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PLAN YOUR VISIT

For your next event, bring your friends out for some serious fun aboard our captained boats!  Play your favorite jams, snap incredible pics, enjoy games on board & celebrate life out on the water!

 

400 East Monroe Street

Monroe Harbor, Dock G11

Chicago, IL  60603

 

Email: info@tailgatethelake.com

 

Phone: 833-733-2563

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING

Tailgate The Lake Boat Charters

4.9Out of 5 stars

Overall rating out of 91 Google reviews

Kaelin Tran
3 months ago

My group visited from Cali and wanted a fun activity to celebrate a combined bachelor/bachelorette. This was the perfect idea! You get what you want out of the experience whether you want to party, relax, or both! We cruised through Chicago, napped, relaxed, swam, & danced. 3 hours was a good amount of time. We got a beautiful view of the city without the touristy lecture haha. It was my favorite activity all weekend. Troy was very helpful and responsive. Many of us were hungover lol but Captain Mike’s vibe, driving skills, and beautiful route brought us back to life. They provided speakers, ice, cooler, & swimming supplies. There’s a bathroom on board. The boat was clean. The water was cold but not too cold to swim. I compared prices with other boat companies and I definitely recommend this one!

Nick Malone
6 months ago

Had the absolute best time on the lake for the 4th with these guys. Charlie & Hannah made us so comfortable and made sure everything ran super smoothly. Definitely will be back next summer!

jocelyn perez
6 months ago

Maria Tubay
7 months ago

Best cruise and crew anywhere on Lake Michigan! The views of the lakefront were spectacular, and the crew was amazing! Can't wait to book our next party!!

We chartered a boat for a work group celebration. It was the best choice. Our Captains Jerry and Bree were so fun and thoughtful. They took care of our team so well. We were so lucky to have a beautiful day and we enjoyed a ride past the skyline and navy pier and then got to swim at relax at the playpen. Bonus: It was so convenient that the boat has coolers and ice already on board for us to use.

Andrea Romano
7 months ago

Excellent experience all around- booking, customer service, time on the boat/water. Our team has graduation parties annually on this boat charter, and we keep coming back!

Rosmeld Castillo
7 months ago

Amazing experience, great staff, 100% recommended!

Sherry McClaskie
7 months ago

What a blast. So much fun!! Captain & crew were so professional and helpful - accommodated all our requests. Can’t wait to do it again

Yasamin Mehrazar
8 months ago

Wow I cannot say enough about Matt and Mike!! They are the best duo and made sure our entire party of 20 was having a blast while also safe on the water. I HIGHLY recommend everyone to try this out with a group of your friends. It's such a fun time and honestly such a fair price. I made sure to book the boat during early birds special and got such a good deal, came out to 69$ a person for 20 people. 1000000/10 recommend for chicago summer!!

Our parent night out with Tailgate The Lake (TTL) was fantastic! The captain and crew provided us with beautiful skyline views of the city, we anchored in a great spot where the lake was calmer to swim & float, and TTL had coolers & tables for us to easily set up our spread. We even got to hear some tunes playing at Lolllapalooza. We will definitely be booking again!

Katie Street
4 years ago

We can’t say enough great things about our boat trip with Troy, Jerry & Steve!! It was our favorite part of our trip to Chicago. They accommodated our trip requests and had the boat stocked with coolers and floats! Will recommend and book again!

Jeff G
a year ago

Couldn’t ask for a better 40th bday! Such an incredible time and felt like we were in great hands. Just told a few family members who are visiting this summer, that this is a MUST. Cheers to Troy for helping ring in an unforgettable bday while keeping us safe!

Nicholas Parikh
7 months ago

Awesome experience! Highly recommend for groups 15-25

Lena Shapiro
3 years ago

Troy and Charles were amazing! Our group had the best time, and everything was well organized and run really smoothly. It was great to be out on the water for the fireworks 🎇

ABOUT US

 

Tailgate The Lake Charters is owned and operated by experienced and fun licensed charter captains, and we welcome you and your guests aboard our fleet of charter boats for a safe & fun experience out on the water!

 

We believe boating is a culture ~ it's bringing people together, toasting to good times, singing along to your favorite jams, taking amazing pics & vids and simply celebrating life!

 

Cheers to making memories together!

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Where is the dock location/address for boarding?
Please click here for our dock location/address: DOCK LOCATION/ADDRESS. Our dock location is conveniently located at Monroe Harbor! Simply Uber/LYFT to 400 E Monroe Street, then walk north on the lakefront path around the first set of docks, and we’re right there! Please have your group hang in the grassy area above the bike path. When your charter boat arrives, your captain will welcome you aboard!
Do all Tailgate The Lake charter boats come with a captain?
Absolutely yes! All of our boats come with a U.S. Coast Guard licensed captain & first mate to ensure everyone is well taken care of! Our boats are inspected and approved for commercial use by the U.S. Coast Guard, and all documentation is on board & renewed each year.
What is included on our charters?
All of our boats include a U.S. Coast Guard licensed captain & first mate, coolers & ice, table for games and/or food & drinks, blue tooth sound system, aqua mat & noodles for swimming, and a bathroom. Also included are cups, ping pong balls, soap, paper towels and toilet paper.
How do I leave gratuity for the crew?
15% – 20% tips for the captain and first mate are customary and appreciated! Venmo or cash are the norm!
What time should I arrive?
15 minutes before your charter start time.
Can I communicate with my head captain?
Absolutely yes! Your head captain will send a text to the point person on the booking early in the the morning of your charter date.
BYOB?
Yes! We supply coolers & ice ~ you bring the beverages and snacks.
How long does each charter last?
3 hours
How do I book a boat?
It’s simple! Click the book now button to choose an available boat on your preferred date. You can also call us at 833-733-2563 and we can get you all set up!
Is there a bathroom on board?
Yes! All of our boats have a bathroom.
Are life jackets provided?
Yes! In accordance with the U.S. Coast Guard regulations, all of our boats carry a life jacket for every passenger on board, along with all required safety equipment.
What if it rains?
No problem at all ~ we will take care of you and your guests! Weather happens, and technically we do operate rain or shine as our boats are fully covered with canvas, but if our captain cancels a charter due to severe weather or high seas, your charter will be rescheduled or refunded.
What is the cancellation policy for other than weather?
We understand things come up, and also please understand that we have to keep a schedule with captains, crews and dock rotations, so we keep it simple and fair for everyone:

30 days out = full refund.

Inside 30 days = no reschedule or refunds.
Are kids allowed to ride?
Yes! All of our boats are private charters and all are welcome!
Is there parking?
We highly recommend taking an Uber/LYFT, but if you are driving, there is convenient parking located at the Millennium garage, just north of Columbus & Monroe. Once you enter the garage, simply follow the signs to the lakefront. Exit the garage on foot, walk across lake shore drive, and follow the map above to our dock location.
Is smoking allowed?
No smoking on our boats.

For any additional questions, please feel free to
call us at 833-733-2563 or email us at info@tailgatethelake.com

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

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