Illinois > Chicago > Scenic & Sunset Cruises Experiences

Chicago Gourmet Lunch Cruise

Chicago, IL

From: $116

Item #: CRU-CHI-0029

(12 Reviews)

Delight in an afternoon of elegant dining, vibrant entertainment and sensational city views all from the luxury of the Chicago Gourmet Lunch Cruise!

Your 2-hour cruise from Navy Pier features an enticing 3-course meal, private seating and full-service cash bars amid a classy and distinctive atmosphere
Enjoy beautiful views of famed Chicago attractions from the decks and panoramic windows of the majestic Odyssey
After your meal, unwind with a saunter around the ship or let loose to the sounds of the onboard DJ
There's no better way to spend the afternoon on the Windy City's waterfront with family, friends or a special someone!

From: $116

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Overview

Delight in an afternoon of elegant dining, vibrant entertainment and sensational city views all from the luxury of the Chicago Gourmet Lunch Cruise!

Your 2-hour cruise from Navy Pier features an enticing 3-course meal, private seating and full-service cash bars amid a classy and distinctive atmosphere
Enjoy beautiful views of famed Chicago attractions from the decks and panoramic windows of the majestic Odyssey
After your meal, unwind with a saunter around the ship or let loose to the sounds of the onboard DJ
There's no better way to spend the afternoon on the Windy City's waterfront with family, friends or a special someone!

Full Description

Float along the shorelines of Lake Michigan, relishing an elegant combination of fine dining, breathtaking views, and lively entertainment. Board the Odyssey for the Chicago Gourmet Lunch Cruise and an afternoon of memories in the making.

Step onto the ship, where you'll be escorted to your private dining table. Settle in with a cocktail from one of the cash bars. Or take a stroll to explore the Odyssey and marvel at Chicago's attractions and stunning skyline as the boat departs its Navy Pier dock.

No sightseeing in Chicago will compare to what you experience from the decks of this scenic cruise. Photo opportunities abound as you leisurely traverse the waters, allowing for unique views of famous skyscrapers and celebrated landmarks. Weather permitting, this outing heads north towards North Avenue Beach, then traverses south towards Burnham Harbor and the Planetarium. All the while, you'll enjoy unparalleled views of Willis Tower, the John Hancock, and the iconic Navy Pier Ferris wheel.

When it comes to wining and dining along the Windy City's waterfront, the Chicago Gourmet Lunch Cruise is second to none. Guests can expect top-notch service from a wait staff who will adorn your private table with three courses of delectable cuisine. Food is prepared fresh, featuring a locally sourced menu that includes an exquisite selection of appetizers, savory entrees and tempting desserts.

As one of the most remarkable things to do in Chicago, this cruise delivers the utmost in entertainment! Allow appropriately mellow music to serenade you as the cruise begins and dining ensues. Afterwards, strap on some dancing shoes and move your feet to the beats of the ship's DJ, who will pick up the song-spinning pace and set the scene for a lively dance party on Lake Michigan!

The Chicago Gourmet Lunch Cruise is an ideal way to celebrate a special occasion, add some dazzle to an afternoon date, or do Chicago sightseeing differently. So whether you're visiting the Windy City or call it home, give your day a unique boost aboard this distinguished boat!

Location

Navy Pier - Chicago, IL

Availability

When Do I Choose A Date?

If giving as a gift, your recipient can choose a date at their convenience; otherwise, you can choose one after checkout.

April - December:
Select Dates & Times

*Rates do not apply for holidays and specialty cruises

Important Details

Essential Information

Coffee, tea and iced tea are complimentary
Additional beverages may be purchased on board: juice, soda, mixed drinks, fine liqueurs, specialty waters, champagne and wine
Rates are inclusive of taxes and fees

Duration

The cruise lasts approximately 2 hours. Boarding begins 60 minutes before cruise departure.

Experience Provider Info

Complete information for your Experience Provider, including contact information, will be included on your booking confirmation email once you or your gift recipient have scheduled the experience. Our Product Management team handpicks top-rated experience providers, removing the guesswork for you and ensuring your peace of mind.

Maximum Participants

The cruise ship can accommodate up to 500 people.

Spectators

Only those on board will be able to enjoy this experience.

Weather Dependent

This experience takes place indoors and will not be affected by weather conditions.

What To Wear

We recommend casually stylish attire such as nice pants or jeans, polos, button-down shirts, and sundresses or skirts. Although allowed, we strongly discourage t-shirts, casual jeans, shorts, and sneakers.

FAQs

What type of food is served?

This cruise features a plated lunch menu prepared on board by the executive chefs and their galley staffs. With advance notice, special meals for guests with allergies can be arranged.

Plated Lunch Menu
*subject to change
First Course: Tasting Duo - Roasted Summer Vegetable Salad and Whipped Goat Cheese
Main Course: Oven Baked Atlantic Salmon Filet, Maple & Mustard Glazed Chicken Breast, Braised Beef Short Rib, Greek Zucchini Fritters
Desserts: Duo of Sorbet, Granny Smith Apple Parfait, Chocolate Decadent Cake, Odyssey Signature Warm Butter Cake

What is the cruise route?

Weather permitting. The ship cruises south along the lake shore, past the Adler Planetarium, north to Montrose harbor, then returns south to Navy Pier. This cruise offers unmatched views of our world-famous skyline, from the Willis Tower (Formerly the Sears Tower), the John Hancock, to the Museum campus, Aon Center and more.

What should I wear?

Are there any age requirements?

Children are welcome on the cruise. Children 2 and under are free, but they do require a boarding ticket so please let us know at the time of booking.

Is the ship wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the main boarding deck is wheelchair accessible and the crew is available for assistance. Please include a note at the time of booking regarding any assistance requests.

What is seating like on the ship?

Tables seat between 2 - 10 people. If your party requires more than one table, the staff on board will ensure they are located next to each other.

Returns, Exchanges & Cancellations

Returns
Experience Vouchers that have not been redeemed can be returned hassle-free within 30 days. All refunds will be made to the original purchaser.
Exchanges
Experience Vouchers that have not been redeemed can be exchanged for anything else in our marketplace at any time. If you choose to exchange for an experience that costs more, you'll simply have to pay the difference. If you choose to exchange for an experience that costs less, you'll have a credit towards your next booking with Virgin Experience Gifts.

Cancellation Policy

Once you have scheduled a date and have received a booking confirmation, all bookings are final and no rescheduling or cancellations will be allowed.

Other Chicago Experiences

Customer Reviews

This experience has a customer rating of 4
based on 12 reviews.

View More Reviews:

The reason I've given 4 stars is because my experience was a birthday gift that I almost missed out on altogether because I could not reach customer service by telephone after failing to make my booking on the website. Through all the panic I however got contacted via email after sending multiple messages out via Instagram, Facebook and other platforms by an agent named Brianna who literally salvaged the situation. Thank goodness for that, it ended up being such a beautiful birthday experience,had a really good time !

— Gabriella K | May 30, 2022

Response from Virgin Experience Gifts

Hi Gabriella, Thank you for leaving a lovely review of your experience as well as your birthday gift! It was such a pleasure working with you and I am delighted that we could work together to make sure your birthday experience happened without delay. I am so thrilled you had such a wonderful time celebrating on your cruise! I am very sorry for the initial troubles but I am so happy we could connect and make this happen for you and we at Virgin Experience Gifts, wish you a very Happy Birthday! Regards, Brianna

Food and service were both really nice. We caught the cruise on a nice summer day, it was a good time.

— Anna W | Aug 05, 2019

The food and the service was excellent. The ship was in beautiful condition, clean and very cheery. The reason we are giving it four stars is because we found ourselves in very uncomfortable small chairs; my husband and I are quite tall. The crowd was a young one, we are seniors and when we got on the boat we were quite happy with the music, Mellow and easy on the ears. However, as the room began to fill the noise level increased and the music was, to our ears anyway, difficult to listen to. However, the situation was saved when we discovered the second level, an empty banquet room with a comfortable sofa from which to enjoy the view. The staff was lovely and even though we were told that level was closed, the steward made an exception and allowed us to sit there, and a stewardess came up to ask if we would like water or anything to drink. From then on we had quite a nice experience. We very much appreciate the fact that Cloud Nine accepted an October cancellation because of a death in the family and rebooked us for May. An excellent company, thank you.

— Carol W | May 13, 2019

Response from Virgin Experience Gifts

Hello, Carol, We appreciate you & your husband just as much! Thank you for such kind words. We appreciate the honest feedback, and are happy to share your note on chairs. We want to make sure that we are providing a 5-Star experience! You're an excellent customer & we were more than happy to work with you. We hope to work together again, Cheers! Kasia

We enjoyed a Gourmet Lunch Cruise on The Odyssey II. The ship was beautiful. Very upscale dining. The wait staff and Captain were all very friendly and personable. Our waitress went out of her way to make our dining experience comfortable and enjoyable. We liked that she would find us anywhere on the ship to make sure we had everything we needed to make this a pleasant experience. The music choices was very nice. If seemed to fit all age groups and ethnicities. The food was done perfectly. Little to no waiting for anything at any time. One of the best customer services I've ever experienced. Thanks for an enjoyable time.

— Donna F | Jul 17, 2016

Great experience. The customer service on this cruise was the best I've ever had (& I've sailed to England on the Queen Mary 2). Every single person was friendly, helpful, and made it a very pleasant experience. The food was good, too. I was especially pleased when I heard a guest ask the carving fellow if they had bbq sauce. There was another worker putting fresh eggs in the other line and he overheard and said, "I'll get that for you, where are you sitting?" He didn't have to be so courteous -- many who work with the public don't act like that. I complimented him then and am doing so now. We'd recommend this to anyone visiting Chicago.

— Barbara C | Aug 25, 2015

It was a very enjoyable experience. I would love to do it again!

— Lisa M | Jul 27, 2015

Plan to take friends the next time!

— Tom S | Sep 22, 2014

We had a very enjoyable and relaxing meal and cruise. The only complication was a change in the boarding & departure time by 1 hour. The meal was very good, as was the service. We plan on recommending it to others and would consider doing it again.

— Fred B | Aug 16, 2014

The experience was, on a whole, positive. We did the Gourmet Lunch Cruise on the Odyssey in Chicago and there was only one negative. Some of the tables on the boat were window tables, and we were told that their online booking site gave you the ability to specially request a window table. I did not have that option booking through Cloud 9 Living, so we had to sit at a table in the middle of the boat with a limited window view. It did not ruin the experience, but it definitely was a disappointment and would suggest you find a way to match your booking options with those offered by the service provider.

— Michael G | Jul 19, 2013

It was great; my only suggestion would be to add an extra hour to the trip. With lunch included, there is not much time left to spend on the deck and enjoy the Chicago skyline.

— Nicoletta E | Jul 22, 2013

This experience was interesting although not really new for me. I would have preferred the architectural tour since there were no mentions of the buildings at all! The buffet was great though! Thanks! Sara Ducharme, Quebec city, Quebec

— Sara D | Oct 18, 2012

food was ok. Music to loud. Guide or explanation or information about the city, inexistant.

— Marc S | Oct 17, 2012

Chicago Gourmet Lunch Cruise