Join us for a wonderful night under the stars. Mary Stewart Adams will provide her signature storytelling of sky lore and the celestial events that are happening right before your eyes as we cruise the waters of the Straits of Mackinac.
Saturday, June 15th Strawberry Moon Cruise 8:45 p.m. – 10:15 p.m.
The Strawberry Moon lends itself to thinking about the fruits of the Earth, but we’re inviting you to come enjoy the stars that are peaking overhead for our inaugural cruise of the season! We’ll disembark just as the Moon has risen in the east over Lake Huron, and we’ll cruise toward the setting Sun in the west, over Lake Michigan, with the Mackinac Bridge as our elegant backdrop. Tonight we’ll enjoy stories of the Moon’s many names and mysteries, while we cruise through the twilight time and the late Spring stars.
Friday, June 21st Summer Solstice Cruise 9:15 p.m. – 10:45 p.m.
The Sun comes to its highest hour by day, and leaves a blazing trail of starlight in its wake after it sets on this longest day of the year. Tonight we’ll cruise out under the Summer Triangle and the starry heroes of the summer sky, Hercules and Boötes, where they’re called to action by the warrior planet Mars.
Thursday, June 27th Starry Crown Cruise 9:15 p.m. – 10:45 p.m.
The constellation of the starry crown, Corona Borealis, comes to its highest place in the sky every year at the end of June, and its beautiful stars adorn the onset of the summer season, while they also coax meteors to fall from the nearby constellation of Boötes, the shepherd. Tonight’s stories on board will include tales of the crown from both mythology and folklore, as well as star-inspired tunes to compliment the mood.
Wednesday, July 3rd Mars & Crescent Moon Cruise 9:15 p.m. – 10:45 p.m.
It’s the eve of Independence Day and what better way to celebrate than with nature’s own fireworks~the stars! The Moon will be at barest crescent phase tonight, fresh on the heels of causing a Total Solar Eclipse not visible to us, but lending an aura of drama to the night all the same. Come cast your best wishes to the evening stars with us!
Saturday, July 13th Jupiter & Moon Cruise 9:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Our largest planet, Jupiter, will be brilliant in the evening sky near the bright star Antares all month, and tonight the two play host to the waxing gibbous Moon. This is the season of brilliant sky shows and rich stories, which are best experienced as they unfold over the beautiful waters of the great lakes.
Wednesday, July 31st Black Moon Cruise 9:45-11:15 pm
You’ve heard of a Blue Moon (the second full moon in one calendar month), but have you heard of the Black Moon, the second New Moon in one month? Here on the Straits we find ourselves in the right geographic time zone to experience this rarity ~ and though it’s not something we can see (it’s New Moon, after all), it’s still a great excuse to get out on the lake and wonder at the stars! Our cruise is timed to twilight, which is the best time to learn your way around the night sky, and we’ll be out on the water when the Moon achieves its moment of newness.
Wednesday, August 14th Sturgeon Moon Cruise 8:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Tradition holds that Sturgeon are plentiful in the month of August and symbolically, they’re all about self-care, which is the perfect set up for the relaxing and inspiring experience of the evening sky over the Straits from atop a Shepler’s Ferry. We’ll cruise out in the moonlight just past the peak of the Perseid Meteor Shower, and may even catch a stray falling star or two.
Thursday, August 15th Full Moon Cruise 9:00 p.m. – 10:45 p.m.
In August the Full Moon makes a dramatic display, making it easy to understand why many cultures celebrate this season as the most romantic of the year! We’ve timed our “summer dream cruise” so that we’re out on the water when Luna takes the stage from the east, while we cruise along the Straits to the west, with the elegant Mackinac Bridge posing for all the best pictures!
Friday, August 30th New Moon Cruise 8:00 p.m. – 9:45 p.m.
Tonight’s cruise is scheduled in conjunction with the last New Moon of the season, which means that after the Sun sets, we’ll get the best views of the evening planets, the thickest part of the Milky Way, and the brightest summer stars, undiminished by the Moon. And though it’s Summer’s last New Moon, it also marks the beginning of a new lunar cycle, which is always beautifully undertaken by the light of the stars on the Straits.
Friday, September 13th Moonlight Cruise 7:45 p.m. – 9:15 p.m.
Stories and superstitions abound when it comes to Friday the 13th, and tonight we’ll enjoy them by the light of a dreamy, nearly-full Moon, rising in the east over Lake Huron as we cruise west into the mystery of the setting Sun. The Moon is traveling along the part of its path that takes it furthest away from us, as though making way for the great gas giants, Jupiter and Saturn, which will also be on the scene overhead tonight!
Saturday, September 14th Harvest Moon Cruise 7:45 p.m. – 9:15 p.m.
At Harvest Time each year, the Sun sets in the west with Spica, the star of abundance, leaving the promise of planets and stars in its wake. For tonight’s cruise we’ll be out on the Straits in time to catch the Harvest Sun setting into Lake Michigan in company of the stories, music, and twilight stars while we await the rising of the Harvest Moon, which will break the horizon in the east, over Lake Huron, about 40 minutes later.
Rates:
Adult: $29.00
Child (5-12): $17.00
Children under 4 are free if riding on an adult’s lap. If they require their own seat, please purchase a child’s ticket for them.
Buy tickets for any of our Night Sky Cruises HERE.