“We feature an open air top deck and a full walk around the lower deck to provide you with an optimal view for photographic purposes,” says Jason Funkey, who owns the company with his brother, Kraig.
All trips include the cruising experience as well as continental breakfast, hot lunch and afternoon appetizers on the boat, overnight accommodations and transportation from the boat to the hotel and back each day.
To book a charter, contact the Keweenaw Excursions office at 231-237-9365.
This year’s schedule includes:
“Explore The Door” (June 22-25)
$750 per person for double occupancy | $850 per person for single occupancy
The Keweenaw Star is setting sail to explore Wisconsin’s Door Peninsula and the waters of Green Bay. Our trip departs Charlevoix on Monday June 22nd and heads due west to our first lighthouse viewing at South Fox Island. From South Fox we continue west across Lake Michigan to Rock Island Passage where we view Pottawatomie Lighthouse. Turning north from here we slip past St Martin Island Lighthouse and Poverty Island Lighthouse for a close up view and pictures. After viewing Poverty Island we head to Escanaba and the Terrace Bay Inn and Suites for our first night’s stay.
On day 2 we head south out of Escanaba past the lighthouse at Minneapolis Shoal. From Minneapolis Shoal we make our way through the famed “Deaths Door” to view the lights at Plum Island and Pilot Island before coming back in to the Bay of Green Bay for a quick view of Chambers Island Lighthouse. From Chambers Island we make our way over to Port of Marinette and head up the Menominee River to the shipyard to view any new construction at Marinette Marine. From Marinette we make our way back across Green Bay passing Peshtigo Reef Lighthouse and Sherwood Point Lighthouse headed into Sturgeon Bay for our second night’s stay at the Stone Harbor Resort.
Day 3 is a free day in Sturgeon Bay. Explore Bay Ship and Palmer Johnson shipyards, Door County Maritime Museum, the “Best of Door County” trolley tours, or just relax by the pool as we will again stay at the Stone Harbor Resort for our 3rd night.
Day 4 takes us out of the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal past the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Lighthouse and Entrance Light before making our way back across Lake Michigan to the Manitou Passage. We make our way past South and North Manitou Lighthouses, and then close approach to Grand Traverse Point Lighthouse before heading back to Charlevoix.
“Sights Of The Sunrise Side” (July 13-16)
$750 per person for double occupancy | $850 per person for single occupancy
New for 2015 we have an exciting trip to explore the sunrise side of the state. Our journey will set sail from Charlevoix, Michigan headed to our first port of call on Drummond Island. Along the way we will pass under the Mackinac Bridge and past the lighthouses at Ile Aux Galets, Gray’s Reef, White Shoal, St Helena, Round Island, Martin Reef, and Detour Reef. Our accommodations and dinner will be at the Drummond Island Resort and Conference Center.
Day 2 of this trip will take us to the port of Alpena. We will start off traveling through the island filled Potagannissing Bay and into the North Channel. Once in the North Channel we will make our way east to Lake Huron via the Mississiagi Strait. Our route takes us past the Mississagi Strait lighthouse and out to the lighthouse on Great Duck Island where we will turn and make our way back across Lake Huron to our port of Alpena for the night. Our accommodations and dinner will be at the Sanctuary Inn.
Day 3 will start out with a tour of the NOAA Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum. Upon completion of the tour we will board the boat and make our way up the coast to our next port of call in Cheboygan. Traveling up the coast we will pass the lights at Thunder Bay Island, Middle Island, Old Presque Isle, New Presque Isle, 40 mile point, Poe, Reef, and 14 foot Shoal. Our lodging for the evening will be at the Fleetwood Inn Hotel on the historic Cheboygan River.
Day 4 of this trip will bring us back under the Mackinac Bridge, past the lights at Mackinaw City and Waugoshance Point as we make our way back to our home port of Charlevoix. There should be plenty of opportunities for ship watchers as well as we will pass through some of the most congested waters for shipping on the Great Lakes. We also will be passing some of the busiest stone loading ports including Stoneport and Calcite as we make our way along the east coast of Michigan.
“Soo Grand Tour” (July 20-23)
$700 per person for double occupancy | $800 per person for single occupancy
Our voyage will begin in Charlevoix, Michigan on the 20th of July. We will travel north to get close up views of the lighthouses at Ile Aux Galets, Gray’s Reef, and White Shoal. Turning east we will make a close approach to St Helena Island Lighthouse before making our way under the Mackinac Bridge and down the South Channel to our port of Cheboygan for the night.
On the second day as we depart Cheboygan we will get close up views of the Cheboygan rear range light, 14 Foot Shoal, and Poe Reef lighthouses. Continuing northeast we will pass close to Spectacle Reef Lighthouse as we make our way over to the entrance of the St Mary’s River at Detour. From here we will travel through Potagannissing Bay and make our way over the north side of St Joseph’s Island. Along the way we will pass the lighthouses at Bruce Mines, West Sister Rock, Wilson Channel Ranges and Shoal Island before entering the St Mary’s River at the Middle Neebish Cut. Our day will end in Sault Ste. Marie with our lodging and dinner at the Kewadin Casino of Sault Ste Marie.
Day 3 will take us up through the locks at Sault Ste Marie to the head waters of the St Mary’s River at Ile Parisienne, where we will turn and make our way back to port at Sault Ste Marie for another night and dinner at the Kewadin Casino.
Day 4 takes us down the St Mary’s River through the famed Rock Cut and out to Lake Huron where we head west past Martin Reef Lighthouse and Waugoshance Reef Lighthouse on our way home to Charlevoix.
“3 Days 3 Great Lakes Cruises” (August 3-5; additional dates may be added)
$550 per person for double occupancy | $650 per person for single occupancy
Cruise the Northern Lake Michigan coast from Charlevoix to Sault Ste. Marie. Day One we depart Charlevoix and make our way north through Gray’s Reef passage then east through the Straits of Mackinac. Passing under the Mighty Mac, we continue east to Detour Reef Light where we will enter the St. Mary’s river. We will navigate the narrow channels and ranges to our destination of Sault Ste. Marie. With more cargo passing through the Soo Locks than the Panama and Suez canals combined there is an excellent chance we will see some of the largest ships in the world passing in close proximity to us. Upon arrival in Sault Ste. Marie, we will head for the Kewadin Casino and Hotel where we will enjoy a night of fun and entertainment.
Day 2 we board the boat after a breakfast buffet at the casino hotel. Our tour will take us up the St. Mary’s river passing through the Soo Locks where we will be raised 21 feet up to Lake Superior. Exiting the locks, we will travel north into Lake Superior to the head waters of the river at Ile Parisienne Lighthouse. At Ile Parisienne, we turn around and head back to our dock in Sault Ste. Marie where again we will stay at the casino for another night of fun and entertainment.
Day 3, the final day of our excursion, we will enjoy a breakfast buffet at the casino then board the boat for our return trip to Charlevoix. Along the way we will be passing through the famed “Rock Cut” in the St Mary’s river.
“Colors Of The St. Mary’s” (September 28-30)
$475 per person for double occupancy | $550 per person for single occupancy
Due to the unpredictability of Mother Nature’s wind this time of year we decided it would be best to depart from the protected waters of the St Mary’s River. There are several small motels along M-134 in the towns of Cedarville and Hessel which are close to Detour, or you can just spend the night in St Ignace, only 50 miles away, prior to departure.
From the State docks in Detour we will head north through the hundreds of tree filled islands of Potagannissing Bay. Colors should be spectacular as we make our way to the North Channel of Georgian Bay. Once in the North Channel we will make our way over to the Canadian town of Bruce Mines to view the lighthouse at McKay Point. From here we will head west past Sister Rock lighthouse and through the narrows of the Wilson Channel and proceed over the north side of St Joseph Island. Just past the Shoal Island lighthouse we will enter the St Mary’s river in the Middle Neebish Channel where we will proceed up bound to Sault Ste Marie. We will make our way through the locks and on to Lake Superior where we will turn and head back down the Canadian Lock and over to our dock for the evening.
Our second day will be an option day. Option 1 will be to board a bus for a color cruise to the Great Lakes Shipwreck nautical museum at Whitefish Point and Tahquamenon Falls State Park. Option 2 will be to stay and play or whatever you would like to. The casino operates a free shuttle which could bring you down to the Soo Historic Sites including the Museum Ship Valley Camp, Tower of History, or make your way over to the viewing platform at the Locks for close up views of transiting freighters. Our third day we will make our way back down the St Mary’s River with passage through the famed Rock Cut to our dock at Detour where we will disembark for home.
About the Keweenaw Star
Operating since 2000, Keweenaw Excursions is owned and operated by brothers Jason and Kraig Funkey. The company originated in Houghton, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and moved to Charlevoix in 2009. With a capacity of 130 passengers, the Keweenaw Star offers a range of cruises from mid-May through mid-October, including sunset tours, sightseeing trips and multi-day lighthouse and ship-watching cruises. The boat is also available for private charters, for events such as corporate outings, weddings, rehearsal dinners and reunions.
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