Keweenaw Excursions Celebrates 5th Anniversary in Charlevoix with October 4 Cruise

In September, 2009, brothers and captains Kraig and Jason Funkey left their hometown along the shores of Lake Superior in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to make a new home for themselves and their Keweenaw Star in Charlevoix. That next summer, they launched their first trip out of their new port and today, Keweenaw Excursions is proud to celebrate its 5th Anniversary in this Lake Michigan community.

A celebratory cruise is planned for Saturday, October 4 from 5-9pm. The evening will include complimentary appetizers, cash bar and music. Tickets for the anniversary cruise are just $5 per person and space is limited. Tickets are available by calling 231-237-9365.

The Keweenaw Star was originally a crew boat designed to ship crew and supplies to oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. She was commissioned in 1981 and was originally named the Atlantic Star. The boat was then converted to a cruise ship and the Funkey's (Jason, Kraig and their father, Fred) purchased her in May of 2000 in South Carolina. Renamed the Keweenaw Star, the Funkeys ran a tour company in the Houghton-Hancock area on the Keweenaw Peninsula for nearly 10 years.

Fred is trained as a diesel mechanic with a degree from Ferris State University. He began his captain’s career in his hometown area of Houghton/Hancock in the Keweenaw Peninsula. His first gig was owner/ operator of the Lighthouse Boat Cruise – the Star of Keweenaw – in Copper Harbor in the late 1970s and early 1980s. His work took him throughout the Great Lakes region, including running the Voyager II out to Isle Royale and the Island Princess for the Apostle Island Tours. Over his nearly 50 year career he’s also captained oil rig boats in the Gulf of Mexico

Kraig and Jason both began working alongside their dad aboard the Star of Keweenaw and Isle Royale Queen as young boys and teenagers. Both brothers also earned their original captain’s licenses in Duluth, MN. Kraig also honed his skills aboard the Voyager II, captained a charter fishing boat in Copper Harbor and worked in the Gulf of Mexico and has a 100-ton master captain’s license. Jason later went to the Great Lakes Maritime Academy in Traverse City to obtain an unlimited tonnage mates license with a first class pilot’s endorsement.

Upcoming Events:

• September 24 (6-8pm) Historic Sunset Cruise
• September 27-29 3-Day Fall Color Cruise
• October 4 (5-9pm) 5th Anniversary Cruise
• October 11 (3-5pm) Historic Fall Color Cruise

2015 Excursions:

• June 22-25 Explore the Door (Door County Wisconsin)
• July 13-16 Lights of the Sunrise Side
• July 20-23 Soo Grand Tour
• August 3-4 3 Days, 3 Great Lakes

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.

KEWEENAW EXCURSIONS
109 Bridge Park Drive
Charlevoix, MI 49720

231-237-9365
KeweenawExcursions@gmail.com
www.KeweenawExcursions.com
www.facebook.com/KeweenawExcursions
www.twitter.com/KeweenawStar

Keweenaw Excursions Offers 3-Day Fall Color Tour Through the St. Mary’s River and Beyond

There’s no better way to soak up the fall colors of Pure Michigan than from the water. Keweenaw Excursions is offering a 3-day excursion that will take passengers up the St. Mary’s River, through the Soo Locks and into Lake Superior, aboard its 110-foot Keweenaw Star. The trip runs Saturday, September 27* through Monday, September 29.

The trip begins Saturday morning at the State Docks in the village of DeTour, in the eastern Upper Peninsula. From there, the Star will travel north to explore the hundreds of tree-filled islands of Potagannissing Bay, through the North Channel of Georgian Bay and over to the Canadian town of Bruce Mines, to view the lighthouse at McKay Point. From there, its west past Sister Rock lighthouse and through the narrows of the Wilson Channel, then over to the north side of St. Joseph Island, which should be ablaze in fall colors. Just past the Shoal Island Lighthouse, the Star enters the St. Mary’s River in the Middle Neebish Channel and heads north toward Sault Ste Marie. The evening concludes with a trip through the Soo Locks and out into Lake Superior, before returning to Sault Ste Marie for the night.

Sunday offers options for passengers. The first is to board a bus for trip to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point in the town of Paradise, including a stop at nearby Point Iroquois Lighthouse.+

Or, those wishing to stay and explore Sault Ste Marie can take in attractions such as the Museum Ship Valley Camp, Tower of History and the viewing platform for the Soo Locks, for up-closing viewing of the transiting freighters.

On Monday, the Star begins her voyage south down the St. Mary’s River, with passage through the famed Rock Cut and back to the dock in DeTour.

Cost for the excursion is $475 per person, based on double occupancy ($550 per person, single occupancy) and includes transportation, two night’s accommodations at the Kewadin Casino in Sault Ste Marie as well as a gaming package, and most meals. Space is limited and reservations are required by calling 231-237-9365.

The Keweenaw Star offers a full cash bar with snacks, as well as a climate-controlled main cabin, full dining room, walk-around main deck and open-air top deck.

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.

*A block of rooms has been set up at the Cedarville Lodge in the town of Cedarville, just 20 minutes from the State Dock in Detour, for $79 for Thursday and Sunday evenings, for those needing additional accommodations. Be sure to ask for the Keweenaw Excursion block when making reservations.

+The bus tour option is an added $55 per person and includes transportation, admission to both museums and lunch at Whitefish Point, and is limited to the first 57 passengers.

www.KeweenawExcursions.com
www.facebook.com/KeweenawExcursions
www.twitter.com/keweenawstar