Odyssey Cruises Chicago

Absolutely loved this cruise! We were a bit late for boarding, but the cruise attendant was kind enough to wait for us. They were incredibly welcoming, making sure we were comfortable the whole cruise. The salad was awesome, but our entrée was iffy. We really enjoyed the endless dessert buffet, and there was also a cool dance floor to go bust a move on! The upper deck was also open and you could see the whole city skyline, perfect for a cute photo shoot. This cruise is perfect for a couple friends who like to dress up and want a fun night out :)
Also shout out to our AMAZING waiter, Elmer

A little over due but this was a great dinner experience. The DJ was so much fun and the staff was so attentive. Staff members, the manager, the captain and DJ would stop by the tables to see if we needed anything and if we where enjoying ourselves. They where great! I would definitely recommend this cruise dinner or lunch to anyone.

During the years we lived in Chicago, never went for this cruise. Specially in Jan, it was out of question over Florida, Caribbean and California. Now, why would I fly in from CA for a cruise in Lake Michigan in Jan? …it’s the twins… celebrating my twin brothers having babies! …two more little guys on the way, what could be cooler than taking them on a cruise in Jan with high wind chill and freezing temperature! :) reason we picked this week was because it was restaurant week in Chicago, so it wasn’t their usual menu.
8 of us (two in the warmer) headed to Navy pier for a 7 pm cruise. Boarding was at 6:30, we were a bit late to board. Tip #1, don’t be late, the good tables get occupied. We were seated in a table of 6 in one corner by the window, not too bad, but toward the middle by the dance floor would hv been better. Before we started sailing DJ Patrick stopped by for our selection of songs for the couples we were celebrating. Patrick was funny and friendly. Within few min, we left the dock and was served sparkling pineapple juice (as opposed to aged grapes in liquid form). Enjoyed the refreshment while selected our main entrée. Main coarse preceded Mixed Greens Salad w Goat Cheese, Seasonal Fruit, Sugared Pecans & Balsamic Vinaigrette. I enjoy a bit sweetness in Salad, so I liked it. If u r not a fan of Goat Cheese or Balsamic Vinegar u may wanna ask for alternate to the server before serving. The main course selections were Greek Zucchini Fritters, Maple & Mustard Glazed Chicken, Oven Baked Atlantic Salmon, Pork Chop. I went for the Salmon, wify went for Zucchini and the rest picked Chicken. The Salmon was well baked, juicy inside and tastes great with the citrus cream sauce… orzo was a good compliment for the fish. As usual, being a foody, I went on trying my brother’s chicken and wife’s Zucchini. The chicken wasn’t as sweet as I was expecting because of the Maple Glaze. It was pretty moist inside, blaze was perfect, but flavor was average. Zucchini Fritters were just not edible, it tasted a bit fishy and old, she decided to trade it for the Chicken. The server was very nice about it and replaced the Zucchini for the Maple Glazed chicken. Dessert table was setup by the dance floor with pastries, brownie bites, tiramisu and éclair. Tiramisu was delicious, so we’re the pastries, the to-​be moms went crazy over dessert!
Even though it was extremely windy and cold, we decided to visit the top deck for a bit. Awesome view of the Chicago night skyline from the middle of the Lake, but we hardly survived a min as we went up without our coats! Took few pics and ran down to the dance floor and joined the crowd while Patrick played our selections. Before we realized we were at the dock. That says enough that we had a great time.
Overall, it’s fun time if you go wth a group. It’s not the food that matters, it’s the ambience, service and experience that makes the 2 hour cruise worthwhile. I can imagine, the weather will add to the experience in Summer time. Unless you are celebrating something, I would recommend to go for it in Summer.
#comebackmaybe
#Airwolf

I’m going to prerequisite this review with why I’m giving it 5 stars. I totally had a great time! The food, atmosphere, and service were great. I went here for a VIP/​Media night and it was FREE. Otherwise, it may have been four stars depending on the price (which I don’t know what that is). Once we arrived everyone was so pleasant. They directed us to coat check and made sure we had a glass of champagne or wine upon entrance. The food was done buffet style, but it was just the right amount of people in attendance. The line never felt that long. They also had a great variety of food to choose from. Everyone seem pleased. I was already stuffed after dinner and the delicious specialty cocktails, but then they invited us on the top deck for dessert. OMG!!! I had to try everything and I just waddled off the boat happy. Totally awesome experience and I would recommend for corporate functions or a night out.

Nice venue to celebrate a birthday or anniversary! Great to see everyone dressed up for a change. Food, although it was for a crowd, was quite good.
A few tips, we boarded as soon as it opened, and dinner was served to us immediately. We were able to go up top before most people and enjoy the skyline without a crowd. Also, because we were early, we received a window table and didn’t pay that sky high price for it when we bought our tickets! After reading the menu prior to buying the tickets, I imagined a buffet for all of the food. In reality, the buffet was for dessert only. The main entrée was a choice between chicken or fish, served to you at your table. There was also a very nice salad. All in all, the food was pretty good for that type of venue.
If you stayed in the dining room, it’s not very romantic with the loud music, too bad there wasn’t a separate deck for the dance floor, or maybe they should play soft music for dancing in the dining room and the louder music on another floor. If you really want romance, the outside areas are the place to be! I guess there was romance even with the loud music inside because a couple got engaged on board last night! Very nice!

We went on an Odyssey Champagne Dinner Cruise at the end of September and enjoyed a fine dinner with dancing and sight seeing from the deck of the Odyssey on an evening cruise. We were able to take some great photos of Chicago’s Lake front from the deck of the ship.
The boarding begins at 6:00 pm and the ship departs at 7:00 pm.
The cruise has a duration of two and a half hours bringing us back to port at 9:30 pm.
The Odyssey is a sleek Renovated ship which has a capacity to accommodate hundreds of passengers. There are 3 climate controlled decks from which to view the Chicago vistas from the lake. There is a rooftop lounge with modern furniture where patrons can sit and relax and enjoy the views. The ship docs at Navy Pier and sails almost every day of the year.

The cruise line does a really good job of making sure you have a good time. The food is really good and the service is even better. The boat pretty much sails out into the lake and allows you to sit back and enjoy a great dinner without worry, and with a great view.

Took my folks here for their 40^th wedding anniversary. And it was really nice.
Be prepared to spend money for nice though. For the four of us, window seats, photo keepsake, steak and lobster, 1^st class upgrade (champagne & shrimp cocktail), seafood tower, the pre-​paid premium open bar, plus admin fees, marina fees and tax, the total was roughly $ 1200. Yep… You read that right. And the taxes, admin fees and marina fee was nearly 200 $ of that.
The window seat was nice… Some people complain that the glare keeps you from seeing out of it. We did not have that problem at all. It was a great view.
The food was above average to good. I’ll be honest with you… Is it the best steak you will have in Chicago? No. Is it good? Yes. My steak was cooked as I ordered it and tender. I really can’t complain. Especially since they are pumping out mass orders of various types of food at different times all around you.
The seafood was decent. Seemed fresh. No complaints there. Generously sized as well. The seafood tower is said to be split for 2 on the website but easily is for 4 people.
There is a dessert bar as well with individual samples of various items. It was ok. Lackluster compared to the rest of the cuisine.
The DJ was not good. He put on a Sinatra soundtrack for dinner (which was good). But after dinner he played a strange mix of music. And at the end of the night, when a few couples actually came to the floor for a nice slow dance, the dude cleared the floor with the very next song with some crap.
The live musician on the top deck was fantastic. Live guitar. Beautiful.
The bugs were bad though. I didn’t think that would be an issue but there were still gnats and skeeters even out there. That wasn’t pleasant at all. They were swarming around the lights around the back of the ship too. It was really gross.
The Wednesday fireworks display was wonderful. And you get an amazing view.
Plus the night lake view of the skyline is amazing. That’s really what the cost of the ticket is covering.
All of the staff was friendly and accommodating. They all wished my parents a happy anniversary everywhere we went. And really helped to make it a special night. There were even rose petals on the table. And after they cleared the table from dinner and we came back from watching the fireworks, they shaped the rose petals into a heart. It really was very cool. And our server Sarah was very attentive and sweet.
All around, if you have the money, do the add ons and do the cruise for something special. Dress up nice and enjoy yourself. It is fun and something unique to do. And share it with friends for added fun.
I give this 4 stars… Only because the DJ needs to learn how to not clear a floor. That/​he was not good. :(Woooow… So not good.

My husband took me on a dinner cruise for my birthday, and we had a blast. Food was amazing, definitely exceeded my expectations, the staff was friendly, and the views of the city were breathtaking.
Only two cons: the cocktail menu and wine list are really lacking, and the lighting on the dance floor was so intense (ALL THE COLORS!!!) that we actually couldn’t dance for more than one song without getting a little nauseous.

I would have given it 5 stars, but the food was not very good at all.
Service was stupendous from the moment we picked up our tickets until the moment we grabbed chocolate chip cookies on our way off the boat. The views were great of course, it’s Chicago! We were lucky enough to have fireworks on a Friday night. Seems like someone paid for the show. Bottom line, it was a very nice experience for my husband and me. Great opportunity to make it a very romantic evening.
Although it’s very pricey, it was definitely worth the money at least for a one time event.
What I don’t understand is why the food continues to be so bad. I just read all of the other reviews about the food, it’s true. It’s not great at all. Management should really care more about their customers’ satisfaction and do a better job with the food preparation.

My parents invited me to a soirée for the hospital which my mom is affiliated. Let me say that Odyssey Cruises know how to throw a party! Servers were warm and friendly making sure that every guest had a drink and appetizer in hand. I was ALMOST stuffed before dinner even started.
Dinner was divine… The short ribs were tender, juicy, and DELICIOUS! It’s a good thing that I went with a flowy dress instead of something more snug.
Later we danced the night away and enjoyed the view of our awesome city as we cruised around Lake Michigan.
I’ve been to parties on the Odyssey before and each time has always been an enjoyable experience. I would definitely recommend this venue for your next big bash!

The staff always go out of their way to make you feel special! I’ve cruised on the Odyssey several times and each time I’m impressed.
The last cruise I took was for a romantic evening with my friends from England who had recently got engaged here in Chicago. The team made sure it was a special moment to remember.
The food is fantastic! With the menu choices they offer, you can’t go wrong. The vegetarian option was a cauliflower steak and it was delicious. I got the upgrade, the surf and turf and it was outstanding!
The cruise is just long enough to get a great view of the city (the night cruise you get the sunset) while enjoying a drink on the top deck.
I would recommend this to anyone who wants an unforgettable evening.

Holy cow! What a rip off. My wife took me here for my birthday. And when I found out how much she paid for the two of us. You have got to be kidding me.
I will tell you that the staff\crewmembers are very friendly and kind. On point when you need them.
But the food was not up to par. If I am going to pay a little over $ 300 for two people! You better believe the food should be a 5 star not a 2 or 3 star.
The views you get to see on the boat are nice but not worth that much money.
If you pay attention the boat really only goes in a circle and not too far from the take off point.
Oh yeah. and let’s not forget that if you want steak and lobster you have to pay an extra $ 25.
Your photo they take — $ 30, 2 photos $ 40, alcohol extra — not included.
Deserts — something you can buy at your local grocery department store.
Come on!, where is the creativity.
With all of this being said I would not recommend this place.
There are plenty of places in Chicago that you can get more for your money.

So it was okay. We’ve been talking about doing one of these things for years now and I finally decided to book one.
As luck would have it (and the Odyssey people couldn’t do a darn thing about it), the night I chose turned out to be freezing (for June) and foggy as hell. And when I say foggy, I mean that we couldn’t see even a hint of the skyline from Navy Pier.
Anyhoo. We boarded at 6. I’d say our deck was less than half full (I’m sure the weather was largely to blame for that, save for the poor saps like us who purchased tickets in advance).
We set sail at 7 or 7:30 and couldn’t see ANYTHING. I’m glad I didn’t pay the extra money to get a guaranteed window seat or private table since everyone already got that due to the low volume of peoples onboard.
Now for the food… Our waiter was a sweetheart. We were there celebrating our 7^th wedding anniversary (a couple months early) and he left a cute handwritten note and our table was strewn with rose petals. Nice.
It was a Champagne cruise so we each received a complimentary glass upon boarding. I also checked in on Unilocal and redeemed the free premium drink offer. Our waiter asked what I wanted and I asked for a glass of Chardonnay. He returned with a glass of red wine. Okay, I thought. I’m not a huge fan of red wine, but if it was free, I wasn’t able to say anything. So I drank it.
Meanwhile, as our foggy dinner cruise proceeded, they informed us that due to the crappy weather conditions, we’d be returning to the dock at 8:30 but that we could stay on until 10. Bummer, but they offered a free drink to everyone. This time, I thought I’d be easy so I just asked if I could have another glass of the champagne they were handing out as we got on. They brought back (wait for it…) yes! Another glass of red wine. We laughed. It was actually comical at that point. I drank that too.
So honestly, I would’ve been just fine with getting off at 8:30 but wouldn’t you know, right as we were about to dock, the weather lifted just a tad (you still couldn’t really see anything) but we were able to go back out and cruise for awhile longer.
It was too cold to be on the observation deck (and you couldn’t see any skyline anyway) and we don’t dance so we pretty much just sat at our table for another 90 minutes.
As for the food, it was okay. It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t anything to rave about either in my opinion. I had the salmon, and I’ve made it better through the meal delivery service that I get. It wasn’t bad, though.
The highlight was whatever my husband had for dessert. I didn’t try it (I’m somewhat on a diet) but he absolutely loved it and WOULD​.NOT​.SHUT​.UP​.ABOUT​.IT. It was the house cake with ice cream.
I really wish we could try it again (I’d order the cauliflower steak) on a night with nice weather. It would have been a completely different experience. It’s too expensive for us unless we can get a Groupon or something. I’ll keep an eye out.
Overall we had a nice time, but the weather really sucked for us and put a damper (no pun intended) on things.

The server Margaret was excellent (so was her asst for evening) We have a ship like this in San Diego except this one in chicago is more updated and cruise ship like in he dining room. Food was just ok and they had us packed in like sardines. It was like being at a movie theater. Literally 4 – 5 others had to get up move so I could go to the restroom. And my chair and the guy behind me both touched and we were both scrunched up to our own tables so it’s not like one of us was stretched out taking up space… rough

We wanted to be grown ups and go someplace special for our anniversary and have a chance to dress up. I’ve two expired Groupons that I didn’t have a chance to use, but wanted to use the face value off.
The booking was such a hassle. I had to explain myself to two different people. And she told me I had to pay $ 100 difference. So I just told I had to think about. I called again and the second person said the difference was $ 24, but I didn’t have my card to charge. Third time was a pleasant guy and he told me the difference was $ 4. Of course, I booked.
Before dinner we were stressed out about the dress code, but upon arrival I didn’t need too. There were many people in jeans and some in club clothes.
Our server Andre was polite and funny. The trio was delicious. When it came to the entrees we were left half disappointed. Andre had recommended the crab and mussel gratin. And I choose salmon. The salmon was a good portion and tasted great, but there was something on it that make it look unappetizing, to be polite. The gratin had one small 2 inch piece of crab and 5 mussels, but the horrible part was the fact that it was so oily. I tilted the bowl it came in and I could see all the butter/​oil on the bottom. Dessert was beautifully served and enjoyed.
The entertainment needed some improvements. The DJ was not very engaging and played a lot of Pitbull/​Mexican music.
I wished that we had a chance to enjoy the sights, but we purchased the dinner for a very cold and cloudy day. We did not get a chance to enjoy the scenery and experience the lounge deck. Unfortunately. Would love to go another time and experience take advantage of what the Odyssey had to offer.

Came for my parents anniversary celebration. It was a super last minute purchase for us but the people are the phone were really helpful. Of course, these cruises are NOT cheap but to enjoy the night, you have to forget about the cost and just take in the experience!
Tip: Dress attire was not as strict as they make it out to be. We had unnecessary worries about the dress code (we were on vacation and didn’t have the fanciest of clothes on).
The ship itself is beautiful. The dining floor has a nice set up, but the star is the rooftop where there’s a cool lounge vibe. The multi course meal is a treat and the food we had was quite delicious. The schedule and entertainment was sub-​par but no matter because what made the night was getting to spend this lovely evening with my family on a gorgeous boat overlooking Lake Michigan!

I was very skeptical about the meal cruise because of the high prices and all the hype I heard people rave about. However, after I tried it myself the first time, I was quite impressed.
Hubby and I booked the Thanksgiving lunch cruise. Although the confirmation said the boarding time was at 1:45pm, assuming because of the cold weather, they allowed us to board early.
We were immediately taken care by the servers, Mariya and Samuel. Water, iced tea, and hot tea were part of the lunch cruise package. However, if you want alcohol or other premium drinks, they had a plenty of options. If you want one (1) free premium drink, check in at Unilocal.I personally don’t drink any alcohol, so I chose not to use this offer.
The lunch cruise buffet consisted of typical Thanksgiving meal items, such as creamy corns, turkey, roast beef, ham, meshed potatoes with gravy. They also had Caesar and Gorgonzola fruit salads. They were decent. Everything was quite salty. They could have used a better judgement on pinches of sodium. On the other hand, the dessert was the highlight of the entire meal. They had cannoli, raspberry cheesecakes, chocolate cakes, pumpkin pies, and chocolate fondue that you could dip the fruit with it. The only complaint about the dessert was the ripening of the fruit: they melons were under-​ripened. Though the chocolate used for the chocolate fondue was pretty delicious.
We received an outstanding service the entire time. The view on the sky deck was spectacular. Even though it was a cold and semi-​windy day, the sky was clear, and we could see all the Chicago attractions while cruising on Lake Michigan.
In the Amethyst deck (one deck above the dining room), they were playing «Horton hears a hoo» to keep children entertained. They also provided a complimentary coffee station, which was nice (it was sort of funny that if you wanted coffee with your meal, they charged you additional $ 4 for it). You could also go out and enjoy the view at the Amethyst deck level, it was less windy and easier for snapping a picture without your hair all messed up.
The entire cruise lasted for two (2) and half hours. The speed of the cruise was easy breezy, so I didn’t feel sick (thank God because I do occasionally get motion sickness).
I think I will for sure do this again. Imagine that getting on a cruise will be fantastic during summer time.

Beautiful experience overall.
Really enjoyed the view and the service for the lunch cruise. The food was great – had lobster bisque and the salmon. Also had a delicious chocolate mousse dessert. The freshly baked rolls were delicious as well.
Honestly, I have been on other cruises and this was by far one of the best! The bathrooms were nice too lol.
And it was big and modern. They had good music and a DJ. Definitely worth the price! A nice cruise to go on with family, friends, or partner!

I attended a private event hosted on the Odyssey and for the 5 star views alone, it’s worth going. The cruise itself lasted about 3 hours.
The best seat in the house can be found on the top deck of the odyssey where you will be treated to some of the most spectacular views of our skyline. On a balmy summer evening it can be very refreshing and scenic rather than just walking the bustling and very busy strip of Navy Pier.
Before the end of your cruise you are treated to an awesome fireworks display.
The waiter service was pleasing and the bars are fully stocked.
The food is what needs improvement. This was not so inventive and lacked flavor. It was standard fair. Come for the ambience, the views, and something different! It was an enjoyable experience and I can see how this can be a romantic or just a fun evening!
5 star views!!!