mackinac island catamaran

SAILING & CHARTERS

Brown Eyed Girl Charters offer private powerboat charters for families and small groups. Cruise the Straits of Mackinac aboard the Brown Eyed Girl II with a certified USCG Master Captain. Customize your tour – enjoy sightseeing while viewing the island and surrounding area from a different perspective or simply spend some time swimming and soaking up the sun!

Sip n' Sail Cruises feature live entertainment and breathtaking views. The Isle Royale Queen III is a luxurious 81′ vessel with a large open outdoor deck, heated indoor cabins, restrooms and a cash bar. Tickets must be purchased online at www.sipnsailcruises.com  

Explore the history of the Straits of Mackinac aboard the Ugly Anne , a United States Coast Guard certified charter boat with tours departing from Mackinaw City. Call (231) 436-5094.

Wild Honey Sailing Charters takes you on the magnificent waters around Mackinac Island. Daily cruises available for two hours with up to six passengers. Contact Captain David Rowe at (810) 516-5052.

Spend a day in the Straits of Mackinac, fishing and taking in the beautiful scenery with:

EUP Fishing Charters   or call 251-504-1046. 

North Shore Sport Fishing Charters  or call 906-430-2839.

Mackinac Island is located at the eastern end of the Straights of Mackinac where the waters of Lake Huron and Lake Michigan meet. There is a natural harbour at the south end of Mackinac Island where the yacht can swing on anchor, or the vessel can dock at one of the marinas that provide transient slips for seafaring folks that arrive by yacht. Guests can enjoy a superb dinner on shore in many of the fine restaurants and hotels on the island.

The most notable feature of Mackinac Island is the fact internal combustion engines were outlawed on the island in 1898, and so the only way to travel is on foot, by horse-drawn vehicles, by horseback, or on bicycle. There are NO motor driven vehicles on this Island! As a result, everyone arrives by boat, most arriving by commercial ferries that bring passengers from Mackinaw City or St. Ignace.

It is unique for visitors to arrive by private yacht. Once you set foot on the island, you will feel you are stepping back in time. There are many historic buildings to see. Fort Mackinac constructed by British soldiers during the American Revolution. Today the original restored fort is a National Historic Landmark. A visit to this historic place allows visitors to trace the foot-steps of British and American troops as you explore the historic buildings, enjoy the exhibits, and watch lively demonstrations of an era gone by.

There are many attractions on Mackinac Island ! A favorite activity for visitors is to rent a bicycle and tour the 8.2-mile long paved bicycle roadway that follows the shoreline of the entire island. Horse-drawn taxis can be taken on tours on the island including a visit to the infamous Grand Hotel….and yes, even the street cleaning machines are horse-drawn! There are many fudge shops in the downtown area and the sweet aromas of baking fudge are always in the air as you leisurely walk the main streets.

For more information about this ‘out of this world’ charter, please contact us or telephone (905) 715-8795.

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Where are the Catamarans? - Mackinac Island Ferry Co.

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• Mackinac Island Ferry Co.

This was our first trip to the island. We chose this ferry because it was right down town. I was... read more

Mackinac Island Ferry offers free self-parking for a number of days with trolley back to the docks... read more

Where are the Catamarans?

I was pretty annoyed with Arnolds. I found it strange when buying online that Arnolds was about 20% cheaper than Sheplers or Star Line...I love their Speedy Cats so I preordered online - which is of little benefit - no cost advantage. I show up and instead of the 20 minute Catamaran they had their 40 minute ferries. I asked where they were and the purser said "We're still trying to determine if we should put them in the water." What the heck does that mean? You're 60% thru your busy season. A little bait and switch. If you don't value your time this is an okay value for an old, slow, diesel ferry.

Your loyalty over the years is certainly deeply appreciated by the employees of Arnold who have worked very hard to make sure that Arnold, Mackinac Island's most historic ferry service, has continued to provide passenger & freight service to Mackinac Island. Yes, things have changed at ATC. While it may not appear so from the outside looking in, returning our focus to the classic ferry departures was a necessary and positive change for Arnold. Not only are they more fuel efficient but also less costly to repair and maintain. In doing so, we are able to ensure the company is profitable, viable and offering passenger & freight service to Mackinac Island for many years to come. I am confused by your reference to bait and switch as we have not had catamaran service in three years. The website where you purchased the tickets makes no mention of a catamaran, you only find photos of the classic ferry which online, print and billboards all state is a 30-40 minute ride. The ferries currently in service have been carrying passengers to Mackinac Island for more than 50 years. A classic ferry ride is an experience of its own kind. Arnold Classic Ferries are as much a part of Mackinac Island’s rich history as horses, fudge & bicycles! Your feedback is appreciated. We hope to have catamaran departures again soon and that you will continue to support Arnold Mackinac Island Ferry.

Choose to ride with them because they're boats are slightly slower and I have a motion sensitive daughter. The boat was comfortable, smooth and quick enough for us. We would absolutely ride with them again hands down! And no one got sick 😊

We are happy to have provided you and your family with affordable and enjoyable transportation to Mackinac Island. Thank you for choosing Arnold.

We opted for the slower ride to Mackinaw Island from Mackinaw City. Oddly, you can't park in their lot...we were directed across the street to the restaurant parking lot. Despite a mostly empty lot we were told it was full. Our trip over to the Island was about 40-45 minutes. We sat in the upper deck, as it was a dreadfully hot day and the breeze was enjoyable. There are faster options, but they cost more and it was nice to have a relaxing ride on the lake.

Thank you for choosing Arnold. We are happy to provide reliable luggage transportation, affordable ferry service and a unique ferry experience. I apologize for the inconvenience of having to park in the additional lot. The open spaces that you saw at the dock lot are in the areas kept open for loading and unloading luggage and freight. We are glad that you enjoyed your trip and look forward to your next ride with us!

Yes, cheapest way to ferry to Mac Island, but you risk suffering the dreadful conditions of the poor ship Huron. The bathroom is unbelievably putrid, even opening the door brings disgust on the entire upper level cabin, which if you're riding during the month of July you can expect to be at minimum 90° with no air flow. Their other ship is top notch well, except for the folding chairs and tables interspersed with the fixed seating that may use at your own risk. You'll save a few bucks, but you'll still pay.

The additional cruise time allows you slow down to enjoy the beauty of the the Straits. The boat bathrooms are strictly utilitarian and by no means luxurious but they serve their purpose. Our staff works hard to keep them serviced however with multiple trips of hundreds of passengers; its no small task. As the only ferry with restrooms on board, sometimes it’s better to have a boat bathroom than no bathroom. We are happy to be offering the lowest prices for Mackinac Island transportation, the only ferries with on-board restrooms and beverages for sale on-board.

Great service, professional crew and staff from the ladies in the office to the crew. Went out to the island this past Thursday at 11am sailing. Had a front chase us from Mack City right into the dock on the island but the skipper handled the boat so well that it was an easy trip. OK so ATC isn't as sexy as Sheplers or Starline and the trip takes a little longer but so what? It's more relaxing and isn't that what vacation is all about? Plus it's cheaper. We'll take Arnold's every time, thank you very much.

This ferry provided a delightful crossing to Mackinac Island for only $18. The crew was very pleasant and provided good customer service!

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A Heritage of Service on the Straits

Mackinac Island was a different place, and yet very much the same, when George T. Arnold and his partners, Francis B. Stockbridge and O.Q. Johnson, founded the Mackinac Lumber Company in the 1870s. Arnold knew he would need reliable marine transportation to help them build their new company in the Straits of Mackinac. So in 1878, he formed, along with L.B. Coats, the Arnold and Coats Ferry Line.

More than 140 years later, Star Line – the Mackinac Island Ferry Company – continues the rich tradition established by Arnold and Coats. Star Line and its acquired lines of ferries, which includes the historic Arnold Transit Company and Argosy Boat Line, celebrate a heritage perhaps unrivaled on the Great Lakes.

A new ferry line on the straits

Imagine Mackinac Island without the stately Grand Hotel gracing its bluff. No fudge shops. No streams of bicyclists pedaling along a smooth, paved highway. But you can see horses pulling wagons. People walk down the hill from Fort Mackinac to greet boats coming into the harbor. There are fishermen lining their wet, shimmering catches across wooden planks.

One of the first Arnold boats was a coal-fired side-wheeler. Other steamers stretched 100 feet to 200 feet long, compared to today’s 60-90 foot ferries. In 1886, Arnold acquired the Algomah which was built in 1881. It steamed across to the island until the 1930’s when its steam engine was considered unique enough to find a permanent home at historic Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan.

The Algomah II went into service in 1936. It was 156 feet long, carried up to 450 passengers and required a crew of 20 people to get it from shore to shore. (By comparison, many of today’s ferries only require a crew of four!)

A vacation from city life

When the railroads from Chicago and Detroit reached Mackinaw City in the 1880’s, life in the straits changed almost overnight. First came the building of Grand Hotel, finished in 1887. Other hotels on the island and mainland followed. Beautiful summer cottages were built along Mackinac’s great bluffs. More stores popped up along its streets. Renowned families such as the Strohs (brewery), Cudahys and Armours (meat packers) and Palmers (Chicago real estate) either owned cottages on the island or came for long stays at one of the island’s hotels, increasing the resort’s popularity in the Midwest.

To accommodate the growth, Arnold bought out his partners and incorporated the company in 1890. He bought more steamers for his fleet. These steamers mirrored the magnificent passenger boats sailing out of Detroit, Chicago and Buffalo, New York. With the trip across taking nearly an hour, passengers walked up and down the boat’s gleaming staircase, lounged on cane-bottom deck chairs and peered through observation windows at the big steam engines at work.

The line stays connected

When George Arnold died in 1921, his wife, Susan, continued running the ferry service, but asked that the company auditors, Price Waterhouse, provide assistance. The renowned accounting firm sent a young accountant, Otto Lang, to help manage Arnold Line. Mrs. Arnold also asked a local attorney, Prentiss M. Brown, Sr. to assist with the handling of the boat company’s affairs.

When Mrs. Arnold died a few years later, the Arnold heirs were ready to sell their interests in the ferry line. Lang and Brown wanted to keep the operation together and bought out the Arnold interests, guiding it through times of boom, depression and World War II. The Brown family continued to own and operate the company for more than 80 years.

A new wave of boats

Post-World War II, the Arnold Ferry Line faced its first major competition. Determined to be the leader, Lang and Brown replaced their labor-intensive steamers with diesel-powered boats, operated by five people. By 1963, Arnold Line had seven of these smaller, more efficient boats crossing the straits in 30-35 minutes.

While there is something to be said for leisurely crossing the straits and enjoying the beautiful scenery aboard these classic ferries, there was an increasing demand for faster and smoother boats. Arnold responded in 1987 when it introduced the first passenger-carrying catamaran to the Great Lakes. These twin-hulled, triple-deck ferries provided the fastest, smoothest, most comfortable ride yet on the straits.

A new rival emerges

Star Line Mackinac Island Ferry was founded by Tom Pfeiffelmann, Sam McIntire and others in the late 1970’s when they purchased Argosy Boat Line. The company was then renamed “Star Line” after its five original stockholders, represented by the 5-pointed star. In its first year, Star Line operated slower ferries including the classic Nicolet, Treasure Islander and Flamingo.

In 1979, Star Line purchased its first fast ferry, the Marquette. In the years that followed, the old LaSalle and Nicolet were replaced with sisters to the Marquette. When Arnold Transit Company introduced the catamaran Island Express in 1987, Star Line responded the following year with the Radisson, an 85-foot fast ferry which was modeled after a luxury yacht. She boasted two propellers as the other ferries had, but also had twin hydro-jets for added speed. One hydro pointed out of the water, making an incredible plume of water behind the boat!

In time, the LaSalle, Nicolet and Marquette also added hydro-jets with their trademark rooster tails. In 1990, Star Line added the Cadillac to the fleet, and in 1993, the Joliet. These boats were built in the style of the Radisson. In 2005, the Marquette was replaced by the larger Marquette II.

Today… and tomorrow

Arnold Transit Company faced a series of financial setbacks after the Brown family sold the company in 2010. In November of 2016, Star Line purchased the majority of Arnold Transit Company’s assets out of foreclosure, assuming the almost 140 years of its history and combining it with that of Star Line’s existing fleet. These combined assets allowed Star Line – the Mackinac Island Ferry Company – to build upon and enhance the legacy of the oldest and largest ferry fleet in the Straits of Mackinac.

With the company’s continued focus on making the journey to Mackinac an important first leg of each passenger’s island adventure, Star Line purchased the straits area’s only current catamaran, the Mackinac Express, in 2015. And in 2020, Star Line introduced the area’s only pirate ship, the Good Fortune!

Today, Star Line is the only ferry line providing year-round passenger service in the straits to allow visitors and residents the opportunity to enjoy all four seasons on Mackinac Island.

While protecting and honoring its legacy, the company also builds for the future, taking advantage of technological advances and developing plans to incorporate electric vessels into its fleet – to deliver, ultimately, the very best Mackinac Island ferry experience for generations to come.

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2024 season officially starts april 21st. tickets on sale now, click to get your discount tickets.

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