_O, Sep 2024
Reserving the tour was very easy due to the user friendly app. The tour was very informative and the sights were incredible. The guide had pointed out various points and the significance to the city. I would highly recommend this tour.
Fun
Jay_E, Sep 2024
Great time! Weather was perfect. Staff friendly.we all loved it. Learned some about the city. View was breathtaking.
Great cruise- a little too long for me.
Rosanna_O, Sep 2024
The cruise was awesome! Riding out to Lake Michigan and seeing the Chicago skyline. The cruise was a little longer than I thought it would be.
Will be back again
EricS, Sep 2024
The Tour guide and crew nice and welcoming educational. Great way to spend an hour and half on the Chicago River. Highly Recommended A must do.
Wish I could remember the...
Ellen_J, Sep 2024
Wish I could remember the name of the man who narrated our excursion. Very interesting. Excellent job. Thank you.
Worth it
Robin_B, Sep 2024
Great excursion..recommend sitting in front of boat..and doing in evening…to see the city lite up at night..so beautiful
Relaxing informative cruise
Kellie_H, Sep 2024
The guide was excellent. She was very informative and funny and made the cruise perfect. The city skyline from the lake was really pretty and the background on the buildings and architecture was great.
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