Highly recommend the First Lady for an architectural tour while in Chicago. The meet up point is conveniently location if you're staying on E. Wacker and tickets were easy to get and use. There is a bar on the boat and the tour guide is so knowledgeable on the buildings you're learning about. The tour is 90 minutes but doesn't feel too short or too long. Perfect little activity between coffee and shopping and drinks and dinner! read more

First Lady - Chicago Skyline - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

For my first real visit to Chicago, my friends booked a couple tours, one of them being the city and architecture tour on the First Lady. Signing up for the tour was pretty easy online and we opted for priority seating, which meant we were some of the first people to board the ship. We were on the smallest of the ships in their fleet, but there weren't a lot of people compared with the other vessels, so that worked out. We were able to board and get seats in the bow of the boat, and then went to have some drinks while listening to the tour guide, Olivia, on the upper deck. We could hear Olivia's informative and humor laced stories from the lower deck and were able to get amazing photos and videos of the city from a pretty unique angle. From it's swashbuckling origins to the curated and cultured skyscrapers, Olivia made the journey very memorable. The boatswain and the bartender were also full of humor and made for a fun and exciting journey. This tour, unlike some of the others, heads out into lake Michigan, allowing you to learn more of the history and various areas of interest from the open water. There is a bit of a splash zone, depending on the weather, which may be more than welcome on those warner days. I highly recommend this tour for anyone interested in architecture, history, or just having a fun time in a boat. The staff, information, and views are incredible read more

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Finding the tour location was easy. We pre booked online. We were disappointed how many people were on our boat. Seemed like 200 people on the top deck crammed in there. Our tour guide was very informative, but not too engaging and seemed to talk too much without adding in appropriate pauses or more in jokes/facts. It was like you the company could have just played an audio guide as it didn't pause or take appropriate stops. It was a lot of history, almost information overload in the 90 min time. I am glad we did this tour however I wouldn't recommend it to others for the fact that it was very crowded and not too engaging in delivery for the price. Skip this and do the fun yacht tour instead to see the same sights without the crowd. read more

Mark L gave a fun and informative tour of the architecture of Chicago. Highly recommend!

The perfect thing to do on a beautiful, sunny Chicago day. We knew we wanted to do a boat tour and this one was recommended to us by some friends who lived here. It was great all the way around. Our tour guide Bill was so knowledgeable and interesting and we learned so much. The boat was very comfortable and loved having a bar and bathrooms downstairs. Enjoying a spritz while learning about Chicago's history, just lovely. Would absolutely recommend, and might have to try one if they're walking tours! read more

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Tour was ok, not as insightful or as inspiring as others have stated. We enjoyed the time on the water and enjoyed the docent's passion. Not sure what would have made it better, but it definitely lacked something. read more

First Lady - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great tour. Docent Kathy was so interesting and easy to listen to. The Chicago history and architecture info was really great to hear. Highly recommend this tour and speaker. read more

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Everyone I know who loves Chicago told me that this Architecture tour was a MUST and they were correct. Lindy, a docent from The Chicago Architecture Center, was my guide and she did a great job of bouncing between her talking points and quirky tangents. The tour took almost exactly 90 minutes and I was in awe of Chicago the whole time. If you're ever in Chicago, I highly recommend getting tickets for this tour. read more

The cruise was super informative and a terrific way to learn about the rich history along the Chicago river. The docent (Amy) was full of interesting information/facts. There is a full bar with cocktails/beer/wine, and they also sell chips and ponchos (in case of inclement weather), and there is a nice, clean restroom. This is a wonderful 90 minute activity, and I highly recommend them!! read more

Shoutout fellow DePaul alum, Jacob, for being a wonderful tour guide! Jacob was very welcoming to everyone on board, greeting everyone as we boarded. He was obviously very passionate and knowledgeable, with great commentary on the history of Chicago and its unique architecture. Seeing the skyline from Lake Michigan and being guided through the past and present of the city was wonderful. We had the opportunity for a great photo-op with the skyline, despite the rain and clouds. I learned a lot about Chicago and was able to appreciate the rich history, with awesome views from the lake and river. This tour is definitely worth its price! read more

First Lady - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This is a great way to tour the Chicago River. This 90 minute tour shows the highlights of Chicago architecture. The docent was very nice and knowledgeable. A not to be missed activity. read more

So cool! We took the sunset cruise and learned a ton about the city. Great bartender and stunning views! A must do!

Great tour! So fun and informative. Bill was an amazing tour guide, very entertaining and educated!

Absolutely fabulous architectural river cruise!!! MaryJo was our tour guide and she was awesome and fun. The tour is 90 minutes long but felt like maybe 30 minutes..so fun we did not realize so much time had passed when they headed back. Nice crew and clean boat!! Also note...not for profit! All proceeds go to the ACC! The only river tour you need to book...book now!! You will not be disappointed!! read more

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I was dying to do a boat tour when I came to Chicago recently and was very happy with this tour. We bought tickets in advance, but you can also buy them right at the dock. You line up to get on the boat, if you're anxious about getting a spot you might want to arrive early, but there was plenty of space on board. Drinks and snacks are available for purchase on board, they have a full bar. I did not get anything, but I saw plenty of people partaking on our tour. The tour guide was excellent, he talked for the entire 90 minute tour and I definitely learned a lot about Chicago and its history. The boat was clean and well maintained. The chairs are those metal mesh like seats, so if you're wearing shorts or skirt, bring something to sit on so you don't end up with an impression on your thighs like I did read more

Hope you get Phil. He was incredibly informative and funny. Amazing architectural boat tour. Such a unique way to see one of the greatest cities! read more

The tour was good but one thing really bothered me. They don't pay their docent's. It's nice that they volunteer but seriously, these tours are a hefty $57 per person. They literally can't function without this vital role. No docent, no tour. So why aren't they paying them? Seems lame. read more

This tour is ABSOLUTELY worth taking. Ronnie-Jo was our tour guide this passed weekend and she was so incredibly knowledgeable and a wonderful story teller. She made my friends and I fall in love with Chicago on only our second day in the city. Thank you to Captain Jordan and the rest of the First Lady crew for a great tour! read more

I've been to Chicago at least half a dozen times, and the architectural tour is always a favorite. Most recently, I went on Chicago's First Lady, as it was the closest ticket booth and it didn't disappoint. The guides are volunteers, but seem very passionate and knowledgeable. Worth the time and money every time! read more

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excellent time at a friends party on a really nice chicago evening. The staff were polite, the views to die for and the open bar was flowing. Will certainly host or attend another event with them! read more

First Lady - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Second time on this tour 9 years since the first time and honestly I could take this tour annually I love it so much. The docents are so incredibly knowledgeable and you learn so much about the major architectural styles and history of Chicago while enjoying a perfect 90 minute cruise! read more

Came to celebrate our boss's birthday on Wednesday and we had a good time. We could t have asked for a more glorious day to do so. With 13 of us there, we all sat together on the top floor of the boat and cruised down the Chicago river. Tom out docent was great! Very knowledgeable on all Chicago buildings and skyscrapers. And how photogenic is our city!! It didn't disappoint either the sun hitting all the right marks. read more

First Lady - St Regis hotel - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Genuinely one of the worst experiences in my year and a half of living in chicago. Took the ghost tour and not a single person would stop talking, the crew didn't try and do anything to get anyone to stop. The bartender was letting people buy 4 drinks at a time. The speaker system was horrible and you couldn't hear anything unless you were on the top floor of the boat but it was pouring rain so you couldn't stay up there long. Do not recommend, swimming in the chicago river would be more pleasant. Take a tour with Windella instead. read more

The architecture tour was great! The boat was nice, and the guide very clearly knew what she was doing. I took more pictures then I can count! Highly recommend! read more

Bill gave a great tour, drinks were good, had a very fun time overall. Would suggest more morning time tours. read more

First Lady - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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A Great 90 Minutes! Highly recommend this tour. Bathroom and Bar on board help the experience.

I love that this tour was 90 minutes, not too short and not too long! We didnt feel pressured to give tips and felt very safe on board. The information about the history and building ls was interesting and at the end of the tour before docking again they paused for us to get pics with the skyline! read more

First Lady - The boat paused for us to get pics - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is a very professional and well-run tour. It was the first activity we did in Chicago, and it gave us a much deeper appreciation for the buildings we saw throughout the rest of our trip. The guide was knowledgeable, the length is just right, and the views from the boat are fantastic. I highly recommend booking your tour with them! read more

Awesome River Cruise Not a junket or party. Just a very nice 1.5 hour cruise that features great views and lots of context to the river front as it has evolved in the last 200 years. From a smelly swamp to a multi-million dollar waterfront there have been many twists and turns. Our 9/14 9:30 am docent was educated, professional and truly captivating with all the facts and stories. Thoroughly enjoyed the tour. Better than I expected. read more

Went on the tour today! It was incredibly easy, comfortable and fun. Jessica our guide was knowledgeable and held our attention for 90 minutes. I highly recommend:) Colleen W read more

Went on the Creepy Ghost Tour (3) probably the nicest night of my trip. Full moon,history was silly funny. Night was probably last crisp yet semi warm people watching was amazing I enjoy fun knowledge on a boat! read more

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This was a good tour and we really enjoyed it. Our volunteer guide gave us lots of interesting information. The next day we went to the Architectural Center, because our tickets on Chicago's First Lady allowed us to go to the Architectural Center for only $5.00. At the Architectural Center, we learned that some of the info on Chicago's First Lady was incorrect, particularly some "myths" about the great Chicago fire. Perhaps the guides should visit the center too. read more

We went on the architecture boat tour and it was amazing! Our docent, Claudia was a walking encyclopedia. It was entertaining and we learned so much about the history of the buildings in Chicago. I highly recommend this tour! read more

If you're visiting Chicago for the first time a boat tour is a must-do. And if you're going to choose one of the many, why not pick the highly rated boat tour and the official cruise line for the Chicago Architecture Center? To reserve your spots, make a reservation online. They have tour times all day starting from 9am to evening ones like at 7:30pm if you want a night tour. No matter which one you decide on it will be a great and informative time. It's a 90 minute tour led by a volunteer docent who are all very knowledgeable and passionate about Chicago building architecture. The boat will occasionally make some pit stops so you can take pictures which are very convenient. The boat has everything you need from restrooms to even a well-stocked bar. The nice thing is that if you book a tour you can get tickets to the Chicago Architecture Center for only $5 more instead of the typical $14. This is a great way to see Chicago from a different perspective! read more

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Great tour. Retired lawyer Bill was amazing guide. Very knowledgeable. Very relaxing tour and great views.

This review is not about the boat tour as we never made it on but towards their incompetent staff! The Team Lead Montse has the absolute worst attitude and worst customer service! If you don't believe me approach her and you will see for yourself. We were told to arrive 30 minutes prior to departure time as they begin boarding 20 minutes prior to departure. We were there 45 minutes before departure so we can get a good seat. This is where the horror begins.... They started checking us in 10 minutes prior to boarding and I already had a bad feeling that we weren't going to depart on time (this would've been fine if we didn't have dinner reservations right after the boat tour) but we still decided to stay (always trust your gut!). After they checked us and we were in line waiting for about 40 minutes they made us move to another line (everyone in line was asked to move from line 3 to line 4) so we all did and it was orderly at first. After standing in that line for 10 minutes (we are now 15 minutes past our departure time) we were all asked to move back to line 3. At that point everyone in line started running/cutting in front of others so most of us that arrived super early and were in front of the line were now caught somewhere in the middle of the line. The team lead (Montse) gave everyone attitude and kept saying that it wasn't her fault and was not clear as to why we were asked to move back and forth. She was rude and had this 'shut up and put up' attitude the entire time. Once we were approaching to board (18 minutes or so late) all the good seats were taken so we decided to stay back and ask for our money back. Montse was super rude and had this idgaf attitude about what went wrong and pretty much made me look and feel like I was in the wrong. She gave me an email address where I can write them to "try" and get my money back but she was pretty much not going to help me at all. I would stay away from this boat tour as there are many other options with nicer staff available. Never again! read more

We took the architecture boat tour today. Ellen was our guide. She was amazing!!! (So knowledgeable!!) We went through the entire Chicago river and saw everything. She new the history of the city, each of the buildings, and what was planned for the future. It was 90 min start to finish. Highly recommend!!! read more

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Amazing architectural river tour! John our guide was just incredible.... Fantastic. Tried to give him tip but he refused. One of the highlights of our weekend in Chicago and I would highly recommend it. read more

Purchased tickets for St. Patrick's Day for a friend and me, when river would be green, but never got on boat. Accessibility was a nightmare. I called in advance to make sure someone with a walker wouldn't have a problem and was assured it was easy to access. There are many steps to get down to the boat so we walked about two streets over and walked the bridge to an elevator only to realize we were on wrong side and there was no way to get to boat from there. We retraced steps and took stairs and I made it at 4:03, but my friend with a walker was still behind. They said they had to leave on time. They say to arrive 20 to 30 minutes early and we did but spent that time trying to get to the boat. They would not offer a refund, only tickets for next day,but that was our last day in Chicago. I lost $170! I would advise to arrive an hour early or do a trial run the day prior. read more

I haven't been on the architecture tour for about 5 years, but I always enjoy it. It was a beautiful Wednesday sunny (but not overly hot) day. The tour guide was succinct in her description of the various buildings. read more