Tall Ship Red Witch

Captain Andrew and the staff were great. Even though it was overcast it was still an awesome experience. Good way to spend a Sunday afternoon. We’re going to try and book another one very soon.

I chartered the Red Witch for my girlfriend’s 30^th birthday party and had an awesome time. The boat is amazing, the crew is unbelievably professional and there is really nothing not to love about the entire experience. I was able to cater food and drink myself and the crew even helped set everything up and were serving drinks to the guests.
The pricing was very reasonable especially when compared to the other ships on Lake Michigan. I will definitely go back and highly recommend this unique experience.

I like boat trips and tours — I’ve been on many in various places. This one, unfortunately, was extremely boring. It would have been nice if the captain or crew engaged with us a bit more (e.g., talk about the skyline — not everyone aboard was from Chicago, talk about the ship and sailing, talk about the lake, talk about anything). Instead, there was little interaction (other than being asked repeatedly if we wanted drinks) and excruciating periods of time where the ship just bobbed in the water and we all sat silently (surrounded by strangers, it felt like we were on a lifeboat waiting for rescuers to arrive).
Also, it rained during this trip. Obviously, I don’t blame the captain or crew for the weird weather we’ve been having in Chicago. But it would have been nice if they had disposable rain ponchos they could have given us. The only alternative to get out of the rain was to go down below and hang out in a not especially comfortable space (it was dark and cramped). I’d also suggest that there be squeegees to clear off the water from the sitting areas above. You can’t really stand on the deck and so I sat back down and ended up with a water-​soaked backside. Traveling home on the train in extremely wet pants just made the whole experience even less appealing.

Thumbs up for captain Andrew and the crew! Fantastic!

The boat was beautiful! Crew was pleasant MR. Blue was funny. Boat was clean and we had an amazing view for the firework show.

I charted the Red Witch for my mom’s 65^th birthday, and it was a GREAT experience. We had about 18 people aboard, ages 3 to 70, and there was plenty of room for everyone to take in the beautiful view.
I highly recommend chartering the Red Witch for a special occasion… it’s sure to impress.

The Red Witch is a wonderful experience. Not one single reservation in recommending Captain Andrew, his crew and the Tall Ship Red Witch for any type of occasion. Totally worth every penny spent to create a wonderful memory.
I chartered the Red Witch for an 80^th birthday party/​family reunion and a fireworks cruise. We had 25 guests ranging in age from 22 — 82. Captain Andrew, his crew and our guests made magic that evening. Clearly the Red Witch is a labor of love for the captain and his crew… and we fell in love with all of them.
It was raining softly as we gathered at Burnham Harbor about ½ hr before sailing. Captain Andrew says the Lake is a micro climate and that you can’t tell what the weather will be until about 4 hrs before cruising time. At 8p he told me the rain would stop by 9p and it did (it actually stopped at 8:50). He knows his business. He gave us the option of cancelling the cruise but based on his reading of the weather, we went ahead, the rain stopped, the sky was clear over the stunning skyline and it became an absolutely beautiful evening.
From the moment we boarded the ship, the energy was electric. Once we were out of the harbor, the crew asked for volunteers to hoist the sail — my 80 yr mother volunteered! The bar opened (a cooler) and there wasn’t a dry glass the entire cruise. The captain asked if we had an ipod (we forgot). The accommodations shipboard were fine. The ship is being slowly rehabbed… it is clean and has tremendous character. The crew and their attention were beyond my expectation.
The only annoyance of the evening had nothing to do with the Red Witch but with parking. There was a concert on Northerly Island that evening and Soldier Field charged us $ 50 to park in the garage. Many of our group took Über — highly recommended. A few rode their bikes and a few took the el — all easy. If you’re not interested in paying through the roof for parking, make sure you check parking fees or leave your car at home.
Do not hesitate to charter this ship for a special occasion.

The Red Witch is a blast! The captain is very nice and accommodating, and the rest of the crew was both hopeful and added to the whole sailing atmosphere. We were on the boat for my friends birthday party, and it was the perfect way to celebrate. I would recommend this for anyone who is celebrating any special occasion with friends or family!

Boring, boring, boring. Just got on, sat down. Staff offered drinks, but you got about a 3 oz pour of Franzia box wine. No music. Unfriendly staff. Just sitting on a large boat with about 30 people. I was expecting much, much better.

I’ve never had so much fun on a boat, and that’s quite a statement.
I cannot wait to sail again. Maybe I’ll get to hoist a sail next time…

Holy cow, what an accommodating crew/​company!
My friend and I had tickets for a Thursday evening sail but unfortunately we got caught in a traffic jam. We were both looking forward to sailing so I was devastated that we would have to miss the cruise; I decided to give Red Witch a call. Thinking, maybe, just maybe they would be able to wait for us (since, you know the universe revolves around us). Of course, they could not. BUT offered to reschedule our sail for the following evening! Which worked out perfectly.
The actual sail was two hours; the best views of Chicago. Yeah, yeah– you can go on top of the Sears Tower or the Hancock but seriously? If want an astonishing view of the skyline– it should be in the middle of Lake Michigan.
Word to the wise: there is beer and wine for sale on the ship but it’s cash only; be prepared!
The crew was extremely nice– so tip too.

Amazing night out. Perfect weather, crew, and company (you can bring so many people on board you. An make new friends). BYOB, Chicago skyline and an amazingly personable crew. Shutouts specifically to Brennan and Sam. Thanks for a great evening.

They no longer allow you to bring your own drinks… bummer.

I bought tickets on Travelzoo for a double date. In total, I paid $ 175 ($ 140 on travelzoo, an extra $ 25 for fees when I actually reserved the dates). Aside from unexpectedly paying fees during the reservation process, I enjoyed my sailing trip. The staff provided complimentary water and pop. We thought we were going to miss the boat, but they left the harbor at 1:15PM! They had beer and wine for sale.
They were nice enough to not notice that we didn’t pay for the beer, but we tipped generously instead. I kind of wished we were able to go more alongside the lakefront and not just around McCormick Place and Museum Campus.

My wife, daughter and I recently took the cocktail cruise on the Red Witch. We all had a really nice time. The cruise was nice and relaxing, the crew was fun and friendly, and the views of Chicago were amazing.
If you do book a cruise, be sure to bring along some fancy snacks, sandwiches, and even a bottle of wine.

I came across the Tall Ship Red Witch about a month before the 4^th of July while I was looking for possible sailboats to charter. I showed it to my girlfriend and we were both sure it must have been booked months earlier. Nonetheless, I called the next day and was surprised to find that it was not only available, but also affordable (($ 650/​hour x 3 hours + 9% Chicago Amusement Tax) /​49 people = $ 44 per person). Now I just had to find 47 other people.
Over the weekend I talked to a few friends and word spread like wildfire, turns out everyone wants to be on pirate ship for the Fourth of July. I made an excel spreadsheet with names, sent out emails to our selected friends, and gave them a 72 hour deadline to get me the money (this helps weed out the irresponsible few who would probably not make the boat on time anyway). By the powers of Venmo (amazing iPhone/​Android payment app) and Paypal, I had all the money up front and put down our 50% deposit the next week.
On the day of the cruise, they recommend that everyone arrives at least 30 minutes before your scheduled departure. I would like to reemphasize this point. We only had one couple come slightly late (3 minutes), but it is not especially easy to get to Burnham Harbor so that time cushion is extremely helpful.
Once we arrived, Captain Andrew took me aside to go over the plan and make sure we were in sober enough shape to board (it was the 4^th of July, mind you). I assured him that I had suggested everyone take the afternoon easy and we were all good to go. Captain Andrew is extremely friendly and certainly allows the passengers to have a good time, but it’s obvious that safety is his first priority and wouldn’t allow anyone to board who would be a danger to themselves, the other passengers, or the crew. From there, we loaded the beer and wine (no hard alcohol is allowed, which is completely fine), and took off.
After leaving the dock, one of the crew went over the rules (no jumping in the water, watch out for the swinging boom, etc.) and we putted out to the lake by engine. Once we were out of the harbor, the sails went up, the engine went off, and we pointed the bow towards the horizon.
We couldn’t have picked a better day for sailing. The sky was blue, it was very warm, and the wind was strong enough to really get the boat moving. When you approach the boat, it looks a bit small but I can assure you that 49 passengers will fit comfortably. Also, the three hour cruise was a perfect amount of time and as we were heading back to the harbor, we got to see the sun setting behind the skyline (the Sear’s/Willis tower is HUGE when looking at it from the water).
Overall, everyone had an absolutely amazing time. Since the cruise, at least two of the passengers are now planning their own private charters. Captain Andrew and his crew were wonderful and friendly, going out of their way to make sure we were safe and happy. Also, if you have the chance, I’d recommend talking to the Captain at length, he’s a super interesting guy.
Thanks Tall Ship Red Witch, we’ll be back!

Captain Andy is the bomb, outstanding service, very professional. I had the opportunity to minister a wedding on board the Red Witch and even though the sea was angry, Captain Andy was able to find a place that was comfortable for everyone yet still provided an excellent view for the wedding. Thanks Captn!

We found a travelzoo deal for a Saturday 1pm sail and it was awesome! The crew was so friendly and come around to make sure you have drinks. It was such a relaxing experience! Love the BYOB, food, etc.
Highly recommend and will do this again when we have guests!

An excellent way to wind down after a day in the city. The Red Witch is a gorgeous ship with a friendly and professional staff. I highly recommend the sunset cruise.
Definitely pack a small bag of wine and snacks before your trip. It will make the experience perfect. I recommend some flutes and Prosecco with apple slices.
I would do this again if it didn’t make me absolutely seasick. Take your Dramamine if you are prone to that crawly feeling.

I took my gf on one of their sunset firework cruise for her birthday and we had an absolute blast. It was the perfect thing at the perfect time. The staff was absolutely accommodating and you can not beat BYOB, BYO Food and fireworks.
I brought champagne and her birthday treats since we had already went to dinner. We definitely got lucky with one of the most beautiful nights this summer (which isn’t in their control but it was part of the entire experience). Even though we brought our own stuff they still give you a couple drinks each and offer them so you don’t have to ask (Canned beer and house wine).
Thank you Red Witch for making this an unforgettable birthday for my gf and I.