November 22nd, 2007
A captain’s-eye view of cruising Chicago
It’s summer in the city and the annual fleet of ships, boats and yacht tours sailing the urban waters of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan are bustling along.
Nearly two dozen vessels await boarding at cultural landmarks ranging from the lower Michigan Avenue Bridge and Navy Pier to the Field Museum, the Shedd Aquarium, the Adler Planetarium and across from Buckingham Fountain.
Many of the vessels offer guided tours of Chicago’s architecture, city landmarks and purported haunted places. Others serve simply as water taxis or river buses. Still others offer dinner and lunch cruises as well as cash bars. To get our sea legs ready for the season, we talked with four captains navigating Chicago waters:
NAME: Eddie Vega
TITLE: Captain for Chicago First Lady Cruiselines
NAME OF THE BOAT: Chicago’s Little Lady.
YEARS WITH THE BOAT COMPANY: 24.
SEAFARING BACKGROUND: I acquired a captain’s license 26 years ago.
BEST PART OF THE JOB: I like to check things out in the morning and make sure everything is fine and in proper order to be operated. I also like the architecture tours because you get to learn a lot about Chicago,
WORST PART OF THE JOB: When you come in in the morning and have to deal with downtown traffic.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT ON THE BOAT: In 1981, someone jumped off the bridge and I had to jump in with all my clothes on and fish him out. It was quite an experience.
MOST INTERESTING THING YOU’VE LEARNED ABOUT CHICAGO FROM THIS JOB: That Chicago is a progressive city.
MOST UNUSUAL QUESTION A PASSENGER HAS ASKED: They usually ask what kind of engines the boat has and how long it is.
BEST KEPT SECRET ABOUT CHICAGO YOU’LL LEARN ON THE TOUR: You learn a lot of interesting things about the different kinds of buildings.
GINGER, OR MARY ANN? Mary Anne. She was kind of quiet and I liked the way she dressed.
THE COOLEST THING ABOUT BEING A CAPTAIN: The chance to be on the water every day. It’s like being in another world.
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NAME: Arthur Haight
TITLE: Captain for Wendella Boats.
BOAT: The Wendella.
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 6.
SEAFARING BACKGROUND: Captain and bridgemate, Hollywood Casino City of Lights I and II in Aurora from 1995 to 2003.
BEST PART OF THE JOB: Driving a boat on the Chicago River and Lake Michigan all day and getting paid to do it. It’s like a holiday every day!
WORST PART OF JOB: Sorry, I haven’t discovered that yet.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT: We were tied up in the lock and it was raining. I stepped out of the pilot house and there were 20 kids sitting on a bench seat under the canopy. Jokingly, I said, “My seat is wet, can I have yours?” All of them looked at me like I was crazy. All except one little 7- or 8-year-old girl who jumped up with a big smile on her face and said, “You can have mine.” What a beautiful child. She stole my heart instantly.
MOST INTERESTING THING ABOUT CHICAGO: There are several, such as the building of the lock and the creation of the Streeterville neighborhood. Also, the fact that there is a statue of Grant in Lincoln Park and a statue of Lincoln in Grant Park. They were delivered on the same day to the wrong parks and never corrected by the city.
MOST UNUSUAL QUESTION ASKED BY PASSENGER: How do they keep the river green?
BEST KEPT SECRET ABOUT CHICAGO YOU’LL LEARN ON THE TOUR: You will learn all about the exciting events that are happening in the Chicago area every day.
GINGER, or MARY ANNE? Without a doubt, Ginger.
COOLEST THING ABOUT BEING A CAPTAIN: The respect you get for being a captain for the best and the first tour boat company in Chicago and the happy faces you see leaving the boat.
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NAME: Douglas Chyna
TITLE: Captain for Wendella Boats.
BOAT: Bravo, a river bus.
YEARS WITH THE BOAT COMPANY: 5.
SEAFARING BACKGROUND: I’ve been a pleasure boater for 15 years. I had a friend working at Wendella and I had a big love of boats. So, I went to school and got a captain’s license.
BEST PART OF THE JOB: Working for the oldest boat company in Chicago. Everybody knows the Wendella. It’s like an honor.
WORST PART OF THE JOB: When I have to pull people out of the water. It’s usually a suicide and they usually jump off a bridge. Over the years I’ve saved three lives.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT ON THE BOAT: Every day is like vacation because it’s such an enjoyable job.
MOST INTERESTING THING YOU’VE LEARNED ABOUT CHICAGO FROM THIS JOB: The architecture. I’m from the suburbs, so I didn’t know much about the city. Working as a captain you get to know the architecture.
MOST UNUSUAL QUESTION A PASSENGER HAS ASKED: Does my boat have brakes?
GINGER or MARY ANN? Mary Anne. I like dark hair.
THE COOLEST THING ABOUT BEING A CAPTAIN: Being on the water every day. The city is so beautiful when you see it from the water.