Boat Tours At Navy Pier: Operating Hours And More

One of Chicago's top attractions, Navy Pier offers a range of boat tours and cruises. From laid-back sightseeing and dining cruises to educational and architectural tours, there is something for everyone. Boat tours and cruises are available throughout the year, with special events and activities during the fall and winter seasons. The Pier also features a rotating array of contemporary art, cultural exhibitions, and family-friendly rides and games. With stunning views of the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan, Navy Pier is a vibrant destination for locals and visitors alike.

Boat tour options

There are a variety of boat tour options available at Navy Pier, Chicago. Navy Pier is a 3,300-foot pier stretching into Lake Michigan, offering a range of attractions, rides, parks, and family entertainment. Boat tours are a popular way to explore the city and its architecture from a different perspective. Here are some of the boat tour options available:

• Chicago Architecture River Cruise: This boat tour takes you down the Chicago River to see the city's famous architecture. The tour includes informative commentary and covers more than 40 notable buildings, such as Navy Pier, the Wrigley Building, and the John Hancock Building.
• Lake Michigan Skyline Cruise: This sightseeing boat cruise offers panoramic views of the Chicago skyline and its landmarks. You can bring your own lunch or purchase drinks from the onboard bar.
• Seadog Lakefront Speedboat Tour: This thrilling speedboat tour combines an exciting ride with informative commentary about Chicago's iconic skyline.
• Tall Ship Windy: Tall Ship Windy offers various themed boat tours, including the Pirates and Maritime Stories Sail, the Skyline/Architectural Theme Sail, and the Skyline Sunset Sail. These tours provide unique perspectives of the Chicago skyline and are suitable for all ages.
• Lake Michigan Brunch, Lunch, or Dinner Cruises: These cruises offer a dining experience on the water, with breathtaking views of the Chicago skyline. You can choose from a buffet or a plated lunch/dinner, with options like a 3-course gourmet meal.
• Fireworks Cruises: These special cruises combine a boat tour with a fireworks display over Lake Michigan. They are often held during summer evenings and offer a unique way to experience the fireworks.
• Water Taxi: The River Water Taxi and Lake Water Taxi are functional modes of transportation that also offer a tour experience. The River Water Taxi operates between Navy Pier and Michigan Avenue/Willis Tower, while the Lake Water Taxi operates between Navy Pier and Buckingham Fountain/Museum Campus.

These boat tour options provide a range of experiences, from educational architecture tours to thrilling speedboat rides, allowing visitors to explore Chicago's architecture, history, and stunning skyline from the water.

Ticket prices

Navy Pier in Chicago offers a range of attractions and experiences, with ticket prices varying depending on the activity. Here is a detailed breakdown of ticket prices for some of the popular boat tours and other activities available at Navy Pier:

Boat Tours:

• Chicago Architecture River Cruise: Ticket prices not specified.
• Lake Michigan Skyline Cruise: Ticket prices not specified.
• Lake Michigan Speedboat Ride: Ticket prices not specified.
• Navy Pier Boat Tour with Tall Ship Windy: Tickets start at $39 for a 75-minute Chicago Skyline Sail. The Fireworks Cruise starts at $50 per person. The Monday Night Blues Summer Concert Series costs $59 per person. The Chicago Skyline Sunset Sail is priced at $49 and up. The Educational Sail: Tall Ship Discovery Sail costs $25 per person. The Happy Arr-our Chicago Architecture and Skyline Sail starts at $39 per person.
• Shoreline Sightseeing Water Taxi: One-way tickets for adults range from $10 to $17, and for children from $5 to $10, depending on the route. Day passes are available for $30 for adults and $15 for children.

Other Attractions:

• Navy Pier Centennial Wheel: Ticket prices not specified.
• FlyOver Chicago: Ticket prices not specified.
• Chicago Shakespeare Theater: Ticket prices not specified.
• Bike Rentals: Ticket prices not specified.
• Amazing Chicago's Funhouse Maze: Ticket prices not specified.
• Chicago Children's Museum: Ticket prices not specified.

Tour durations

There are a variety of tours available at Navy Pier, with durations to suit different preferences.

For those who want a quick overview of the pier, there is the Navy Pier "Light Up the Lake" Holiday Experience, which does not mention a specific duration but is likely to be a shorter option. Similarly, the Navy Pier Water Taxi Service offers an efficient and flexible way to get around, with single route tickets available for purchase at the water taxi docks.

For a more in-depth experience, several tours last around 75 minutes, including the award-winning Shoreline Architecture River Tour, the Seadog Lakefront Speedboat Tour, the Skyline Tour Aboard the Schooner Windy, and the Seadog River and Lake Architecture Tour. These tours provide a more comprehensive exploration of Navy Pier and its surroundings.

If you're looking for a more leisurely experience, there are also longer tour options available. The Lake Michigan Gourmet Brunch/Lunch/Dinner Cruise and the Chicago Fireworks Premiere Dinner Cruise on Lake Michigan both offer a more relaxed pace, with durations of 2 hours and 2 hours and 30 minutes, respectively. These cruises allow passengers to enjoy a meal and take in the sights at a comfortable pace.

Additionally, the Chicago Lake Michigan Plated Lunch Cruise and the Chicago Fireworks Dinner Cruise with Buffet are 2-hour experiences that combine sightseeing, dining, and entertainment.

So, whether you're looking for a quick overview or a more leisurely exploration, Navy Pier has a range of tour durations to choose from. These tours provide visitors with a variety of options to suit their preferences and schedules.

Boat tour companies

There are several boat tour companies operating in the Navy Pier area of Chicago. Here is some information about a few of them:

Shoreline Sightseeing

Shoreline Sightseeing offers a range of tours and cruises departing from Navy Pier. Their options include water taxi services, architecture river tours, skyline lake tours, and private charters. The architecture river tour is a 75-minute narrated cruise that showcases Chicago's iconic skyline and renowned landmarks. Shoreline Sightseeing operates the largest and most diverse fleet of cruise boats and water taxis in Chicago, with 11 major tour vessels and 7 water taxis.

City Cruises

City Cruises provides a variety of dining and sightseeing experiences on Lake Michigan, including lunch, brunch, and dinner cruises. They also offer special event cruises, such as the Fireworks Premiere Dinner Cruise, and private events on their yacht, the Chicago Elite. Their cruises often include entertainment, such as live DJs, and informative commentary.

Tall Ship Windy

Tall Ship Windy is the official flagship of the City of Chicago and offers a range of themed cruises departing from Navy Pier. Their tours include the Chicago Skyline Sail, Fireworks Cruise, and Monday Night Blues Summer Concert Series. They also provide educational sails, such as the Tall Ship Discovery Sail, and architectural tours. The crew is known for being friendly, entertaining, and knowledgeable.

Seadog

Seadog offers speedboat tours and thrill rides on Lake Michigan and the Chicago River. Their Lakefront Speedboat Tour combines an exciting ride with informative commentary on Chicago's iconic skyline. They also provide architecture cruises and extreme thrill rides with high speeds and full 360-degree spins.

These companies provide a range of boat tour options, from relaxed sightseeing and dining cruises to high-speed thrill rides and private charters. Each company offers unique experiences and themes, ensuring that visitors to Navy Pier have a variety of choices to suit their preferences.

Boat tour seasons

Boat tours at Navy Pier are available throughout the year, with a range of options to suit all seasons. The pier itself, completed in 1916, is a year-round destination, but it truly comes alive in the summer with fireworks displays, live music, theatre, and daily cruises.

During the summer, you can enjoy a variety of boat tours, including sightseeing cruises, dinner cruises, speedboat rides, and educational boat tours. These tours typically operate from May to September, with some extending into October. The Tall Ship Windy, for example, offers daily sailing tours from mid-May to October, with a range of themed cruises, such as their popular Pirates and Maritime Stories Sail.

In spring, you can take advantage of the milder weather and enjoy a boat tour without the summer crowds. The River Water Taxi and Lake Water Taxi, operated by Shoreline Sightseeing, are usually in operation during this time, providing a unique way to get around Chicago.

Even during the fall and winter months, Navy Pier remains a bustling hub of activity, with special events, sights, and attractions. Although there may be fewer boat tour options during these seasons, you can still enjoy a cruise on Lake Michigan or the Chicago River. Some companies, such as Shoreline Sightseeing, offer year-round cruises, including their award-winning Architecture River Tour.

So, no matter the season, you can always find a boat tour to suit your interests and the weather. Whether you're looking for a relaxing sightseeing cruise or an exciting speedboat adventure, Navy Pier has something for everyone all year round.

Frequently asked questions