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Lake Michigan Sightseeing Cruise provided by Shoreline Sightseeing

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Lake Michigan Sightseeing Cruise

See all things to do
See all things to do
Lake Michigan Sightseeing Cruise
4
73
By Shoreline Sightseeing
Book in advance
from
$28.34
per adult
Reserve now & pay later: Save your spot free of charge with flexible booking.
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this reservation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Full view
Tour snapshot
See the top sights in a short amount of time
Duration:
40m
Taking Covid-19 safety measures
Group size:
200
Near public transportation
Ticket type:
Mobile
Free cancellation
  • Duration:
    40m
  • Taking Covid-19 safety measures
  • Group size:
    200
  • Near public transportation
  • Ticket type:
    Mobile
  • Free cancellation
About
If your feet need a break from the city streets, a short sightseeing cruise is the perfect way to see the best of Chicago without breaking a sweat. Offered regularly throughout the day, it’s easy to fit this tour into your itinerary. Enjoy unobstructed views of Willis Tower, John Hancock Center, Aon Center, and more. Along the way, get the inside scoop on the Windy City’s exciting history.
Know before you go
  • Duration: 40m
  • Mobile tickets accepted
  • Instant confirmation
Cancellation policy
  • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
Available languages
English, Spanish
Highlights
  • Photograph the skyline from an ideal vantage point
  • Take a tour that the everyone can enjoy
  • Choose a start time that works for you
What to expect
Know before you go
  • Duration: 40m
  • Mobile tickets accepted
  • Instant confirmation
Available languages
English, Spanish
Cancellation policy
  • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
Highlights
  • Photograph the skyline from an ideal vantage point
  • Take a tour that the everyone can enjoy
  • Choose a start time that works for you
What to expect
Need help booking?
Call the number below and use the product code: 5580SKY
Important information
Inclusions
  • Pre-recorded commentary on board
  • Scenic skyline cruise on Lake Michigan
Exclusions
  • Food and drinks (available for purchase)
Duration
40m
Departure details
  • 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA Shoreline Sightseeing Lake Tour is on Navy Pier’s Dock Street. Your tour will depart from Shoreline’s dock on the west end of Navy Pier. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your departure time.
Additional information
  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • Most travelers can participate
  • 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 tour/activity will have a maximum of 200 travelers
Inclusions
  • Pre-recorded commentary on board
  • Scenic skyline cruise on Lake Michigan
Exclusions
  • Food and drinks (available for purchase)
Departure details
  • 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA Shoreline Sightseeing Lake Tour is on Navy Pier’s Dock Street. Your tour will depart from Shoreline’s dock on the west end of Navy Pier. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your departure time.
Duration
40m
Return details
  • Returns to original departure point
Additional information
  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • Most travelers can participate
  • 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 tour/activity will have a maximum of 200 travelers
Travel safe during COVID-19
What you can expect during your visit
  • Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
  • Contactless payment for gratuities and add-ons
What you can expect during your visit
  • Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
  • Contactless payment for gratuities and add-ons
Itinerary
  • You'll start at
    600 E Grand Ave
    600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
    Shoreline Sightseeing Lake Tour is on Navy Pier’s Dock Street. Your tour will depart from Shoreline’s dock on the west end of Navy Pier. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your departure time.
    See address & details
  • 1
    Lake Michigan
    Stop: 40 minutes
    See details
  • 2
    Chicago Skyline
    Stop: 40 minutes
    See details
    Pass by
    John Hancock Center
    Skydeck Chicago - Willis Tower
    Navy Pier
    Buckingham Fountain
    Millennium Park
    Chicago Cultural Center
    Chicago Architecture Center
    Historic Water Tower
  • You'll return to the starting point
+
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
73 reviews
Excellent
35
Very good
21
Average
12
Poor
5
Terrible
0
Jenny J
Deganwy, UK11 contributions
Excellent and relaxing
We loved this! Beautiful views of the skyline and just a nice relaxing spin around the harbor. Several reviewers criticized the pre-recorded commentary, and while a live guide is always more fun, we heard some interesting facts about the city. It’s a reasonably-priced activity and totally worth it to see the buildings from a new vantage point. Staff were great too and you can enjoy a beer or glass of wine.
Written May 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Cowboydavy115
Spokane, WA302 contributions
Vey Nice Boat Ride
This is a great way to get out into the Chicago Harbor to cool off a little and see the skyline from the water level perspective. We even saw a sunken boat with just its bow sticking out of the water near the breakwater. You sail past the Harbor Lighthouse and the harbor entrance. It was a very pleasant day out on the water and the water was calm in the harbor as well and Lake Michigan. The crew was super friendly and informative. Just a really nice boat ride, I highly recommend it.
Written July 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Arthur P
Leawood, KS1,285 contributions
Beautiful view of the Chicago Skyline!
Even though my wife & I are originally from Chicago, we have never taken a boat tour on Lake Michigan to see the Chicago skyline until our recent trip back.

We went to Navy Pier and bought tickets to the Lake Michigan tour aboard the Shoreline Sightseeing boat. Very reasonably priced (a little over $27 per person).
The total tour was about 45 minutes. The weather was perfect and the view was beautiful.
Written October 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
JVBH
2 contributions
Sunday Afternoon Party Boat
Very disappointed in how the Shoreline crew did nothing to prevent or deal with a ship full of inebriated individuals on our Sunday afternoon sightseeing cruise. I understand Shoreline can't prevent what people do in their own time but they have seemed to turn a blind eye to a cheap party boat environment where unsuspecting passengers and families are stranded for an hour without help from the crew in a very uncomfortable environment.

A group of obviously intoxicated gentlemen boarded the Sunday afternoon 1:30 cruise and proceeded to yell, swear, call each other derogatory racial terms and discuss their morning drug intake for the entire 40 minutes across the boat, stopped only by one of them passing out and the others going to the front of the boat leaning sick. The crew was aware of the situation in that they were sitting next to the captain and yelling questions at him from the moment we left the dock. Amazingly enough the bar also continued to serve this group alcohol despite the fact that at least one of the gentleman was having a hard time walking. The other Shoreline employee did nothing until we docked and he quickly came to the top level to get them off. We tried to move to the lower level but were met by another large party group each drinking out of their own bottle of champagne they openly brought on the boat. The noise from the groups and the people standing to drink along the sightlines of the boat made the recorded tour undiscernible.

If you are looking for a tour of Chicago, choose another boat. If you are looking for a cheap way to party on the lake for 30 minutes, this may be your tour.
Written August 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Gladson J
Dayton, OH43 contributions
Good, if you are not taking the river cruise
They just stay within the barricades that surround the navy pier on lake Michigan. The river cruise is much better than this, so called lake cruise. Punctual, very clean. There was a differently abled passenger on board and saw that the captain was explaining the tour separately to him. Why was the captain, with the passenger? Coz the boss decided to captain the boat that trip.
Written July 31, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Mike F
1 contribution
Good views but very poor PA
Unfortunately it was raining but it took them until we were half way around to put the screens down to stop water coming in. Everything was drenched.

The most disappointing was the PA system / because we were sitting downstairs it was really poor and could catch much of what she was saying.

Overall the views were excellent
Written June 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Alexandra R
1 contribution
Enjoyable
Arrived about 20 minutes early on a Thursday and it was not busy at all. The weather was in the 90s but out on the tour it felt like 75 perfect. Highly recommend if you want to see the city from afar.
Written May 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
mamachaki
Notasulga, AL22 contributions
Good trip if you have not seen city scape
We took this trip today. We had already taken the architectural Chicago River cruise. I highly recommend that trip. It is very informative and you get a wonderful view of the beautiful buildings.
The cruise does give you a different view of the city and was informative. The river cruise was definitely better.
Written June 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Paytra
5 contributions
Relaxing, friendly staff, free taxi
Family
We loved the laid back environment. This is perfect for anyone who wants to get out on the water and see the pretty skyline. The workers were so nice and friendly. When booking a tour, we got free water taxi tickets so we didn’t have to walk to the navy pier.
Written October 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Italia2010
Louisville, KY3 contributions
Fun quick trip
Fun trip with 5yr old and 10 month old. I wanted a short trip with two small volatile kids and this 40 minute tour was perfect. Great views and interesting knowledge given during the tour.
Written August 13, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Showing results 1-10 of 67
About the operator

Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator.

By: Shoreline Sightseeing
6,723
scottdW4610UO
scottdW4610UO
00
Outstanding experience!
The time of the tour is just right to give a good overview of all the different types and history of the beautiful …
Paris000
Paris000
00
Great Chicago experience with excellent guide
The entire experience was very good. The guide was excellent - great knowledge with a sense of humor.
Adventure306585
Adventure306585
00
Really fun time
Was really cool to learn the history of the buildings and how beautiful they all are! Super interesting and fun to …
mohammady727
mohammady727
00
Awesome experience
Great tour, the guide was great and the sites were amazing. Overall a great experience for tourist Or even resident…
irenal790
irenal790
00
Meeting. Chicago Architects
Very informative. Can’t remember all of it, but it live down up the fabulous skyline of Chicago. We enjoyed it very…
Seaside164230
Seaside164230
00
A must do in Chicago
Very well organized and ran. Informative but also a lot of fun. Guide, Anthony was great and the bar was a nice tre…
Taiwodada94
Taiwodada94
00
Great experience
We were really having a great time until it started to rain, I just went to the deck to chill, but honestly I had a…
josiew591
josiew591
00
Wonderful
This was a wonderful tour and view of the city! Great tour guide! I recommend this cruise as soon as you arrive.
Ryan W
Ryan W
00
Good tour
The tour was around 90 minutes and went to the north Chicago River and south river. It was very interesting. It was…
1201LM
1201LM
00
An outstanding tour of Chicago River and architecture
These tours are run by a non-profit foundation and all the docents (tour guides) are volunteers. The docent for our…
cassidyo538
cassidyo538
00
Great cruise, beautiful views, passionate and knowledgeable guide
This was a very good river cruise! Parker was very passionate and knowledgeable about Chicago, was very comfy ride,…
michelleoGo23
michelleoGo23
00
Learning history and having fun doing it
Our docent was knowledgeable and entertaining! The process from purchasing to boarding the boat was simple and wort…
Discover667084
Discover667084
00
Fun and exciting!
it was so good! there is audio narration as well to know the history of chicago city - the water view is beautiful
Stacy R
Stacy R
00
Great experience!
This tour was wonderful. Stephaine our tour guide was so informative and fun. This is a tour everyone can enjoy, pl…
Sabrina S
Sabrina S
00
A Must Do!
Now I know why this tour receives 5 stars! Absolutely beautiful architecture with an incredibly knowledgeable guide…
Frequently Asked Questions about Lake Michigan Sightseeing Cruise
Lake Michigan Sightseeing Cruise price starts from $28.34. Discover and book Lake Michigan Sightseeing Cruise on Tripadvisor
Lake Michigan Sightseeing Cruise cancellation policy: For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience. Discover and book Lake Michigan Sightseeing Cruise on Tripadvisor
Lake Michigan Sightseeing Cruise is hosted by Shoreline Sightseeing. Read reviews, discover additonal experiences or contact Shoreline Sightseeing on Tripadvisor. Discover and book Lake Michigan Sightseeing Cruise on Tripadvisor