Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry

Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry

Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry
4.5
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Saturday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Sunday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
About
Shepler's offers 5 different Lighthouse Cruises through the Straits of Mackinac and Great lakes, each narrated by the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association. A portion of the proceeds from each cruise go to help with upkeep and restoration of these "Guardians of the Great Lakes". Complete cruise schedule and tickets available at sheplersferry.com.
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  • ksrich
    Linwood, Kansas400 contributions
    Enjoyable!
    We took the ferry that went under the Mackinaw bridge. I talked about the bridge, I wish they could have said more. It was a good ride, on top deck it got a bit cold, but was fun. 18-20 minute ride to the island. A tip for VETS-Get your tickets at the window, not on line or the hotel, have an id of sorts showing vet status. Thats what I did and instead of paying $34 a ticket, I paid $24 a ticket.
    Visited May 2023
    Written May 28, 2023
  • hugh b
    Agoura, California391 contributions
    if you depart at 7 or 8 am PEE FIRST !!
    all in all they were friendly and organized. But on the return trip, afetr we had breakfast and coffee and headed to the dock. the restrooms were closed till 8.. our boat leaves at 8 no bathroom on board !! not a comfortable ride. the folks around us had to too, they also thought it was stupid to NOT have a bathroom available before departure.
    Visited July 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 14, 2023
  • Deb C
    Milton, Delaware281 contributions
    Nice ride to the island
    While staying in Mackinaw City we decided to take the ferry to Mackinac Island for the day. Took the early ferry that also went under the bridge. Ok commentary but I would skip it next time. Also, seeing as it is September, I recommend sitting indoors as we started out in the upper deck and the wind was brutal. It is a quick 15 - 20 minute ride.
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written September 23, 2023
  • suespagnuolo
    Lansing, Michigan1,370 contributions
    Little pricey in my opinion.
    $31.00 per person seems a little pricey to me. But we took an early ride so we could do the under the bridge tour. It was pretty cool to see underneath it. Smooth fast ride. Staff was nice and friendly.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 7, 2023
  • Boyd S
    Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin7 contributions
    Consumer Beware
    There are two ferries operating to Mackinac Island; both are excellent. Shepler's charges you $30 for overnight parking; Mackinac Island Ferry service (the Star Line) offers free overnight parking. It is a no-brainer which ferry to use, i.e. Mackinac Island Ferry Service!
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written October 13, 2023
  • GerriM
    French River, Canada338 contributions
    Michigan Road Trip
    Took the ferry back and forth from the mainland and it was a pleasant ride. Nice to see the bridge from the middle of the lake. Staff all pleasant and helpful. Nice hearing the history of Miss Margie.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 23, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.5
3,072 reviews
Excellent
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Very good
463
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Poor
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Terrible
54

Rick R
Grand Rapids, MI21 contributions
Aug 2020 • Couples
We’ve used Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry from Mackinaw City in the past. This time we were hit with an unpleasant surprise. Shepler’s charged us $25 per night for parking in their dockside lot. Since we stayed on Mackinac Island two nights, our parking charge was $50! In the past, it was free to park in their dockside lot, unless you had your car valet parked or chose to have your car parked inside a building. The thing that bothered us was there was no sign posted when entering the lot that the Shepler’s Mackinaw City dockside lot was charging $25 per night, nor was there a posted notice at the ticket window saying this, or the ticket agent disclosing the $25 per night fee. Shepler’s also charges $25 for parking in this dockside lot if you’re just going to Mackinac Island for the day. It’s a great way for Shepler’s to essentially double their ferry charge through charging a large parking fee. Fortunately, there’s another ferry service in town called Star Line Ferry Service that has more modest parking options. Several years ago, Star Lines bought some of the now defunct Arnold Ferry Lines boats and their more favorably located docks on Mackinac Island. We’ll be checking Star Lines out on our next trip to Mackinac Island.
Written August 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello and please accept our sincere apologies for any and all disappointment with our parking operation. Our premium lot began charging two seasons ago and since then it is staffed by a cast member during all hours of operation. You should have been information of the fee upon arrival, before being permitted into the lot and if that didn't happen, we sincerely apologize. Complimentary parking is still available in our day lot on Nicolet Avenue. Once again we're very sorry for any possible miscommunication. On behalf of our entire crew, we do thank you for riding with us and hope to not lose you as our guest.
Written August 20, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

TravelerBZ
1 contribution
Jul 2020
We stayed a night on Mackinac Island on 7/29 and used the Shepler ferry Due to its proximity to our hotel. The ferry ride over was fine - everyone wore masks and it was not packed so people were spaced out.

Our return ferry experience was on 7/30 when we joined a very long line on the dock headed for Mackinac City before the 4:30 ferry. The ferry was looking pretty full and we assumed we’d be waiting for the next ferry but to our surprise we were boarded onto the boat. It was PACKED! We attempted to go to the bottom since the top looked packed from the dock and found the bottom also packed. A young staff member told everyone still searching for seats that the top was also full. We let her know the bottom was packed (a good 10+ people were standing in back of boat not sure where to go) so she told an older, gentleman employee on the dock. I don’t know if this guy was a manager or what but he was RUDE and does not know how to properly address other staff or passengers. His response in a snarky nasty tone to her and all of us... “That boat is not full, I can fit 70 more people on it.” He then storms onto the boat and says he can make room - without everyone sitting on top of someone I’m not sure how that was even possible. I asked if we could get off and wait for the next ferry if we didn’t feel comfortable and again he rudely snarled, rolled his eyes and said “do what you want.” Several of us got off and waited which ended up being only 10 minutes because another boat was there and ready to be loaded which ended up with less people on it too. Then back at the dock we spent another 30 minutes waiting and getting back to our car in overnight parking on a tram since the busses are only for hotel guests apparently. We’ve taken Star Line in the past and we’ll be using them in the future!
Written August 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello and thank you very much for bringing this situation to our attention. Our president Chris Shepler would like the opportunity to address this issue personally. Should you have a moment, we hope that you'll please email us at social@sheplersferry.com and reference this review so that we can assist. We're truly sorry for the entire situation on the 30th and we do hope to hear from you further. Thank you again for riding with us and for giving us the opportunity to assist.
Written August 5, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Wendy M
Marietta, OH89 contributions
Jul 2020 • Family
A family of 13 of us used the ferry for our three nice stay on Mackinac Island. The ride was seamless— on time and excellent service with transporting our luggage and parking our cars for very reasonable rate. Staff was excellent- Highly recommend.
Written July 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Greetings and thank you so much for choosing Shepler's for your family outing to Mackinac. We're thrilled to hear everything was seamless. Thanks again and we look forward to seeing you again soon!
Written August 5, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

FancyFree55
Florida7,619 contributions
Sep 2021
For my second experience taking a ferry to the island, I chose Shepler's boarding at the Mackinaw City pier, while my first visit a few years ago involved a trip from St. Ignace aboard the Arnold Transit Line, which apparently is no longer in business. During my recent ride, the outgoing Shepler's ferry took us on a little side trip under the Mighty Mac and we heard a bit of history about the bridge, which I enjoyed.

Having a wee bit of experience in riding ferries in a chilly climate, I opted for a front row seat in the lower enclosed deck, rather than up top in the open air. Vistas aren't 360 degrees below deck, of course, but quite a few passengers made their way downstairs during the 20-minute ride after deciding that the wind was too brisk above.

The ride was uneventful. The round trip price was $29 - no senior discount. Human passengers only - cars aren't allowed on the island, although you can pay extra to bring a bicycle. When I mentioned to the ticket agent that the Shepler's website did mention a discount for seniors ($27), she ignored me. If you happen to be staying at the Rainbow Motel in Mackinaw City, you can purchase discounted tickets there for $26 cash. Some of the other inns might offer discounted tickets. You can purchase a Mackinac Island guide on board for $2. No beverages or snacks are offered during the short ride.

Off season the boat leaves the island only one time per hour, on the hour. It departs the dock precisely on schedule. Get lined up early to secure seating on one of the benches provided. Otherwise it's a long wait while standing.
Written October 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello FancyFree! Thanks so much for riding with us and for posting such a through review of your visit. We appreciate all the useful information for future guests. Thanks again for choosing Shepler's and we hope to see you on your return visit.
Written January 4, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Karolina H
Orland Park, IL16 contributions
Aug 2020
I choose this ferry service for my trip to Mackinac Island.
I purchased the ticked online (along with my bicycle ticket/tag) and called the number listed on their website to ask specific questions. I was greeted by a representative who answered all of my questions patiently and kindly. I then called a second time and received the very same courtesy.
While at the dock, I was greeted by a representative right at the front gate who was directing the traffic. I boarded the ferry with no issues as there were no lines, no hassle. They handled my bicycle appropriately and gently.
The ferry ride was quick and unloading was also done in a timely manner.
The only complaint I'd have would be for the passengers who do not follow the staff's instructions to stay seated through the docking process and until baggage is unloaded. Everyone was in such a hurry to get off the boat.
The boarding process on the return trip took a bit longer as there were a lot of people coming back but the staff were again courteous, patient and handled the flow of people seamlessly.
Overall, a very pleasant experience and a great ferry ride. I regret not boarding the ferry that goes under the bridge but I will save that for another time.

I would definitely recommend Shepler's Ferry services.
Written August 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello and thank you very much for taking the time to post about your experience. We're happy to hear you enjoyed your ride with us and we appreciate the thorough review. Thanks again and safe travels now and always!
Written August 20, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

BB343434
Stillwater, MN153 contributions
Jun 2021 • Family
Leaving Mackinac Island one of our 5 bags was sent to St Ignace instead of Mackinac City. The baggage handlers @ St Ignace let the Mackinac City handlers know at 8:30 AM before we arrived. Thank you!!

However, we didn’t receive our lost bag until 11am. Putting us behind 2 and 1/2 hour on our 10 hour trip back home.

Emily the Mackinac City luggage handler was extremely helpful. Thank you Emily.

By Shepler’s company standards, it takes an hour to get the baggage to the correct city. That is completely understandable.

However, it took two and a half hours this time.
If it wasn’t for Emily’s persistence in tracking down the bag it may have taken even longer. She was very caring as she personally handed us our bag and apologized.

***I guess our biggest disappointment came from the response we received from Shepler’s front office when we made them aware of our situation and voiced frustration. Two of the people in management we spoke two immediately blamed Mission Point Resort for mishandling the bag, ignoring the 2:30 delay on their end. The stress that put on some of their own employees as they worked trying to help us.***

Shepler’s Management also explained that They could not compensate us for our time and stress because they don’t charge for a baggage handling.

They did charge us $13 to transport our each of our 3 bicycles. And $72 fee for each ferry ticket. Shepler’s ferry price must cover some of their baggage handling expenses.

Sorry Shepler’s. I don’t know if we will use your ferry when we return in July.

Thank you to Emily and the other mainland luggage handlers for your help, caring and persistence in tracking down our bag. Thank you for the care you took handing us our bag :)

As a side note: Another issue or traveling party had with Shepler’s was on our way to Mackinac Island. Some of our family member’s had 1/2 their luggage sent to the Grand Hotel instead of Mission Point. They took the 9:30 am Shepler’s ferry from Mackinac City and didn’t receive they baggage until 7:00 pm.
Written June 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Greetings! This is all very concerning and we hope you'll please email us at social@sheplersferry.com so that we may properly assist. Please reference this review and include proper contact information. Thank you for riding with us and giving us the opportunity to assist. We're terribly sorry for any and all possible issues.
Written July 12, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Amy
Sarasota, FL1,769 contributions
Aug 2020 • Couples
We always use Sheplers and did again this trip. We have never stayed overnight and was surprised how expensive overnight parking is ($25 per night). Really loved the luggage valet service. You check your luggage in with them at the pier and the next time you see your luggage it’s in your room at the hotel! They offered this for several hotels(we stayed at the grand hotel). Made it nice to be able to walk around the island right away without having to deal with luggage. They do the same on return. Check it with the hotel and then pick it up on the pier back in Mackinac city. It was good they were asking everyone to wear masks but I was really surprised they weren’t really enforcing it. Also they could easily add a hand sanitizing station right as you get on the Ferry and seat every other row. I was surprised to see people were packed in every row as usual.
Written August 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Greetings and thank you very much for taking the time to post. Please know we're taking continued extra steps to assure a comfortable experience for all Shepler's guests. We appreciate you riding with us and we look forward to seeing you many times into the future.
Written August 20, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

wemjam
Carleton, MI1,522 contributions
Sep 2020
Used the Sheple's Ferry service to Mackinac Island today and it was great. Parked in free parking lot and then took free shuttle to dock.

They were requiring all passengers to wear masks and were sanitizing between runs.

We did the trip that took you under the bridge and that was very interesting and commentary and info provided was cool.

Return trip back was just as fast and efficient. When we got off the boat another shuttle bus had just pulled up, so we hopped right on it and was back over at our vehicle in just a couple minutes.

I will say social distancing of 6 feet is not possible on the boat at all times, or in the shuttle bus, but it is what it is. At least everyone was wearing masks.
Written September 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Greetings and thank you not only for riding with us, but also for taking the time to post such a lovely review. Many of our cast members read these reviews seeking feedback, and we always love seeing such kind words. Thank you for understanding the realities of social distancing in the transportation industry We appreciate your support during this unusual time. Safe travels and we look forward to seeing you next time!
Written September 24, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

GoHawksAnkenyIowa
Ankeny, IA538 contributions
Jul 2021
This Ferry service is first rate. We took our bikes and the person at St Ignace helped us unload, tagged our bikes and luggage and explained where to park and pay for the overnight parking. Tour under the bridge was great, make sure you are towards the front of the line to get a seat up top to get great pictures of the bridge. When we arrived at Mackinac Island they walked our bikes off and we were able to leave our luggage until we delivered our bikes to the B&B we stayed at and then came back for our luggage. Someone was even cleaning the carpet on our way back. Very impressive operation.
Written August 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello and thank you. We strive to be "first rate" and we're so happy to hear we met the mark with your group. Thank you again for choosing Shepler's and we hope to see you many times into the future.
Written August 18, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Franky S
1 contribution
Jul 2020 • Couples
While the process of the fairy was very easy, and masks were required, there was NO social distancing in line, and once we got on the ferry. People were free to sit wherever, no staff was directing people on where to sit and where not to sit. They announced that masks were required, but as soon as we left the dock, people took masks off, or let them go below their nose. No staff walked around to enforce the governors executive order of mask requirement. They needed to have staff directing people on where to sit to follow social distancing. There was also no organization when getting off the ferry...free for all.
Written July 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello and thank you for posting. Please know that we've made considerable changes to our operation as to provide a clean and comfortable experience for all guests. While there actually are no specific social distancing guidelines in place for transportation companies, we are encouraging all guests to respect the space of others and of course we do require masks. Thank you once again for choosing Shepler's and we apologize for any disappointment.
Written August 5, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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