Chicago’s First Lady Cruises
Chicago
Chicago’s First Lady Cruises is the official cruise of the Chicago Architecture Foundation. In a city known for its architectural marvels, this cruise is a must-do for travelers. Passengers can see Chicago’s most famous landmarks.
The boats depart from the blue awning near the site of the Windy City’s original settlement, Fort Dearborn. Groups see a full progression of architectural styles as the boats travel out from this point down three branches of the Chicago River. During the turn at the mouth of the harbor, passengers get a panoramic view that includes three of the four tallest buildings in Chicago.
Another highlight of the cruises is the bridges and bridge houses located along the river. Some call Chicago the drawbridge capital of the world, with more than 60 movable bridges. It has more movable bridges than any other city in the United States.
Sometimes passengers can even see the bridges raising or lowering during the cruise; according to Captain Jason Garvett, however, “We’re always looking at the outside of buildings and how they look. But crossing under the bridges is a very rare opportunity to see the structure.” Passengers aboard a Chicago First Lady cruise are able to see this sight from a thrillingly close perspective; the lowest clearance on any of their cruise is about four feet above the passengers’ heads.
Florida Aquarium Wild Dolphin Cruise
Tampa Bay, Florida
With the Wild Dolphin Cruise at the Florida Aquarium, groups can take their marine viewing indoors or out. Inside the aquarium are exhibits that feature marine habitats covering everything from the Florida wetlands to the forests of Madagascar. Outside, visitors have the opportunity to see wildlife in a more natural setting, including the more than 500 dolphins that call Tampa Bay home.
Sightings of dolphin pods are common during the Wild Dolphin Cruise. Passengers often see them playing in the harbor and, occasionally, get a glimpse of dolphin families teaching their pups. Guests can also observe different types of waterfowl, including pelicans and spoonbills, which live around the bay. More rare sightings include stingrays, manatees and sea turtles.
On the cruise, passengers travel by Harbour Island and the Davis Islands, which have many local sites and points of interest. Davis Islands is also home to many professional athletes.
The aquarium also offers harbor cruises where passengers can see even more of Port Tampa Bay. Tampa is one of the busiest ports in the United States, so groups can see many other vessels of different types, ranging from water bikes, kayaks and sailboats to tugs and international shipping freighters.
Steamboat Natchez
New Orleans
Music, food and history are hallmarks of New Orleans, as is one of its most popular attractions. Located in the heart of New Orleans a block from Jackson Square, Steamboat Natchez is an “ambassador of New Orleans,” giving guests a taste of what life is like in the Big Easy.
Steamboat Natchez doesn’t disappoint guests when it comes to music. While enjoying the city’s sites along seven miles of the Mississippi River, guests can listen to live jazz played by the Grammy-nominated Dukes of Dixieland. Passengers can also hear the uncommon whistled notes of a calliope, a traditional instrument used by steamboats to call townspeople to the docks.
Guests should also make it a point to check out the historical features of the steamboat. Natchez IX, the current boat to bear the name, features the cotton bale between its stacks just like its predecessors. When building the steamboat, the New Orleans Steamboat Company sought to preserve the authenticity of the steamboat era with features from other steamboats. The steam whistle, engines and copper bell were all inherited from older boats.
The Natchez also boasts a pair of golden antlers, the traditional prize in a steamboat race, and, since earning them, has never had to surrender them in a loss. Guests interested in other notable features on board can take a self-guided tour of different areas of the boat. Quick Response codes are located at points of interest for guests to scan with a QR reader on their smartphones and get more information.
