Great tour! We went on the 75 minute Architectural and Lake Front Ride. I took about 90 minutes but that is because of the Chicago Lock to get in and out of the river. Great experience, the guides were really nice and knowledgable, "the professor" as he was called knew every little detail about the city. read more

Awesome experience today! We did the 75 minute architectural tour of the city. "Tequila" our tour guide was super Knowledgeable, energetic and fun. The speedboat did a quick run of the skyline. It was great. read more

Great fun! Beautiful skyline views while speeding around Lake Michigan. Then the architecture tour up the Chicago River was insightful with gorgeous views of downtown. Highly recommend. Hannah, Steve and Tom were a great crew. read more

I loved it. If you come to chicago you have to take the extreme thrill ride!! Its fun, its amazing. You can have an excelent view of the city, take the 6:00pm ride, the best one! Staff is friendly, i bought tickets online And service to pick to up was amazing! read more

Wow we loved the Exteme ride with Capt. Swagg!! This experience may depend on the captain. Ours had a great playlist and had our boat screaming and laughing. So many people were soaked (depends on your seat). Perfect on a 90 degree sunny day. I assume when it's chillier they'd keep the spray down. One thing that could improve was the line to get on and communication. The signage was for three different cruises and the passengers were confused. Also the ticket agent said "you will get wet" and while that was true for me there are some people soaked. We didn't mind given the heat but there's a big range in that warning. read more

Went here with my sister on a Groupon deal. Didn't know at all what to expect, other than I was told it was on architecture toy (we were on the "easy" boat. We brought my sister's two little white puffy dogs (YES! Dogs are allowed, encouraged and free, though we were the only ones with dogs on the boat or in line. We got on and took seats in the back row of the uncovered seating area in the front of the boat. We thought these might be the dry seats, but we were TOTALLY wrong! In fact, they were the wettest on the whole boat! I'm sort of a wuss about water sport stuff, because I am terrified of fish (yes, I know I'm weird) and the thought that the boat might capsize and we'd end up in freezing water filled with giant King Coho Salmon and possibly Bull Sharks made me very tense as we blasted off. Pop music blaring, waves crashing we careened past lazy sail boats-jetting from the aquarium to the Hancock building in mere moments. Very scary/thrilling but a ton of fun. We did get pretty wet, so careful where you sit! Farther up toward the front and away from the sides is best if you aren't in the mood to get drenched! The tour guide was funny and nice, welcoming our two canine cruisers. And how did the dogs do, as we zoomed around the lake, you may wonder? THEY FELL ASLEEP! "Gee, not exciting enough for you I guess!" quipped my sister, as her dog lay curled in her lap. My only complaints (keeping me from giving 5 stars) were: -It seemed like a very short trip for the price (even with the Groupon!) -If you make a reservation, beware: you'll be charged to change or cancel it! My sister was going to change our time, but only after the agent put her on hold for five mins to see what time slots were available, was she told she'd be charged to change to an earlier time (that annoyed her a lot..like, why didn't you mention that before putting her on hold?) DON'T FORGET TO BRING YOUR DOG! All-in-all a cool little trip. Something fun for a family or tourist or try-something-new kind of day. How did the dogs read more

Don't go on this architectural boat tour.. So fricken bad.. Tour guide sucked. You know the kind that tries to be comedian.... 75 mins. I'll never get back we were told we won't get wet...NOT It was a Groupon...i see why now... Not worth your time.. And I'm from Chgo I was on the real architectural tour guide in Chgo not that long ago.. It was wonderful,very informational...this one was boring a waste of time and my out of town guests!!! read more

Went on the architecture tour. We had a great time. Our crew was amazing too. Luscious was the tour guide and was awesome. He was very knowledgeable and very relatable. Definitely a great experience. read more

All in all it's a great time. Doesn't matter if you're a tourist or local the tour guides have excellent skills, to keep you entertained, to help you enjoy the ride on the lake and the river. read more

Had a wonderful time on our boat tour! Andy, the tour guide, made the trip! He was funny and knows so much about Chicago history. The ride was smooth and very enjoyable. Only advise, dress warmly, especially if you go in late October like we did. I highly recommend Seadog Cruises! read more

Great! Kids loved it. Be prepared at 1 point the boat jets off really fast. Nothing scary for an adult but maybe a little scary for little ones. Beautiful views of the city anytime of day. It's a must if your in Chicago! read more

Meh is the best way to describe the Seadog. This is like Welcome to Chicago Tourist Trap #973659356. You are paying about $10 more for a speedboat ride on the Lake. Unless you are 8 or have ADD, I would rather spend my $10 elsewhere. Its not bad, but if I had a choice, I would take Wendella ..better prices, longer tours, and more informative. read more

Just don't. We booked this through Viator.com. The weather was bad on our scheduled day - windy, overcast. We arrived early, checked in and while waiting it began raining hard. The crews covered up the controls and took shelter in the ticket booth. I inquired if we could be refunded and they agreed. Because I had booked through Viator, they informed me to contact them for a refund. We were on vacation when this occurred and when we returned home, I contacted Viator and explained what occurred. The customer service agent informed me that they refused to refund our tickets. Awful service. Don't give them your money and don't book through a third party. read more

Short version: Great guide and a fun tour but trouble with customer service regarding weather and cancellation... Long Version: My experience with Seadog Cruises was a mixed performance. My mom and I took the 75 minute Architecture and River Tour. The tour itself was amazing! It was fun, and our guide Dan was knowledgeable and humorous! (Dan gets 5 stars) The bad part of my experience with Seadog was the customer service before the tour. We had the unfortunate experience of a thunderstorm. Before we left the apartment to go, we knew it was going to storm (in fact, it was thundering and lightening out the window). Not wanting to trek all of the way down to Navy Pier and pay a parking garage fee, we called the number given for inclement weather and were told that the tour was on, but that they would cancel if there was thunder or lightening. Two phone numbers and assistants later, we were told that if we cancelled, we would receive a $5 charge. The man I spoke to assured me that they had checked the radar and the tour would be on. And so, my mother and I drove down to Navy Pier, paid the $25 parking garage fee, and walked in the rain to the ticket booth. We were informed to wait 5 min, because of rain delay. 5 minutes later, we approached again and were told it was cancelled. The people there were apologetic and gave us other options (refund, VIP tickets for future use, or wait for the next tour). While I understand the desire to wait for to officially call off the tour, I wish we could have prevented the wasted time and money if the customer service representatives would have cancelled for us without a cancellation fee. Being already set back $25, we waited around for an hour at Navy Pier and took the 4 o'clock tour. Which was delightful, fun, and informative. Apparently, it just quit raining long enough for our 75 minutes of fun, because as we docked, the rain began again. read more

After seeing all of the people die on the duck boat on the news, I realize how dangerous it was and how negligent it was for the company to continue to take us out, after it started pouring rain. The winds were high and the kids sitting in near the edge were being pelted with rain and NO ONE had on life vests nor did we know where to locate them in case of an emergency. Because of the conditions, it was an unpleasant experience. They should have turned the boat around and offered passengers a rain check. read more

Very informative Lusious did a great job even kept us entertained during a delay at the locks and nice fun zipping around thanks again

I also had the Groupon for the 30-minute regular speedboat ride. I paid $12 for the Groupon and thought it was worth it for the amount I paid. However, most people in line paid the full price for it (I think $19.95). It was a hot, sunny weekday and there were plenty of seats open. It was nice to cool off from the wind. It was really fun to see the city from the lake and the buildings are really gorgeous. There were three big spurts of a fast ride, but other than that, it was just drifting and the guide explaining what the buildings were. I will pass on this next time and go for the architecture tour from the AIA (I've heard great things about it!) read more

While in town playing a tourist with the family we took in this tour. It was a very hot summer day and we were traveling with my father in-law. I approached the workers early to see if we could get early boarding because dad is getting unstable on his feet. I also wanted him to get one of the few seats on the boat in the shade. The workers were very accommodating. The tour was through the locks up the river. The tour guide pointed out of the big buildings along with little tidbits. After exploring the river we went out on Lake Michigan with the boat racing along the coastline. As a tourist we got some very good pictures. It was a good tour and I recommend for those visiting the city of Chicago. read more

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My Son loves boats. He's been obsessed with Titanic for about 2 years. Since we can't go back in time and board that particular ship we have opted for boats on Lake Michigan. We've been on many of the boats lined up on Navy Pier. But my son's favorite? The Seadog! It's only 30 minutes but so worth it to see my son's face light up in pure enjoyment. And yes, as an adult- it really is fun. We'd definately give it 5 stars but my son was a little disappointed there weren't anymore seadog extreme rides the day we went so we had to opt for the regular seadog speedboat tour. Despite that, my son had a great time. The tour guide was awesome and friendly(I think his name was Tim or Tom?) and the atmosphere was festive. I think my son's video of the seadog speaks for itself.WORTH IT. http://youtu.be/vkc5FCBrENA His smile alone gives it 5 stars. I can only imagine his grin when he gets the chance to do the Seadog Extreme Thrill ride instead of the regular speedboat tour! read more

My brother was in town for the week and I needed something to do involving a motor, speed, and safety (safety for my sake). Seadog charters was just what I needed! We bought tickets early and will call had them ready for us the day of. This charter is pretty popular and when guests started lining up... it got crowded! The staff was very informative and patient. I agree with all reviews posted - they play energetic music, you will get wet, take sunglasses, don't wear a hat, its fun, tour guides are knowledgeable, etc...! Great time - highly recommend it! read more

Great experience, a must try, I am glad it was on a warmer day, since when the boats goes on open water, winds get really cold. It is pricy for what it is. But you are paying for experience. it's hard to take pics of skyline, around 5 pm since the sun hides the buildings, making them black in pics. especially if you are using your phone, otherwise sit back and enjoy the chills :) read more

Seadog Cruises - Boat Charters Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Last month, I went on a little day trip to Chicago and had one day to tour around and visit as many sites as possible. I was walking around Navy Pier and noticed fliers for architectural tours by boat. I thought that would nice since the Chicago skyline is beautiful and prime for some Kodak moments. Clear weather at night would be great! But, the traditional tours were 2-3 hours long and it was time that I didn't have to spare. Since I was pressed for time, Seadog offers both the usual tour but they also also a 30 minute speedboat tour along the waterfront for about $25. Plus, I've never been on a speedboat. Score! Killing two birds with one stone, here! Now, mind you, you're on a speedboat. They will give you life jackets. Expect to go very fast and don't be surprised to experience some water turbulence and end up getting a little wet during the ride. And, fasten your seat belt and hold on. Hold on to your hats and sunglasses as it can get blistery and shift does happen. But, the ride was overall, comfortable and safe. I liked it. The Seadog guys were very nice and were very good building rapport with their guests, although the humor can be a little dry with the occasional "woofs" to tag along with it. Although the tour is concise and fast-paced, they do give you a lot information about Chicago and get into some minor informational facts about important spots along the way. They also built in stop at key points to take pictures of the skyline and explain about various buildings such as Trump Tower and how Trump tried to make it the tallest building in Chicago by adding an antenna on top. The guys also offer to take pictures of you while you're on the boat. That was nice. So, overall, if you're pressed for time and have never been on a speedboat this is an option. Otherwise, you might want to also look at their other packages that suits your tourist style. read more

Don't go without a promotional deal! Seadog speedboat is a fun ride to take in the summer. I always look for groupons and other deals to entertain out-of-towners. Recently, I purchased a deal for their architectural tour which began with a fast ride in the lake followed by an informational tour of the city's iconic buildings. I have in past taken the fireworks cruise an the extreme thrill ride, which are amazing and again please look for online coupons and deals. Paying full price is a waste considering the easy availability of deals. read more

Grant was super knowledgable and super HILARIOUS! This was my first boat tour ever and it will be hard to top... We did a tour at 8pm, and what beautiful views! Everyone else on the boat was just as friendly & funny as Grant, what an awesome crowd! We had our pics professionally taken before the ride and an option to buy afterwards for only $20 read more

Love, love, love the Seadog Thrill ride! It's a must do when you go down to the pier. Capt Chang was awesome- both times we went she captained that huge boat and soaked everyone on board :) If you get on this boat, you will get wet-and that feels amazing on a hot Chicago day! Thanks Capt. Chang and crew for a great time read more

So confusing where to go for an out of towner. No directions on ticket except 600 E Grant. No ushers to tell you if you are in the correct line. The boat is late which worked i our favor - but waiting in a long line. I'm so annoyed and I haven't even gotten on the boat. Poor organization. So the tour was running 90 minutes late. We did not stay. read more

I booked the architecture tour through Groupon for an out of town guest and we had a great time. Our guide, Billy, was up on all the latest news in Chicago (e.g. new construction) and didn't bs any facts--I really appreciated that. This wasn't my first boat tour so I was really pleased that he taught me some new info! And I loved that he highlighted a prominent female architect. My gold standard architecture boat tour is the one operated by the Chicago Architecture Foundation, and I would 100% recommend that to anyone who is serious about architecture and history. The Sea Dog tour was great for the casual Chicago tourist who just wants to get out on the water and doesn't know much about the city's skyline. I am a wimp so I wanted to check out this tour before taking the Extreme speedboat ride, but I will definitely do that next time! read more

I went on the Lakefront Speedboat tour with four friends. We sat the second row from the front and had a great time. The guides gave tons of useful information and were fun to listen to. Make sure you have your camera ready because there are so many great views on this ride! read more

Went here on a Saturday afternoon with the boyfriend. I thought we needed some excitement in our relationship so we bought tickets for the Extreme Seadog boat ride. I think I had high expectations in my mind that this would be a wet and wild ride, but quite frankly, it was a ride for a 3-year- old - think merry-go-around. We did see some really great views from the city. Thirty minutes is nearly long enough for this boat ride. The 'girl' commentating on the boat was rather annoying, and no one could understand what she was saying half the time. Drunk? Who knows. "See that really tall building with the antennas over there?" No.... read more

we did the fireworks cruise recently It was alot of fun! It was a smooth ride & wasnt scary for out toddler. One thing that sucked, we sat near the back & the engine noise was deafening! Other than tha if you want to go fast & see the fireworks at Navy Pier~its a must! read more

Love them! Our tour guide on the Seadog architectural tour was Mark Anthony (insert JLo joke here; he included it in his talk haha); great speaker and great commentary. This is the one tour in which I understood everything the speaker was saying and was able to follow. I've taken Shoreline architectural cruises before and they don't do a good job of describing which building they're talking about before they launch into detail. They just say "and this building here is... bla bla", and even though i'm a Chicago native, I don't know the names of every building, and just pointing in its general direction does not help me (I imagine tourists would have an even harder time). Mark would describe the building first so I knew which one I was looking for (did you know the Opera house is designed like a throne/chair? Now I know how to pick it out from afar...) before he went into detail. Very dog friendly! I took my corgi, who at first was a bit spooked by the engine noise, but later enjoyed the lakefront speedboat part very much, and then proceeded to sleep through the rest of the architectural tour on the seat next to me. Remember to bring your doggie a lifevest just in case :) Always better safe than sorry! Crew was very nice to my dog :) I'll definitely be taking more friends here when they visit, and maybe go again myself just for fun. read more

Very fun. Started out on Navy pier, went up the river and enjoyed the view of the buildings from a whole other perspective. Beautiful. Then headed out onto the lake for truly spectacular view of the city. It was a perfect day, and the tour guide was informative and not the bad jokes weren't too awful. I'd do it again. read more

We had a great time today as Danny led us on a very informative tour. The weather cooperated for my daughters 18 Birthday she chose the architecture boat tour. We have been on this tour and learned something new today. read more

Seadog Cruises - Boat Charters Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This was not at all what I was expecting. My family and I expected to go fast especially since it is called a "speed"boat. It was honestly pretty boring and the whole time we were asking ourselves "this is going to get better, right?" It did not get better, I truly feel like it was a waste of money. I know we did not book the super fast one where you are guaranteed to get soaked and go fast, but still we were expecting to go at least a little faster. It felt like we were cruising. The only good things about this experience was the tour guide and the views of the city. I still would not recommend this to anyone. read more

Decided to take a coworker from out of town on the Seadog Chicago Beer Flight River Cruise , perfect mix of booze, history and sightseeing . Had a great time and will do it again some time . read more

So fun and so entertaining, plus we took our dog too! Great views of the city and buildings! Justin was a great guide, funny and so informative! Jamie drove the boat so smooth, like a pro. I would highly recommend seadog, we did the architectural cruise and it was so awesome! The seats were comfy too! read more

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It was my roommates Bday weekend and he wanted a trip. So we headed up from STL for the weekend. He wanted to "ride a boat..." A quick Google search found us many options. We went with SeaDog Cruse because it was the right price and besides who doesn't like going fast in a boat?! Seadog delivered. Great fun ride with a great view of the city. The guys on the boat are pros who know their stuff. The host was knowledgeable and had history on all the buildings. And was very entertaining. I would recommend Seadog Cruses to any one, local or visitor. We took the red line down and enjoyed the walk to the Pier then took the free trolley back to the red line. Way cheaper than paying to park anywhere downtown. I would give them 5 stars but there was a little hassle with our Groupon. And we almost missed our ride because they couldn't find our reservation. All was well in the end and it was an awesome ride!! read more

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Seadog cruises is not a service I would ever use again. The staff decided to take the boat out to the middle of the lake, regardless of the danger of the lightning storms approaching. The lightning was dangerously close to my family and I, along with a torrential downpour of rain. When we called customer service, they did not give us a refund for putting our lives at risk. Really terrible company, I hope no one ever uses them after reading my review. read more

Horrible. Booked the 75 min speedboat + lake architectural tour 5 days prior. Then less than 2 hrs before scheduled cruise, we get email that cruise is cxld. We already parked. They gave us option to rebook the shorter = 30 min cruise. 7 people's 75 min cruise worth $320 converted to 7@ 30 min cruise $296 gave us a lousy $24 refund. What a horrible company. Will never use again. Ever. read more

Came here for a 30 minute Speedboat ride and had an absolute blast. Our tour guide, Eddie, was fantastic. Funny, outgoing and entertaining, he knew all about the architecture of the Chicago skyline and took a great picture for a keepsake. Definitely come back for another ride. Our captain was also amazing, I think it was Jamie, and the first mate was as well, but I don't remember his name. All around, a great experience. read more