Great experience - If you want a smaller group experience on a historic fireboat, you will love this! The crew were so friendly and hospitable. Our narrator Cliff was the absolute best; so knowledgeable and shared great stories and facts in a humorous way.

Fireboat river and lake tour. - Fantastic tour. Informative and it took in a lock between river to lake. One of the only tours that did both. The guys on our cruise obviously loved their job and had plenty of knowledge of the architecture and history and told it in an interesting and fun way. The old fire boat had plenty of history too.

Excellent! - This was a fabulous experience! My mom and I took the tour in the afternoon on a beautiful Sunday. It was interesting, fun, and very informative. We could not originally find the location of where the boat took off, so we missed it by about five minutes. I called the number provided and they rebooked us from the noon tour to the three pm tour, no questions asked. I can’t wait for more friends and family to visit, so I can take them on the tour again!

Chicago fireboat river tour - This was a fantastic experience and having the history of the fireboat added even more to it. It felt like a personal tour, being more intimate than the larger boats. There’s a bar onboard too. The skipper and crew were terrific and Captain Cliff was extremely knowledgeable and quite the entertainer. The city from the river is awesome. We highly recommend it. Thanks again. John and Eleni

Best value in the city - We chose the lake/river tour. The crew was friendly and informative. Being from the west coast, we learned about Chicago’s history not only by building development but also from a firefighters point of view. We went through a lock system for the first time and did get to go out on the lake itself. It was a smaller, more intimate group which I feel gives it a more private excursion vibe. I would definitely do this cruise again.

Fun informative fire boat tour - Such a unique way to learn about all the architecture in the city. Lots of knowledge from Cliff and all the guys aboard the Fred A. Busse. Our group ranged a few different decades and we all loved it!

Had an amazing time and expectations were exceeded - You should probably bring sunscreen, water, and maybe a jacket. But if you do those things you will absolutely have the perfect time!! The only issues I had were because of my own fault and not planning ahead more, just a little sunburn, but you live and you learn. They had drinks on board and nice restrooms! Very accommodating for all people, they also did have shaded seating in the back that still had a great view, but of course the best seats were up front! The guides and captain were very friendly and inviting and genuinely made the experience wonderful. The prices were very reasonable too, not to mention I loved getting to learn about all the history of the city. Probably the best experience I had while I was in Chicago. Would absolutely recommend these guys to anyone, elders, people traveling with kids, singles, and all other kinds of folks! If you book a tour with these guys you really are in for a treat!

Hands down the Best Cruise in Chicagoland - So we have lived in Chicago for a very long time and gone on many boat tours: architecture, river, lake, fireworks, Windy, etc. This was our favorite by a long shot. First it covered the river and the lake. We went through the lock at Chicago. We were given a history of the city and the fire service. The boat is like a mini museum with lots of photos. And the architecture part of the cruise was very informative. You cover all the important buildings in Chicago with lots of added color. Plus, as an added bonus, they take your picture when you get on the boat and email you it for free. There's a bar with snacks and drinks and two toilets. And the people who work are the boat are so lovely. You can tell the really care. From now on when people visit, this is the tour I will book for them.

What an incredible experience! - What an incredible experience! This lake, locks, and river boat tour with Chicago Fireboat Tours exceeded all expectations. From the moment we boarded, the crew was friendly, knowledgeable, and passionate about sharing the history and beauty of the area. The journey through the locks was fascinating and gave us a unique perspective on how the waterways connect. Cruising from the lake into the river provided stunning views of the skyline, waterfront, and surrounding scenery that simply can't be appreciated from land. Cliffs narration was informative, engaging, and filled with interesting facts and very fun stories about the city's history, architecture, and maritime heritage. The boat was comfortable, well-maintained, and offered excellent viewing opportunities from every seat. We especially enjoyed learning about the engineering behind the locks and watching the water levels change as we passed through. Whether you're a visitor or a local, this tour is an unforgettable way to experience the beauty, history, and character of Chicago architecture. The combination of scenic views, fascinating stories, and the unique lock experience makes this one of the best boat tours we've ever taken. Highly, Highly recommend Chicago Fireboat Tours!

Great tour! - It was great to be on the vintage fire boat, the heads were clean, they had a bar and refreshments for purchase. Cliff did a great job explaining the history and architecture. Definitely would recommend this.. I love the fact it is veteran owned as well.