CHICAGO — If you have a vessel in a Chicago harbor and are looking for a way to monetize it, a new Uber-like service for boats hopes to make boat owners into cruise captains.
Starting April 20, Catered Cruises will allow users to book 90-minute cruises at various harbors along and near Lake Michigan for this summer. Like ride sharing platforms, Catered Cruises coordinates captain-guided cruises for customers and shares profits with the captains and boat owners, says the company’s founder and president Chris Brown.
But unlike the popular ride sharing services, users can't book a cruise and have it ready in five minutes, Brown said. They'll have to book cruises in available time slots listed on the company's the website. The captains must be licensed and boats must be insured in addition to passing an inspection to participate, Brown said.
Catered Cruises founder Chris Brown shares more details on their services.
Cruises cost from $350 to $650 for six to 10 people, plus an additional $150 fee for events like the annual Air & Water Show and Venetian Night. Users can also book sailing lessons for $650.
The service will be available at the 31st Street, 59th Street, Belmont, Burnham, Diversey, DuSable, Monroe, Montrose and Jackson Park Outer harbors.
“A lot of owners look for ways to take people out on these boats for a fee,” Brown said. “We’re providing a way for boat owners to get in on the action.”
The Marine-turned-entrepreneur got the idea from owning a boat himself and being struck by how expensive it was to keep. When he saw how Uber's ride sharing platform was helping other people monetize their cars, Brown thought creating a similar service for boat rental would be an affordable boating option that shares profits with the vessel owners.
“I remember what it costs. I remember that my gas was $900 to fill up and I typically had to fill up three or four times,” Brown said. “This is a way for those owners to have a reputable company take their boat… and make money using their vessel.”
Brown is seeking restaurants near the other harbors to cater the cruises, but Vistro In a Bag, the catering company that served Barack and Michelle Obama’s wedding and the late Nelson Mandela, will be providing the bulk of Catered Cruises' meals for now, Brown said, adding that customers can bring their own alcohol.
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