Frequently Asked Questions

We are located at 2120 South Canal Street in Chicago, Illinois, behind Lawrence’s Fish & Shrimp restaurant.

There is a free parking lot located adjacent to Lawrence’s Fish and Shrimp, just to the south of their parking lot. It’s big so you can’t miss it. DO NOT PARK IN LAWRENCE’S LOT, THEY WILL TOW YOUR CAR. Parking fills up quickly, so if possible, try to have your guests arrive in one car.

There is a free parking lot located adjacent to Lawrence’s Fish and Shrimp, just to the south of their parking lot. It’s big so you can’t miss it. DO NOT PARK IN LAWRENCE’S LOT, THEY WILL TOW YOUR CAR. Parking fills up quickly, so if possible, try to have your guests arrive in one car.


Yes, tipping is allowed. Our dock staff works hard to ensure you have a safe and fun cruise. If you are happy with their service, feel free to give them a tip.

No, they are very easy and fun to drive. Many people say driving a pontoon boat is a lot like driving a golf cart.

You need a valid driver’s license and credit card, and must be 21 or older.

Yes, all of our boats are equipped with life jackets for adults and children. You are welcome to bring your own life jacket if you prefer.

No, at BBQ Pontoon you’re the captain. That’s the fun of renting with us. You get to drive the boat yourself, with just your friends and family.

No, our boats are not equipped to handle the conditions on Lake Michigan and are therefore not allowed on the lake. This is non-negotiable. For one thing, you do not have enough time to pass through the lock twice and make it back on time. Not only that, traversing the lock can be dangerous for inexperienced passengers. It is also very easy to cause damage to your boat that could cost you a lot of money to repair. Please do not attempt to take your boat onto Lake Michigan.

You are allowed to take our boats anywhere on the Chicago River. Our boats are not equipped to handle the conditions on Lake Michigan and therefore are not allowed on the lake. During your on-boat orientation, a staff member will suggest the best route for your cruise taking into account the weather, your time frame, and your interests. Each boat is supplied with a Chicago River map for easy navigation. A good rule of thumb is to go as far as you want for 55 minutes and then turn around to ensure a timely return.

Sorry, but swimming is not allowed in the Chicago River. Not only is the water unsuitable for swimming, the waterway is very busy and full of large boats that are fast and not used to watching out for swimmers. Please do not attempt to go swimming during your cruise.

No, you are strictly prohibited from docking your boat anywhere except its home dock. This is non-negotiable. Docking can be dangerous for inexperienced passengers. It is also very easy to cause damage to your boat that could cost you a lot of money to repair. Additional fees will apply if you dock your boat.

We do not rent boats by the hour. Our two-hour cruises offer the perfect amount of time to take in all of Chicago’s glorious architecture from Chinatown to Downtown. Anything beyond two hours tends to be too much for most guests, especially considering that docking the boat anywhere else and venturing onto Lake Michigan is strictly prohibited—and the boats do not have restrooms!

Yes, you are welcome to bring your own food. We recommend you keep it simple though. Finger foods and prepared sandwiches or wraps work best. Dips, salsas, or anything that requires prep work does not work well on a boat and can get very messy. Please remember that you are responsible for cleaning up after yourselves before you leave the boat. A cleaning fee will be assessed for boats that are left excessively messy.

Yes, you are welcome to bring alcohol on your cruise, but all passengers MUST drink responsibly. Please take into consideration the fact that boats and alcohol do not always mix well. Being on a boat can exacerbate the effects of alcohol and overindulging can be very dangerous. As a result, EXCESSIVE DRINKING IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED, and your skipper (driver) MUST refrain from drinking prior to and during your cruise. This is not only a BBQ Pontoon rule, it is a Coast Guard and Chicago Police Department rule. Be aware that both agencies take excessive drinking on board boats very seriously, and they frequently board boats if they believe the passengers have had too much to drink. Please note that we do not give refunds if you are boarded by either agency.

No, there are no restrooms on board the boat. Please plan accordingly, because you are not allowed to dock anywhere during your cruise, even to use the restroom. There is a restroom located on the dock for your convenience.

Our 16-foot boat holds eight (8) passengers. Our 18-foot boat holds nine (9) passengers. Our 22-foot boat holds 10 passengers. PLEASE NOTE: each individual regardless of their age counts toward your maximum capacity. This includes newborns and toddlers. We cannot make any exceptions. If your passenger count exceeds maximum capacity, we cannot let you leave the dock.

Please also note that our 16-foot pontoon has a weight limit of 1,800 lbs. Our 18-foot pontoon has a weight limit of 2,000 lbs. Our 22-foot pontoon has a weight limit of 2,600 lbs.

It is important that while scheduling your cruise you take into consideration the weight limit of the boat you are booking. Overloading your boat can be dangerous, even if you have fewer passengers than the stated maximum capacity. If you are planning a cruise for a team of heavy football players or wrestlers, you may want to consider leaving one spot open or scheduling a second boat and distributing your passengers equally among the two boats.

Yes, our 16-foot pontoon has a weight limit of 1,800 lbs. Our 18-foot pontoon has a weight limit of 2,000 lbs. Our 22-foot pontoon has a weight limit of 2,600 lbs.

It is important that while scheduling your cruise you take into consideration the weight limit of the boat you are booking. Overloading your boat can be dangerous. If you are planning a cruise for a team of heavy football players or wrestlers, you may want to consider leaving one spot open or scheduling a second boat and distributing your passengers equally among the two.

We cannot provide refunds for any reason. If you wish to reschedule you may do so for a fee of $30, and you must do so no less than 48 hours prior to your scheduled cruise.

If at the time of your cruise the dock manager deems the weather to be unsafe, we will issue a rain check and you can reschedule at no cost. Please note that we do not issue rain checks for light, spotty rain. We only issue rain checks when there is heavy, sustained rain and/or thunderstorms. We do not make determinations on rain checks until two hours prior to your scheduled cruise.

We cannot reschedule or provide refunds based on weather forecasts. The weather in Chicago is notoriously unpredictable. It can be cloudy and rainy on one end of the city but bright and sunny on the other. It is very common for forecasts to predict a 100% chance of rain only to have the entire day be cloud-free and pleasant.

Nevertheless, if you insist on rescheduling your cruise you may do so for a rescheduling fee of $30, and you must do so no less than 48 hours prior to your scheduled cruise. If at the time of your cruise the dock manager deems the weather to be unsafe, we will issue a rain check and you can reschedule at no cost.