Accessibility
We strive to ensure all guests can access the beauty of our boats and enjoy a wonderful experience on the water. We can make your experience easier if you give us advance notice for any special boarding needs. Our crew is happy to help when you arrive at the dock level.
What to Expect Onboard
With an accessible bow, climate-controlled interior salon and restrooms, Classic Lady, Leading Lady and Emerald Lady are the vessels best suited to accommodate guests using manual wheelchairs. Please note that these three vessels all have a 6.5" high threshold at the entry to the interior salon and a 2" high threshold at the entry to the restrooms. Our other vessels may be partially accessible, or accessible with transfer, depending on individual mobility considerations. Please consult the table below and inquire about specific vessel departure times when booking your tickets.
Manual wheelchairs can be used onboard. Electric wheelchairs and scooters are not able to be used on board due to safety considerations. We have extra manual wheelchairs at our ticket office which we can lend you at no charge; to do so, please arrive at our ticket office at least 30 minutes before your cruise to request a manual wheelchair.
For safety reasons, motorized scooters and electric wheelchairs cannot be accommodated aboard the vessel. Guests who are able to, and have assistance to transfer, may utilize the company’s manual wheelchairs (based upon availability). Our dockside staff is unable to assist with transfers, but will gladly monitor wheelchairs and scooters left at the dock during a tour.
For those requesting use of the company’s manual wheelchairs, please visit the ticket office first upon arrival. We recommend arriving at least 30 minutes before your cruise.
When boarding the vessel, guests cross two ramps and enter through an opening (doorway) that is at least 32” inches wide. Crew members will assist you in guiding the wheelchair across the gangway.
Guests who are unable to climb stairs to the upper deck may choose to sit on the open-air bow deck of the vessel or the climate-controlled enclosed salon with large windows. All boats except Fair Lady have bow seating.
Our crew will gladly take table-side drink orders for passengers with limited mobility.
Under federal law, and due to special marine safety construction guidelines, USCG-regulated small vessels are not subject to land-based architectural configuration requirements. Although we do our best to accommodate those with special mobility needs, staffing and the docking space (which is publicly owned and controlled), we can do a better job with advance notice. To do so, call 847.358.1330 Monday-Friday 8am-5pm.
Dimensions
In order to best provide comprehensive information to guests with differing accessibility and mobility considerations, please see the table of dimensions below.
| Classic Lady, Leading Lady, & Emerald Lady | First Lady | Fair Lady | Little Lady | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading Ramp Width | 32" | 32" | 32" | 32" |
| Loading Gate Width | 36" | 32" | 36" | 41" |
| Bow Deck Access Width | 35" | 32" | No Bow Seating on Fair Lady | 27" |
| Salon Door Width | 36" | 29" | 32.5" | 32" |
| Salon Door Threshold Height | 6.5" | 4.5" | 5.5" | 7" |
| Restroom Door Width | 34.5" | 25" | 33" | 29" |
| Restroom Door Threshold Height | 2" | No Threshold | No Threshold | No Threshold |
| Restroom Entrance Step Height & Width | No Step | One 9" step down. Stair to Men’s room is 29" wide. Stair to Women’s room is 26.5" wide. | No Step | No Step |
| Restroom Stall Opening Width | 27" (applies to Women’s room only) | 28.5" (Men’s Room), 20.5" (Women’s Room) | Single Occupancy/No Stalls | Single Occupancy/No Stalls |
| Stairwell to Upper Deck Width | 28.5" | 29" | 32" | 29" |
| Stairwell to Upper Deck Stair Count | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
Our boats board on the Chicago Riverwalk, located down a two-level staircase at the northeast corner of N. Michigan Ave & E. Wacker Drive (112 E. Wacker Drive). For guests unable to use stairs, there is a ramp available to access the Riverwalk.
The Ramp at Wacker Drive and State Street This ramp is ADA-compliant. Access on the north side of Wacker Drive, just east of State Street. Proceed down two levels to the Chicago Riverwalk and continue east (towards the Wabash Bridge) for two blocks until you see our ticket office, just east of the Michigan Avenue Bridge (the DuSable Bridge).
The drop-off area is on the same level as our dock and accessible via Lower Lower Wacker Drive. View directions to access drop-off area. After dropping off your passenger, you have two options for parking.
METERED PARKING
Located on the lowest level of Wacker Drive (steps from the drop-off area) and payable with a credit card. To park longer than 2 hours, download the ParkChicago app in advance.
DISCOUNTED PARKING
LAZ Garage in Illinois Center (111 E. Wacker Drive)
Garage entrance accessible via Upper Wacker Drive, just east of Michigan Ave.
Guests arriving by taxi/rideshare should prearrange pick-up, because no taxis are waiting at the lowest level of Wacker Drive, and rideshares often have trouble getting there.
We welcome service dogs onboard The service animal must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered while in public places unless these devices interfere with the service animal’s work or the person’s disability prevents use of these devices. Emotional support animals, pets and other animals not covered by ADA guidelines are not permitted. Please visit the ADA’s FAQ on service animals for further details. Additionally, we offer the popular Canine Cruise on summer weekends which welcomes all dogs.
General
First Lady strives to ensure that its services are accessible to people with disabilities. FirstLady.com has invested a significant amount of resources to help ensure that its website is made easier to use and more accessible for people with disabilities, with the strong belief that every person has the right to live with dignity, equality, comfort and independence.
Disclaimer
FirstLady.com continues its efforts to constantly improve the accessibility of its site and services in the belief that it is our collective moral obligation to allow seamless, accessible and unhindered use also for those of us with disabilities.
Despite our efforts to make all pages and content on FirstLady.com fully accessible, some content may not have yet been fully adapted to the strictest accessibility standards. This may be a result of not having found or identified the most appropriate technological solution.
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If you are experiencing difficulty with any content on FirstLady.com or require assistance with any part of our site, please contact us during normal business hours as detailed below and we will be happy to assist.
Contact Us
If you wish to report an accessibility issue, have any questions or need assistance, please contact FirstLady.com Customer Support by email: chartersales@FirstLady.com.