Chicago Cruises

Thank you Becky for sharing your expertise with us. I thought the tour was both interesting and cool. Great way to see and learn Chicago.

Every time we visit Chicago we jump on this River tour, today was our sixth time doing the tour. This tour never disappoints! It's always amazing fun and full of facts and funny stories. The staff was polite, today was extremely hot and the staff checked on my kids to make sure they didn't need water and even gave them a hand held fan. Totally recommend this tour.

Dan gave my friend and I a great tour (along with 100 other people). I kind of wish we started our trip with this experience instead of ended with it. Learned a lot about the city. Crew knew what they were doing. Felt safe the whole trip.

BECKY She's a personable, knowledgeable docent. She's very down to earth and doesn't sound like a salesperson. though you can tell she loves this city. She hit it over the fence with her recommendation to hit the 95th floor of the Hancock. (Chef's kiss)

Great service. Our architectural boat tour guide, Joe, was very knowledgeable and explained everything in a way that kept your interest. Very outgoing. The tour was amazing and we learned so much about the buildings, how they were built, and why. Beautiful views!

Spiro was an absolutely incredible tour guide and this tour was worth every moment! We learned so much and truly enjoyed every moment. Highly recommend!

We had this boat tour included as part of our citypass package and it was absolutely fantastic. Our guide Megan was really good at her job, and what she had to say about the different buildings was really interesting and engaging. She could not have been better. The tour was a good duration, and the boat was comfortable. Overall it greatly exceed my expectations and I would definitely recommend this tour if you're in Chicago and looking for something cool to do!

The Architectural Boat Tour was incredible today. The best part was Kyle, our tour guide. He was so funny, knowledgable and genuinely passionate about the information he was sharing with us. I wish I got to tell him in person, but he was chatting with a different guest when I left. He made our trip fun, very informative and authentic. The views were incredible and I walked away knowing much more about Chicago then I ever did before. Perfect for a first time visitor like myself. Chicago is beautiful and Shoreline Sightseeing is lucky to have Kyle guiding the way! Thank you Kyle and Shoreline Sightseeing!

This is my second time going on the Chicago architectural boat tour - I loved it even more the second time around. We had Patrick as our guide and he was excellent in explaining the architecture and history of Chicago. Super interesting and informative. Highly recommend!

This agency does not take into lake while other agencies take into Lake and boat inside lake. Beautiful view missed as these did not take us to lake.

I have been on the boat tours more than once when friends and family want to take it. This was my first visit on Shoreline, that I recall. $42 is a bit pricey for an over hour tour, but you forget the price when viewing the beauty of Chicago from the water. The tour guide was good but not great, honestly. So many movies filmed in Chicago, as I was trying to show my guest.

Only to hear them list SOME movies and as we sailed by the building Ferris' dad supposedly worked in, no nod to it. My God. That's an iconic movie. They mentioned Ferris as a Chicago movie but literally we were in front of the building. I like the boats with side benches vs. having to sit in the folding chairs. The side benches are the best seats, IMHO.

Regardless of the tour guide, I mean he was fine, but I've seen far more engaging, I would consider Shoreline again. Only the boats with the benches, though. Enjoy some of my photos from a crystal-clear day.

Brandon did an incredible job. He told us at the end of the tour that it was only his second tour ever which was wild. He was so well versed with everything that I was convinced that he'd done it for years.

We had the best time on our tour! Our tour guide, Brandon (Don), was fabulous! He mentioned it was the second one he had given and that was hard to believe! Lots of info and humor, very entertaining. Brandon is an area high school history and economics teacher - at the end of the tour my 19 year old said he wished he had a history teacher like that when he was in high school. Our group ranged in age from 16-46 and we all laughed and had a great time. 10 out of 10 would highly recommend! Great job Brandon!

I would give this tour 6 stars if possible. Very nice architectural tour. Very informative and exciting. I would take this tour back to back. Sooo many things to see. Gave me extra excitement and made me fall in love with Chicago again.

A great way to learn about Chicago's architectural history! It is interesting how the war and economics played a role in the buildings shape and size. I love hearing about old company's that are no longer in business and how the were the pioneer of the city's skyline. If you find a certain building of your interests you can follow up with you own visit to the building to get a closer look. The tour boat has its own bar, restrooms and seating to make you feel comfortable during the trip.

We were blessed with a balmy Saturday morning in Chicago, and decided to use our GoCity pass to experience a Shoreline Sightseeing Architecture River Cruise. It was very busy on board due to the fantastic weather, but there was still plenty of space to enjoy the stunning skyline of Chicago. The tour guide Megan was superb, talking through some of the famous buildings along the River in Chicago.

It was also a bit of a history lesson on architecture not only in Chicago but across the whole of America. I would highly recommend the tour, even if you're not that interested in Architecture, as they tour is presented in a fun and not overbearing way.

Spiro was a great tour guide! We learned more about the city on this tour than from anything else we did while visiting. It was both informative and relaxing. The boat was nice and steady, so no sea sickness. There's even restrooms on board for peace mind, and a bar.

Great services, we went in the afternoon. However, I heard the night time is great. We had Dave who I believe said he is a historian and was very knowledgeable and easy to follow. There is a lot of information to follow and I wonder if some sort of info pamphlet can be provided for people who want to take notes. Or something with the buildings and room for note taking. The buildings were beautiful and hearing the history around them was a great experience. The boat ride was safe and comfortable.

If you are visiting Chicago, the Shoreline Sightseeing Architecture Tour is a must, no exceptions! The boat can fit plenty of passengers and they depart from multiple locations at different times. You do not need to book in advance as we went to the counter on the day of on a weekend. It was over an hour and you learn so much about Chicago and the history, while viewing beautiful buildings and seeing the city by the river. It is great for all ages.

Patrick was our guide the day I took the tour. You can tell he takes great pride in his city and absolutely loves it. This is a must see. The city's architecture is breathtaking. I noticed it when I first arrived but to see it from the boat tour and get the stories behind it makes it that much better. We purchased the Go City Pass and this was one of the attractions we were able to select.

Do the Go City it's worth the price. Our tour boat had about 40 of us so we were pretty spaced out. The only downfall for me is that it was a chilly day and I didn't dress appropriate for the weather. If you are visiting and it isn't a really warm day make sure to layer and possibly bring a hat. Other than that I thoroughly enjoyed it. During the U-turn be sure you capture the beautiful shot of the skyline.

We had a great time on this tour. It was clean and comfortable. Our tour guide was entertaining and funny. The trip was quick, one hour, which was the perfect legnth even for our two teens. They didn't want to go but ended up enjoying it too. There was a bar with snacks downstairs and the bartender was very friendly and helpful. We were staying on Michigan Ave so we were able to walk to the the launch location. Everything was easy.

This was a super cool way to tour the architecture and structures in Chicago. It was a very nicely paced informative tour. Our tour guide Jack, was awesome. He ensured the tour would have lots of "Edutainment", both educational and entertaining. There were so many cool facts about the city. I left knowing so much more than I did before. If you are visiting the city and want to gain some knowledge on the structure and history, I definitely recommend Shoreline Sightseeing!

We did the architecture tour and had a great time. It was a boat ride where the host basically spoke the whole ride (which was GREAT) and gave us a history lesson on the buildings/architecture of downtown Chicago. It was both entertaining and educational

This was by far my favorite thing to do in Chicago. Very cold the day I went, I wish I would of picked up one of the blankets or wore a scarf but they had warm beverages and if you went downstairs you got out of the wind and could still see the buildings. Really entertaining and interesting about all the buildings! I highly recommend doing this while in Chicago!

I was born and raised in a Chicago and this was my first time ever on this tour and it was awesome. Patrick was an awesome tour guide that shared so much we didn't even know about Chicago. So much history and so many fun facts about the buildings that surround you when you walk around the city. Highly recommended! Get the Chicago Pass!

Worthwhile. Wow what a wonderful tour. The debarkation point was convenient, the price was nice and the boat was in great shape. The tour guide was equal parts knowledgeable, amusing, opinionated (in a good way) and aware. He filled the tour with facts, fictions, legends, places and people. The length of the tour was good also-not too long and not too short. I think my favorite thing was the stretch of history we saw from our boat from the great Chicago fire to the gaudy modern and soulless towers of today.

We took the Chicago River Architecture Cruise today and it was a very nice experience! Although it was cold (40 deg plus wind) we chose to sit on top level open air for the best views. They have a lower level seating area with some open windows but it actually wasn't that much warmer. Our tour guide William was very knowledgeable and gave us detail and history of every major building on the river (it's a lot!) while having a sense of humor mixed with a little sarcasm!

Overall it was a great tour and great way to learn some of the city's history while seeing the beautiful sky line. Consider the weather on colder days and dress appropriately. There is a restroom and bar on the boat.

It was a great riverboat experience. Tried the other 2 companies before coming to this, but they were sold out for the immediate trips and hence ended up with this. But did not repent at all. The boat was clean and the narration was nice with so many details. Not too long rides and hence it was not boring. Drinks on the boat were not expensive too. The staff was welcoming as well. I would recommend this boat company. Riverwalk boat is highly recommended when you are in Chicago.

We went for the architectural tour with Jim. Jim was very knowledgeable, and his passion for the history and architecture was infectious. He was very genuine with his love for the city and showed us the side of Chicago we didn't know. Additionally, he was a great photographer. He took the best pictures of us. We would totally go back again. It was a great experience.

One of the best decisions I've ever made. Decided to do the night tour because a lot of people in the city said to take the night tour since Chicago at night is a great attraction. We were greeting with the heart warming welcome. I went to the Chicago Night Architecture Cruise with Patrick being the tour guide for the night. He was the best tour guide for the night. Told me the history of Chicago and all the architectures and skyscrapers that are built in the city. Patrick was very knowledgeable and knew everything about the history of the architectures.

He was also engaging and made the whole crew on the cruise laugh. It exceeded my expectation and I would definitely go again if I go visit the city again. I love going on the boat ride and would recommend to anyone interested in knowing the history of Chicago and love to go see the beautiful night lights of the city.

Did the 1:15 architecture cruise and we loved it. The guide was extremely knowledgable and had great jokes. Worth every penny.

I can't say I'm not a sucker for an Architecture boat ride. This seems like the type of activity I like to do almost every time I come to Chicago. It never gets old, it's just so beautiful. It had slipped my mind that another company (cough cough, Wendella) does free rides for runners of the marathon on marathon day. Well that little memory loss cost us over $40 bucks.

Oh well! Shoreline was giving $5 discounts on Monday with your medal so we did it. Rides are $43 a person. The weather wasn't ideal it had begun to rain just as we departed but the tour was as lovely as always. If you've never done one, I highly recommend it! I thought it'd also be a great idea to rest my legs, while sitting down to enjoy the view but I ended up standing up the entire time. Anyways, go book yourself a riverboat tour. Every time I do this it makes me think of the movie the Break Up with Vince Vaughn for some reason. Fun times! Fun City! Gorgeous Architecture, and very informative tour.

I booked the 75 minute architecture river tour and it was definitely my favorite thing in Chicago! You don't even need to be an architecture/history buff; I thought it was enjoyable and relaxing for all ages. A helpful piece of advice: I recommend that you sit on the left side of the boat next to the edge. You'll get an amazing, unblocked view of the cityline when the boat does a u-turn toward the end of the tour.

Big shoutout to our tour guide Jim who was not only very knowledgable, but also witty. His overall presentation was well polished. I booked the tickets through Groupon, but I would highly recommend that you instead get the Go City Explorer Pass on Groupon which is $56. It'll let you see 2 attractions, which you can use for the Shoreline architecture tour and the Willis Tower skydeck. You can also get a 3 attraction pass for $63.

I went to Chicago for work and the group of ten I was in all agreed we wanted to go on this cruise. It was fantastic. Victor was our guide and his knowledge about the architecture in Chicago is nothing short of an encyclopedia! He didn't read cue cards and he didn't waste words. He was funny and entertaining the whole time. I can't say enough good things about this cruise! We were all highly impressed and felt like it was extremely informative!

The shoreline sightseeing architectural tour is a must. I was able to take a ride on the boat and will recommend it to anyone. The ride is so smooth and the tour guide had great communication skills. This is a bucket list item if you are in Chicago. The prices seem reasonable for the it being a tour and the 75 minutes was perfect time. There is a bar on the boat which is a plus. The views are amazing and regardless the time you take the tour, I'm sure it will be worth it.

The 75 min architectural tour was exactly what we wanted. Just long enough to get in the sites and info. Highly recommend going right as the sun is setting bc your photos will be magical. Jack was a fantastic docent. Very knowledgeable and a great speaking tone. Phil's a great bartender, tip that man and do it w cash!

The Architectural tour was fantastic. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and told us a lot about the buildings and it was a fun time. Glad I got to experience this while I was in Chicago. I went around 315 it wasn't a full boat but it didn't feel like it was overloaded. Enjoyed the experience.

Would've been a nice tour. 1) If we could actually see anything. No one told the people in the back to find seats, so they blocked our view of buildings for 60+ min. of the 75 min. tour. (See pic) 2) If we could hear anything. (See video of bar line around us and screaming child.) When I could actually hear & see the tour guide, I could tell he was terrific. 3) If they had notified people in advance that they had moved the pickup location over 10 min away down the Navy Pier.

We were walking with a senior citizen, so couldn't make it in time. Fortunately, they were able to book us on the very next tour. Unfortunately, the above happened. I'll be requesting a full refund.

I come from a place called "Chicagoland." I refer to Chicago as "The City." I went on a boat tour when I was in "Middle School." But I absolutely loved this. Having studied both the history and geography of Chicago in college - and again, having been on a tour as a young Matt - I felt I knew a fair deal about what I'd see. Rachael, our docent/guide (pick your favorite term, it's not as contested as Sears/Willis) had other ideas. Whimsical, witty, and well-practiced, she regaled us with facts, anecdotes, opinions, and a few Dark Knight references.

Maybe I'm just at the perfect age and also knowingly, winkingly a bit nerdy, but here we are. Something I'd never really considered is that with all the construction that's still ongoing, the tour I had back in middle school is different from this one, and the next one I go on will be different from them both. Anyhow, everyone from the ticket booth staff and kind old gentleman I'll call the barker, to the deck hands and captain, they ALL were kind and made me feel welcomed. That's appreciated as a local, and even more so knowing that all the visitors will have had a warm reception as well.

Our tour guide, Joe was knowledgeable and his love of the city's history and architecture was apparent in his descriptions and presentation. The sunset Architecture Tour is a must for visitors as well as those who already call Chicago home. It was great to see my city from this different vantage point! Watching the landscape light up as the sun went down was beautiful!

In the back of my head, I'd been planning the architecture boat tour for a while now. I've been here cumulatively for 13 years and seeing as how my days in Chicago are numbered, figured it was about time to do the tour! I was at the Apple Store on Michigan Ave earlier that day and talked to (Andrea or Angela) at the kiosk near the street and she was happy to chat and gave me a little discount for being so cool.

The starting point is just a few steps away from the Apple Store along the riverwalk. Jim was our tour-guide extraordinaire and I guess we lucked out and got the coolest guide? The ebb and flow of his meticulously constructed script was on point, complete with bad puns galore. The length of the tour felt very appropriate. Any longer and boredom was likely to seep in, any shorter and I would've felt ripped off.

There are a couple 'awkward' U-turns in the middle of the tour, but it works because you get to see the buildings again from a different angle. We lucked out with the weather. Sunny but not too hot and not too crowded with tourists.

Our tour guide was so cute and funny! (Ian or Ethan I think? - it was the day before his birthday.) I learned a lot. I'm not a history buff by any means but they tell you the cool stuff and I even learned a little about architecture styles! Worth the money. We used a Go Chicago pass. Ticket people were great too!

Definitely would recommend the Architecture River Cruise! Very simple and fast process to purchase tickets. Our tour guide Ashley was very nice, funny, and knowledgeable about the buildings. Tour was about 1 hr & 15 mins, very thorough and worth the money. Boat had a bar on deck for drinks and snacks. Highly recommend this for anyone traveling to Chicago. The entire staff was kind and helpful. 10/10 would go again!

We came here on a Sunday morning just shy of 11:30. I've live in Chicago a very long time but never took a boat tour so I was excited. The tour guide (I think his name was bill or will?) was great! Especially after two drinks his jokes really start to hit. He was super informative and just seemed nice. Also respect to him for calling the Sears Tower, the Sears Tower.

A true Chicagoan can appreciate that If you get hot easily, try to sit toward the back especially on a sunny day because it is HOT up there. Bring sunglasses and a hat if possible, I had neither and wish I did LOL wear sun screen because I got a very nice tan line from my shorts. Definitely would do again.

Our tour guide, a local aspiring world renown architect, was outstanding. I never knew there was so much history behind the skyscrapers just off the Chicago River. It's really cool to know the motivations & inspirations behind many of these architectural wonders.

Did this on a Sunday afternoon without realizing that this was the thing to do in Chicago! The tour guide was extremely funny and had well timed jokes, and it was also just like nice to understand more about the city and the architecture and the fun facts. The tour is quite long too but on time, and it was hot so bring sunscreen. Overall great photo opportunities too and would recommend to tourists!

Great tour with a very knowledgeable and entertaining guide. I had been on another river architecture cruise years ago and really enjoyed it, so I brought my husband with me on a recent visit. It's cool to see all that has changed over just a few years. This boat has a bar if you're interested in some adult bevs! I don't remember that on the other tour I was on!

We did this on our first day and it helped us get our bearings and identify the different buildings throughout our trip. It's also a great lesson in different architectural styles and Chicago history.

In just an hour, you get a jam packed lesson about the history of Chicago and the architecture along the river. We made our reservations on Expedia for free cancellation. Just in case of rain or COVID cancellations. Per person, it's a little under $40 so it's kind of pricey and not something I would do multiple times. The boat that we got had an open air seating on the top deck, with a bar on the bottom.

I don't think there's a better side to sit on since all the buildings tower over the river. You won't miss anything. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable, spoke clearly, and even threw in some jokes. The only downside was that there was so much information that it was a bit hard to keep up. He talked non stop and sometimes I just zoned out a bit. It's definitely a tourist thing so if you've never done it, give it a shot!

Guided architectural tours of Chicago are offered by this shoreline at the current moment when weather permits. We ordered tickets online and walked to the dock a few mins before take off. Really easy online process and highly recommend it. On the boat there is a guide who will tell you about the buildings, a bar and restrooms toward the bottom ( wasn't a big fan of the drinks but I won't take off for that bc it was a perk), and plenty of photo ops for your social media. The tour was 60 mins and very informative. Great place to sit back and take a second and enjoy the sights around you.