Wendella Cruises Chicago

Since 1935, family‑owned Wendella Cruises Chicago has been sharing the city’s story from the water. Depart downtown for an architecture tour along the Chicago River, a scenic Lake Michigan cruise, golden‑hour sunset sail, fireworks voyage or private charter; each boat features climate‑controlled salons, open‑air decks and expert local narration.

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Slide 1 of 7, Chicago River cruise boat passing under DuSable Bridge with city buildings in the background.

90-min Chicago River Architecture Cruise by Wendella

1 hr 30 mins

from

$45

Slide 1 of 8, Chicago River cruise boat passing under a bridge with city skyline.

45-min Chicago River Architecture Cruise by Wendella

45 mins - 1 hr 30 mins

from

$28

Slide 1 of 7, Chicago River architecture cruise boat passing under a lift bridge with city skyscrapers in the background.

90-min Chicago River and Lake Michigan Architecture Cruise by Wendella

1 hr 30 mins

from

$45

Slide 1 of 10, Cruise boat on Lake Michigan with Chicago skyline at sunset.

90-min Scenic Sunset Lake Michigan Cruise by Wendella

1 hr 30 mins

from

$45

Slide 1 of 8, Fireworks over Chicago River with boats during dinner cruise.

Chicago Fireworks Cruise

Explore at your pace

1 more

Experience Navy Pier’s fireworks from the water on a scenic evening cruise, with front-row views of the illuminated Chicago skyline and fireworks reflecting across Lake Michigan.
Enjoy a relaxed and crowd-free atmosphere as you sail past iconic sights like Navy Pier and Chicago’s skyline, with panoramic views from the open water.
Choose from a variety of cruise experiences, including a plated dinner, buffet dinner, or speedboat ride, with options for different cruise routes and onboard entertainment.
Dinner cruises include reserved seating, a full meal, and complimentary coffee, tea, iced tea, and water, creating a complete evening of dining and sightseeing.
Bring your own drinks on the speedboat cruises or purchase cocktails, beer, wine, and other beverages onboard on your dinner cruise while enjoying festive photo opportunities throughout the experience.

More details

Experience Navy Pier’s fireworks from the water on a scenic evening cruise, with front-row views of the illuminated Chicago skyline and fireworks reflecting across Lake Michigan.
Enjoy a relaxed and crowd-free atmosphere as you sail past iconic sights like Navy Pier and Chicago’s skyline, with panoramic views from the open water.
Choose from a variety of cruise experiences, including a plated dinner, buffet dinner, or speedboat ride, with options for different cruise routes and onboard entertainment.
Dinner cruises include reserved seating, a full meal, and complimentary coffee, tea, iced tea, and water, creating a complete evening of dining and sightseeing.
Bring your own drinks on the speedboat cruises or purchase cocktails, beer, wine, and other beverages onboard on your dinner cruise while enjoying festive photo opportunities throughout the experience.

from

$54.76

Slide 1 of 8, Dinner cruise boat on Chicago River with illuminated city skyline at night.

Chicago Dinner Cruise

2 hrs - 3 hrs

1 more

Enjoy a 2.5-hour cruise on the Chicago River and Lake Michigan with a gourmet dinner and live entertainment onboard.
Relax in a climate-controlled interior deck while enjoying scenic views of Chicago’s skyline and architecture.
Enjoy a chef-prepared meal as you take in the breathtaking views of Chicago's skyline and iconic architecture.
Live curated entertainment, along with an onboard bar with beverages available for purchase, enhances your dining experience, making it perfect for special occasions.
Choose between a Chicago River cruise with a plated gourmet dinner, a Lake Michigan cruise with a plated gourmet dinner, or a Lake Michigan cruise with a buffet dinner.

More details

Enjoy a 2.5-hour cruise on the Chicago River and Lake Michigan with a gourmet dinner and live entertainment onboard.
Relax in a climate-controlled interior deck while enjoying scenic views of Chicago’s skyline and architecture.
Enjoy a chef-prepared meal as you take in the breathtaking views of Chicago's skyline and iconic architecture.
Live curated entertainment, along with an onboard bar with beverages available for purchase, enhances your dining experience, making it perfect for special occasions.
Choose between a Chicago River cruise with a plated gourmet dinner, a Lake Michigan cruise with a plated gourmet dinner, or a Lake Michigan cruise with a buffet dinner.

from

$112.10

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What our guests say

Tiffany J

United States

Family

Last week

My experience on the Chicago River Cruise was nothing short of AMAZING!! I learned a lot from the presenter, he was very knowledgeable about the information he provided and spoke very fluently. The people on board were very friendly, the workers were very professional and polite. It was very clean, the ride was very smooth. I rate this experience two thumbs up and 100 stars.

90-min Chicago River Architecture Cruise by Wendella

Denise B

United States

Couple

Last week

+6 more

My 45‑minute Wendella architecture cruise turned out to be one of the best things I did in Chicago. From the moment the boat pulled away from the dock, I felt like I was seeing the city from a completely new angle. The river-level views made familiar buildings look monumental, and the guide’s storytelling brought the skyline to life with history, humor, and details I’d never noticed before. Even though the tour was short, the pace felt perfect—fast enough to stay engaging but never rushed. By the time we returned, I had a deeper appreciation for Chicago’s architecture and a camera full of riverfront shots. I genuinely would recommend this very affordable tour to anyone visiting the city or even locals who want to see Chicago from a fresh perspective.

45-min Chicago River Architecture Cruise by Wendella

Louise H

United States

Solo

2 weeks ago

+2 more

Our evening on the Odyssey Chicago River Architecture Dinner Cruise was unforgettable. The views of Chicago’s iconic skyline and historic buildings were breathtaking, and the narration made the city’s architecture come alive. The staff was genuinely warm and attentive, the meal was delicious, and the atmosphere on board felt both elegant and relaxed. Watching the city lights reflect on the river while enjoying dinner with friends was a perfect experience. I would gladly recommend this cruise to anyone looking for a memorable way to experience Chicago.

Chicago Dinner Cruise

Justin C

United States

Couple

3 weeks ago

At first it was a little hard to find the boarding location but if you're doing the speedboat tour, just look for the Seadog ticket booth. The boarding process definitely could use some work as that part felt disorganized, but once we got on the boat it was a really wonderful experience. The views were great and the guide was awesome! Highly recommend, but definitely arrive early!

Chicago Fireworks Cruise

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