It could be the mesmerizing lights of the city shining as a glittering beacon, or maybe it’s the lure of the water-whatever the explanation, there are countless proposals, anniversary celebrations and couples renewing their vows on Lake Michigan each summer.
Barbara Boyreau, wedding planner at the Odyssey cruise ship, says there are so many proposals and romantic celebrations she can’t keep count. “There’s a certain element of fantasy to being out on the lake; it’s a way to make dreams come true,” she says.
Last year, at least two guys hired aerial messages that read, “Will you marry me?” Happily, in both cases, she said “yes.” Women planning to say “no” should definitely wear life jackets in case he loses his temper.
“No one has been tossed overboard, yet,” says Craig Wenokur, director of marketing for Wendella Sightseeing Boats. However, one time a guy paid ($550 per hour) to charter a Wendella boat. He told his girlfriend that the captain was an old friend and needed to test new equipment-“whenever they need to test new parts, they call me,” the guy said. Once out on the lake, the captain pretended the engine stalled. That’s when the guy popped the question.
All captains are well rehearsed at marrying couples. There’s only one problem-legally, the union is binding solely for the duration of the cruise. But it’s one way for couples to test the waters, so to speak. And for those renewing their vows, technical legality isn’t as important as romance.
Captains prefer to know in advance when they need to serve as a justice of the peace. Captains don’t charge extra for their services, but for an additional cost, many cruise lines offer special amenities-such as champagne, balloons or candies-for those who want to celebrate a special event.
For special events or to learn about the city’s architecture or for a way to kill a day with the kids on a pirate cruise, here’s a guide to this season’s excursions. (Most cruise lines continue through early or late October, but after Labor Day, definitely call first.) Several companies are offering special rides for Venetian Night on June 25 and the July 3 fireworks display, but call well in advance. Those excursions fill up fast.
CRUISES
Chicago’s First Lady: Cruises depart on the Chicago River at the Michigan Avenue Bridge at Wacker Drive, southwest side. For reservations, call 708-358-1330. Sunset Dinner Buffet is a two-hour river and lake ride, starting at 7:30 p.m.; fee: $41.50, $31.50 for children 11 and under.
Mercury Cruise Line: Cruises depart on the Chicago River at the Michigan Avenue Bridge at Wacker Drive, southwest side. For information, call 312-332-1353. Landmark Classic is a 90-minute ride that departs daily at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:15 p.m., 3:15 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; fee: $9, $4.50 for children under 12. Summer Sunset is a two-hour ride featuring the Buckingham Fountain display after Memorial Day (May 30); it departs daily at 7:30 p.m.; fee: $11, $5.50 for children under 12. Skyline Specials are one-hour rides that depart daily at 2:30 p.m., 5 p.m. and 9 p.m., and also at 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays; fee: $7, $3.50 for children under 12.
Odyssey: Cruises depart from the south side of Navy Pier at Illinois Street and the lakefront. Make reservations at 312-321-7600 or 708-990-0800. Dinner cruises are 7 to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; fee: $64-$74. Lunch cruises are 12:15-2:15 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays; fee: $28-$34. Champagne brunch cruises are 9:30 to 11 a.m. Sundays and include a buffet; fee: $32. Midnight Parties are 12:30 to 2:30 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays and include hors d’oeuvres; fee: $25. Sunday Jazz Brunches are Sundays 12:30-2:30 p.m. in May and 1:30-3:30 p.m. June through August and include a buffet; fee: $39. (Children 3 to 11 receive a 50 per cent discount on all rides.)
Shoreline Marine: All are 30-minute excursions. Call 312-222-9328. Fee: $6, $3 children 12 and under for all rides. Departs from just north of John G. Shedd Aquarium (1200 S. Lake Shore Drive) at 11:15 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 12:45 p.m., 1:15 p.m., 1:45 p.m., 2:15 p.m., 2:45 p.m., 3:15 p.m., 3:45 p.m., 4:15 p.m., 4:45 p.m., 5:15 p.m., 5:45 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. daily. Departs from Navy Pier (Illinois Street at the lakefront) 6 p.m., 7 p.m., 8 p.m., 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m., 7 p.m., 8 p.m., 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Departs from the Adler Planetarium (1300 S. Lake Shore Drive) at 11:15 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 1:15 p.m., 2:15 p.m., 3:15 p.m., 4:15 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. daily. Departs from Buckingham Fountain at Congress Parkway at the lake at 7:15 p.m., 7:45 p.m., 8:15 p.m., 8:45 p.m., 9:15 p.m., 9:45 p.m., 10:15 p.m., 10:45 p.m. and 11:15 p.m. daily.
Spirit of Chicago: All cruises depart from the south side of Navy Pier at Illinois Street at the lakefront. Make reservations at 312-836-7899. Big Band lunches are noon-2 p.m. Thursdays; fee: $29.50. Dinner cruises with a musical revue show are 6:45-9:45 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, 8:30-11:30 p.m. Fridays and 8-11 p.m. Saturdays; fee: $49.95-$61.95. TGIF cruises are 5:30-7 p.m. Fridays; fee: $21.95. Sunset Cocktail Cruise includes light snakes and dancing and is 3:30-6 p.m. Saturdays and 3-5:30 p.m. Sundays; fee, $26. Moonlight Cruises are 12:30-2:30 a.m. Fridays and 12:15-2:15 a.m. Saturdays; fee, $21.95.
Wendella Sightseeing Boats: All cruises depart on the north side of the Chicago River at the Michigan Avenue Bridge at the foot of the Wrigley Building. Call 312-337-1446. Ninety-minute lake and river rides are at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:15 p.m., 3 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. daily; fee, $9, $8 seniors and $4.50 children 11 and under. One-hour lake-only rides are 2:15 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. daily; fee, $7, $6 seniors, $3.50 children 11 and under. Two-hour lake and river rides (operate through Sept. 5 only) are 7:30 p.m. daily; fee, $11, $10 seniors, $5.50 children 11 and under.
SPECIALTY RIDES
Departure locations are listed above for those not indicated here:
Chicago’s First Lady tours hosted by the Chicago Architecture Foundation are noon Mondays through Fridays and noon and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Additional June through September tours are 2 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 9:30 a.m. daily; fee: $15. 312-902-1500.
Chicago From the Lake 90-minute tours depart from North Pier Terminal, 465 E. Illinois St. All rides include coffee, lemonade and muffins. Architecture River Rides are 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. daily. Historical Lake and River Rides are 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Fees: $16, $14 seniors, $11 9-18 years, and free 8 and under. (Architecture rides are translated into various languages by a live translator during scheduled times; call for details.) 312-527-1977.
Mercury Supernatural Cruises led by ghost hunter Richard Crowe. Excursions are 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. July 9, 16, 23 and 30 and Aug. 6, 13, 20 and 27; fee, $16. For tickets, call 708-499-0300.
Mercury Wacky Pirate Cruises hosted by Buccaneer Bob, who will croon his favorite pirate ditties like “Peg Leg Pete.” Each child gets a kazoo, a paper pirate hat and a certificate of survival. Excursions are 10 to 11 a.m. Thursdays through Sundays, June 11 through Sept. 5; fee, $7.50, $5 children under 12. For tickets, call 312-902-1500.
Mercury National Heritage Corridor Cruise, a marathon lake and river tour hosted by David Solzman, professor of Urban Geography at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The cruises are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 10, 11 and 17; fee, $39.50. For reservations, call 312-332-1366.
Wagner Charter Co. cruises depart from Wacker Drive at Wells Street, lower level. Pirate Cruise features a swashbuckling pirate crew dressed for the part. One talented member can pull a doubloon out of his ear. Kids can have their parents walk the plank. Each child gets a souvenir cap. Excursions are 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays and several scheduled weekdays; fee, $10. Reservations required, 708-653-8690.
Wendella Chicago Waterways, a 70-mile geographic tour guided by Irving Cutler, professor emeritus at Chicago State University and former president of the Geographic Society of Chicago. The tour is 8:45 a.m.-4 p.m. June 11. Bring your own lunch and beverage; fee, $47. For reservations, call 312-322-8854.
FLOATING CASINOS
Make millions, or at least a couple of bucks-if you’re lucky. Ride times may or may not include time at the dock:
Casino Rock Island departs from the end of 18th Street at the Mississippi River, Rock Island. Rides of two or three hours include free all-you-can-eat hors d’oeuvres and free soft drinks and coffee. Cruises are 8 a.m., 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m., 10 p.m. and midnight daily. Admission: Free Sundays through Fridays, $5 Saturdays. Phone: 800-477-7747.
Empress River Casino departs 1 mile west of Larkin Avenue on U.S. Hwy. 6, Joliet. Two-hour rides on the Empress I are at 9 a.m., noon, 3 p.m., 6 p.m., 9 p.m. and midnight daily. Two-hour Empress II rides are at 8 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays; 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m., 10 p.m., 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. daily. Admission: $4-$10. Phone: 708-345-6789.
Harrah’s Casino Cruises departs at Harrah’s Landing at Cass and Joliet Streets, Joliet. Two-hour cruises for the Harrah’s North Star contemporary mega-yacht and Harrah’s Southern Star, an 1880s-style river paddle wheeler, are 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., noon, 1:30 p.m., 3 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 6 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 9 p.m., 10:30 p.m., midnight, 1:30 a.m. and 3 a.m. daily. Admission: $4-$15. Phone: 800-342-7724.
