Chicago Social Events

City Cruises hosts birthday parties, milestone birthdays, anniversaries, retirement parties, family reunions, graduations, engagement parties, holiday gatherings, bridal and baby showers, Sweet 16s, quinceañeras, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, rehearsal dinners, welcome parties, celebrations of life, and just-because get-togethers. If it's worth celebrating, it's worth celebrating on the water.

Yes, depending on your location and guest count, you can charter an entire yacht, reserve a private deck, or book a section of tables. Your event coordinator will match the right option to your celebration's size and style.

Many vessels offer accessible boarding areas, climate-controlled interiors, and accessible restrooms on select yachts. Accessibility features vary by vessel and location.

Absolutely, our event coordinators personalize every detail, from dining and beverage packages to DJs, live entertainment, custom décor, specialty desserts, and champagne toasts. Package offerings vary by location, and your planner will walk you through what's available in your port.

Many event packages include chef-prepared dining and full beverage service. Choose buffet or plated menus and add premium bar packages; specific menus and options vary by location.

Pricing depends on your port, guest count, and package, and our flexible options are designed to fit a range of budgets. From reserving a few tables to chartering a full yacht, your complimentary event coordinator will build a package around your vision and budget.

City Cruises departs from convenient downtown boarding locations in each port, from Penn's Landing in Philadelphia to the harbors and marinas of New York, Chicago, San Francisco, San Diego, Toronto, London, and beyond. Your confirmation and event coordinator will provide exact boarding details for your city.

Many City Cruises locations host events year-round aboard climate-controlled yachts with both indoor spaces and open-air decks. That means a cozy, elegant celebration in winter and breezy deck-top views in summer.

Book as early as possible; popular dates like holidays, graduation season, and summer weekends fill quickly. Reaching out to our complimentary event coordinators early gives you the best choice of dates, spaces, and packages.

Yes — family reunions, graduation parties, Sweet 16s, Quinceañeras, and Bar and Bat Mitzvahs are among our most popular celebrations. With indoor and outdoor spaces, kid-pleasing menus, and plenty to see from the deck, guests of every generation stay entertained.

Dress to match your occasion; smart-casual suits most daytime brunch and lunch events, while evening dinner celebrations invite dressier attire. A light layer is always a good idea for time on the open-air decks.

Many celebrations can be personalized with décor, floral arrangements, signage, and other enhancements. Your event coordinator will discuss available customization options based on your location and package.

Yes. Many celebrations, including family reunions, graduation parties, birthday celebrations, and milestone events, are family-friendly. Available dining options and entertainment vary by event.

Depending on your package and location, you may choose from DJs, live musicians, dancing, interactive games, photo booths, specialty entertainment, and more.

Birthday parties, anniversary celebrations, retirement parties, graduation celebrations, family reunions, bridal showers, engagement parties, and holiday parties.

Contact our complimentary event coordinators, and they'll handle the rest - helping you choose a port, cruise style, menu, entertainment, and enhancements. From the first conversation to the final farewell, planning a waterfront celebration has never been easier.

• Statue of Liberty & Brooklyn Bridge — New York City
• Navy Pier — Chicago
• Boston Harbor waterfront — Boston
• Washington Monument — Washington, DC
• Golden Gate Bridge & Alcatraz — San Francisco
• USS Midway & Coronado Bridge — San Diego
• Penn's Landing & Benjamin Franklin Bridge — Philadelphia
• Downtown Norfolk waterfront — Norfolk
• Newport Harbor — Newport Beach
• Queen Mary — Long Beach
• CN Tower — Toronto
• Boldt Castle — Gananoque (1000 Islands)
• Tower Bridge & the London Eye — London
• York Minster — York

• Complimentary event planning — a dedicated planner guides you from first call to final farewell.
• Chef-prepared menus — buffet or plated dining crafted onboard, with premium bar packages.
• All-weather elegance — climate-controlled interiors plus open-air decks, in every season.
• Flexible packages — from a few tables to a full yacht charter, customized to your budget.
• Iconic locations — convenient downtown boarding in the world's most celebrated waterfront cities.
• Exceptional hospitality — personalized service that makes hosting feel effortless.

• Birthday hosts — celebrate another trip around the sun with skyline views, cocktails, and dancing.
• Couples & anniversaries — honor your love story with an elegant waterfront dinner among family and friends.
• Family reunions — reconnect across generations with great food, easy conversation, and spectacular scenery.
• Retirees & colleagues — toast years of hard work aboard a venue worthy of the milestone.
• Milestone celebrants — Sweet 16s, Quinceañeras, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, and graduations with room to dance.
• Wedding parties — engagement parties, bridal showers, rehearsal dinners, and welcome parties with wow factor.
• Holiday planners — festive gatherings surrounded by dazzling waterfront lights.

No other celebration venue spans this many iconic waterfronts with one consistent standard of hospitality. Whether your family gathers in Chicago, your friends fly into New York, or your reunion lands in Toronto or London, City Cruises delivers the same elegant yachts, chef-prepared menus, and complimentary event planning in every port — so the only hard decision is which skyline you want in your photos.