Mercury, Chicago's Skyline Cruiseline

Mercury, Chicago's Skyline Cruiseline

Mercury, Chicago's Skyline Cruiseline
4.5
10:15 AM - 8:15 PM
Monday
10:15 AM - 6:15 PM
Tuesday
10:15 AM - 6:15 PM
Wednesday
10:15 AM - 6:15 PM
Thursday
10:15 AM - 6:15 PM
Friday
10:15 AM - 8:15 PM
Saturday
10:15 AM - 8:15 PM
Sunday
10:15 AM - 6:15 PM
About
Experience the best of Chicago aboard a Mercury cruise. Take in the Chicago River and Lake Michigan skyline on a relaxing boat ride while our lively commentators bring the city to life with fun facts and stories about Chicago's rich history. A fun time the whole family can enjoy! Tours include: Urban Adventure Cruise (daytime River/Lake cruise), CHICAGO BY NIGHT! Cruise (evening River/Lake cruise), 3D Fireworks Cruise (summer Wed/Sat), Canine Cruise (summer Sat/Sun), and our new Creepy Cruise (evening River cruise).
Chicago, Illinois

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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles374 reviews
Excellent
275
Very good
66
Average
15
Poor
7
Terrible
11

John N
Milngavie, UK35 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022
this is brilliant so evocative and memorising. The chicago skyline at night is dazzling and my kids loved it. the staff on board run this well with no hiccups very professional ,and his commentary was funny and informative. you see great fireworks didn't use the 3D thing reality was enough. we sat on the left as you walk on and this is definitely the best side for seeing the city and getting the fireworks,
Written August 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Michael
Houston, TX4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021 • Couples
Very nice and recommended. We toured the Chicago River and went through the locks into Lake Michigan to view the Skyline. Our tour guide Sara was well informed and entertaining. I chatted with her and she is a licensed US Coast Guard Able Bodied Seaman working her way up the rankings. The captain and crew were very accommodating and professional.
Written August 13, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Melissa M
Toronto, Canada7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Couples
We did the canine 90 min cruise and it was fantastic! Great guide and crew and loved that we were able to enjoy the tour with our pups. Highly recommend for people wanting a fun outing with their dogs or for people that love to be around dogs ❤️
Written July 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

aussiewanderers
Sydney, Australia605 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2018 • Couples
We took this cruise in addition to the Chicago Architecture Foundation (CAF) cruise in order to get a different angle on the city buildings. Relative to the CAF cruise, this cruise offers:
1) A more history-oriented commentary on the city & buildings cruised passed (rather than their design features & who the architect was)
2) Less buildings on the river (doesn't go as far up river as CAF tour)
3) Experience of going through the harbour lock system separating the river from the lake
4) Going out on the lake, seeing Navy Pier and seeing the city skyline from a distance (but still not able to capture it in one photo, need panorama)
5) A simpler smaller boat with shade at the rear but no air conditioned cabin. Drinks but no food available.
In summary, do this cruise either in addition to the CAF cruise, or just this if you are short of time or want to learn about history rather than design principles of the buildings.
Written July 14, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Pam P
Winnipeg, Canada87 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2018 • Friends
Great boat tour. Did this tour lats Sunday and Dawn J was the commentator/guide. Very engaging and informative. Clearly this is not just a job to her - she takes pride in her city and in sharing stories and information. Thank you for a great morning on the water. Will recommend to friends.
Written August 1, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Vicki0715
SOUTH BELOIT10 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2012 • Family
This was a 2 1/2 hour cruise around Lake Michigan while viewing the fireworks. We paid $140 for 4 of us, and we could bring our own food and beverage on board. This was much cheaper than several of the cruises we inquired about at Navy Pier. The cruise started on the river, so we had to go into the lock before going to the lake. When it was time for the fireworks, the boat was parked really close to the barge setting off the fireworks (safe distance) and the fireworks were right above us. After the fireworks show, we cruised along the shore a little more before heading back. We had so much fun!! My kids said that they want to do that every 4th of July.
Written July 5, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jean K
Naperville, IL26 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2018 • Friends
About 40 cousins joined us on opening day in April 2018. The narrative was informative, highlights pointed out. Liked the fact the lower deck windows are on the side of the boat without a walkway to obstruct viewing of the sights. Though I had warned my cousins from the East Coast to the West Coast to dress warm as it's always cooler by the lake, when the north wind hit us, half escaped the top deck to the lower deck. The directions to lower lower Wacker Drive for our bus were accurate and helped a lot as we had several cousins who couldn't do stairs. I appreciate the fact the staff was attentive to our group.
Written May 1, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Danielle M
Buzzards Bay, MA378 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2014 • Business
My 2 friends and I enjoyed the Urban Adventure Tour on a sunny, warm day for the 2:00 pm tour with Mercury Skyline Cruises - price = $31 per adult. The boat was a medium sized boat, with a bar and bathroom available. Our tour included a portion of the Chicago River and a jaunt out onto Lake Michigan for 90 minutes total. The tour narrator, Jennifer, was well spoken, articulate and excellent. She gave us a great architecture background of many of the buildings, as well as the river & lake history. We got to go thru the Chicago River locks, which was very cool to watch. This tour is roughly $10 less than the other boat tours offered and we felt we received plenty of architectural history and information on our more reasonable priced tour. I would certainly use this tour company again.
Written October 4, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

REN210
Macomb, MI24 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2014 • Friends
Even though I've traveled to Chicago several times, never took a boat tour. This one did not disappoint. Very friendly, funny and knowledgeable tour guide. Nice that they had a bar on board. Simply beautiful day to sip a cocktail, enjoy the views that you can't see when walking the city (without running into someone). Great value for a 90 minute tour of river and Lake Michigan. Highly recommend.
Written October 1, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

kleigh88
Lake in the Hills, IL91 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2011
I got a great coupon through the Oaklee guide. My two young daughter's and I went downtown for a girls weekend. We did the evening boat ride, so we left the dock around 7:00 pm. It was beautiful weather, they guide pointed out all the buildings, lots of interesting facts. We went out onto the lake, and by the time we were coming back in, the sun had set, and the lights were all on, the ferris wheel was lit up, it was beautiful! We loved it! It would have even been better if it was a Saturday, when they do the fireworks from Navy Pier!
There is also a bar on board, you can buy drinks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic.
Great time.
Written June 16, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Mercury, Chicago's Skyline Cruiseline - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2025)

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