best architectural cruise
 

Is there any particular cruise company that you would recommend over another for a cruise Columbus Day weekend? First time visitor to Chicago.

Thanks

Have just returned from a trip to Chicago. Different Architectural tours were recommended on this web site. However, I ended up taking The Wyndella Sunset Cruise that left at 7:45 and cruised from the river to the lake and back. It was a beautiful trip offering both the sunset views and the lights of Chicago at night. Our guide gave us a good bit of architectural information also. I chose this one because I wanted to see the lights of the city at night. The Wyndella was the only cruise that I could find that offered an evening cruise without dinner. Our trip was in July. Chicago is a wonderful city. It was one of our best trips ever.

Most Chicagoans would tell you the Chicago Architecture Foundation's River Cruise is the best. I've taken it several times and bring my out of town visitors on their trips. I have also enjoyed the walking tours sponsored by the Chciago Architecture Foundation.

When I was unable to schedule the Architecture Foundation tour (they were operating daytime only and I was in town for work), I took Wyndella at sunset and, like Sabrina, thought it was great, especially the view from the lake with lights coming on and sun fading behind the buildings.
Next time I'll try the Architecture Foundation again for a different look.

For the vast majority of my friends who really aren't into architecture all that much, the regular lake front cruise gave them more then enough architecture information.

That certainly wouldn't be the case if you happen to be an architecture buff.

I 2 weeks I'll be on the plane to Chicago. Which tour is easier to find, they all seem to leave from different places.

Fiana...

Easier to find? Depends on where you start.

A number of these cruises are at the bridge where N. Michigan Ave crosses the river. Approximately 400 N. Michigan, which also happens to be Wacker Ave cross street. Wyndella has a place on the West side of Mich. ave and the Architectural Foundation cruise is on the East side along with a number of other cruises.

Oh and for Lear... bring a decent jacket. Mid October can be more than chilly at the Lakefront/River area.

Placeu2... I agree about the cold weather comment. Makes me think an evening cruise would be too chilly, but I'm sure the evening lights would be spectacular.

I'm pretty sure that this poster and others may have the LAKE cruise confused with the RIVER Arch. cruise. There are more than just 2 companies doing the LAKE.

In the LAKE cruises/tours you are taken outside of the locks. This encompasses several hours total, I believe. It always has for us. That's the view "from the lake".

The River cruise goes down the Chicago river FROM the lakefront and you see another whole aspect of Chicago. This River was engineered to run backwards and has some real gems.

I myself don't think you need to be particularly interested in architecture to be amazed at some of the originals and techniques used for the original "City of the Century". It was innovation and is the original.
If you don't like scholarly depth, you still see the more real moving/acting Chicago actually, IMHO- than you do in the pretty lakefront montage view.

Nice review of the differences JJ5.

Thank you. There is something to be said for both kinds of tours, but do know that being "out" on the lake is something that can change REAL QUICK and not just with the normal water chill. When a swell comes up or a holdup occurs in the locks, you might have taken on more than you bargained for- so to speak.

I do remember one where nearly everyone on board was either on the rail or in the head- so if you aren't a good sailor or it is especially choppy or changeable weather (HA HA THIS IS A JOKE)- go on the River cruise.

I've read comments here re the docent's info on the Chic. Arch. Found. (downed by a critic/architect) here. I've been on both and I find most of the CAF docents are tremendous and most are PHD's in something else/retired. They do know enough and what you want to hear and understand in context. You don't necessarily have to do the private with the guy with a degree in engineering telling you about each tech detail or innovation.

One of the biggest thrills I ever experienced was on a larger ship (privately owned) which had to have the bridges opened at points but could get under them at others. (The Chicago River is crossed by many different traffic bridges for cars/walkers.)I and my niece laid on our backs on the top deck and had the girders from under the bridges past within our easy touch range. Quite another view, let me tell you. I think we went all the way past Chicago proper to the burbs.

The Wyndella cruise I took (in summer) included both river and lake. The narration on the river portion was a good introduction to Chicago architecture. My comment above about sunset from the lake should have said that I found that a pleasant addition to an informative cruise on the river. I did not intend to suggest that it was a lake-only trip.

Curious kayd, how long was your River and Lake tour/cruise from Wyndella?

So far I found 4 arch. cruises on the river.

Now, a silly question: is this a round-trip? Will they drop me off at the starting point, or at the end of the route in some unfamiliar area?

Faina, all the ones I know about do the round trip. You aren't going to go far up the River as I did on the private vessel.

I think the CAF tour would be a good pick myself. You aren't studying architecture or learning engineering. You just want a beautiful context and overview.

My Wyndella cruise ended up being quite a bit longer than advertized because of a long wait to get back through the locks from lake to river, maybe 2 hours total. Sorry, it was several years ago and I don't remember that detail.

Thanks. I wondered if it was any different in the average time element during the most recent years. I've only been through on much smaller boats. One time we were stuck out there for maybe 4 hours and did it get cold!

When I go, I will take the CAF tour.

The "official" CAF tour that starts at Michigan and Wacker is 90 minutes and does not rely on any bridge or locks situations. It does not go out on the lake, only in the river. It WILL take 90 minutes and frankly that is plenty of time to look at buildings unless you are a very serious architecture buff.