City Cruises Odyssey Dinner Cruise: Premier Lunch or Dinner on Lake Michigan
Quick answer
The City Cruises Odyssey dinner cruise costs $94 per person for a plated three-course lunch or dinner with a DJ and dance floor.
It sails from Navy Pier for 2 to 3 hours, has a strict dress code, and is rated 4.2/5 from 515+ reviews on GetYourGuide.
City Cruises
City Cruises Chicago: Premier Lunch or Dinner Cruise
4.2 (515) · from $94
The City Cruises Odyssey dinner cruise is the premier lunch or dinner on Lake Michigan, a plated three-course meal listed at $94 per person on GetYourGuide.
The detail that changes the decision is the dress code. Jeans, shorts, T-shirts, trainers and flip-flops are all barred, and jackets are suggested for dinner, so check your wardrobe before you pay.
Comparing evenings? Start from the Harbour Advisor home page or the dinner cruises in Chicago guide.
| Operator | City Cruises (City Experiences) |
|---|---|
| Boat type | Odyssey Lake Michigan, a dining ship with indoor tables and outdoor decks |
| Price | $94 per person; service fee included |
| Duration | 2 to 3 hours (listing); about 2 h lunch, 2.5 h dinner per the operator |
| 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 south dock, 600 E Grand Ave |
| Route | Lake Michigan shoreline past the Hancock, Aon, Willis Tower, Shedd and Adler |
| Food and drink | Three-course meal and unlimited coffee, tea and iced tea; alcohol extra |
| Languages | English |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours before for a full refund |
| Rating | 4.2/5 from 515+ reviews on GetYourGuide |
What is the City Cruises Odyssey dinner cruise from Navy Pier?
It is City Cruises' premier lunch or dinner sailing on the Odyssey Lake Michigan, a plated three-course meal served at a table while the ship cruises the Chicago shoreline from Navy Pier.
This is a dining product first and a sightseeing product second. The skyline passes by the windows and decks, a DJ plays, and there is a dance floor, so the evening looks more like a floating restaurant with music than a narrated tour.
- Three plated courses - starter, main and dessert, each chosen from a menu when you book or sit down
- Onboard DJ and dance floor - dancing is part of the evening after the meal
- Coffee and teas - hot and iced, with no limit, and the only drinks covered by the fare
- Outdoor observation decks - open-air spots for the skyline, and the only places where smoking is allowed
Where does the City Cruises Odyssey dinner cruise leave from?
You board the Odyssey Lake Michigan from the south-side dock at Navy Pier, about halfway along the dock, and report to the ticket booth by the Shakespeare Theatre sign.
The address that appears in the listing is 600 E Grand Avenue. Boarding starts 30 minutes before departure, which is earlier than on the daytime sightseeing boats, so arrive with that cushion on top of the walk down the pier.
| 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 |
| Navy Pier West garage | A reviewer found parking easy and reasonable and close to the ship | Review pattern, not a price |
| Inside the pier | Main entrance, then the south-side dock | Listing |
The pin for the pier is Navy Pier, 600 E Grand Ave.
What is on the menu?
The set menu has a starter, main and dessert choice each, with several premium dishes offered only at dinner and at an extra price.
| Course | Included choices | Dinner extras at added cost |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | Caesar salad; lobster bisque at dinner | Jumbo shrimp cocktail, seafood tower, half lobster tail |
| Main | Mushroom ravioli, baked salmon, roast chicken breast, braised short rib; cod at dinner | Filet mignon, striploin, two Maine lobster tails |
| Dessert | Cheesecake, sorbet duo, fruit; chocolate pie and warm butter cake at dinner | French macarons, champagne truffles |
The listing warns that dishes can change, and a reviewer of the sister river cruise mentioned a substituted menu, so confirm dietary needs with your server. Tell the server about allergies before ordering.
How long is it, when does it sail and what should you wear?
The listing gives 2 to 3 hours, and City Cruises' own pages give about 2 hours for the lunch cruise and 2.5 hours for the dinner cruise.
The dress code is the strictest of any boat I checked. The listing bars jeans, shorts, tank tops, halter tops, T-shirts, trainers and flip-flops, and suggests jackets and cocktail attire for dinner.
- Lunch - cocktail attire is recommended on the operator's lunch page, and the lunch cruise is about 2 hours
- Dinner - semi-formal on the operator's dinner page, about 2.5 hours
- Boarding - 30 minutes before departure
- Seating together - everyone must be on the same booking or you may be seated apart
- Infants - free, but you must pick the free infant ticket option or be refused
Departure times are not shown in the listing, and City Cruises' Chicago page prints none either, so check the calendar for your date or call City Cruises on 773-741-4684.
What is included and what costs extra?
The fare covers the meal, the service fee, the DJ and non-alcoholic hot and iced drinks; alcohol, photos and the premium dishes are extra.
| Item | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Three-course plated meal | Included | Lunch or dinner depending on the option |
| Service fee | Included | Listed as included |
| Coffee, hot tea, iced tea | Unlimited | Included |
| Alcoholic drinks | Extra | Cash bar; a reviewer asked for a warning before bar service closes |
| Premium mains and starters | Extra | Filet, striploin, lobster tails, seafood tower |
| Souvenir photos | Extra | Taken at boarding |
One reviewer booked through a third party and said the price was higher than booking with City Cruises directly. Compare the two prices before you pay; the operator's phone is 773-741-4684.
What do you see from the table?
The itinerary in the listing is a lakefront skyline run, starting with the John Hancock Center and ending with Willis Tower.
| Sight | Why it matters on a dinner cruise | Maps |
|---|---|---|
| John Hancock Center | First stop in the listing itinerary | 875 N Michigan Avenue |
| Water Tower Place | Second stop in the listing itinerary | Water Tower Place |
| Lake Point Tower | Third stop, near Navy Pier | Lake Point Tower |
| Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium | Two Museum Campus stops, listed late in the itinerary | Shedd Aquarium |
| Willis Tower | Last stop named before the return to the pier | Willis Tower |
The route is a typical order only, and City Cruises can change it for weather or traffic on the water.
How does it compare with the other Chicago dinner cruises?
At $94 it is the dearest seated cruise in the set and the only one with plated service, while the lake buffet and the river brunch cost less.
| Cruise | Price | Length | Format | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| This Premier lunch or dinner (Odyssey Lake Michigan) | $94 | 2-3 h | Plated 3-course, DJ | 4.2 / 515+ |
| Lake Michigan buffet cruise | $67 | 2 h | Buffet, DJ, rooftop games | 4.4 / 367+ |
| River brunch, lunch or dinner | $85 | 2-2.5 h | 3-course, glass ship | 4.5 / 256+ |
| First Lady by night | $50 | 90 min | Narrated, no meal | 4.7 / 1,281+ |
The dinner cruise comparison page ranks every meal boat in the city, and the boat tours hub adds the sightseeing options.
Is the City Cruises Odyssey dinner cruise worth it versus the other dinner boats?
I would book it only for a celebration where plated food and dancing matter, because 4.2 out of 5 from 515+ reviews is the lowest score in the Chicago set and value for money is 4.0.
The price gap to the buffet boat is $27 per person for a table, service and a sit-down menu, so decide whether the formality is worth that.
- Book it for birthdays, anniversaries or groups; a reviewer organised 50+ people without trouble
- Choose the buffet boat if you want a cheaper evening and louder party atmosphere
- Choose the river brunch if you want architecture commentary with your meal
55.3 million visitors reached Chicago in 2024, so evening dinner slots in summer are worth booking early.
When is the best time to go?
For a view during dinner, sail between May and August, when sunset falls after 8:00 PM, or pick a lunch cruise in any month for the daylight skyline.
| 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 Odyssey has indoor tables, so cold evenings only affect the outdoor decks. The National Weather Service Chicago forecast helps you decide if an after-dinner stroll on deck is realistic.
What do passengers say?
The ten snippets I read are all five stars, and staff, birthdays and views dominate the comments.
- Service - servers named in several reviews, including a Spanish-speaking waiter
- Celebrations - birthdays and a mother's birthday are the recurring occasions
- Food - praised in most, but the marketplace summary flags inconsistent flavour and temperature
- Bar service - a request for a 15 to 30 minute warning before the bar shuts
With the star ratings clustered at the top, the food-quality note and the 4.0 value score are the real caution.
Who should skip it?
Skip this cruise if you want a casual outfit, a low price or a live tour guide.
- Casual dress - the buffet cruise has a relaxed dress code
- Sightseeing focus - the lake and river architecture cruise has a live guide
- Budget - the Shoreline skyline cruise costs $34
- Evening light - the sunset cruises in Chicago are shorter and cheaper
How do you book the City Cruises Odyssey dinner cruise?
Book the City Cruises premier lunch or dinner from $94 per person, with a plated three-course meal, a DJ 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 Odyssey dinner cruise?
The listing says 2 to 3 hours. City Cruises' own pages give about 2 hours for lunch and 2.5 hours for dinner.
How much does the Odyssey dinner cruise cost?
The listing price is $94 per person Premium dishes such as filet mignon and lobster tails cost extra.
What is the dress code?
Smart casual at minimum. Jeans, shorts, tank tops, halter tops, T-shirts, trainers and flip-flops are not allowed, and jackets are recommended for dinner.
Where do I board?
On Navy Pier's south dock, around its midpoint, where the ship's own booth stands by the Shakespeare Theatre sign.
What is on the menu?
A starter, main and dessert, such as Caesar salad, ravioli, salmon, chicken or short rib, then cheesecake or sorbet. Dishes can change.
Are drinks included?
Coffee and both hot and iced tea refill without limit. Alcohol is sold at a cash bar.
Can infants come?
Yes, they travel free, provided you add the zero-cost infant ticket at checkout.
Can we sit together?
Only if everyone is on the same booking. Otherwise contact City Cruises before the sailing.
Is the listing the cheapest way to book?
A reviewer who used a third party said the price was higher than booking direct. Compare the two before paying.
Where can I smoke?
Only on the outdoor observation decks; all interior areas are non-smoking.
Sources: City Cruises Chicago premier dinner page and premier lunch page (checked 2026-10-16); GetYourGuide listing 276152; CTA fare chart; Choose Chicago, 2024 visitation; Open-Meteo archive API; Nager.Date; OSRM walking route.
