City Cruises Chicago: Premier Plus Brunch Cruise on Chicago River

Chicago looks best from the water. City Cruises Chicago pairs a three-course plated brunch with a moving tour of the city’s great buildings, from the Wrigley Building to Willis Tower. I like the easy mix of sightseeing and dining, and I like having a comfortable, climate-controlled place to return to after taking photos outside.

The unlimited mimosas are included for guests age 21 and older with valid identification, and the boat has open areas at the front and back for city views. The main caution is value: at $84.74 per person, this is not a cheap meal, and food portions and service speed may not satisfy everyone.

This is best for a birthday, anniversary, friends’ outing, or anyone who wants Chicago scenery without walking several miles. If your main goal is serious architectural commentary, a dedicated architecture cruise may give you more detail. If you want brunch, drinks, music, and a relaxed river setting, this cruise makes a stronger case.

Key points to know before you book

• A two-hour route through Chicago’s main and south river branches: You see major downtown buildings from an angle that streets cannot provide.
• Three courses are served at your table: The menu offers several choices, with French toast, bacon, chicken, yogurt, and tiramisu appearing among the available dishes.
• Unlimited mimosas come with the fare: Other drinks, including wine, beer, and creative cocktails, cost extra at the cash bar.
• Boarding begins 30 minutes before the 11:30 a.m. departure: Arrive early because late arrivals may miss the boat.
• The boat holds up to 200 people: It can feel lively and social, but a full sailing may also be noisy.
• Cocktail attire is requested: Bring a layer too, since the outdoor areas can feel cold even when the interior is comfortable.

Boarding at Cityfront Plaza near the NBC Tower

The meeting point is 455 Cityfront Plaza Drive, close to the NBC Tower. The location can be confusing, especially if you are following a basic map pin rather than looking for the river access.

A useful orientation is to walk near the NBC Tower, turn at the corner, then look for the stairs leading down toward the river. Several people have had trouble finding the entrance, so I would not arrive at the last minute. Boarding starts 30 minutes before departure, giving you time to find the access point, check in, and settle at your table.

The scheduled start is 11:30 a.m., and the boat returns to the same meeting point after roughly two hours. Parking near the NBC Tower can be difficult, so public transportation or a nearby garage may be less stressful. The cruise is close to public transportation, but the exact route to the dock deserves more attention than the brief location address suggests.

Once aboard, the climate-controlled interior gives you a dependable place to eat. You can also walk around the boat and use the front and rear outdoor areas for photographs. The best plan is to treat the cruise as two experiences at once: a seated brunch indoors and a moving observation deck outside.

What the $84.74 price really covers

The fare includes the river cruise, narrated sightseeing, ambient music, a three-course chef-prepared brunch, and unlimited mimosas for eligible adults. That combination is the reason many people consider the price worthwhile. You are paying for a meal, a two-hour setting, service, and views rather than simply buying a boat ride.

The value works best if you plan to enjoy all parts of the package. Someone who drinks several mimosas and wants a special occasion meal may find the fare reasonable. Someone who rarely drinks alcohol or expects a large, restaurant-style brunch may feel the cost more sharply.

Food quality appears to be uneven. Many diners praise the meal, with French toast and bacon receiving especially warm attention. Several people describe the food as delicious, good quality, or ample. Others found the portions limited, or disliked particular dishes such as dry chicken, yogurt, or tiramisu. That range suggests you should book this for the overall experience, not as a guaranteed destination meal.

The beverage deal also has limits. Mimosas are included, but the mix may be heavy on orange juice depending on who serves you. Wine, beer, and creative cocktails are extra, so a group that plans to order beyond mimosas should budget for a higher final cost.

The three-course brunch, from first bite to dessert

This is a plated meal rather than a buffet. That makes the cruise feel more formal and keeps you at your table while the boat moves through the city. It also means service timing matters. When the dining room is busy, a delay between courses can cut into the time you have to enjoy the deck and the views.

The menu provides choices for each course, though the exact selection can vary. Dishes mentioned by diners include French toast, bacon, yogurt, chicken, and tiramisu. The French toast is one of the safer highlights, while the bacon has also earned praise. The chicken and desserts are more divisive, so I would ask about the available options if you have a strong preference.

Food allergies and dietary restrictions should be raised before or at boarding. The company says it does its best to accommodate them, but you should not assume every substitute will be available. Clear communication matters more here than it would at a casual café because you are on a fixed two-hour sailing.

Service can be a major part of the experience. Some people describe attentive staff who kept the mimosas filled and made birthdays or anniversaries feel special. Leslie received particular praise for warm service and keeping drinks topped up, while Artisha was remembered both for friendly service and helping with photographs. Edward and chef Michelle were also singled out for making one outing memorable.

That said, service is not always quick. A slow main course can be frustrating when the unlimited drink service continues but the food has not arrived. I would pace yourself with the mimosas and wait for food before drinking much. That is practical advice, not just a health note: the combination of alcohol, a delayed meal, and river movement can spoil an otherwise good afternoon.

Tribune Tower and the Wrigley Building from the river

The first major buildings on the route include two icons along North Michigan Avenue. The 463-foot Tribune Tower rises 36 floors in a neo-Gothic style, with a design competition from the early 1920s that became an important event in modern architecture.

From the river, you get a different reading of the building than you do from the sidewalk. Its vertical lines and Gothic details were designed to catch attention from a distance, and the water gives you time to view the full height without standing in traffic or craning your neck between neighboring buildings.

Across Michigan Avenue, the Wrigley Building offers a lighter contrast. Its location directly opposite Tribune Tower helps show how Chicago’s architecture shifts from one block to the next. The narrated commentary points out these landmarks while ambient music fills the quieter stretches.

The narration is useful for a first look at the city, but it is not a replacement for a dedicated architecture tour. Some people prefer more time for conversation and music, while others enjoy hearing about the buildings throughout the ride. You should expect a blend of sightseeing narration and social brunch rather than a detailed architectural lecture.

Merchandise Mart at the meeting of the river branches

The Merchandise Mart is one of the route’s most impressive stops because of its scale and location. When it opened in 1930, it had four million square feet of space and was the largest building in the world. Its Art Deco design sits where the branches of the Chicago River meet.

Seeing the building from the water helps you understand its size. From street level, it can feel like a long downtown block. From the boat, the river reveals how the structure occupies an entire section of the city and anchors one of Chicago’s most important waterways.

The river route uses the main and south branches. Traffic on the river can alter the route, and severe weather can also lead to changes. That means the exact sequence or viewing angle is not fully guaranteed, but the cruise still focuses on the central Chicago river corridor and its major buildings.

The boat itself is part of the appeal here. You can listen to the commentary from inside, then move outside for pictures. On a clear day, the change between indoor dining and open river views gives the two-hour ride a good rhythm. On a rainy day, the cruise can still work because of the covered, air-conditioned interior, though outdoor photography becomes less comfortable.

Willis Tower and the changing Chicago skyline

Willis Tower, still commonly called the Sears Tower, is the tallest and most recognizable building on this route. It rises 110 stories and reaches 1,451 feet in the Loop.

The tower helps bring the sightseeing portion beyond the Magnificent Mile and into the broader downtown skyline. You see how Chicago’s architectural story moves from historic ornament to modern height and scale. The boat’s slow pace gives you time to frame photographs without rushing from one street corner to another.

The best photographs may require stepping outside, so plan your clothing with that in mind. One person described the outdoor areas as extremely cold, while others appreciated the strong air conditioning inside. A light coat or wrap is sensible even in warm weather. Cocktail attire is requested, but formal clothing alone may not be enough for the breeze along the river.

Music becomes more prominent later in the cruise. Some outings include a DJ or dancing, while other moments remain quieter, with narration and background music. If you want a party atmosphere from the first minute, the pace may feel restrained. If you want to talk over brunch and then enjoy livelier music near the end, the format should suit you better.

The mood: polished brunch or lively group outing?

The atmosphere depends partly on the sailing and the people aboard. The boat can feel polished and celebratory, especially when tables are dressed for birthdays, anniversaries, or a girls’ weekend. Staff often help create that mood by taking photographs, checking on drinks, and recognizing special occasions.

It can also become noisy when the boat is full. With a maximum of 200 people, this is not an intimate little boat ride. You may find dancing and a lively dining room, or you may get a calmer afternoon with conversation and light music.

The interior is climate-controlled, which is an important comfort feature. You are not stuck outside in rain, wind, or strong sun. At the same time, indoor temperature preferences vary, and the outdoor bow can feel cold. I would choose neat, comfortable clothing with an extra layer rather than dressing for a restaurant alone.

Families can participate, and children are allowed. One 12-year-old enjoyed the food, views, and tour guide and even received a captain’s hat. The unlimited mimosas are only for adults age 21 and older with valid identification, so the package has different value for adults and children.

Who should book this Chicago brunch cruise?

I would recommend it most strongly for:

• Couples marking an anniversary or birthday
• Friends who want a social brunch with drinks
• First-time Chicago visitors who want major landmarks without a long walking route
• Families who like sightseeing but need a comfortable indoor setting
• Anyone who values photographs, skyline views, and a special setting as much as the meal

I would be more cautious if you are a Chicago local seeking a deep architecture lesson. The narration gives useful context, but the experience is built around brunch and sightseeing, not intensive architectural study.

I would also think twice if you need a large meal for the price. The menu is three courses, but portion satisfaction varies. If you are hungry, arrive ready to eat, and do not count on the mimosas to make up for a delayed entrée.

Booking, weather, and practical details

You receive confirmation at booking, and free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not refunded. If poor weather cancels the cruise, you are offered another date or a full refund. The same applies if the minimum number of people is not reached.

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The boat can carry up to 200 people. Because the cruise may alter its route during heavy river traffic or severe weather, leave room for some flexibility in what you see and when you see it.

Arrive early, especially if this is a birthday or anniversary booking. Finding the dock is the biggest practical nuisance, and arriving late may mean missing the boat entirely. Once you are aboard, the day becomes much easier: sit down, order from the menu, listen to the city story, and step outside when the skyline opens up.

Should you book the Premier Plus Brunch Cruise?

Book it if you want a Chicago sightseeing outing with a real brunch attached, not merely a boat ride or a formal meal. The river views, open photo areas, attentive service, and included mimosas can make the $84.74 fare feel fair for a special occasion.

Skip it if your priority is the best food value, a large portion, or a highly detailed architecture lesson. In that case, choose a dedicated architecture cruise and eat separately. For everyone else, the strongest approach is to arrive early, bring a layer, pace the mimosas, and treat the changing skyline as the main course.

FAQ

How long is the City Cruises Chicago brunch cruise?

The cruise lasts approximately two hours and returns to the original meeting point.

What time does the cruise depart?

The scheduled start time is 11:30 a.m. Boarding begins 30 minutes before departure.

Where does the cruise begin?

It begins at 455 Cityfront Plaza Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60611, near the NBC Tower and Chicago River.

Is the brunch included in the price?

Yes. The fare includes a three-course, chef-prepared plated brunch.

Are mimosas included?

Yes. Unlimited mimosas are included for guests age 21 and older who have valid identification.

Are wine, beer, and cocktails included?

No. Creative cocktails, wine, and beer are available separately from the cash bar.

What buildings can you see?

The route includes views of Tribune Tower, the Wrigley Building, Merchandise Mart, and Willis Tower, along with other Chicago River and skyline views.

Can dietary restrictions be accommodated?

The company does its best to accommodate dietary restrictions. Tell the staff about allergies or special needs as early as possible.

What happens if the cruise is canceled because of weather?

You can choose another date or receive a full refund if poor weather causes the cruise to be canceled.