Gourmet Chicago Brunch Cruise

Enjoy a Two Hour Gourmet Chicago Lunch or Brunch Cruise on Lake Michigan

(17 ratings)
Price for 2 Participants

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About This Experience Gift

Spend the Afternoon on an Elegant Ship Cruising Lake Michigan
Savor a Decadent Buffet Brunch or a Three Course Lunch
Take in the Stunning Views of Chicago's Waterfront

Climb aboard the Odyssey of Chicago and enjoy a relaxing afternoon dining on a freshly prepared feast. This Brunch/Lunch boat cruise creates a distinctive atmosphere reminiscent of the classic ocean liners. As you board the ship, greet the Captain and crew. Then you and your guest will discover the elegant dining room. While on board you will indulge yourself in either a Plated Lunch or a Buffet Brunch of American breakfast favorites, freshly prepared entrees and desserts.

If you like, enjoy a cocktail on the outer deck while gazing at Lake Michigan. You will cruise along the Chicago Lakefront to the Museum Campus and take in the world-famous skyline with sights from the Sears Tower, to the John Hancock Center and the Shedd Aquarium. Round out your trip with a spin on the dance floor as you move to the music.

So, whether you are visiting the Windy City or are a local, this Chicago Gourmet Brunch Cruise is one of the most fun and memorable experiences and makes a great gift!

Where to Go for Lunch Cruise Experiences in Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

Group Size and Spectator Info

Participants
The Gourmet Chicago Brunch Cruise Experience Gifts Certificate is valid for two participants, unless additional participants are added onto the certificate. There may be up to six-hundred additional participants on the cruise.

Guests
This experience is not suitable for non-paying guests.

When can you book Gourmet Chicago Brunch Cruise

OPEN Additional Dates Coming Soon CURRENTLY CLOSED

Additional Dates Coming Soon

Chicago Brunch Cruises are available on select Sundays, year-round, subject to availability. Boarding typically begins at 12:15 PM and cruising from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM.

The Chicago Lunch Cruises are offered on select dates, year round, subject to availability. Boarding typically begins at 1:00 PM.

Xperience Certificates® are not redeemable for Specialty or Holiday Event Cruises.

How Long Is The Gourmet Chicago Brunch Cruise

The Gourmet Chicago Brunch and Lunch Sails have a sail time of 2 hours and a total experience time of approximately 2¾ hours.

Does Weather Impact Lunch Cruise Experiences

The Brunch and Lunch Cruises in Chicago may be rescheduled or held dockside by the Captain or the Coast Guard due to severe weather conditons.

What to Wear for Lunch Cruise Experiences

Dressy-casual attire is suggested. Nice pants or a sundress is appropriate for women. Collared shirts and dress pants are recommended for men. Dark, dressy jeans are acceptable. Casual jeans, t-shirts, athletic shoes or flip flops are discouraged.

What To Know Before You Go

Price includes tax and service charge. Complimentary Coffee, Hot Tea, Iced Tea and Water included.

Lunch menu upgrades may be purchased by credit card on the day of your cruise. Signature cocktails; domestic, imported and local craft beer; and an extensive wine list are available and can be purchased at the cash bar.

BRUNCH MENU
Sundays Only

Early Risers
Seasonal Fruit
Breakfast Pastries
Scottish Smoked Salmon
Scrambled Eggs
Breakfast Meats
Breakfast Potatoes
Build-Your-Own Belgian Waffle Station

Late Risers
Caesar Salad
Shrimp and Farfalle Pasta Salad
Potato Salad
Roasted Baby Carrots
Roasted Cedar Plank Oregano Salmon
Maple and Mustard Glazed Chicken
Hand-Carved Striploin, USDA Choice

Desserts
Odyssey Signature Dessert Station
Chocolate Fondue

PLATED LUNCH MENU
Weekdays and Saturdays

First Course

Caesar Salad
Buttermilk Caesar Dressing, Shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese, Herb Croutons and Italian Parsley

Lobster Soup
Brioche Croutons and Scallions

Entrées

Oven Baked Atlantic Salmon Filet
Lemon Orzo with Red Onions and Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Citrus Dill Sauce

Maple and Mustard Glazed Chicken Breast
Fingerling Potatoes and Chives, Haricot Verts, Dijon Mustard Cream Sauce

Braised Beef Short Rib
Idaho Potato and Horseradish Mash, Baby Carrots, Pearl Onions and English Peas, Cabernet Sauvignon Sauce

Jumbo Forrest Mushroom Ravioli
Spanish Red Lentils and Sage, Arugula, Shallot’s, Toasted Walnuts, Basil Oil

Dessert

Eli’s Original Cheesecake
Strawberry Sauce

Duo of Sorbet
Seasonal Sorbet, Fresh Cut Fruit

Freshly Cut Fruit & Fresh Strawberries
Madagascar Vanilla and Orange Custard, Fresh Mint

Chocolate Decadent Cake
Mixed Berries, Raspberry Sauce

Odyssey Signature Warm Butter Cake
Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, Blackberry Sauce

Enhancements (Available for an additional price):

Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail
Bourbon Cocktail Sauce

*Menu subject to change. Please inform your server if anyone in your party has a food allergy.

ITEM/SKU NUMBER: 06YE14900D

Inquire about this Experience

Reservation And Cancelation Policy

All changes to reservations for the Gourmet Chicago Brunch Cruise Experience require Fourteen (14) days advance notice.

Xperience Certificates® cannot be exchanged once a reservation for the experience has been made.

BUY NOW BOOK LATER

Experience Gifts are delivered in the form of an open-dated Gift Certificate redeemable at the recipient’s convenience, making it easy for them to book the date that works best for them.
INSTANT E-GIFT

Gifts can be printed out upon purchase; or, delivered instantly via eMail to you or to the gift recipient. Certificates can be personalized with a message and include a full description of the gift purchased. Don’t worry, we won’t disclose the price of the gift.
NO EXPIRATION DATES

Certificates are valid for one year from the date of purchase. After 12 months from the date of issue, the redeemer will be responsible for any price increase for the activity (if there is one at the time of redemption).
FREE EXCHANGES

Worried about selecting the perfect gift? No need to! Certificates valid for a specific activity can be exchanged at any time prior to redemption. Plus, open Choice Certificates can be purchased here.
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CUSTOMER SERVICE

Have questions? No problem. We are happy to answer any questions you may have via eMail.

Gourmet Chicago Brunch Customer Reviews

Average Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Brunch Review

Our server was Miranda. She was a doll and very knowledgeable. She came to check on us upstairs on the top level. She got us anything we needed. We got to change our seats. I loved the scrambled eggs. Did not think much of the 2 salads.
Marie Fosco - Spring Grove, IL
Verified Xperience Days Participant
Odyssey Lunch Cruise

My wife and I really wouldn't call this lunch 'gourmet ' it was just mediocre. We had the seafood pasta which was described as 'linguine,' but it was spaghetti, swimming in sauce, and overdone. We were the last ones served, getting our salads while other people were already at the desert table. However, the manager did make up for this by picking up the bill for our wine, which was a very nice gesture. Overall, we enjoyed the experience, but were disappointed with the food.
Aras Staniulis - Chicago
Verified Xperience Days Participant
Brunch Reivew

We enjoyed the day so much. The crew was wonderful & the brunch was good. Overall it was an exceptional experience. We plan on going again and taking friends with us.
Kenneth Wallace - Chicago
Verified Xperience Days Participant
Chicago Brunch Cruise

We totally enjoyed the day. The cruise left the pier and returned right on time. The food was varied and very good. The staff was courteous and knowedgable. Very friendly also. I will recommend the cruise to all my friends. Real good value for the money.
Steven Hand - Princeton Il
Verified Xperience Days Participant
Lunch Cruise

We had a wonderful time on the Lunch Cruise, the food was tasty, the service was superb, the view beautiful, couldn't have been nicer.
Donald Terry - Ottawa, Il
Verified Xperience Days Participant
Odyssy Gourmet Brunch Cruise

It was okay. I would not call it a gourmet brunch as my husband and I thought it was standard hotel food. We received this as a gift and were expecting more food or even better seating for the price.
Elena P. - Chicago
Verified Xperience Days Participant
Gourmet Cruise

Excellent food, service, and views. Would definitely recommend this.
Ron Stern - Chicago
Verified Xperience Days Participant
Chicago Brunch Cruise

The brunch cruise was such a great experience! The ship personnel were all very friendly and knowledgeable. It is great for special occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries. Previous reviewers said they felt out of place because of their attire, but I felt everyone was appropriately dressed on the ship wearing nice pants and shirts, and skirts and dresses. The views of the Chicago skyline were amazing and I wish we were out on the water for a longer period of time, but overall it was a great experience and I will definitely go back!
Laura - Chicago
Verified Xperience Days Participant
Brunch Cruise

It was a great ride. I felt the brunch was plentiful and adequate for the price. We loved getting a totally new view of the Chicago skyline. It was nice to view it at the slow and quiet pace. Dress warm and expect a breeze and you will enjoy it.
Tanya Burkey - Elmhurst
Verified Xperience Days Participant
Lunch Cruise Chicago

This was a gift from my son and daughter-in-law. It was absolutely amazing! The staff and crew were extremely polite and the food was DELICIOUS! We couldn't have asked for a better gift! Thank you so much for a once in a lifetime experience!
Bill and Sherry Niesman - Odyssey Chicago
Verified Xperience Days Participant
Lunch Cruise Chicago

We enjoyed the cruise very much. We had the perfect day and the crew treated us excellently. The food was excellent, as well. All people involved were very accomodating. I would recommend this to anyone wanting a specical experience. Parking was expensive, but that's Chicago!
Lonnie Horn - Chicago
Verified Xperience Days Participant
Chicago Lunch Cruise Review

It was nice, but overpriced.
hogberg - chicago
Verified Xperience Days Participant
Odyssey Brunch

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the cruise. The food was wonderful much better than regular buffet-style food, there was an excellent chocolte fountain and dessert tray, and the drinks were great. Previous reviewers said they felt out of place due to the casual dress of the other passengers, but I found that there were many people who dressed nicely, and those wearing jeans and flip-flops looked underdressed. However, no one seemed bothered by the attire of other passengers. The weather was beautiful and the view of the city was perfect. I would go back again.
Bailey Hamilton - Chicago
Verified Xperience Days Participant
Odyssey Lunch Cruise

We went as a couple and had a great time! The atmosphere was great, from the music to the dining area and the views from the top deck were perfect. We had great weather - sunshine and 75 degrees - without it, it probably wouldn't have been as nice. Since we read the other reviews in advance, we knew that a sport coat for guys wasn't needed. For women, an afternoon dress was absolutely appropriate. The one comment we'll make is that there are several other cruises that leave the port at the same time - we noticed that we were the last ones out and the first ones in. Other than that, we had a great first time on Lake Michigan.
Mark - Chicago
Verified Xperience Days Participant
Brunch for two cruise

The dress attire of many of the guests were inappropriate. I read the requirements before boarding the ship and it was stated as somewhat formal. Yet there were passengers in shorts, flip flops, and baseball caps. This gives a poor image of the quality of this cruise.
Marcus Kim - Chicago
Verified Xperience Days Participant
gourmet lunch cruise

my friends, husband and myself had an absolutely a perfect afternoon on the odessy and would recommend it to anyone!!
odessy - chicago
Verified Xperience Days Participant
Gourmet Chicago Brunch Cruise For Two

As a whole the Cruise was great. Food, drink. ship personnel, atmosphere. We wish the cruise was longer and we had had more time to survey the ship. The only concern we had was that we were told that men had to wear a jacket and women had to wear cocktail attire. When we arrived there were some groups who boarded and were dressed in shorts, blue jeans and tank tops. This was against what were were told in our instructions. Also the groups were served before us and were quite noisy. The pictures that were taken of us were outstanding and well priced. We would take the cruse again, but still wonder about the dress code. We felt that we were very over dressed and kind of out of place.
James F. Cribbett Jr. - Chicago
Verified Xperience Days Participant
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Questions about Gourmet Chicago Brunch

Question: Hello, I am looking into buying a brunch cruise for two, do you have to be 21 to attend?

Answer: There is no age restriction for any of the Brunch/Lunch or Dinner cruises; however normal identification rules would apply for purchasing alcohol onboard.
Question: Is the cruise ship wheelchair accessible?

Answer: Yes. The Odyssey has a deck and restrooms that can accommodate most standard-sized wheelchairs.
Question: I am interested in purchasing this cruise for my parents. How many people may be seated at one table?

Answer: Anywhere from 2-10 people may be seated at one table, depending on the total number of individuals on the ship during a given cruise.
Question: Does the menu have vegetarian and gluten free options?

Answer: Yes, vegetarian options are available. Gluten and allergy free products and gluten sensitive menu items can be offered, however the chefs openly handle several allergens throughout the galleys. While precautions are taken to keep ingredients separate, a gluten free environment cannot be guaranteed. The kitchen does not have separate prep surfaces, cook tops or equipment. The chefs prepare and cook in common areas with shared equipment.
Question: I would like to surprise my brother and his wife with this cruise when they visit us Chicago. What if the weather is bad on the day of our cruise? Will the cruise get cancelled?

Answer: Odyssey will cruise in most weather conditions all year round. Each enclosed deck is climate-controlled and the weather will not affect the cruise. In the case of severe weather conditions or upon the direction of the U.S. Coast Guard, the ship will remain dockside for the length of the event.
Question: I would like to surprise my girlfriend with this Dinner Cruise for our 5th Anniversary. Is wine included with the meal or may I bring a bottle?

Answer: Coffee, tea and iced tea are included in the ticket price. Any additional beverages may be purchased onboard at their cash bar. Unfortunately, guests are not allowed to bring food or beverages onboard.
Question: What is the Gourmet Chicago Brunch Cruise?

Answer: The Gourmet Chicago Brunch Cruise is a unique dining experience that combines a relaxing boat ride on the scenic Chicago River and Lake Michigan with a delicious brunch featuring gourmet dishes.
Question: How long does the brunch cruise last?

Answer: The brunch cruise typically lasts around two hours, allowing you to enjoy both the meal and the stunning views of the Chicago skyline.
Question: What type of food is served on the cruise?

Answer: The cruise offers a buffet-style brunch with a variety of gourmet options, including breakfast favorites, fresh fruits, salads, and desserts.
Question: Is there a dress code for the brunch cruise?

Answer: While there is no strict dress code, we recommend smart casual attire to enhance your dining experience.
Question: Can I bring my own drinks on the cruise?

Answer: The cruise features an onboard bar where you can purchase drinks. Outside beverages are generally not allowed.
Question: Do I need to make a reservation in advance?

Answer: Yes, it is recommended to book your tickets in advance to ensure availability, especially during peak times.
Question: Are children allowed on the brunch cruise?

Answer: Yes, the brunch cruise is family-friendly, and children are welcome to join the experience.
Question: What are the departure times for the cruise?

Answer: Departure times may vary, but typically the brunch cruise runs during weekend mornings. Please check the specific schedule on the website for exact times.
Question: Can this experience be gifted?

Answer: Absolutely! The Gourmet Chicago Brunch Cruise makes for a perfect gift experience for birthdays, anniversaries, or simply to treat someone special.
Question: What should I do if I need to cancel or reschedule my reservation?

Answer: Cancellation and rescheduling policies may vary; please refer to the terms and conditions on the website for detailed information.

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