Booking choice: The Chicago Architecture Center cruise on First Lady, from $57 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
Almost every visitor ends up comparing the same handful of boats: a 45 minute hop, a 90 minute classic and one cruise run by the city's architecture center. They look alike in a search result. The tickets are not alike.
Below are the from-prices on Viator, the child fares on the operators' own pages, the refund rules and the extras nobody mentions. Prices move with the season, so treat every figure as a starting point and check your date.
The quick answer
Expect $28 to $57 for a standard river architecture cruise: the 45 minute tour at $28, the Shoreline cruise at $39, the Wendella 90 minute tour at $45 and the First Lady cruise at $57. The First Lady is non-refundable. The rest give a full refund up to 24 hours before.
How much does a Chicago River cruise cost?
From $28 for a 45 minute tour to $57 for the 90 minute cruise on the Chicago Architecture Center's boat. The fireworks cruise costs more.
The table lists every cruise on this site by its Viator from-price. Rounded to whole dollars, the standard architecture tours sit in a $28 to $57 band, and the lake and sunset cruises add a few dollars. The fireworks cruise reaches $60.
| Cruise | Length | From | Refund rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago River 45-Minute Architecture Tour | 45 minutes | $28 | Full refund up to 24 hours before |
| Chicago 90-Minute Architecture Boat Tour | 90 minutes | $37 | Full refund up to 24 hours before |
| Chicago Architecture River Cruise | 75 minutes | $39 | Full refund up to 24 hours before |
| Chicago Fireboat River and Lake Cruise | 2 hours | $39 | Full refund up to 24 hours before |
| Chicago River 90 Minute Architecture Tour | 90 minutes | $45 | Full refund up to 24 hours before |
| Chicago Lake and River Architecture Tour | 90 minutes | $48 | Full refund up to 24 hours before |
| Seadog River and Lake Architecture Tour | 75 minutes | $48 | Full refund up to 24 hours before |
| Chicago Sunset Cruise on River and Lake | 90 minutes | $48 | Full refund up to 24 hours before |
| Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise on First Lady | 90 minutes | $57 | Non-refundable |
| Chicago Lake Michigan Fireworks Cruise | 3 hours | $60 | Non-refundable |
Why do prices differ so much between boats?
Length, who does the talking, and where the boat goes. A 45 minute ride and a 90 minute ride do not show the same river.
The First Lady cruise is led by volunteer docents trained by the Chicago Architecture Center, per the Chicago Architecture Center page. The Shoreline cruise has a live guide on a 75 minute loop. Cruises that continue onto Lake Michigan, like the lake and river tour and the Seadog speedboat, cost a little more since they add the lake.
The cheapest listing is not always the worst. The enclosed 90 minute boat runs at $37 with a 4.8 rating, but it leaves from the south end of the Loop, not the Michigan Avenue Bridge.
What do children pay on a Chicago River cruise?
On Wendella's own price list a child aged 4 to 12 pays $14 for the 45 minute tour and $20 for the 90 minute tours, and under 4 pay nothing but still need a ticket.
That comes from the Wendella FAQ, which prices adults at $28 and $45. The Viator listings show the adult from-price first, so pick the child option when you choose travellers and check the total before paying. The Chicago Architecture Center page says every guest on the First Lady needs a ticket, infants included, and that infant tickets are bought together with an adult ticket.
Which Chicago River cruises can you cancel?
All of them except the First Lady cruise and the fireworks cruise, which cannot be refunded or changed for any reason. The others give a full refund up to 24 hours before.
Weather does not change that. Tours run rain or shine, and per the Wendella FAQ a refund comes only if the captain cancels the sailing. If your dates are not firm, the lower-risk seats are the Shoreline cruise, then the Wendella tour. If your dates are firm and you want the docent commentary, the First Lady is worth its rule.
A full refund up to 24 hours before, on the cruise with the most reviews on Viator.
Check dates for the Shoreline architecture river cruiseAre there discounts on the boats?
Wendella offers some at its ticket office, not online: 50% off for college students on Tuesdays and for active-duty military Monday to Thursday, and $10 off for veterans Monday to Thursday.
Those come from the Wendella FAQ. They need a valid ID, they are not valid on holidays, and they apply in person only. The Chicago Architecture Center sells its cruise with an optional add-on for admission to its exhibits at $5 instead of the regular $15, according to its own page. Members of the center use a separate phone line for their benefits.
What does the ticket not cover?
Drinks, snacks, tips and parking. Every boat sells food and drink on board, and the main operator is cashless.
The Wendella FAQ says Wendella takes cards only, and that there is no parking at its dock. Nearby garages include Interpark at 430 N Rush St, quoted at $14 for up to 10 hours with a ticket office coupon. The enclosed 90 minute boat on S Wells St lists a discounted $12 to $15 lot beside its marina. Seadog is bring-your-own-drinks, without glass.
How far ahead should you buy tickets?
A day or two ahead is enough for a weekday morning. Lock in weekend afternoons, sunset sailings and fireworks nights as soon as your dates are fixed.
Those are the departures that fill first. Boarding starts 15 minutes before departure and Wendella advises arriving 30 minutes early. Once the boat leaves the dock, your ticket cannot be used again, so a late arrival costs the whole fare.
The 90 minute classic from the Michigan Avenue Bridge, with indoor and outdoor seats.
Explore the Wendella 90 minute architecture tourFrequently asked questions
How much is a Chicago River architecture cruise?
From $28 for a 45 minute tour to about $57 for the 90 minute First Lady cruise. The most reviewed one, the Shoreline cruise, starts at $39.
Can you buy Chicago River cruise tickets at the dock?
Wendella has a ticket office at its Michigan Avenue dock, and some in-person discounts only apply there. Popular times can sell out, so booking ahead protects your seat.
Do babies need a ticket for the river cruise?
Yes. Wendella lets children under 4 ride without paying but still requires a ticket, and the Chicago Architecture Center needs a ticket for every guest including infants.
Is the First Lady cruise refundable?
No. The Chicago Architecture Center says online tickets cannot be refunded or exchanged, and the Viator listing says the same.
Ready to book
Choose your Chicago River cruise
Every option here can be cancelled for a full refund; the deadline is on each listing. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Chicago Architecture River Cruise
- About 75 minutes on a Shoreline Sightseeing boat with live expert commentary
- Pick the Pioneer Court (Michigan Avenue) or Navy Pier meeting point when you book
- Restroom on board and pets welcome
Chicago River 90 Minute Architecture Tour
- About 90 minutes with a trained guide and narration of the buildings on all three branches
- Indoor climate-controlled seating and an outdoor deck
- Departs from the Wendella dock at 400 N Michigan Ave, by the Wrigley Building
Chicago River 45-Minute Architecture Tour
The cheapest way onto the water, with a heated lounge for cold days
