City Cruises River Brunch, Lunch or Dinner Cruise on the Odyssey
Quick answer
The City Cruises river brunch cruise costs $85 per person for a three-course brunch, lunch or dinner aboard the glass-enclosed Odyssey.
It leaves from the NBC Tower dock, runs 2 to 2.5 hours per the listing, and is rated 4.5/5 from 256+ reviews on GetYourGuide.
City Cruises
City Cruises Chicago: Brunch, Lunch, or Dinner River Cruise
4.5 (256) · from $85
The City Cruises river brunch cruise is a seated brunch, lunch or dinner on the Odyssey Chicago River, priced at $85 per adult on GetYourGuide.
The detail that changes the decision is the format. Lunch and brunch sailings come with architecture commentary, while dinner sailings swap it for a DJ, and the listing's length of 2 to 2.5 hours differs from the operator's 3 hours for dinner.
Looking at other evenings? Start from the Harbour Advisor home page or the dinner cruises in Chicago guide.
| Operator | City Cruises (City Experiences) |
|---|---|
| Boat type | Odyssey Chicago River, glass-enclosed dining ship |
| Price | $85 per person; service fee included |
| Duration | 2 to 2.5 hours (listing); 3 hours for dinner on the operator's page |
| Departure times | Brunch sails 12:30 PM per operator; others not listed in the booking listing or on City Cruises' Chicago page |
| Pier | NBC Tower dock, 455 N Cityfront Plaza Dr |
| Route | Main, north and south branches to Chinatown, then the lock and Navy Pier |
| Food and drink | Three-course meal, coffee and tea; brunch has bottomless mimosas; alcohol extra |
| Languages | English |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours before for a full refund |
| Rating | 4.5/5 from 256+ reviews on GetYourGuide |
What is the City Cruises river brunch cruise?
It is a seated brunch, lunch or dinner on the Odyssey Chicago River, a glass-enclosed City Cruises ship that sails the river and, according to the listing's route, reaches the Chicago Harbor Lock and Navy Pier.
Two formats share one product. Lunch and brunch sailings add architecture commentary, while dinner sailings add a DJ, so the time slot you choose changes what the evening feels like.
- Brunch - plated brunch with bottomless mimosas and architecture commentary
- Lunch - a short plated menu with commentary on the buildings
- Dinner - three courses with a DJ instead of commentary
- Summer fireworks - the listing includes Navy Pier's Wednesday and Saturday displays on summer evening sailings
Where does the City Cruises river brunch cruise leave from?
The ship departs from a dock beside the NBC Tower at 455 N Cityfront Plaza Drive, on the riverfront promenade that runs between Michigan Avenue and Columbus Drive.
You walk down a flight of stairs to the water and look for the distinctive glass-enclosed vessel, with the ship's name above the ticket booth. One reviewer had some trouble locating the boat, which is why I would plan to arrive early and use the map pin.
| Route | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Walk from Grand/State Red Line | 10 minutes, 770 m | OSRM foot routing, checked 2026-10-16 |
| CTA 'L' fare | $2.50 full fare per adult | CTA fare chart |
| Check-in | Ticket booth at the river level for boarding passes | Listing |
| Call City Cruises | 773-741-4684 if you cannot find the dock | City Cruises website |
The pin for the dock is NBC Tower dock, 455 N Cityfront Plaza Dr.
How long is it and what is the route?
The listing says 2 to 2.5 hours, while City Cruises' own page for the dinner river cruise says 3 hours, and its brunch page runs 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM.
The route in the listing is longer than a standard river tour. It runs up the main branch, down the south branch as far as Chinatown, then out through the lock to Navy Pier.
| Section | Named sights | Maps |
|---|---|---|
| Main branch | DuSable Bridge, Wrigley Building, Jewelers Building, Marina City | Wrigley Building |
| North and west | Merchandise Mart, Wolf Point West, Goose Island, Union Station | Merchandise Mart |
| South branch | Willis Tower, Civic Opera House, St. Charles Air Line Bridge, The 78, Ping Tom Memorial Park | Ping Tom Memorial Park |
| Back to the lake | Trump Tower, Chicago Harbor Lock, Lake Point Tower, Navy Pier | Chicago Harbor Lock |
- Brunch timing - boards at 12:00 PM and sails at 12:30 PM, per City Cruises' brunch page
- Dinner length - 3 hours on the operator's page, against the listing's 2 to 2.5
- Departure times - not in the listing, and City Cruises' Chicago page prints none for the lunch or dinner slots, so check the calendar
What is on the menu?
Each format has its own short menu, and diners pick one dish per course.
| Format | Starters | Mains |
|---|---|---|
| Dinner | Caesar salad, lobster soup | Crab cakes, glazed chicken breast, braised short rib, mushroom ravioli |
| Brunch | Caesar salad, smoked salmon toast, yogurt parfait with berries | Shakshuka, glazed chicken, scrambled eggs, French toast |
| Lunch | Caesar salad | Mushroom ravioli, glazed chicken, baked salmon, short rib |
Desserts include cheesecake, sorbet, fruit and chocolate cake, depending on the format. A reviewer said the menu was changed on the day and their parents did not like the replacement, so ask your server about substitutions.
What is included, and what should you wear?
The fare covers the three-course meal, coffee and tea, the service fee and the format-specific entertainment; alcohol and photos are paid for separately.
| Item | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Three-course meal | Included | Brunch, lunch or dinner by option |
| Coffee, hot and iced tea | Unlimited | Included |
| Architecture commentary | Lunch and brunch only | Dinner has a DJ instead |
| Navy Pier fireworks | Wednesday and Saturday evenings in summer | Listed as included; Navy Pier's fireworks page puts the 2026 shows on Wednesdays at 9 PM and Saturdays at 10 PM from 23 May to 5 September |
| Alcohol and photos | Extra | Cocktail bar and boarding photos |
| Service fee | Included | Listed as included |
The dress code is dressy-casual. The listing discourages casual jeans, T-shirts, athletic shoes and flip-flops, and its not-allowed list names jeans, sandals and sports shoes, so wear something smarter than sightseeing clothes. Seating together needs one booking, and luggage is not allowed.
How does it compare with the other Chicago dinner cruises?
At $85 it is $9 cheaper than the plated Premier cruise on the lake and $18 dearer than the buffet, and it is the only meal boat built around the river.
| Cruise | Price | Length | Format | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| This river brunch, lunch or dinner | $85 | 2-2.5 h | 3-course, glass ship, river | 4.5 / 256+ |
| Premier lunch or dinner (Odyssey Lake Michigan) | $94 | 2-3 h | Plated, DJ, lake | 4.2 / 515+ |
| Lake Michigan buffet | $67 | 2-3 h | Buffet, DJ, games | 4.4 / 367+ |
| First Lady CAC cruise | $57 | 90 min | Docents, no meal | 4.7 / 656+ |
The dinner cruise comparison page and the boat tours hub place it among every other boat.
Is this City Cruises river brunch cruise worth it versus the other dinner boats?
I would book the brunch or lunch version for the commentary, because a 4.8 guide score is the best in the City Cruises set, though a value score of 4.3 and food comments mean the price is not a steal.
The dinner version is closer to a restaurant with a view and a DJ than a tour.
- Book brunch or lunch if you want architecture facts plus a meal under glass
- Book dinner for a celebration with music, preferably on a summer Wednesday or Saturday
- Choose the lake buffet if you want games and a cheaper fare
55.3 million visitors came to Chicago in 2024, so brunch and fireworks-night sailings are worth booking early.
When is the best time to go?
The glass-enclosed ship runs year-round, so the best month is about the view and the fireworks: summer evenings give late sunsets and the Wednesday and Saturday Navy Pier shows.
| Month | Sunset |
|---|---|
| Apr | 7:31 PM |
| May | 8:04 PM |
| Jun | 8:27 PM |
| Jul | 8:23 PM |
| Aug | 7:50 PM |
| Sep | 6:59 PM |
| Oct | 6:08 PM |
| Month | Avg high 2025 | Avg high 2015-24 | Rain days (10-yr avg) | On deck |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29°F | 32°F | 10.3 | Too cold for the upper deck; most boats are not running |
| Feb | 33°F | 36°F | 8.4 | Not a sailing month for most operators |
| Mar | 52°F | 45°F | 11.8 | Cold wind off the water; inside seats only |
| Apr | 57°F | 54°F | 14 | Coat, hat, gloves; early-season boats can be chilly |
| May | 63°F | 66°F | 12.9 | Layers; the lake stays colder than the street |
| Jun | 81°F | 77°F | 11.5 | Light layer for the lake, sun hat for the river |
| Jul | 83°F | 80°F | 12 | Shade on the lower deck helps at midday |
| Aug | 79°F | 80°F | 12.1 | Warm; the breeze on the lake is welcome |
| Sep | 75°F | 75°F | 9.7 | Comfortable; add a layer after sunset |
| Oct | 64°F | 62°F | 12.2 | Jacket weather, especially after dark |
| Nov | 48°F | 48°F | 7.8 | Cold; many operators wind down around the 22nd |
| Dec | 33°F | 39°F | 8.5 | Winter; check that the product is running at all |
City Cruises says its most popular months for the brunch cruise are May to October. Winter sailings stay comfortable inside the glass walls, but the open-air parts of the walk to the dock are exposed, so check the National Weather Service Chicago forecast before planning photos on the open deck.
What do passengers say?
The ten snippets I read are mostly warm, with service and the setting praised, and food the only recurring doubt.
- Occasions - anniversaries of 4 and 48 years are mentioned
- Staff - crew, captain and guide all praised in several reviews
- Food - one found it not filling, another found it decent, and the marketplace summary flags temperature consistency
- Finding the dock - one visitor struggled to find it
All ten ratings are five stars, so treat the food and dock comments as the useful part.
Who should skip it?
Skip this cruise if you want a quick tour, a casual outfit or a guaranteed hot meal.
- Short outing - the Wendella river cruise is 90 minutes and $40 cheaper
- Casual clothes - the lake buffet cruise has a relaxed dress code
- Sunset focus - see sunset cruises in Chicago
- Strict budget - a sightseeing boat costs half as much
How do you book the City Cruises river brunch cruise?
Book the City Cruises Odyssey river cruise from $85 per person, with a three-course meal under glass and free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Check availabilityI earn a commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the City Cruises river brunch cruise?
The listing says 2 to 2.5 hours, but City Cruises' dinner page says 3 hours. Brunch runs about 2 hours from 12:30 PM.
How much is the City Cruises river brunch cruise?
The listing price is $85 per person Alcohol and photos cost extra.
Where does the Odyssey Chicago River depart?
From a riverside dock by NBC Tower at 455 N Cityfront Plaza Drive. Take the stairs down to the water.
Is there commentary on board?
Yes on lunch and brunch sailings, which feature architecture narration. Dinner sailings have a DJ instead.
Are the Navy Pier fireworks included?
The listing says the Wednesday and Saturday summer displays are part of the experience. Navy Pier's fireworks page lists the 2026 shows every Wednesday at 9 PM and Saturday at 10 PM from 23 May to 5 September, so the season has ended; check next year's dates before you book a summer evening.
What is the dress code?
Dressy-casual. Jeans, sandals, sports shoes and flip-flops are discouraged or barred.
Does brunch include mimosas?
Yes, brunch sailings include bottomless mimosas; other alcohol is a cash purchase. The age limit is not stated in the listing or on City Cruises' Chicago page, so ask City Cruises on 773-741-4684 if children are coming.
Is the ship wheelchair accessible?
The listing marks the activity as wheelchair accessible. Call City Cruises on 773-741-4684 to confirm your needs.
Is the food good?
Mixed. Reviewers praise the service, but some describe the portions or temperature as disappointing.
Can I sit with my group?
Yes if everyone is on one booking. Otherwise contact City Cruises before the cruise.
Sources: City Cruises Chicago River dinner page and architecture brunch page (checked 2026-10-16); GetYourGuide listing 233082; CTA fare chart; Choose Chicago, 2024 visitation; Open-Meteo archive API; Nager.Date; OSRM walking route.
