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    Sunshine Charters

    4.9 (28 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 7:00 pm
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    Services - Sunshine Charters

    Boat charters

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    Beautiful!
    Kate M.

    5 star experience with Sunshine Charters! Last time we cruised with them was 2013 and, this time, we had the same amazing experience. The captain was awesome! And, young "first mate" guy helping him out was amazing as well! They are seriously the nicest people and they make sure you get a lot of bang for your buck. I would highly recommend this sunset sail to anyone. Thanks guys!!

    As we sailed back to the dock
    Renee N.

    On my last trip to Michigan, I knew I wanted to get my Mom and daughter out on the water. I quickly did some research and came across this company. It was easy to book and I knew we were in for some fun. At the time we sailed, I paid $30 per person, however, this was in 2014 so I am sure prices have gone up. We chose a sunset cruise and little did we know we would be on a catamaran. We arrived about an hour before sunset and boarded the boat. The crew was super friendly and kind. The crew provides soda and water but you are welcome to bring alcohol and food aboard. There was was room for quite a few people. We decided to take up the back half of the boat which provided us with plenty of seating. We took off and headed to Lake Charlevoix, so many beautiful "summer cottages" as they are called with gorgeous landscaping and private docks. After cruising for a bit and stopping for a quick dip of the toes in the lake (mighty chilly), we headed towards Lake Michigan. We went through the raised bridge which was really cool. Once we sailed onto Lake Michigan, the sunset began. It was absolutely one of the best sunsets I have seen in Michigan. So many colors and being on that water relaxed us all. So glad we had an opportunity to do this excursion in delightful Charlevoix. I highly recommend if you are in the area!

    Sue B.

    Nice cruise! The wind was really strong today which prevented us from going out on Lake Michigan but we were able to have a nice, smooth ride on Lake Charlevoix. The Captain and First Mate were very friendly and helpful. The mate came around often to see if anyone wanted drinks or needed anything. Pretty views and the water is beautiful!

    Amanda A.

    Booked this as a Father's Day present for my family. 4 adults. We all loved it! Capt Josh and Chase(?) were very friendly and polite, making sure everyone was situated, and offering soft drinks. Capt Josh seemed very prepared and flexible to both weather conditions and the mood of the group on board - with options to either stay in Lake Charlevoix and take in some views of the houses, or to do some sailing in Lake Michigan. We spent time before and after in downtown Charlevoix having lunch, getting ice cream and visiting a nearby park. My tip would be to travel light -- maybe bring a jacket with pockets. I had brought an overstuffed backpack and getting things out of it was a little tricky with the open air deck and movement of the ship. This is not a complaint against Sunshine Charters -- I'm sure they would have helped me if I had asked. Just my tip to anyone taking this trip would be to travel as lightly as possible. Maybe just bring a jacket with pockets. Also I recommend using the restroom before getting on board. Well worth the price!

    Great crew!!!! Thank you to sunshine charters for giving us the most comfortable experience with younger children! We will definitely be back. Great views, great tour!

    Lauren S.

    Highly recommend this excursion. The website has great suggestions on what to bring. We loved being able to bring our own cooler and will definitely be doing this again next summer on our yearly trip to the area.

    John B.

    Had a great time at first I was not wanting to do it simply because I have sailed before but not on the catamaran which made it different. The beauty part was they took their time. Didn't rush anything and let you enjoy the water. Told you a little bit about selling. The only downside the captain was openly talking about other businesses to a friend and we all could hear it. But his deck made was a young guy and he loved talking about selling and telling you about the area which made it great. I would give it a five star but I'm just knocking one off because the captain was just kind of displaying negative energy even though we could hear it talking about other businesses and other people in the bay. Other than that it was a great experience. I do recommend it greatly if the captain hasn't been spewing that information where we all could hear it. I think we all would have had a much better time but after it was over we all talked about how I was unprofessional. The captain was talking to a friend who lives there and works in the marina but we were all visiting. I would say if you're in the area, go and enjoy yourself

    Josh and Sonia - the owners

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    11 years ago

    Josh and his mate were great. Don't expect a lot of narration, but expect to have a fun and relaxing sail.

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    Ask the Community - Sunshine Charters

    Review Highlights - Sunshine Charters

    The catamaran trip was a blast - 2 hours around Lake Charlevoix, through the raised bridges, and into Lake Michigan.

    Mentioned in 11 reviews

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    Sip n' Sail Cruises

    Sip n' Sail Cruises

    (15 reviews)

    On our very first night on Mackinac Island, the weather was showing off--mid-60s, sunshine all day,…read morenot a cloud in sight. With the forecast looking more meh-kinac than Mackinac for the rest of the trip, we knew this was our golden hour (literally) to get out on the water. Enter: Sip 'n Sail's Sunset Cruise under the Mackinac Bridge. Let me tell you--this wasn't just a boat ride, it was a floating block party with the best views in Michigan. The boat itself is a two-tier beauty that holds around 100 folks, but lucky for us it wasn't packed. We snagged cushy patio sofa seats on the top deck (pro tip: get in line early!) and parked ourselves right in front of the live entertainment. And what entertainment it was! Our singer had charm, pipes, and a playlist straight out of the Yacht Rock Hall of Fame. Think Michael McDonald meets "Dancing With the Sunset." Everyone was singing, swaying, and probably rethinking their life choices if they didn't know all the words to "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)." The crew? Absolute gems. From the captain steering us smooth as butter under the Mighty Mac to the bartenders slinging drinks like it was happy hour at sea, they were all fantastic. Special shoutout to Emma, who kept spirits high (and beverages flowing). Drink-wise: the margarita was a bit too sweet for me--like sipping liquefied Skittles--but once I switched over to wine, I was smooth sailing. The highlight? Cruising directly under the Mackinac Bridge while the sun melted into the horizon in a blaze of pinks and golds. It was so breathtaking I half-expected Christopher Cross himself to appear on deck and whisper, "Sail away..." The night closed with a surprise duet: our singer invited a guest up for a Bob Seger number, and let me tell you--dude nailed it. I almost yelled "Play it again, Seger!" All in all, $55 for an hour and a half of boat-side bliss was a steal. Considering Mackinac Island charges $12 for a cup of grapes, this felt like highway--er, waterway--robbery in the best possible way. So if you're on the fence about booking this? Don't be. Just hop aboard. As Christopher Cross says, think of me when you sail away.

    Really fun trip. The views underneath the bridge are incredible. There was a singer on board who…read morewas wonderful. She played a good mix of music. Great service by the staff.

    Nauti-Cat Cruises - Sailing away the afternoon on nauti cat

    Nauti-Cat Cruises

    (127 reviews)

    We did the Champagne Sunset tour on the Nauti-cat and it was one of the highlights of our stay in…read moreTraverse city. Each person gets a drink ticket, and they give you cute metal souvenir cups with each purchase. The boat is a good size for the amount of people, as there are plenty of seats for everyone and you get a good view wherever you are at. It can get a bit chilly on the water so make sure you bring a jacket if its chill out. The staff was friendly and even made a cocktail for us that was not officially on the menu. The view on the lake is beautiful, and this is a great couples boat ride, or even to do with family.

    This was a last minute decision to do while on vacation. We were a group of 7 and our newly minted…read moreteenager ASSUMED we had rented a boat for his birthday - well what is a guilty feeling mom to do when she realizes she unknowingly destroyed her son's dreams of being out on the water for a day of celebration on a busy summer weekend in Traverse (where no boats were to be had??? ) to do? You wonder onto Groupon in a last ditch effort to salvage the day and that is just what my friend did, so seeing as Nauti-Cat was an option for the time we'd hoped for and the amount of people we had was like this has to be it. And it was! We got there a bit early because we wanted to ensure we didn't screw this up again and the process to get registered and ready was simple. After 5 minutes to get us all set, we walked over to the hotel next door just to take a peek around and it was lovely - the back deck off the water was gorgeous. The restaurant looked dreamy. Then we boarded the boat and left all the day's stresses behind. The tunes came on, the water was magical, the crew was nice and funny and let us just do our thing. They had a shotski and lots of vacation energy. I would definitely go again and would recommend anyone else in the area looking for a majestic, peaceful and relaxing boat outing to check it out!

    Torch Lake Windsurfing

    Torch Lake Windsurfing

    (4 reviews)

    Great experience. Knowledgable, flexible, and has great equipment…read more I was traveling to Michigan to meet up with a range of family. I wanted to rent some equipment that would allow me to have fun as an experienced windsurfer and to be able to teach a range of people weighing from 145 to 225 lbs, and ranging in age from 19 to 60+. Dave provided everything we needed and offered to swap things out as wind conditions changed. He knows his stuff and is fair and honest and a nice person.

    Torch Lake is Michigan's longest inland lake at 19 miles, deepest at 285' and 2nd largest. What…read morethose facts don't convey, is the beauty of the lake. Drive NE Torch Lake from M88 for a couple of miles and look to your right take in the beauty of the lake from the hills NE Torch lake winds through. Locals say that 6 shades of blue can be found in Torch's crystal clear water and I believe it to be true. I've had the pleasure of getting to know the owners Dave and Lisa over the last couple of years. They are seasoned sailors and and can provide lessons if you are new to sailing/windsurfing or just rusty. In the case of windsurfing they have a simulator on land that allows them to give instructions while you practice, without getting your feet wet. They will also take you out into the lake and provide instruction based on your skill level. Their business is located in a small subdivison on the NE side of the lake. Wak-Wing can be challenging to find with a GPS, keep in mind the city is Central Lake. Look for the white sign with a sailboat on it. While it's possible to catch them at the beach, it's highly recommended that you call and make an appointment. Enjoy!

    Sunshine Charters - boatcharters - Updated May 2026

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