Padma A.

Had the most amazing time with my friends... we were a few minutes late getting there and they were about to sail . I hollered and John on board saw me and paused and the captain came to his window to check the commotion and halted the sail. We fortunately were able to get in without any further delays . The set up in the dining area was beautiful and the servers were polite and attentive. The food was pretty good I got a salad but wanted the bell pepper soup like rest of our group and asked if we could get the soup so they accommodated me very kindly . We also were able to get a song dedication for my friend who had a bday this week . The views from the rooftop were outstanding and I would love to come back with the family. Highly recommend getting to the odyssey atleast 30 mins before sail .

Paul J.

When the family decided to meet in Chicago for Thanksgiving, I found the Odyssey Chicago River cruise and took the opportunity to have a nice Thanksgiving meal (2pm) on a scenic cruise through the Windy City. First, we arrived at the dock and took some pics with the official photographer as well as a bunch of selfies to commemorate the day, then we sat at our table as the ship took off, then out came the drinks, bread, appetizers, and the meal. One by one, we feasted throughout the 2 hour tour, stopping every so often to go out on the deck and take photos with the family. The waitstaff were more than happy to oblige and take photos for everybody. Some highlights included the seafood tower (not really a tower, but plenty of seafood for everybody), the baked brie, and the Thanksgiving plate (turkey + gravy, green beans, stuffing and cranberry sauce). And a wide selection of drinks for everyone. And best of all, no one had to cook or clean the dishes afterwards, and we got spectacular photos for a Thanksgiving to remember!

Nina H.

We spent our anniversary on the Odyssey Chicago River tour through the Hornblower cruise company. This ship is the newest of the fleet. At 4 years young, it's a beautifully designed boat with a dedicated route through the Chicago river system. It's a 140-foot, 360-degree encased vessel providing spectacular views of the river and downtown Chicago. We took the architectural lunch cruise to catch daytime views of the city. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't ideal but we had a few opportunities where there were breaks in the rain to take in scenes from outside and let me tell you, there are simply no words to explain the grandeur downtown Chicago has to offer. My husband got the anniversary package. With the package we were greeted with a lovely table decorated with rose petals, a beautifully arranged 1/2 dozen bouquet of roses and champagne service. We also received keepsake souvenir flutes. Our server Stephania was kind and friendly. She tended to our requests despite the many tables she was juggling and did a great job of it. Our docent was knowledgeable. He was familiar with the route layout, the building(s) features, architect history and provided interesting facts on the structures highlighted along the tour. From there, that's where the positives of this review end. Unfortunately, we encountered a number of not so great things. It began with the interior temp level. I'm thankful that the boat was climate controlled but upon entering it felt like a freezer. I was able to tolerate it because I wore a long sleeve dress however my husband was cold the entire time. A number of folks who wore t-shirts and shorts felt the same way too. There were moments when puffs of hot air blew through the vents but that made little dent to the frigid like temps within the confines. Next was our add on seafood tower app we paid extra for. The king crab, shrimps and ceviche were good. The sauces were okay but we would've appreciated horseradish versus tartar because the tartar sauce seemed out of place with the seafood on the tower. That lobster though.... SMH. It was bad. I had a bite of lobster and it tasted off. It was slimy, sour and spoiled. I spit it out immediately fearing another bite would lead to food poisoning. My husband noticing my response braved it, attempted a taste, mirrored my reaction and agreed. We let our server know and towards the end of our meal service the senior restaurant Manager, Alberto came out, apologized and made an attempt to make it right by comping a credit towards the seafood tower. We're currently awaiting a refund credit in 6 days. Then came our main course. I've heard good things about their short rib dish which at one point was part of their lunch menu. It has since been removed and is only offered during dinner. Taking the short rib dish off was a big bummer. Ben ordered the cod dish and I got their chicken. Ben said his cod tasted like frozen fish sticks. The portion was small too (see pics). As for my chicken, I would've enjoyed it more had it not been overcooked. My chicken dish had nice season. Had it been cooked right it would've been perfect. The dessert we ordered, a chocolate lava cake, was dry and lacking as well. Having to pay this much for our experience, we expected a stellar meal but received subpar. If you're seeking to go, just note the closest parking garage found on Spot Hero is near the Sheraton Grand hotel roughly 2 blocks away. As you're walking down Cityfront plaza and see the University of Chicago building, find the concrete stairway (on your left) and take it down towards the ticket office/boat. They request guests arrive 30 minutes prior to start time. Check in with the ticket office first prior to boarding. Once the boat leaves, you're pretty much SOL. Final disclaimer for the ladies. I know most of y'all like to wear cute heels but tread carefully down and up the boarding ramp. The ramp has a very steep incline. I strongly advise you hold the handrails. One misstep can potentially break your ankle.

Dave B.

When I went to book a cruise a month ago, I realized that the weather in November could be downright chilly or miserable. So, I chose the Odyssey Chicago River by City Experiences for one main reason: it's entirely enclosed in glass. Our cruise was cozy and warm on a cold windy day. We raised our glasses of endless mimosas to the poor souls freezing to death on the other passing outdoor ships! The service was spectacular. The food was amazing. Definitely worth the extra money.

Ben O.

Amazing time, event, and food for our wedding! A few snafu's on the boat itself (event photographer showed up late and umm....high on life, causing us to miss out on photo favors for our guests, but that was remedied by management, and a few missing dishes we paid for, but again we received compensation for that) Gorgeous vessel! The food was delicious! We hear, even a year later that it was not only some of the best food people have had at a wedding, but the entire wedding was one of the best they had been to! Highly recommend for both special events and normal river cruises!

Michi S.

What a marvelous experience. I am planning my wedding on a city cruise and they offered us complimentary tickets to dining and sampling the food and experience. The food was pretty tasty, the service was top notch. The smiles and greetings started preboarding. The music was relaxing, the views were spectacular! Danny was the manager and Paul was our waiter and they made our experience extra special! Can't wait for our wedding with this company

Natosha M.

Well it's that time again. I absolutely love the dinner cruises on the Odyssey. The vibes are always so nice. It's something you can do with your significant other, you can book it for a girls night out, or you can have a family affair....even celebrate a birthday maybe. It's for any and everyone and for everyone occasion. I book this cruise yearly, that's how much I like it. It's so nice to cruise along the Chicago river and catch views of the beautiful city of Chicago and the skyline. It definitely helps that the boat is glass and you can see any and everything you need to see outside of it. There is no bad seat on this boat. I love this boat so much I've even booked a cruise out of the country in Paris!! But honey let's get into this meal! I had the chicken breast and it was very juicy and flavorful. Also had string beans and mash potatoes. I had never had clam chowder before but I must say this was a great introduction for me. It was very good. The staff are always friendly and they make sure you have everything you need. Service is great. They also play a plethora of music for you to enjoy. They play something for everyone. All in all.....I'll gladly be back next year

Lynn M.

We came here for restaurant week. They dock at 7pm sharp so make sure to give your self enough time to board. I saw a few people 5min late and they did not let them in. Staff was professional and very attentive. Our food came out after we finished each course which was nice. It was a 2-hour boat ride with 3 course. Appetizer: Beet & baby arugula salad: this was lightly seasoned with vinaigrette. It was topped feta cheese. This was light and refreshing. Clam chowder: this was really good. This was full of flavor and perfect for a chilly night. Main Salmon: this was a little more salty than expected it was topped with rice. Jumbo sea scallop & Shrimp: this came with 3 jumbo shrimps and 2 mini scallops. This came with pasta topped with pesto. This was Dessert Fruit with strawberries: this was diced up fruit with Cheesecake: this was pretty dry not my favorite. I don't this this place would be worth it outside of restaurant week but definitely worth the experience if you are lucky enough to get it during restaurant week.

Eric B.

For moi, a native Chicagoan, it's always fun to view the city from a visitor's perspective. Our town is blessed with a spectacular lakefront and waterways, and the options for boat trips keep expanding. For the Missus and me, this was our introduction to the Odyssey Chicago River, an upscale glass-enclosed floating restaurant. The 2-hour architecture lunch cruise was not only the finest meal we've experienced on a Chicago waterway but also the best river cruise overall. This vessel is fairly new. The dining room is climate-controlled and the food is prepared in a below-deck galley. There is a bar at the forward end of the dining room. The rest rooms (also below deck) are immaculate. Open decks fore and aft are delightful spaces with unobstructed views for photography. Our 3-course plated lunch matched the quality of the finer banquet venues on land. Special diets and food restrictions are accommodated. A Caesar salad and freshly baked crusty rolls were followed by a choice of four entrées. Everyone in our party ordered the braised beef short rib, served hot, fork-tender, and in a savory Cabernet Sauvignon sauce. And, what dessert could be more appropriate than that Chicago warhorse [giggle!], Eli's New York Style Cheesecake? The portions were very generous, and service was attentive and polished. Restaurant manager Simon stopped by our table to greet us and make sure we were enjoying everything. The architecture cruise itself was knowledgeably narrated. This along with background music played by a DJ did not challenge conversation. Meal service was timed so that we finished dessert right about when the vessel made a U-turn to head back, giving us the opportunity to go out on deck and enjoy the panoramic scenery. Please note that Odyssey's lunch cruises cost considerably less than the dinner cruises, and prices do not include tax and gratuity.

Ama S.

This was a great cruise with great service and delicious food. We attended this cruise for a special event and really enjoyed ourselves. We were able to enjoy the guided tour of the greatly engineered buildings of Chicago while enjoying the best dining. The boat was clean, modern and attractive. There was a variety on the menu that all could enjoy including vegan foods and meals for meat lovers. The food was tasty and no one had any complaints. We met people enjoying different occasions, such as birthdays and anniversaries. This was truly a great experience!

Spectacular brunch and architectural cruise Ali g the Chicago river. From being greeted at the ship by the captain to flowing mimosas, an incredibly tasty brunch and stellar dessert. This is not to be missed. Worth every minute of your time and attention. Even a slightly rainy day however the glass ceiling allowed perfect viewing if the city and its amazing architecture. Do it now!!

Lisa S.

My boyfriend booked us for dinner on the Odyssey on a Saturday night. Boarding was easy and quick, and although we did not have a table by the window, the walls and ceilings are glass so the view is still great! The three course dinner is done table by table, so everyone dines at their own pace. This was perfect because it gave us the chance to go out to the front of the boat to take in the views without a crowd. This also made it easier for my boyfriend to drop to one knee and propose! Our waiter assisted him in taking a video of the whole proposal and the ship captain even honked the horn afterwards! It was a perfect night with delicious food, a staff that goes above and beyond, and a new fiancé!