This is pure BUCKET LIST material ... where else can you feel like the city is literally on your shoulders - in a cool way! The scenery is unmatched. Add to this the boats (clean & reliable) and the staff ... oh, and the price (divide it among the passengers, and it's the best bang for your hard earned buck! read more

Our family had a great Chicago summer experience thanks to Chicago Boat Rentals. We enjoyed our favorite picnic foods as we saw some of the best city sights in a clean, well-maintained, easy to navigate pontoon. We started our tour at the time we reserved and were assisted by a friendly, helpful, attentive crew. Thanks and high fives to everyone at CRB for providing an exceptional way to appreciate the best of Chicago! read more

Great service! Had our reservation from 1:30pm - 3:30pm but arrived early in order to find parking. The valet parking charged $20 for all day. The parking lot is very small but we got lucky to find a space. We had a party of 5 and had reserved the pontoon for 6 people but we got upgrades to a bigger pontoon. We were able to head out 1pm - 3pm. Bring your own cooler with drinks and snacks! The Bluetooth connects to your phone so no need to bring a speaker. They have a cute picnic area too. The only bad thing is that there are no real bathrooms other than a very stinky porta potty. read more

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Great time on July 5, '25. Office and dock staff were great (loved the Irish accents). Good instructions. Nice cushions and shade canopy. Small motor was fine for slow cruising on the river. It was nice to coast or stop here and there to take in the views and photos. Very easy. read more

Rented a pontoon boat for 4th of July and it couldn't have gone better. We are so happy we did, what a great way to spend the early evening. CBR were very clear with their instructions so we were prepared and knew exactly what to expect. Everyone was super friendly and it was just all around a good experience. Will be back ASAP. read more

Hands down one of the best boat rental companies out there!! My family and I rented one of the pontoons on July 4th,from the start to finish the process was easy. We arrived and Angela was there to great us. The crew was helpful and went over the boat and process which was easy. The boat was clean no issues our family enjoyed the view. We were able to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the city, the landscaping and landmarks. It was breathtaking. I packed snacks brought a cooler with drinks. It was a great time !! I will definitely be returning for more amazing memories. Highly recommended!! read more

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A great time was had with the Chicago Boat Rental this past weekend. Me and some friends booked this adventure a little over a month in advance as we figured this popular activity would be booked up with the summer months coming. Made it over 30 minutes prior to get rules on how to operate which was very simple and what parts of the Chicago River we could travel to which was towards the lake (but not on), south near china town and north (noting to see lol). You get to ride by the main spot on the Riverwalk in which everyone smiles, points and waves at you. Boats were in good shape and operated properly. We had the music going, let the wind hit our backs and took turns operating. Its really fun when a big boat gets behind you and start blowing for you to get outta the way. If you're nervous about operating, the staff will give you their info to call....we didn't need it though. Staff did a great job explaining everything so we were all good. You can bring food and drinks to get you through the 2 hours of fun. Highly recommend before the summer is over! read more

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I've been looking forward to doing this, and am so glad to finally have gotten on the water! This was a part of my birthday celebration with my little family. The booking was easy, and straight forward. We went on a Thursday so we found street parking pretty easily. The staff was friendly and helpful, and set us up to be great captains. This is such an amazing way to see the city. I highly recommend this adventure! read more

The owners and staff are very professional, courteous and extremely knowledgeable. Always fun and a great experience renting both small and large pontoon boats. We'll be back! Highly recommend! read more

We had SO MUCH FUN! We rented a pontoon for 8 people. We were able to bring our own snacks and drinks (no glass containers). The boat also has a Bluetooth speaker built in, so you can connect your phone immediately. We choose to drive the boat ourselves, and it was pretty straight forward. We had the boat for 2 hours, but we could have easily cruised for another hour. In the 2 hours we were able to go down the entire Chicago River, and then let the boat drift slowly at the end near Lake Michigan. We even got a ton of awesome photos on the boat with the entire skyline in the background. Basically, I highly recommend this activity especially if you're just in town for the weekend! read more

We've been using these guys for the last five years. Everyone who works here (including the owners) will go above & beyond to ensure that you have a good time. The boats are clean, and will provide all you need for two hours of fun down the river-- including Bluetooth speakers for that banger of a river playlist you made! Lastly, If you have a kid, don't worry they have you covered with a kid size life jacket. That said, don't sleep on these guys. read more

Chicago Boat Rentals - Your view of Wacker & Adams. - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

There are so many boat rental places in Chicago, but you really get the most for your money with Chicago Boat Rentals, especially time! The staff is great. The boat was clean, everything was in working order. So glad we bought the membership. Can't wait to return!! We will definitely be letting everyone know about this amazing experience! read more

Chicago Boat Rentals - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My review is 4 stars. Joe was absolutely knowledge and helpful. My kids brought me and my wife for mother's day. I am handicapped in wheelchair and weigh 260 Joe and one from my party got me down about 10 steps to ramp. I would have given 5 stars if they had a ramp I or elevator from ground level to water level. The trip was flawless without a hitch or bump. Highly recommend for families on budgets brought some food ate abs saw sights. Beautiful day. Thank you Joe read more

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We had such a blast on this boat! We went during COVID restrictions and it was a great time even with 4 people. For the price of going out to dinner in Chicago we just took a group of gal pals and blasted music up and down the river dancing and having the best time. We've already booked a few more trips for the summer! read more

Chicago Boat Rentals - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This was our second time renting from Chicago Boat Rentals. We have a great time every year, and their Groupon deal is unbelievable. We get a 2 hour 12 person rental and bring drinks and snacks and make it all the way to the locks leading up to the lake and up the south branch a bit in that time frame. Highly recommend. Only thing making me give them one less star is their port-a-potty/parking situation. But my review of that can be seen on the Estate page, since they share a lot with estate! read more

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We had such a nice experience with Chicago Boat Rentals. The location can not be beat. Boats leave from Division and Elston and there is plenty of parking but its close enough to downtown that you can make it all the way to Navy Pier and then down to Chinatown and back all within the two hour rental time. We had a 22' pontoon boat that seats 10 people. It felt plenty spacious for us and we had room to spread out. You can bring your own food and beverages on the boat and they have bluetooth speakers so you can play your own tunes. The boat was clean and in great condition and the staff was extremely friendly. Would definitely rent from them again read more

I definitely will be doing this more often. It felt good riding the boat down the Riverwalk. Price was fair also. The people that were helping (workers) were great as well. read more

Chicago Boat Rentals - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My friends and I did fairly extensive research trying to get a boat to celebrate a huge promotion for a friend of mine. Chicago has so many options but to find a boat for 10 people without a captain was nearly impossible. I called Chicago Boat Rentals as their website said they were totally booked and the woman I spoke with was so kind and was able to accommodate us. I had to change the time and called her a few times, and each time she went above and beyond to help. The day of boating was flawless, the whole CBR team was warm and welcoming and very accommodating. Our boat was well maintained and had no issues, and overall we had a perfect day. The price was really competitive as well and I would highly recommend this company to friends and family. read more

Had a blast exploring this beautiful city and going up and down the river. Would definitely recommend to anyone!

Excellent experience. Rent a pontoon, take a quick instructional overview, and you're on your way to experience the city like no other way. Great staff. read more

Highly recommend Chicago Boat Rentals. We were able to quickly reserve a pontoon online and were so happy with the experience. The staff their was fast, friendly and informative. We quickly got to our boat, which was in great shape. Clean, new and perfect for what we were looking for. The staff was so nice and friendly. We'd do it again!! read more

Fun time during Pandemic, felt safe and clean. Yelp coupon was great! Staff was friendly and organized. read more

Chicago Boat Rentals - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great customer service . Very helpful. And the riddle was nice . This was my second time . Cant wait to do it again

The service was ok at first but be warned that there's an unethical and steep 150$ fee for late return of pontoon. It was pouring rain for a good 30 minutes, so we had to stay under a bridge for a while. Then at one point we lost our way. Once we found our way, the engine turned off on its own and we assumed we were out of gas. That's when we spoke to some people at another dock asking for gasoline. When they said they were unable to do so unless we got out and followed them to their office, we called one of the staff members at Chicago Boat Rentals for advice. They had to walk us through the process of figuring out how to restart it. Consequently, we were late. But we were in communication the entire time. So it was not reckless or careless behavior on our part-Just a series of several unfortunate events. This was meant to be a celebration for my 35th birthday. This $150 fee is an insane amount of money to charge for this situation. And as a schoolteacher I simply cannot afford it. I sent them a couple messages a few days ago but they have chosen to ignore me and continue on with the fee. Unless this gets resolved and I see some sense of humanity and acknowledgement from them, I do not recommend this business to anyone by any means. read more

This is a well-oiled machine with a cute dock and beautiful pontoon boats. Easy location to start from at Elston and Division - street parking and valet at Azul. Knowledgeable staff will get you up to speed on driving a pontoon in no time at all. They have add-ons like charcuterie tackle boxes. Become a VIP and get half price off your booking. Seeing the City from the river is simply a fantastic experience. read more

excellent cruise. nice, clean , well operating vessels delightful family owned business w superb staff. this is a great way to see beautiful Chicago highly recommend read more

I WISH I took a video of this guy. Pretty sure he was the "'manager" but goodness gracious was he horrendous! His name was Joe and he had such a horrible attitude toward me and my friends. By far, the WORST customer service experience we've ever had! He accused us of allegedly lying about how many people we brought to go on the boat. The boat ride itself was awesome but this guy single handedly ruined our day before AND after the boat ride. Awful awful awful. Worst part was this was for my friend's birthday! I will NEVER rent a boat from these people again and never will. You shouldn't either! Spare yourself the headache and the harassment! read more

We rented a 12-person pontoon boat for my Mom's birthday and had a great experience. We went on a Wednesday afternoon, so free parking was available right in the lot, but I know this isn't always the case depending on the day/time. They do warn you at booking that you might not leave right at your scheduled time due to possibility of previous customers returning late, and this was the case when we went. However, we only left 30 minutes later than scheduled, so not a big deal. We had 7 people, and I'm really glad we went with the 12-person boat, because the smaller 8-person boat would have been a tight squeeze. There is also an awning on the boat, but it only covers the back half of the boat. The price is a little steep for only two hours, so I suggest looking for a coupon before directly booking with the company - we were able to find one on goldstar for nearly half the price. read more

We took an 18' pontoon out on Saturday night starting at 6:30 pm. Our designated Captain was comfortable and ready to navigate the waters based on the tutorial provided by Nick. The inside of the boat was immaculate. We had brought a Bluetooth speaker, but the boat's system was soooo much better. One suggestion -- the lighting on the path from the dock to land, as well as back to the waiting area, was not sufficient. The path is uneven and felt a bit unsafe walking due to the ground not being solid. We will definitely will be back! read more

Great company. Great staff. Angela and her staff always create a great experience for us. Have used them numerous times this season and always have a great time. I'm most pleased about the customer experience - even if there is an issue which you will run into in this line of business - they have always made it right or reached out personally. Will continue to rent and highly recommend. read more

Every year better than the last. This was our fourth year. Amazing. Can't recommend enough. I'll be grateful if they accept my reservation next year... ha ha we had a ton of fun. Maybe have offended a few .. but gosh so much fun. Thanks again guys. A++++++ read more

Chicago Boat Rentals - Gaybaes.. stone cold pack of weirdos on the pontoon. Boat Rentals - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Outstanding experience. The boat was clean, the staff was great, and the Chicago river is priceless. We will be back.

This company is one of the best we have dealt with. They were professional, courteous, and really wonderful to rent with. We will definitely be renting with them again. Thank you for your great customer service! read more

I've had the pleasure of renting a pontoon with Chicago Boat Rentals a few times now. Definitely be on the lookout for a Groupon/Living Social deal, as it is very worth it (around 50% savings), especially if you are splitting the cost with your group of upwards to 8 or 12 people. As a returning customer, I even got an e-mail early spring for a greater discount to use on an upcoming pontoon rental, which I used for Father's Day. I believe it was only $95 pre-tax and fees for a 8-person pontoon for 2 hrs. It was nice to see that there wasn't an upcharge on holidays. In all visits, the staff was very nice and helpful. I had a couple questions prior and they were responsive via e-mail. It is a bit confusing as to where to go as the bar next door is predominant, but just go down the wooden stairs and someone should be there to help you. They'll give you clear instructions on driving/steering and other functions on the boat (bluteooth for music), along with directions. They'll give you a contact to call in case of an emergency. Boats are also pretty clean, as they do clean them in between each group. While you are booked for a set time, the exact time out on the water is unpredictable so you may have to wait an extra few minutes for a boat to return if there aren't any current available at the time, but that does not alter your allotted time on the water. Your start time begins when your group takes off. In any case, your take off time should still be pretty close to your scheduled time, as they do have quite a few pontoons. In this recent visit, we actually were a tad late coming back as we underestimated the time, but the staff was very cool and friendly about the situation. The parking depends on Estate bar's events. We had to pay $10 this time likely because of Father's day and this was in the afternoon, but in past occasions, parking was free, likely because we were there early in the morning, so just be prepared to pay when going in prime time. Overall, Chicago Boat Rentals seem to be well organized. Great prices, awesome staff, and you get to enjoy amazing views of the city. Great for events or to show visitors around or just to simply enjoy the Chicago River (albeit it isn't the cleanest). Book early, as dates do fill up! Also, bring your own drinks and snacks! read more

Chicago Boat Rentals - Experience this view! - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A group of my friends got together for a boat ride for my friend's 35th birthday yesterday. It was a blast! Our driver Matt was friendly, knowledgeable, and hospitable. We would definitely go with this company again, and we recommend it to others. Have fun! read more

I have rented several times from CBR and I have always found them to be pleasantly friendly and professional. They carefully instruct you on the operation of the boats as well as the safety equipment on board. They work to assure you have a memorable, fun & exciting experience. If you haven't seen the city from the view of the Chicago River you have been missing out. It's always a special experience, and wonderful for the family and great for a date; very romantic. Also you can bluetooth your mobile device into the stereo and enjoy you favorite music as you cruise the beautiful architecture and river walk via the Chicago River. read more

I absolutely loved this experience! Such a fun, relaxing activity. The staff were so friendly and easy going. Couldn't have asked for a better turnout! Can't wait to do it again. Thank you again! read more

Had such a fun and relaxing time on the boat. The pontoon boats were very nice and clean. The staff was incredibly accommodating and helpful. Overall great experience and would book again! read more

Chicago Boat Rentals - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

What an awesome experience! One of the best ways to enjoy the beauty of Chicago - cruising on the Chicago River on a self driven pontoon! Booking online was easy - fast checkin and friendly staff made it an awesome day! Highly recommend for everyone of all ages! read more

Chicago Boat Rentals - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We had great time . Boats we're maintained and clean. Saw the navy pier fireworks with no issues. You can take food and drinks on. Driver should not drink... Will do it again. read more