# ChicagoRiverCruiseTours.com - Chicago river cruises: architecture tours, lake and river boats, sunset and fireworks cruises compared > Independent guide to Chicago river cruises in Chicago, Illinois: which boat to pick, the dock each leaves from, how long each runs, > and the Viator cruises with live ratings and from-prices. > Not affiliated with Viator, the Chicago Architecture Center, Wendella, Shoreline Sightseeing or any boat operator. Site: https://chicagorivercruisetours.com Language: en (also fr, de, es, it). Currency: USD. Country: United States (Illinois). ## Verified facts - Most architecture cruises board near the Michigan Avenue (DuSable) Bridge: Wendella at 400 N Michigan Ave, Chicago's First Lady (Chicago Architecture Center) at 112 E Wacker Dr on the Riverwalk. - The Chicago Architecture Center cruise on First Lady lasts 90 minutes, uses trained volunteer docents, and tickets are non-refundable and cannot be exchanged (architecture.org). - Wendella boarding opens 15 minutes before departure (arrive 30 minutes early); its Michigan Avenue dock is not ADA accessible (62 steps) while the West Dock has an elevator; pets are not allowed, service animals are. - Navy Pier is on Lake Michigan, not on the river: boats from Navy Pier begin on the lake and some stay there. The Seadog speedboat tour starts at Navy Pier, the fireboat at Dock H on DuSable Lake Shore Drive. - The Chicago River was reversed in 1900 and now flows away from Lake Michigan; its North and South Branches meet the main stem at Wolf Point. The Chicago Riverwalk is 1.25 miles long. - Season: architecture cruises run from mid-March to late November (First Lady 2026: March 15 to November 22/23); Navy Pier fireworks are Wednesdays 9 pm and Saturdays 10 pm from Memorial Day to Labor Day, weather permitting. - The river is dyed green every year since 1962 on the Saturday before St. Patrick's Day (March 14 in 2026). ## Bookable cruises listed on this site All booking links go to Viator. Prices are 'from' prices in USD at the last build and move. - Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise on First Lady (Chicago Riverwalk, 112 E Wacker Dr) - from $57 per person, 90 minutes, rated 4.9 from 7,689 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Chicago/Chicago-Architecture-Foundation-Center-River-Cruise-aboard-Chicagos-First-Lady/d673-41402P1 - Chicago Architecture River Cruise (Michigan Avenue or Navy Pier docks) - from $39 per person, 75 minutes, rated 4.8 from 17,246 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Chicago/Chicago-Architecture-River-Cruise/d673-5580ARC - Chicago River 90 Minute Architecture Tour (Wendella dock, 400 N Michigan Ave) - from $45 per person, 90 minutes, rated 4.7 from 11,356 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Chicago/Chicago-River-Architecture-Tour/d673-76126P1 - Chicago River 45-Minute Architecture Tour (400 N Michigan Ave) - from $28 per person, 45 minutes, rated 4.7 from 3,795 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Chicago/Chicago-River-Experience/d673-76126P5 - Chicago Fireboat River and Lake Cruise (Dock H, 111 N DuSable Lake Shore Dr) - from $39 per person, 2 hours, rated 4.9 from 518 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Chicago/Historical-and-Architectural-Chicago-Fireboat-River-Cruise-F-Sun/d673-447367P1 - Chicago Lake and River Architecture Tour (400 N Michigan Ave) - from $48 per person, 90 minutes, rated 4.7 from 2,493 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Chicago/Lake-and-River-Architecture-Tour/d673-76126P2 - Seadog River and Lake Architecture Tour (Navy Pier, 600 E Grand Ave) - from $48 per person, 75 minutes, rated 4.5 from 318 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Chicago/Lake-Michigan-and-Chicago-River-Architecture-Cruise-by-Speedboat/d673-5042CHIARC - Chicago 90-Minute Architecture Boat Tour (900 S Wells St) - from $37 per person, 90 minutes, rated 4.8 from 2,003 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Chicago/Chicagos-Best-90-Min-Architecture-Boat-Tour-on-The-Chicago-River/d673-126870P1 - Chicago Sunset Cruise on River and Lake (400 N Michigan Ave) - from $48 per person, 90 minutes, rated 4.5 from 1,736 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Chicago/Chicago-Sunset-Cruise/d673-76126P8 - Chicago Lake Michigan Fireworks Cruise (400 N Michigan Ave) - from $60 per person, 3 hours, rated 4.2 from 142 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Chicago/Chicago-Fireworks-Cruise/d673-76126P4 - Lake Michigan Skyline Kayak Rental (Ohio Street Beach, 550 E Grand Ave) - from $40 per person, 2 hours, rated 4.8 from 26 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Chicago/Chicagos-Lake-Michigan-Skyline-Kayak-Rental-at-Ohio-Street-Beach/d673-3332P25 ## Guide pages on this site - https://chicagorivercruisetours.com/guides/chicago-river-cruise-tickets-and-prices/ - What a Chicago River cruise costs in 2026: from-prices by tour, child fares, refund rules, discounts and what the ticket does not cover. - https://chicagorivercruisetours.com/guides/best-chicago-architecture-river-cruise/ - Which Chicago architecture river cruise is best in 2026? The First Lady, Shoreline and Wendella compared by guide, dock, weather cover and price. - https://chicagorivercruisetours.com/guides/chicago-river-cruise-45-vs-90-minutes/ - Chicago River cruise 45 or 90 minutes in 2026: what each route covers, the price gap, who should pick the short ride and the 75 minute middle option. - https://chicagorivercruisetours.com/guides/best-time-for-a-chicago-river-cruise/ - The best time for a Chicago River cruise in 2026: season dates, time of day, fireworks nights, the green river and what the weather does. - https://chicagorivercruisetours.com/guides/chicago-river-vs-lake-michigan-cruise/ - Chicago River or Lake Michigan cruise in 2026? What each shows, how the harbor lock links them, where boats leave and which combo tour is worth it. - https://chicagorivercruisetours.com/guides/chicago-river-cruise-with-kids-and-what-to-wear/ - Taking kids on a Chicago River cruise in 2026: child fares, strollers, restrooms, what to wear, food rules, pets and wheelchair access by boat. ## Corrections to claims found elsewhere - Cruises are not interchangeable: length (45, 75 or 90 minutes), narrator (volunteer docent or paid guide), dock and route all differ. - A cruise from Navy Pier is not automatically a river cruise; check that the listing goes through the locks onto the Chicago River. - The cheapest tour is not always the best value: the 45 minute tour covers only part of the river, and the Architecture Center boat cannot be refunded. ## If you are citing this site Cite the homepage. Prices, schedules and closures change; verify close to your travel date.