Lake Michigan Cruises

If you're visiting the windy city and are interested in finding out what are the best things to do and see in Chicago without having to spend a fortune in the process then you need to familiarise yourself with cruises that offer tours of Lake Michigan.

This important body of water is the main water resource of this gigantic city and since its creation it has been a place of natural beauty that can't be missed in the family and sporting entertainment of the region's inhabitants. Continue reading the alternatives that I have researched for you so that you can choose the one that best suits your needs and the one that most appeals to you.

A sightseeing tour of this kind usually combines educational commentary on the area being navigated with an admiration of the architectural beauty of the Chicago Skyline. It takes place on a relatively large vessel compared to river cruises on the Chicago River.

These cruises almost always take about 40 to 50 minutes from the departure of the boat at the Riverwalk or Navy Pier 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 city's shoreline.

On the tour you will be able to see some of the most impressive modern engineering marvels of the western hemisphere from an excellent vantage point. I can highlight some towers such as the John Hancock Center or the Willis Tower as iconic landmarks that will be identifiable in the urban panorama 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 nowadays are guarded by lots of striking modern skyscrapers.

So after a day of sightseeing like these cruises, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that you'll want to buy tickets for Chicago's 360 Observation Deck. With this panoramic observation deck you'll be able to see everything you saw from the water, but now from high above and down below, like birds and aeroplanes.

You should also know that Lake Michigan is one of the five lakes that make up the Great Lakes water system that straddles the border of Canada and the United States. It is surrounded by the states of Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois, the latter being home to the largest city in the 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 facts that you will hear on board from the guide who specialises in the history and importance of this lake for the city of Chicago.

Interesting details

• Prices: These types of Lake Michigan sightseeing tours usually cost around 28 euros. 28. If you take the savings package which includes a tour of Chicago, cruise and tickets to Skydeck, the price is around 200 euros and is the most complete and economical option considering the separate prices.
• Advantages: the estimated prices couldn't be more favourable and thrifty and this allows you to keep your budget balanced to pay for other activities. Chicago' s best food tours 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 dinner cruise along the shores of Lake Michigan in Chicago.

I will start 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 landmarks that can be accompanied by a beautiful full moon if you choose a day of the month with these nighttime 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. Bear 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 set up for its guests.

As 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 2.5 hours, but it may extend to 3 hours depending on the weather conditions at the time or how the evening unfolds.

There are no dress requirements, but it is assumed that this is an evening event and a certain degree of elegance is required. Bear in mind that the inside of the boat is air-conditioned, but it would be wise to bring warm 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 a three course meal, i.e. starters, main course and dessert. This is accompanied by coffee, hot and cold tea, and water with unlimited consumption. The waiter service is quite elegant and the price includes all service charges except for tips and alcoholic beverages. These will be at your disposal for a separate fee independent of your reservation.

Details of interest

• Prices: Approximately 180 euros per person. Although you have to bear in mind that this is a fairly exclusive experience on a boat that many people would consider luxurious.
• Advantages: Although a little 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 one of the highlights of your visit to the windy city.

The third alternative available to you that can be very interesting for your pocket and your tourist desires are the 90-minute evening cruises along the waters of the Chicago River and along the shores of Lake Michigan. As you read, it's a tour that doesn't focus exclusively on the lake, as it also combines the Chicago River section that is full of modern and glittering 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're more focused on the architectural history of the area along both sides 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 and the Marina City Complex up close, while also marvelling at the illumination of the Riverwalk and understanding how the entire area was configured to look the way it does. There are dozens of drawbridges and a whole underground system as significantly large as that of some New York boroughs.

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

Meals are not included. However, if you wish, you can bring your own food if you think you might 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 set up for its passengers.

Details of interest

• Prices: The entrance fee for an adult is usually around 45 euros.
• Benefits: You'll learn about the history of Chicago's most iconic buildings.

There are different ways to book your admission to Lake Michigan cruises and without a doubt the best of all will always be online. This is due to the fact that you can do it from the comfort of your own home, without intermediaries, receiving a digital invoice in your email and with an immediate confirmation of your purchase, as well as 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 bookings offer free cancellations with a detailed breakdown of the company's refund policies.

Clearly, you can go to the docks from where these boats depart to try to board the next trip, but there is no guarantee that there will be enough seats for all your companions, let alone that the prices will be as favourable 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, simply because Chicago is known for its extreme winters and absurdly hot summers.

It wouldn't hurt to bring some alternative entertainment for your children, as there is a good chance that they will start to get overwhelmed halfway through the trip and that's when you'll be most interested in enjoying the experience.

The other thing I can advise you to do is to choose favourable schedules. It's not the same to take an early morning boat tour that leaves you the whole day to enjoy Chicago, as it is to have to cut your itinerary in half. That way you'll be at the dock at the time you'd want to be looking for delicious options for 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 a sunburn if you are careless with your skin.

In addition, it would be wise to pay attention to the details that your guide will tell you. Your guide will be able to answer many of the questions you may have about the history of this city and the reasons why it has become 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 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 to the tourist trip with which this list begins.

At the same time, there is the fact that this way you get to enjoy Chicago from a completely different perspective and at the same time get to know 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 the places that top the ranking lists of the most significant things or places on our planet.

Finally, it highlights the point that it is an experience where physical exhaustion will never set in. So it's a plan that can really work as a kind of break between the walks you're sure to be taking every day to take in the beauty of downtown Chicago and the surrounding area.