Chicago Architectural River Cruise

The Chicago Architecture River Cruise was aboard the Fort Dearborn, leaving from the Ogden Slip, which was a handy location for us. As a Chicagoan, I usually take the cruise every year. The docent on this cruise was excellent; she pointed out the sites that we should be aware of, new building along the River, including the Riverwalk. Booking through Viator was easy, and when we asked to change our boarding time, the Viator rep handled the request easily.

Very informative tour. History of the city and description of lovely buildings. We had some rain during the trip but they passed out ponchos to everyone which was really nice.

Chicago Architectural Foundation sponsored river cruise was totally awesome. Historic lecture on skyline development, architectural features and river walk. 90 minutes, our docent, Tracy, well read and led a knowledgeable tour. Highly recommended.

Very enjoyable and informative

Worth it. If you do this on the first day of your visit, you will see the city a bit differently for the rest of your trip. Gives a good view of the buildings and their history that you can’t get from a street view.

A very hot day in Chicago so it was OK that the boat had covered lower deck. Otherwise it might’ve been a no go. But the boat was not what was pictured. It was an older boat in the picture that I booked because it looked quaint and different. Staff and amenities on the ship were great, it was cold water, and included soft drinks. Information from the guide to talk to almost an hour and a half about the architecture of the city of Chicago was very good detailed and interesting.

This was the perfect activity for us to enjoy the stunning city views on a late summer day on the water and to learn more about Chicago and its fascinating architectural history. Our guide was engaging, the drink bar was a nice perk as we had been and continued to tour and play in the city. Highly recommend

If you’re just looking to be on the river, this option is fine. But if you’re looking for an informative tour and a good overall experience, I’d recommend looking elsewhere. The photo is misleading - you won’t be on the smaller boat pictured. The check-in staff weren’t very attentive; seating was first come, first served with no real seat management, and several guests were left without seats. Don’t expect much assistance from the crew. Free water, coffee, tea, and bar fountain soda/pop are available downstairs, but if you sit there, you will struggle to hear the guide or see what they’re pointing out. Overall, the guide was fine but the crew seemed disengaged, which made for a pretty lackluster experience overall.

The tour was great. It was very informative and the guide was knowledgeable. We appreciated the smaller boat and more intimate experience over the larger boats.

What a visually stunning way to see the city! I learned so much about the history and styles of th buildings. Our Volunteer docent, Cressida (?) the pharmacist, was knowledgeable and engaging. I suspect you could take this cruise multiple times and learn something new from each new docent. It's a plus that First Lady Cruises is affiliated with the Architectural Society of Chicago. Highly recommend.