Chicago River Ghost & Dark History Night Cruise
Chicago, USA
- 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
What's Included
- Restroom on board
- Live commentary on board
- Alcoholic beverages and coffee/tea available for purchase
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- First Lady112 E Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60601, USA
On Michigan & Wacker Dr., 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 Riverwalk (Pass By)
The Wrigley Building (Pass By)
Tribune Tower (Pass By)
Marina City (Pass By)
Merchandise Mart (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- Discounted parking available at 111 E. Wacker Drive. Please visit the dockside box office for parking ticket validation.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 250 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.1
based on 141 reviews
Maria_H, Jul 2026
Boarding was handled well, easy on and easy off the ship. The staff was friendly and helpful, and the tour guide was a great storyteller. If you'd like a fantastic nighttime view of the city, this is it. Enjoy!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your review. We strive to make our tours memorable for our guests. We are thrilled you enjoyed your tour with us. Hope you will return soon.
Jennifer_B, Jun 2026
Was a great way to see the city. But person talking was hard to hear and not interactive enough. Still recommend
Liz_K, Jun 2026
Andy and the crew were great! It was smooth sailing on the river. Andy was a fun story teller and had a lot of great puns.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your review. We think Andy is awesome too. We are thrilled that you enjoyed your tour with us. Hope you will return soon.
Tina_K, Jun 2026
It’s in a busy spot of Chicago off of Michigan Avenue so just allow enough time to get down there especially if it’s a Saturday night. Otherwise the trip was very nice with lots of history and ghost stories of Chicago.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your feedback and review. We are thrilled you enjoyed your tour with us. Hope you will return soon.
Vickie_K, Jun 2026
Chicago is absolutely stunning at night! And the stories are fun and interesting! It does get a bit cool on the river, so dress accordingly!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your review and feedback. Yes, Chicago is a beautiful city especially in the evening. We are thrilled that you enjoyed your tour with us. Hope you will return soon.
Emily_F, Jun 2026
The boat was very nice and we enjoyed this tour. It was a beautiful night to be on the water and the tour guide was easy to hear.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your review. We are glad that you enjoyed your tour with us. We strive to make our tours memorable for our guests. Hope you will return soon.
Jamie_B, Jun 2026
We bought our tickets and when we got there - you have to walk down a long flight of stairs to ger to the boat which we were unaware and one of us just had knee surgery and between not being able to get down the stairs and the fear of not being able to gwt her back up the stairs and the downpour rain - ww didnt get to go on our cruise and didnt get a refund!
Crystal_R, Jun 2026
Great experience. No whiskey on boat, a few beers or wine. Tour was great as well as staff. Easy to find, pleasant, bring a coat.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for your review, Crystal! We’re glad to hear you had a great experience and enjoyed both the tour and our staff. It’s also great to know you found everything easy to locate and well organized. We appreciate your helpful tip about bringing a coat for the evening breeze on the water. We hope to welcome you back again soon for another memorable cruise!
Lisa_v, Jun 2026
crew was incredible storytelling was great view was the best . the chicago skyline from the river view at night was spectacular! pair it with cocktail from a very friendly bartender and a guy with great storytelling voice .... perfect evening
HARVEST_P, Jun 2026
Interesting stories about Chicago's dark past and the ghosts that still haunt the buildings. I really enjoyed the view as well and was lucky enough to catch the Navy Pier fireworks at the end. What a perfect birthday. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your review. We love that you enjoyed your tour with us. We hope that you will join us again soon.
Gabrielle_C, Jun 2026
The cruise at night is magnificent! However, if you want to hear Chicago ghost stories, forget it! Nothing creepy about this tour. The person narrating the stories was not even an amateur story teller. He wondered the deck, asked the crowd questions but didn't even wait for replies. Sad.
Chris_K, Jun 2026
Super easy to do the entire process on your phone, from reservation for the tour to parking. The boat captain was great with driving the boat, and the tour guide telling the stories was Awesome. Highly recommend!!!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your review!!! We are thrilled that you enjoyed yourself on our tour. Hope you will join us again.
alexandria_n, Jun 2026
Just not for me. The stories were not winning my attention and people were falling a sleep. Great idea but needs to add more character!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are sorry to hear that the narration did not meet your expectations. Our goal is to provide an engaging and memorable experience for all of our guests, and we understand that preferences can vary from person to person. While many guests from that same departure reported having a wonderful experience, we recognize that every guest experiences a tour differently, and we regret that this one did not resonate with you. We sincerely appreciate your feedback, as it helps us continue to evaluate and improve our offerings. We would also 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.
David_C, May 2026
Great views around the river. Be ready for some spooky stories. There is a bar on board. Doug was a great story teller.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for the great review! We're delighted to hear you enjoyed the beautiful river views, the spooky stories, and the onboard bar. Doug will be thrilled to know his storytelling helped make your experience memorable. We appreciate you joining us and hope to see you again for another night of Chicago's ghostly history! 👻
Rob_K, May 2026
We arrived at exactly 9:30 (it took longer than we expected to get there). The boat was still there, but the gate was shut. We went to the ticket counter to find out how to get aboard and were told that the boat had already left. We kept pointing out to the guy that you could see the boat from the ticket counter, but he kept insisting that it had already left. Finally, around 9:35, we left the area. The boat departed at the same time. Oh, and the guy at the ticket counter said we weren't eligible for a refund because we'd "missed" the boat.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for your review, and I sincerely apologize for your experience. As noted on our product listing, we ask that guests arrive at least 30 minutes prior to departure. We operate on a strict schedule out of respect for our other guests, crew, and the many other companies navigating the river. Although the vessel may still appear to be sitting at the dock at departure time, the departure process has already begun. Similar to an airplane preparing for takeoff, once the gangplank has been removed and the vessel has been cleared for departure, we are unable to allow additional passengers to board. In some cases, the boat may also remain momentarily idle while waiting for nearby kayakers or other vessels to pass safely. We understand this can be frustrating, especially when the boat still appears accessible, but reconnecting the vessel and repositioning the gangplank can further delay departure and impact the experience of all guests on board. I do see that you have a local phone number on file, and if you are still in town, I would be happy to help exchange your tickets for another date. Please feel free to email me directly at clientservice@firstlady.com. We appreciate your feedback and hope to have the opportunity to provide you with a better experience in the future.
Carrie_T, May 2026
Tour was great! Really liked the in person narration better than a recorded one. It was cold but we expected it. Looking forward to doing one in the daytime as well! The creepy toor was fun!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thanks for letting us know, Carrie!
We’re so happy to hear you enjoyed the Chicago River Ghost & Dark History Night Cruise—and that the live narration made the experience even better. There’s something about hearing those stories in real time on the river that really adds to the atmosphere.
Sounds like you were well prepared for the chilly night air too! We’d love to welcome you back for a daytime cruise next time so you can experience a completely different side of the river.
Thanks again for joining us, and we hope to see you on board again soon!
Bennie_R, May 2026
Andy was a fantastic storyteller and we had a great time riding down the river while he talked about some of the local ghost stories and history. 10/10 would book this tour again. There were bathrooms on board, as well as a bar. We didn't wind up getting any drinks, but a lot of the folks around us did and there seemed to be a pretty good variety available.
Not a complaint but a heads up for those considering booking, there's about 3 flights of stairs to get down to the dock area, and they do get a little crowded when tours are coming back or getting ready to leave. Definitely get there early if you have any mobility concerns and want to be able to take your time on the stairs.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you, Bennie!
We’re so glad you had a fantastic time on the Chicago River Ghost & Dark History Night Cruise, and that Andy’s storytelling helped bring the river’s history and ghost stories to life for you. It’s great to know you enjoyed the overall experience, from the onboard amenities to the nighttime atmosphere along the river.
We really appreciate you also sharing helpful details for future guests. For anyone with mobility considerations, we do have an accessible drop-off area at 154 E. Stetson, and guests with a handicap placard can park at river level for free. Other visitors can use the ParkChicago app for parking.
Additionally, there is a ramp available at State Street and Wacker Drive for easier riverwalk access. For those comfortable with stairs, we also validate parking for 111 E. Wacker (Illinois Center).
For accessible drop-off information
https://firstlady.com/accessibility.
Noelle_C, May 2026
Hard to pay attention to Andy because the amazing sights steal your attention! But Andy was a great story teller! Able to see the city from a brand new perspective!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you, Noelle, for the wonderful review! We're so glad you enjoyed the incredible nighttime views and seeing the city from a whole new perspective. We'll be sure to pass along your kind words to Andy—he'll be delighted to hear that his storytelling made such a great impression, even with Chicago's skyline competing for attention! We appreciate you joining us and hope to see you again on another adventure soon.
Ale_F, May 2026
Great view of our city!! The person giving the tour was awesome. Made the spooky stories come to life
Response from Host, Jun 2026
We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback!
We're so glad you enjoyed the Chicago River Ghost & Dark History Night Cruise and appreciated the great views of the city. It's wonderful to hear that your guide brought the spooky stories to life and helped make the experience memorable.
We truly appreciate your feedback and are happy you had such a great time with us. We hope to welcome you aboard again for another engaging cruise in the future!
Robert_W, May 2026
Loved the storytelling and sceneries. The stories being told directly where it happens was chilling I like how the speaker kept it chilling but added a few jokes between the two 5 minute break!!
Rachael_K, Apr 2026
Go on a warmer night. We went when it was chilly and they have a place inside to sit but it’s hard to hear
Don_H, Apr 2026
Entertaining stories with a great guide named Savanna! A chance for excellent views of the city and you can learn a thing or three.
Cartel_B, Apr 2026
Didn’t even get the chance to go. Directions to get there horrible. Couldn’t find no parking to park so I gave up wasted money lol
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for your review. We’re sorry you missed your cruise. We recommend arriving 30 minutes early, as downtown Chicago can be challenging to navigate. Our booking details include directions, a Google Maps link, and nearby discounted parking at 111 E. Wacker Drive, and we also send a pre-arrival message with location info. We’d be happy to help reschedule you for another date.
LaQuita_H, Mar 2026
The experience was different hearing all the stories made me feel connected to the city. We enjoyed ourselves and plan to visit the city before the end of the year.
Kyla_T, Mar 2026
If you do the last tour be prepared to not find food after everything closed on me after the tour. Taking pictures and listen to the guide/actor
Elsa_A, Oct 2025
It was a great spooky season tour and the tour guide was very friendly and knowledgeable!!!! Views were amazing - definitely recommend if you want to learn about the dark side of Chicago
Abdallah_I, Oct 2025
Directions to reach the location weren’t the clearest ended up on the wrong side of the river and missed the event
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you for your review. We're sorry to hear that you had trouble finding our location. We do include our address, with a direct Google Maps link, and additional directions on our product page, but we understand that navigating downtown Chicago can be challenging at times. If you're open to it, we’d love the opportunity to welcome you back on another day. Thank you for your understanding.
Rachel_G, Oct 2025
Such an awesome tour especially in the fall! Andrew was an outstanding, charismatic and funny tour guide. Very memorable stories, not too spooky but definitely eerie. Great activity for a fall night in Chicago.
lakeya_D, Oct 2025
The instructions state to arrive at least 30 minutes before departure due to boarding times, and I chose to arrive an hour early to be safe. Unfortunately, the published location at 112 East Wacker Drive (Michigan Ave. and Wacker Dr.) is extremely congested and has no practical parking nearby.
The lack of reasonable parking and the resulting traffic meant I spent the majority of my hour searching, finally securing a spot nearly 20 minutes walking distance from the riverwalk entrance.
The instruction to be on board no later than 5 minutes before departure and the stated policy that "all sales are final, we do not offer refunds or exchanges" combine with the poor location to create an unnecessary risk for guests. I arrived late due to unavoidable city congestion and my ticket was forfeited.
For a service with such a strict no-refund policy and a prompt departure rule, the accessibility of the departure point is a critical factor that needs to be clearly addressed. A warning about the extreme difficulty and time required for parking/arrival should be a mandatory part of the booking instructions.
Beware: Build in an excessive amount of time for arrival, as you will likely lose your money if anything delays you.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you for your review. We're sorry to hear you had trouble finding parking near our location. As we're located in downtown Chicago, street parking is limited, but there are several nearby parking garages. The closest garage is conveniently located at the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive. Earlier in the day, we sent you a direct message with additional details about our location, including a link to the “Location” section of our website, which offers parking suggestions. Due to the nature of our business, boat cruises along the Chicago River and Lake Michigan, our dockside location is ideal. We have team members stationed outside along the dock to assist guests as they arrive. If you're ever delayed and miss your scheduled departure, we’re happy to offer an exchange for the next available cruise whenever possible. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and hope to welcome you aboard in the future.
Cat_B, Oct 2025
I don’t know if it was the script or the tour guide’s (Doug) delivery, but my group and surrounding groups couldn’t wait for it to end. It was nice being on a boat at night, but it was a very unforgettable experience.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you for your review. We're sorry to hear about your experience and have shared your feedback with our tour guide manager for further review. We appreciate your understanding and hope to provide you with a better experience in the future.
From $46.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Chicago River Ghost & Dark History Night Cruise
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