CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Boat tours are back in business along the Chicago River.
Wendella started its 2021 season Friday morning, hoping for a more ‘normal’ year.
“2020 was such an odd year with all that was going on and this year we’re just hoping to get back to normal, which is showing people this great city, doing the water taxi, everything we’ve been doing for the past 85 years,” said Wendella VP and General Manager Craig Wenokur.
As far as COVID-19 safety measures, the boat tour company is starting this year where it left off last year.
The boats will operate under a 100 person capacity limit, clean each boat after every tour, place plastic partitions in front of the bar, and ask guests to maintain six feet of social distance.
“I think we did a pretty good job of it in 2020,” said Wenokur. “In fact, we operated June to November and I think we had zero cases of either crew members or guests getting sick from our boats and we want to build on that this year.”
One key difference this season is that guests will be required to wear a mask while on the boats.
“The Coast Guard now has mandated everyone on the boat to have a mask. They did not have any mandates last year. That’s a big difference from last year, the Coast Guard is stepping up and they’re giving us a little direction,” Wenokur said.
Another change is no cash. Patrons can still buy tickets online or at the dock, but only credit cards will be accepted.
Tours run every hour from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with docks at 400 N. Michigan Avenue and at Rush and Kinzie Streets.
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