Lake Michigan Cruises

If you are visiting the windy city and are interested in discovering what are the best things to do and see in Chicago without having to spend a fortune in the process then you need to familiarize yourself with cruises that offer you rides on Lake Michigan.

This important body of water is the main water resource of this gigantic city and since its creation it has been a space of natural beauty that cannot be missed in the family and sporting entertainment of the inhabitants of the region. Continue reading the alternatives that I have researched for you with the intention that you can choose the one that best suits you and the one that convinces you the most.

A sightseeing tour with these characteristics usually combines educational commentary about the space being navigated with an admiration for the architectural beauty of the Chicago Skyline. It is given on a relatively large vessel when compared to river cruises on the Chicago River.

These cruises almost always tend to extend for about 40 to 50 minutes from the departure of the boat at the Riverwalk or Navy Pier docks to the eventual return of the boat to the same point in the city. Keep in mind that this is more than enough time to enjoy the lake and to admire the entire coastline of the city.

On the tour you will be able to see from an excellent perspective some of the most impressive modern engineering marvels of the western hemisphere. I can highlight some towers such as the John Hancock Center or the Willis Tower as iconic points that will be identifiable in the urban panorama that you will have in front of your eyes.

You will also have the opportunity to see from the shores of the lake, areas such as the Museum Campus next to the Adler Planetarium or the Golden Coast with its old mansions that today have as bodyguards lots of flashy modern skyscrapers.

So after a day of sightseeing like these cruises offer, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that you're interested in buying tickets to Chicago's 360 Observation Deck. Since with that panoramic observation deck you could see everything you appreciated from the waters, but now from up high and down like birds and airplanes.

You should also know that Lake Michigan is one of the 5 lakes that make up the Great Lakes water system located between the border of Canada and the United States. It is surrounded by the states of Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois and just in the latter is located the most important city of the entire region, Chicago.

This lake is so big that it occupies a territorial space similar to that of Croatia and it is really a natural wonder that has seduced tourists who come to Chicago. I am telling you all these details because they are some of the informative information that you will hear on board from the guide who specializes in the history and importance of this lake for the city of Chicago.

Details of interest

• Prices: this kind of Lake Michigan sightseeing tours usually cost about 28 euros. If you take the saving pack that includes tour of Chicago, cruise and tickets for Skydeck, the price is about 200 euros and is the most complete and economical option considering the prices separately.
• Advantages: the estimated prices could not be more favorable and thrifty and this allows you to keep your budget balanced to pay for other activities. The best food tours in Chicago are an excellent option to complete your day's itinerary.

As luxury and exclusivity will always be a good alternative for those who can afford it, it is prudent and necessary to also offer you as a convenient alternative the cruises that consist of a first class dining through a tour of the shores of Lake Michigan in Chicago.

I will begin by clarifying that clearly the conditions of the vessel are very different, as it is now a boat that is configured around a series of tables. Which will allow you to comfortably enjoy a multi-course dinner, while being amazed by the panorama of Chicago. And it will be illuminated with millions of lights from its hundreds of skyscrapers and monuments of importance that can be accompanied by a beautiful full moon if you choose a day of the month with these nocturnal conditions.

Depending on the number of people on the same reservation, a table will be set aside to group all your companions in the same corner of the boat. Keep in mind that all the service is accompanied by live entertainment with a DJ who can get you dancing if you wish on the dance floor that the boat has enabled for its guests.

Since this is a dinner with musical entertainment, it is logical that it will last much longer than a simple mid-afternoon sightseeing tour. You can expect it to last at least 2 and a half hours, but it is possible that it could extend up to 3 hours depending on the weather conditions at the time or the development of the evening.

There are no dress requirements, but it is assumed that it is an evening event that should be attended with a certain degree of elegance. Keep in mind that the inside of the boat is air-conditioned, but it would not hurt to bring coats if you want to enjoy the views outside. As well as for the waiting time while you enter and leave the boat at the designated dock.

Dinner is usually three courses, i.e., appetizers, main course and desserts. This is accompanied by coffee, hot and cold tea, and water with no consumption limitations. The waiter service is quite elegant and the rate includes all service charges except for tips and alcoholic beverages. These will be at your disposal for different rates and independent of your reservation.

Details of interest

• Prices: Approximately 180 euros per person. Although you have to keep in mind that it is a very exclusive experience on a boat that many people can classify as luxurious.
• Advantages: Although it is a bit more expensive, it is a good investment if you are looking for an evening that will be memorable for the rest of your life and that will be one of the best moments of your visit to the windy city.

The third alternative that you have at your disposal and that can be very interesting for your pocket and for your tourist desires are the night cruises with 90-minute tours along the waters of the Chicago River and along the shores of Lake Michigan. As you read, this is a tour that does not focus exclusively on the lake, as it also combines the section of the Chicago River that is full of modern and resplendent architecture to offer a much more complete and entertaining experience to its clientele.

They also offer a guide with commentary on the history of the lake and the influence it has had on the economic prosperity of this region. But this time they are more focused on the architectural history of the area along both banks of the Chicago River, as we walk along it all the way to Chicago Union Station.

That means you'll get to see iconic buildings like the Ellis Tower, the Tribune Tower or the Marina City Complex up close, while also marveling at the illumination of the Riverwalk and understanding the urban configuration that was given to the entire area to make it this way. In which there are dozens of drawbridges and a whole subway system as significantly large as that of some districts of New York.

They almost always last 90 minutes or so, which is more than enough time to enjoy Lake Michigan and to appreciate the beauty of the Chicago River. The time distribution is usually about 50 minutes for the lake section and about 40 for the river, but all can change depending on the sailor's riding speed.

Meals are not included. However, if you wish, you can bring your own food if you feel you will get hungry during the hour and a half sightseeing tour. In fact, many Chicago tours allow this as long as it is simple food such as snack sandwiches.

Rates include all navigation and service taxes and only leave out the payment of gratuities to the guide or any consumption at the bar that the boat has enabled for its passengers.

Details of interest

• Prices: Around 45 euros is usually the amount of the entrance fee for an adult.
• Advantages: You will learn the history of the most symbolic buildings of Chicago.

There are different ways to book your admission to Lake Michigan cruises and undoubtedly the best of all will always be online. This is because you can do it from the comfort of your home, without intermediaries, receiving a digital invoice in your email and with an immediate confirmation of your purchase. In turn, there is also the fact that you can see the availability for the day you are interested in getting on the boat. Within all these benefits is the fact that many of these reservations offer free cancellations with a detailed breakdown of the company's refund policies.

Clearly, you can go to the docks from where these ships depart to try to board the next trip, but there is no guarantee that there will be enough seats for all your companions and much less that the prices will be as favorable as the ones I have mentioned in this informative compilation.

The right choice of clothing will always be my first recommendation for any outdoor activity in Chicago, for the simple fact that this city is characterized by extreme winters and absurdly hot summers.

It wouldn't hurt to bring entertainment alternatives for your kids, as there are serious chances that they will start to get overwhelmed in the middle of the journey and at that point is when you will be more interested in enjoying the experience.

The other thing I can advise you to do is to choose favorable schedules. It is not the same to participate in an early morning boat tour that leaves you the whole day ahead to enjoy Chicago, than to have to cut your itinerary in the middle. This is so you'll be at the dock at the time you'd want to be looking for delicious options for your lunch.

Don't forget to bring sunscreen no matter what time of year you choose to visit. Remember that water is a reflective surface and this increases the risk of getting sunstroke by being careless with your skin.

In addition, it would be very prudent to pay attention to the details that will be told by your guide. With this person you have the opportunity to answer many of the questions you may have about the history of this city and the reasons that led it to be so important to American culture over other Midwestern metropolises.

The first reason could be the issue of economic savings and financial convenience. Since all the alternatives I have mentioned to you are quite economical if you try to buy the prices of a tourist service with the same characteristics in another part of the world. Details that apply especially for the tourist tour with which this list begins.

At the same time, there is the fact that this way you enjoy Chicago from a completely different perspective and at the same time you become familiar with the fifth largest lake in the world. Which may be too interesting for you if you are one of those people who are fascinated by knowing the places that top the ranking lists of the most significant things or places on our planet.

Finally, it highlights the issue that it is an experience where physical exhaustion will never come. So it's a plan that can really work as a kind of break between the walks that you are surely developing daily to get to know the beauty of downtown Chicago and its surroundings.