Private Lake Michigan Sailing Charter and Sightseeing Chicago Skyline Cruise
Enjoy a private two-hour sailing experience for up to four people along Chicago’s beautiful lakefront. Kick back, relax, and let the US Coast Guard licensed captain treat you to stunning views of Chicago’s spectacular skyline. Make the experience your own. The flexibility of a private charter allows customization of virtually any aspect of the sailing adventure from guest list to music selection to sailing route. Three departure times offered daily. All charters are NON-SMOKING experiences.
Options
Day Sail Departures
What's included in Private Lake Michigan Sailing Charter and Sightseeing Chicago Skyline Cruise
(Subject to Option Inclusions)Itinerary
We’ll depart from the north side of Monroe Harbor at our dedicated pick-up/drop-off spot. Once the safety briefing is completed and all dock lines have been brought on board, our trip will begin. The itinerary, course/route we are sailing for the day, will depend mostly on wind the direction. However, being that this is a private charter, the itinerary remains very flexible and pretty much at your discretion. So, if you’d like to see a particular landmark or prefer to sail a particular route, just ask our captain and they will be happy to oblige. If, instead, you’d prefer to leave all of the decision up to the captain, no problem. Our captain will be happy to take you for an enjoyable sail on Lake Michigan during which you will sail in close proximity to some or all of the landmarks listed in the itinerary below.
Buckingham FountainPass-by Only
Our charter begins with a quick motor passed a part of Monroe Harbor named in honor of a visit by Queen Elizabeth II. On July 6, 1959, a small barge ferried Her Majesty from HMY Britannia anchored outside of Monroe Harbor to the aptly named Queen’s Landing for a 13-hour royal visit spectacular. As we pass this historic site Buckingham Fountain comes into view. (Pro Tip: this is a great time for a photo op.) Buckingham Fountain, one of the world’s largest fountains, was designed as a focal centerpiece for Grant Park. According to the Chicago Park District website, John Philips Souza himself conducted his band in the playing of “Pomp and Circumstance” before an audience of 50,000 people during the fountain’s dedication in August 1927. Contrary to conventional wisdom, Buckingham fountain is not related to Buckingham Palace or the Royal Family. The fountain was actually donated by Chicago art patron and philanthropist, Kate Buckingham in memorial honor of her brother Clearance Buckingham.
Shedd AquariumPass-by Only
Another building which cannot be ignored as we depart from Monroe Harbor is the Shedd Aquarium which sits prominently at the south end of Monroe Harbor. Completed in 1930, the Shedd Aquarium’s mission is “Sparking compassion, curiosity and conservation for the aquatic animal world”. The large dark windows facing the lake house the Abbott Oceanarium exhibit. Added in 1991, the Oceanarium features Pacific white-sided dolphins and beluga whales.
Inclusions
- Use of Bluetooth Speakers
- All applicable taxes
- Professional US Coast Guard licensed captain
- Gratuities
- Food and drinks
- Parking
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- NO SMOKING - All charters are NON-SMOKING. Use of any tobacco products, cigars, pipes, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vapor devices, etc. are strictly prohibited. Use of any of these products may result in a non-refundable, early termination of your charter and the assessment of a cleaning fee.
- CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL - Customers and guests may bring and consume reasonable amounts of alcoholic beverages within the bounds of Illinois State law.
- NO GLASS ON BOARD - Glass containers are prohibited. Please do not bring them. Wine and Champagne bottle are permitted as long as they remain secure in a protective container during charter. Please bring plastic cups for drinking.
- CUSTOMER/GUEST BEHAVIOR - Customers and guests are expected to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner. Inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated. Any behavior determined by the captain to be inappropriate (lewd, offensive, unsafe, etc.) may result in a non-refundable, early termination of your charter.
- WEAPONS ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED - Weapons on any kind are strictly prohibited! Guns, knives, or weapons of any kind are NOT allowed on board our vessels at any time. Bringing any of these prohibited items aboard may result in a non-refundable, early termination of your charter.
- ANIMALS ARE PROHIBITED - Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate animals of any type.
- SWIMMING IS PROHIBITED - Swimming is not allowed on this sailing charter.
- FOOD AND BEVERAGE - Food and beverages may be consumed on deck. Please clean up any spilled food or beverage and take your garbage with you. A cleaning fee may be assessed for excessive spillage.
- SEASICKNESS/MOTION SICKNESS - Any person that experiences seasickness must remain on deck. The cabin area below deck is NOT an appropriate place for any person to deal with seasickness. A cleaning fee will be assessed for any person vomiting anywhere in the below deck cabin area of the sailboat, including the “head”/bathroom.
- GALLEY STOVE AND SINK - The galley stove onboard our sailboat is NOT for use by customers. The sinks on board our boats drain directly into the lake and are NOT intended for food prep nor for disposing of unwanted items. None of the sinks have garbage disposals. Please do NOT treat our sinks like you treat your kitchen sink. They are NOT the same.
- CLEANING FEES - Cleaning fees, if applicable, will be equivalent to the standard, full price of your charter.
- TERMINATION OF CHARTER - The captain reserves the right to cancel a charter at any time for reasons of weather, mechanical failure, or safety. Charters will be rescheduled at the customer’s convenience. A refund will be offered if rescheduling cannot be agreed upon.
- LATE ARRIVALS - The late arrival of customers and guests may result in a shortened charter sail without refund nor adjustment to price.
- BOOKING ERRORS - We reserve the right to cancel reservations that are the result of incorrect pricing/availability due to malicious acts or software/website errors.
- CONSENT TO BE FILMED/PHOTOGRAPHED - Boarding any sailboats operated by Come Sailing, Inc. is your implied consent to be filmed, photographed, and recorded. Furthermore, by boarding any of our sailboats you are granting Come Sailing, Inc., their agents, successors, assignees and affiliates, and their respective employees, officers, directors, shareholders, and representatives the right and permission to use such film, photographs, and recordings of your voice, image, and likeness for the purpose of promoting Come Sailing, Inc. and its related services. You further agree that you will not receive any financial compensation or cash payment for the rights or permissions granted by you. In such case that you are the parent or guardian of any minor child that has accompanied you aboard our sailboat, you further consent to the foregoing on behalf of that minor child.
- COVID-19 FACE MASKS ARE OPTINAL - MASK FREE SAILING IS HERE! New for 2022, face masks are OPTIONAL. Wear them or not, the choice is yours. Our captains and crew are not required to wear face masks. However, if it would make you feel more comfortable, please let the captain know and they will be more than happy to wear face masks during your charter.
- COVID-19 SOCIAL DISTANCING - This is a private charter for you and your guests only. Social distancing is your responsibility and at your discretion within your group. There is plenty of space on board our sailboats to spread out and maintain appropriate social distances.
- COVID-19 SICK PEOPLE SHOULD STAY AT HOME - All passengers are required to self-diagnose their health status before boarding and let us know if they are not feeling well. PLEASE STAY AT HOME IF ANY OF THESE CONDITION APPLY: SICK – If you are sick or not feeling well. SYMPTOMATIC – If, in the last 5 days, you have experiences symptoms related to COVID-19, the flu, or any other potentially contagious disease.
- COVID-19 ACCESS TO CABIN AND RESTROOMS - The fun is up on deck sailing! Not hanging out below deck in the cabin! So, please minimize your time below deck in the cabin. We also ask that no more than one person goes down below into the cabin at a time. There is a restroom on board each boat. However, the restrooms are small, and toilets on a boat do NOT work the same way your toilets work at home. Please ask the captain and crew before using the restroom. We strongly encourage you to use the public restrooms on shore prior to boarding.
- COVID-19 FOOD, WATER, AND ICE - We will have bottles of water available. However, we encourage you to bring your own beverages and help us reserve our water for emergency hydration. We will provide a small cooler in which passengers may store items to keep them cold. Food, beverage, and ice storage is limited to provided cooler. Please plan accordingly.
- COVID-19 POLICY UPDATES AND CHANGES - The above policies are subject to change without notice in response to changes in status of the COVID-19 pandemic and in order to comply with new or changing guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Illinois Department of Public Health, Cook County Department of Public Health, and Chicago Department of Public Health.
Meet
Pickup and Dropoff
You will make your own way to the meeting points
Meeting / End Points
- From the northeast corner of Lake Shore Dr. and Monroe St. follow the lakefront trail to the north and continue along the harbor’s edge as the trail bends to the east. Our boat will meet you along the Monroe Harbor wall east of the cement pier (aka the pump out dock). Our boat’s name is DRUID.
Redeem
Ticket Redemption
Please arrive 10-15 minutes early so that we can maximize your time on the water
