Chicago 3D Fireworks Cruise
Chicago, USA
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Experience Chicago’s fireworks like never before on a river cruise with 3D viewing glasses. Cruise past major sights like Buckingham Fountain, Museum Campus, and the John Hancock Building while learning about the city's history from your onboard guide. Capture stunning skyline photos and enjoy front-row views of the dazzling fireworks from the mouth of the river.
- Join a Chicago 3D fireworks cruise on the Chicago River
- Watch the Chicago fireworks in 3D on a premium sightseeing cruise boat
- See landmarks such as Museum Campus and the John Hancock Building
- Listen to informative commentary about the city
What's Included
- All taxes, fees and handling charges
- Live commentary on board
- Restroom on board
- Snacks, beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages available for purchase on board.
- Gratuities
- Food and drinks
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- First Lady112 E Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60601, USA
On Michigan & Wacker Drive, at the northeast corner of the intersection. Upon arrival, please take the stairs down to Chicago's Riverwalk and visit the box office (right after/bottom of the stairs) for guidance to your cruise boarding dock. A departure board is available for your reference.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
Chicago River (Pass By)
Lake Michigan (Pass By)
Navy Pier (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- Please proceed directly to the boat with your voucher
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Discounted parking available at 111 E. Wacker Drive. Please visit the dockside box office for parking ticket validation
- Please arrive 30 minutes in advance. The boat leaves promptly at the scheduled departure time.
- Wheelchair accessibility varies by vessel. Please contact us in advance to confirm availability.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 250 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Susan_W
Beautiful views of the waterfront with details of history and each of the buildings while relaxing and sipping on a beverage! The fireworks were amazing and the 3D glasses took it to another level! Highly recommend for all ages!
Reviews
4.2
based on 257 reviews
Sort by: Most recent
Verdell_B, Jul 2026
It is an incredible view of Chicago at sunset. The fireworks were actually pretty nice. They do this every night so I wasn’t expecting much but they do a good job. I just don’t like waiting for and in the lock to go in and out of Lake Michigan. I still recommend the trip
Nagaswetha_K, Jul 2026
I was little disappointed with the tour. We spent most of the time on the locks. Saw the fireworks away from the skyline. I wish the boat was facing the skyline to see the fire works with skyline back drop.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your review. We're sorry to hear that the experience did not meet your expectations. We understand that the fireworks viewing location and overall route may not have been what you were hoping for. We appreciate your feedback regarding the skyline backdrop, as we are always looking for ways to improve the guest experience. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, and we hope to have the opportunity to welcome you aboard again.
Samira_T, Jul 2026
An awesome evening, great on board experience. Hailey was super wonderful ! Views were spectacular. Can’t say enough .
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for review. We think Hailey is awesome too. We are thrilled that you enjoyed your tour with us. Hope you return soon.
Alayna_R, Jul 2026
The fireworks were nice and close. We went through the lock and channel thing, which took a good amount of time, maybe 20 plus minutes each way. The only complaint is that you’re stuck waiting in a cluster of boats and the exhaust fumes are heavy and hard to escape. Maybe go inside for this part if you have breathing sensitivities. We didn’t want to lose our seats so we stuck it out. Really didn’t get out on the lake much at all, just went around the pier and back, which was cool. I loved that they went down the river and back before the end of the cruise. Felt like a little added extra. Great to see the river at night.
Paul_H, Jul 2026
It was efficiently run and a beautiful evening. Fireworks were awesome!! Learned a lot about the Chicago River and the locks in and out of the Lake.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your review. Yes, Chicago is a beautiful city especially in the evening. We are glad that you enjoyed your tour with us. Hope you will return soon.
Arther_J, Jul 2026
This cruise was the most informative one I’ve ever been on, and the fireworks were first class overall a 10!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your review. We are thrilled that you enjoyed your tour with us. Hope you will return soon.
Shemeka_S, Jul 2026
Great experience, guide was awesome. The tour started on time, and the history shared was interesting, we learned some facts we did not know about our city.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your review. We are glad that you enjoyed your tour with us. Hope you will return soon.
Shekia_H, Jul 2026
The city lights and buildings were beautiful. Fireworks were beautiful. Would I do it again? Probably not. I would just go to Navy Pier and watch from the shoreline.
Amit_D, Jul 2026
So much fun on this boat ride to go see the fireworks into watch the Chicago River locks open and close. The night skyline was initially covered my fog, but fortunately opened up, which was also nice to see and the interior of the boat was comfortable while we waited. I highly recommend staying down lower. The bar is and getting a table as there is a significant amount of downtime, waiting for the fireworks to start, and after the city, cruise and skyline ends. We are able to rest and. But then go up top when the fireworks started.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your review. We are thrilled that you enjoyed your tour with us. Hope you will return soon.
Ilene_L, Jul 2026
A lot of waiting but great fireworks. Bring a coat and the seats on top near water get very buggy and cold
Shemika_P, Jul 2026
The fireworks were fine but the ambiance was below average. The captain or whoever was in charge of the music was playing oldies the whole cruise. It was a younger crowd so I feel that the music should have been more upbeat and catered to the age group on board. And there are moments of dead air also. Not sure what was happening. But anywho, the next time I'm in Chicago, this event won't be on my to do list.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your review. We're glad you enjoyed the fireworks, and we appreciate your feedback regarding the music and overall atmosphere. Selecting music for a diverse group of guests is always a challenge, as preferences can vary widely across age groups and individuals. We do not have a live DJ who can adjust the playlist based on the crowd onboard; instead, we use a curated satellite radio station that our team selects to create an enjoyable atmosphere for the majority of guests. We understand that music choices will not appeal to everyone, but we appreciate your feedback and will continue to evaluate ways to improve the overall experience.
Juanito_R, Jul 2026
Awesome experience! The entire crew was knowledgeable and friendly. I would definitely recommend it.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your review. We are thrilled that you enjoyed your tour with us. Hope you will return soon.
laura_m, Jul 2026
The boat went out in the lake a ways, but then came almost all the way back to the lock before the fireworks started. It would have been nice to see the fireworks from further out.
Host was great. Knowledgeable and funny.
Bryon_S, Jul 2026
The trip was great, staff friendly, fireworks were pretty decent for non-fourth of July. My only word of caution is that you may be late getting back to the dock if the loch traffic in and out of Lake Michigan is heavy. The tour description says you will get back in 2 hours, we got back an hour later than that. Missed our train getting home and had to take a very expensive uber back home. Maybe there should be a caveat in the description that the boat can run late and to have a backup plan for your logistics if you don’t live in the city.
LaVeta_J, Jun 2026
I booked this experience for my partner's birthday and let's say that it very much exceeded my expectations. Went at the end of May and On the Water the breeze is nippy. Take a Jacket.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your review. We are glad that you enjoyed your tour with us. We strive to make our tour as memorable for our guests as possible. Hope you will return soon.
Chris_R, Jun 2026
Amazing fireworks, it was great seeing the city skyline! Definitely recommend to anyone visiting the city!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for the wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed the fireworks and the city skyline. It’s great to know the experience made such a positive impression. We appreciate the recommendation and hope to welcome you back again soon for another memorable visit!
Eric_D, Jun 2026
Nice boat ride, funny and informative guide and the view of the fireworks was great. I would recommend for a family outing.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your review. We are thrilled that you enjoyed your tour with us. We hope you will return soon.
Michelle_P, Jun 2026
Great time, a lot of useful knowledge about the lock and buildings around the chicago river. Guide was funny
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your review. We are thrilled you enjoyed your tour with us. We hope you will return soon.
Arpita_H, Jun 2026
There is an issue, while booking it showed us time to board as 8:30PM. But when we went there by that time, boat had already left as it was at 8:00 PM. we found from security guards in the area, many people are missing the rides in last few weeks.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are very sorry to hear that you missed your cruise and understand how disappointing that must have been. To clarify, your tickets were for the 8:30 PM departure, which refers to the boat's scheduled departure time rather than the start of boarding. As noted in the special instructions included with your ticket, guests are asked to arrive 30 minutes prior to departure, and the vessel departs promptly at the scheduled time. We would also like to note that the security personnel along the Riverwalk are not employees of First Lady Cruises. Given the number of attractions and cruise operators in the area, we occasionally encounter situations where guests are directed incorrectly or arrive at the wrong location. While this is uncommon, we understand how frustrating it can be when it happens. We sincerely apologize for your experience and would be happy to offer an exchange for a future cruise date. Please contact our team directly at clientservice@firstlady.com, and we will be glad to assist.
Paloma_M, Jun 2026
Our tour guide was very knowledgeable the fire works were spectacular! Definitely recommend. They do serve can beers , sodas and snacks .this is not a party boat incase you were wondering .
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're so glad you enjoyed the Chicago 3D Fireworks Cruise and found our tour guide knowledgeable. It's great to hear the fireworks exceeded your expectations. We also appreciate you mentioning the onboard refreshments and clarifying the atmosphere for future guests. Thank you for the recommendation, and we hope to welcome you aboard again soon!
Linda_C, May 2026
Fun night time cruise with a great up close view of the fireworks. It was really cold so most of us were in the lounge. Bring layers as the wind was chilly. My only complaint was that the speaker in the lounge wasn't so great to hear all the interesting commentary.
Amanda_F, May 2026
The crew were very friendly and professional. Great viewing opportunities. I enjoyed the guide’s humor.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for your kind review! We’re really glad to hear you enjoyed the cruise and that the crew made you feel welcome and well taken care of. It’s also great to know the guide’s humor added to the experience and that you were able to take in all the great views along the way. We appreciate you joining us and hope to see you again on the river soon.
Katrina_J, Aug 2025
On several occasions you will just be sitting for long periods of time for know apparent reason. The actual trip maybe 20 mins fireworks maybe 15 mins the rest you’re just there doing nothing. Tour guide was knowledgeable. Fireworks was beautiful no need for 3D glasses they just made fireworks look blurry.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you for your review. We apologize for any downtime you experienced. The delays were due to mechanical issues at the harbor lock, compounded by heavy vessel traffic as this was one of the final fireworks displays of the season.
We appreciate your patience. Hopefully, the show made the wait worthwhile!
Anonymous, Aug 2025
Great way to see the fireworks! Bring a sweatshirt. The staff was pleasant and professional. Olivia was hilarious. Bring cash if you want to tip them at the end of the excursion.
Samir_S, Aug 2025
Awesome. Informative and fun. The crew were outstanding the guide was extraordinary to say the least.
Anna_B, Aug 2025
It is a an enjoyable experience, informative too, lights at night are awesome and the fireworks didn’t disappoint either although the way back is long at the loch
Charles_T, Aug 2025
Fills up fast. Really really take in the beauty of Chicago. I'd do it again next trip. We visited from Atlanta
Mara_U, Aug 2025
Great experience! Yes would come back. We celebrated My Daughter‘s birthday and she enjoyed herself.
Ana_L, Aug 2025
Wonderfull kids and family enjoyed every bit of it!!! Fireworks were amazing!!!!! Defently doing it again on our next family vacation
Pamela_J, Aug 2025
It’s a Cool way to see the Fireworks 🎆 upclose on a boat 🛥️. The ride was smooth & the breeze was perfect.
From $52.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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