City Cruises Lake Michigan Dinner Cruise: Buffet and DJ from Navy Pier
Quick answer
The City Cruises Lake Michigan dinner cruise costs $67 per person for a buffet brunch, lunch or dinner with a DJ, a dance floor and rooftop games.
It sails from Navy Pier for about 2 to 3 hours and is rated 4.4/5 from 367+ reviews on GetYourGuide.
City Cruises
City Cruises Chicago: Lake Michigan Lunch or Dinner Cruise
4.4 (367) · from $67
The City Cruises Lake Michigan dinner cruise is a buffet brunch, lunch or dinner from Navy Pier, listed at $67 per adult on GetYourGuide.
The detail that changes the decision is the hotel pickup line. The listing shows it as included and as not included, and the cruise itself boards at the pier, so plan your own way to Navy Pier.
Weighing options? Start from the Harbour Advisor home page or the dinner cruises in Chicago guide.
| Operator | City Cruises (City Experiences) |
|---|---|
| Boat type | Yacht from the Spirit fleet (Spirit of Chicago, Spirit of Navy Pier), indoor decks and rooftop |
| Price | $67 per person; service fee included |
| Duration | 2 hours in the title; 2 to 3 hours in the fine print |
| Departure times | Not listed in the booking listing, and City Cruises' Chicago page shows no departure times for its cruises, so check the calendar |
| Pier | Navy Pier, 600 E Grand Ave |
| Route | Lake Michigan skyline: Willis Tower, John Hancock, Aon, Trump Tower, Adler Planetarium |
| Food and drink | Buffet, unlimited coffee and tea, unlimited mimosas at brunch; other alcohol extra |
| Languages | English |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours before for a full refund |
| Rating | 4.4/5 from 367+ reviews on GetYourGuide |
What is the City Cruises Lake Michigan dinner cruise?
It is City Cruises' signature buffet cruise from Navy Pier, offered as brunch, lunch or dinner aboard one of two yachts, the Spirit of Chicago and the Spirit of Navy Pier, with a DJ, a dance floor and games on the rooftop deck.
It sits at the party end of the dinner-cruise range. Instead of plated courses you queue at a buffet, and instead of a quiet dining room you get music on each interior deck, so the evening is closer to a floating celebration than a formal meal.
- Buffet meal - brunch, lunch or dinner depending on the option, with salads, hot dishes and desserts
- Unlimited mimosas - brunch sailings only, according to the included list
- DJ and dance floor - a DJ on each interior deck, with a dance floor after the meal
- Rooftop games - giant Jenga and shuffleboard on the open-air deck
Where does the City Cruises Lake Michigan dinner cruise leave from?
Both ships leave from Navy Pier at 600 E Grand Avenue, which is the address the listing gives for the meeting point.
The listing lists hotel pickup and drop-off among the inclusions, but the not-included list repeats it, and the cruise boards at the pier. I trust the pier boarding and would not expect transport from your hotel; City Cruises' Chicago page mentions no hotel transfer either.
| Route | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Walk from Grand/State Red Line | 20 minutes, 1,505 m to the pier entrance | OSRM foot routing, checked 2026-10-16 |
| CTA 'L' fare | $2.50 full fare per adult | CTA fare chart |
| Boarding | Starts 30 minutes before departure | Listing |
| Hotel transfer | Not provided despite the listing line | Contradiction in the listing |
The pin for the pier is Navy Pier, 600 E Grand Ave, and Navy Pier publishes its free fireworks dates on its fireworks page.
What is on the buffet?
The brunch buffet splits into early-riser breakfast dishes and late-riser lunch dishes, while the lunch and dinner buffets share salads, sides, entrees and desserts.
| Option | Savoury | Sweet |
|---|---|---|
| Brunch | Eggs, breakfast meats and potatoes, salads, baked ziti, flounder, honey sesame chicken, carved strip loin | Pastries, mousse, pound cake, coconut cake, brownies |
| Lunch | Salad bar, roasted broccoli, creamed corn casserole, baked ziti, flounder, chicken, meatballs | Seasonal fruit, mousse, pound cake, coconut cake |
| Dinner | As lunch plus braised beef short ribs | Adds carrot cake and brownies |
The menu may change, and the operator asks you to tell your server about allergies. Call the cruise line ahead for dietary needs; the listing says it does its best to accommodate them.
What do you see from the deck?
The skyline is the same lakefront line-up as the other Navy Pier cruises, from the Gold Coast end to the Museum Campus.
- John Hancock Center and Water Tower Place in the north of the route
- Lake Point Tower and the Aon Center near the river mouth
- Willis Tower and 311 South Wacker in the downtown skyline
- Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium on the Museum Campus
These are the names the listing's itinerary and description use, and the order can change on the day.
How long is it, when does it sail and what should you wear?
The listing's headline duration is 2 hours, but its fine print says 2 to 3 hours, and City Cruises' own signature dinner page says 2.5 hours.
The dress code is relaxed. Most guests wear comfortable, casually stylish clothes, and the listing recommends flat, closed-toed shoes for safety on the decks.
- Boarding - 30 minutes before departure, not 15
- Seating - a reserved table sized to your party, as long as everyone is on one booking
- Infants - free, but add the free infant ticket at checkout
- Smoking - only on the outdoor observation decks
- Departure times - not listed, so check the calendar for the brunch, lunch or dinner slot you want
What is included and what costs extra?
The fare covers the buffet, the service fee, the entertainment and unlimited coffee and tea, while alcohol and photos are paid separately.
| Item | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Buffet brunch, lunch or dinner | Included | Depends on the option you select |
| Service fee | Included | No separate tip line on the listing |
| Coffee and teas, hot and iced | Unlimited | Included |
| Mimosas | Unlimited at brunch | Brunch option only |
| Alcohol otherwise | Extra | Cash bar; a reviewer expected an open bar, so budget for drinks |
| Souvenir photos | Extra | Taken at boarding |
| Hotel pickup | Not included | Listed twice in conflicting ways |
The music volume was the other practical note: a reviewer found it a little loud, and the marketplace summary says it makes daytime conversation harder.
How does it compare with the other Chicago dinner cruises?
At $67 it is the cheapest seated meal cruise in the set, $27 below the plated Premier cruise on the same pier.
| Cruise | Price | Length | Format | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| This Lake Michigan buffet cruise | $67 | 2-3 h | Buffet, DJ, rooftop games | 4.4 / 367+ |
| Premier lunch or dinner (Odyssey) | $94 | 2-3 h | Plated 3-course, DJ | 4.2 / 515+ |
| River brunch, lunch or dinner | $85 | 2-2.5 h | 3-course on the river | 4.5 / 256+ |
| Wendella sunset lake cruise | $48 | 90 min | Drinks for sale, no meal | 4.7 / 790+ |
My dinner cruise comparison ranks every meal boat, and the boat tours hub covers the sightseeing options.
Is this City Cruises Lake Michigan dinner cruise worth it versus the other boats?
For a lively group, I would book it, because 4.4 out of 5 from 367+ reviews is a better score than the pricier Premier cruise, and the price is the lowest among the City Cruises meals.
Value for money scores 4.3, level with the river cruise and well above the Premier cruise's 4.0.
- Book it for birthdays, hen and stag groups, or anyone who wants to dance
- Choose the Premier cruise if you want plated service and a quieter dining room
- Choose the river brunch for architecture commentary with the meal
55.3 million visitors came to Chicago in 2024, so weekend lunch and dinner slots in summer sell out.
When is the best time to go?
Brunch and lunch suit any month because the interior decks are climate-controlled, while dinner is best from May to September when sunset lines up with the main course.
| 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 |
The rooftop games and open-air decks are weather dependent, so check the National Weather Service Chicago forecast before you pick a sailing.
What do passengers say?
The ten snippets I read are positive, and the DJ, the food and the views take most of the praise.
- The DJ and dancing - mentioned by several reviewers as the highlight
- Food variety - called diverse and delicious, though one reviewer flagged the bar costs
- Views - one Chicago regular said they had never seen the city from the lake before
- Volume - a little loud for some; the marketplace summary agrees for daytime sailings
Because the sample is five-star only, the volume and bar-cost notes are the useful signals.
Who should skip it?
Skip this cruise if you want a quiet meal, a live guide or a bus from your hotel.
- Quiet dinner - choose the Premier plated cruise or a restaurant
- Commentary wanted - the lake and river architecture cruise has a guide
- Hotel pickup expected - there is none, despite the listing line
- Evening light only - see sunset cruises in Chicago
How do you book the City Cruises Lake Michigan dinner cruise?
Book the City Cruises Lake Michigan buffet cruise from $67 per person, with a DJ, rooftop games 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 Lake Michigan dinner cruise?
The title says 2 hours, the fine print says 2 to 3 hours, and City Cruises' signature dinner page gives 2.5 hours.
How much does the City Cruises buffet cruise cost?
The listing price is $67 per person today, with the service fee included.
Is it a buffet or a plated meal?
It is a buffet for brunch, lunch and dinner. The plated three-course meal is the separate Premier cruise.
Are drinks included?
Coffee and teas refill freely, and brunch includes unlimited mimosas. Other alcohol is sold at a cash bar.
What should I wear?
Comfortable, casually stylish clothes. The listing recommends flat, closed-toed shoes for safety.
Is there hotel pickup?
No. The listing contradicts itself, but the cruise boards at Navy Pier, so I would not rely on a transfer, and City Cruises' Chicago page mentions none.
Where do I board?
At Navy Pier, 600 E Grand Avenue, 30 minutes before departure.
Can I be seated with my group?
Yes if everyone is on the same booking. Otherwise contact City Cruises before the sailing.
Is the music loud?
Some reviewers say it is a little loud, and the marketplace summary says daytime conversation can be hard.
Can I bring children?
Yes. Infants are free if you add the zero-cost infant ticket. The entertainment is aimed at all ages.
Sources: City Cruises Chicago signature dinner page (checked 2026-10-16); GetYourGuide listing 275682; Navy Pier fireworks page; CTA fare chart; Choose Chicago, 2024 visitation; Open-Meteo archive API; Nager.Date; OSRM walking route.
