I went online to Sheplers home page looking for the lighthouse cruise information, but their web page has very little information available. But I called them and got the printed schedule mailed to me and I thought I would share it.

There are 2 crusies -East and West both depart out of Mackinaw city, MI.

East goes past Round island and the round island passage lights,Bois Blanc light,Poe reef light and fourteen foot shoal light and then past the Cheboygan crib light then back to Mackinaw city.

West goes past White shoal light, Grays reef light, Waugoshance light and past St Helena island/lighthouse and I would think you would get a nice view of the old Mackinaw lighthouse coming and going.

All cruises are $49.50 per person (children under 5 are free)

ok, here's the 2002 schedule (everything prior to today omited)
June
Monday June, 24th 1:30-4:30pm West
Thursday June, 27th 1:30-4:30pm West
July
Monday July, 8th 5:00-8:00pm East
Thursday July, 11th 1:30-4:30pm West
Sunday July, 14th 3:00-6:00pm East
Monday July, 15th 5:00-8:00pm West
Thursday July, 18th 1:30-4:30pm West
Thursday July, 25th 1:30-4:30pm East
Thursday July, 25th 5:00-8:00pm West
Sunday July, 28th 3:00-6:00pm East
Monday July, 29th 6:00-9:00pm West
August
Thursday, August, 1st 1:30-4:30pm East
Thursday, August, 8th 1:30-4:30pm West
Sunday, August, 11th 3:00-6:00pm East
Thursday, August, 15th 1:30-4:30pm West
Monday, August, 19th 5:00-8:00pm West
Thursday, August, 22nd 1:30-4:30pm East
Sunday, August, 25th 3:00-6:00pm West
Wednesday,August, 28th 1:30-4:30pm West
Thursday, August, 29th 1:30-4:30pm East
September
Thursday, September, 4th 1:30-4:30pm East
Thursday, September, 9th 1:30-4:30pm West
Thursday, September, 12th 1:30-4:30pm East

St Helena Walkabouts
June 28th, July 5-6th, July 21st all 2:00-7:00pm (no price included for this one)

You can call and order tickets over the phone at 1-800-828-6157
[This message has been edited by Mark Wagner (edited 07-12-2002).]

Thanks for the info Mark. Have you ever gone on one or both of these cruises? If so, how close goes the boat get to the lights??

Dan

I haven't been yet..... Last summer when I was up there I called them to see when the next trip was only to find out that it was sold out for the next 3 weeks, I am going up to Mackinaw later this summer and already secured my tickets, so as not to miss it again. As far as how close they come in to the lights... I don't know, I'll report back when I get back. Also Kids 5 and under are free which is good since tickets are $49.50 each... and my son will still be 4 at the time of our trip. So if you are wanting to go, don't wait until you get there to buy tickets BUY AHEAD OF TIME.

About 3 days after I posted the schedule Sheplers put up on their web site
http://www.sheplersferry.com/schedule/light.htm

Hi Mark,

Good advise on getting tickets in advance. Are you going on one or both of the cruises? Cross your fingers for good weather and calm waters. Your report back on these cruise(s) will be greatly appreciated by all!!

Dan

I made reservations ahead of time for Sheplers East tour a few years ago. We almost hit Poe Reef! That was because it was so foggy that no one could see it until we were just about on top of it. Sheplers did not cancel due to fog. This was disappointing... $45 to run around in the fog and not see much of anything. We could slightly see Round Island and the section of the Mackinac bridge that we were directly under.

Then some other ship hit a shoal and the Coast Guard declared an emergency so all boats had to go back to port.

So, I don't know if Shepler's normally gets this close to the lights on their tours, they had to when I went or we wouldn't have seen them. We got very close to Round Island.