Experience an unforgettable tour of the Great Lakes night sky aboard a Shepler’s Night Sky cruise! All aboard as we set sail under the natural beauty of the night sky. Enjoy a relaxing cruise exploring the wonder and mystery in our galaxy and beyond. Our 2025 Night Sky Cruise schedule includes five (5) unique experiences scheduled around various events in the night sky, most timed to depart around sunset/moon rise.
Effective for the 2025 season, Night Sky Cruises will no longer offer narration by Mary Stewart Adams. We will continue to offer a serene experience allowing you to immerse yourself in the tranquil atmosphere.
All Night Sky Cruises depart from and return to Mackinaw City. Cruise parking is located at 311 S. Nicolet St. for $10 per vehicle per day.
All Night Sky Cruise tickets are NON-REFUNDABLE with no exceptions. Please ensure you are able to go before purchasing your ticket.
Click here to download full 2025 Cruise Schedule.
2025 Night Sky Cruise Dates
Saturday, June 28
Summer Crescent Moon Cruise – 9:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Early in the season the Moon strikes a romantic note, nestling into the western horizon at day’s end, a three-day crescent that can’t help but inspire song. Take a cruise along the Straits beneath a sky full of stars while whistling a merry tune in your heart, by the light of the silvery Moon.
Wednesday , July 9
Eve of Thunder Moon Cruise – 8:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
It is a rare treat to cruise the Straits of Mackinac and straddle the great lakes east and west, and the Michigan peninsulas north/south, with the Moon rising as the Sun sets. Tonight’s the night! This month’s Moon derives its name from the enlivening summer storms that are a hallmark of the season, as the constellation Leo roars through the sky, trailing the Milky Way of stars.
Tuesday, July 29
Milky Way Midsummer Cruise- 9:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
At the end of July each year we reach the halfway point of the season, and now is the time that meteor shower season starts to get active. No wonder, then, that Shakespeare placed the birth of his heroine Juliet right here in the calendar, as though he crafted her character right out of the stars glittering overhead, paying no heed to the garish sun. The Crescent Moon will guide us westward beneath the Bridge, and the stars.
Monday, August 11
Midnight Meteor Showers Cruise – 11:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Though a waning gibbous Moon keeps us company through the peak of tonight’s Perseid Meteor Shower, we cannot miss a chance to cast our wishes with the falling stars. Our most popular night sky cruise is an unforgettable experience that you do not want to miss!
Friday, August 29
7th Night of the 7th Moon Cruise – 8:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Bring your best beloved and cast your wishes into the lap of the Moon as it makes its way across the Milky Way river of stars, beneath the Summer triangle, herald of all the best love stories!
Be sure to read important scheduled cruise FAQs on cancellations and refunds, updated concession stand details, parking, boarding, and other important information before purchasing tickets.
Adult: $46.00
Children (ages 5-12): $46.00
Children (under 5): Free (ticket required, must sit on an adult’s lap)
Please note: Cruise Terms and Conditions have been updated as of January 8, 2025.