Our cruise with Sunshine Charters was a highlight during a late summer trip up north. We booked a late morning cruise, and boarded the yacht with the friendliest crew before heading to Lake Charlevoix. They unfurled the sailed and we enjoyed the sunny and breezy day before heading over to Lake Michigan, passing under the drawbridge as we went. Lake Michigan was choppy, but I never felt uncomfortable being out on the sailing yacht throughout. Bathrooms were clean, cold (non-alcoholic) drinks were a-plenty, and there was even a fun space for kiddo to make a fort with the cushions to stay amused. Would highly recommend booking a trip if you get the chance! read more

We took part in the 11:30-1:30 sail on a beautiful Sunday. Captain Blair and mates Chase and Judy were lovely. There were about 25 folks on the boat and everyone had plenty of room. The sail is exactly as explained in the description. We went around Round Lake, then out to Lake Charlevoix, then under the drawbridge and out to Lake Michigan for about 15 minutes. They played good music and offered water and soda. It was a very enjoyable experience. My only suggestion would be for the crew to give more information about Charlevoix and the lakes. We like to learn about the area we are visiting! And it's okay to suggest tipping. I noticed most folks did not, which is a shame. read more

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What a blast. Capt. Josh and his crew were amazing. Beautiful evening for a sunset booze cruise. Met many nice and interesting people from all over. Only regret is I had no cash to tip. I'm so sorry!! read more

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We had an amazing experience on Sunshine Charters catamaran! We booked a private morning sail for my sister's bachelorette party. The morning of was very rainy and it was supposed to continue raining all day. They were willing to work with us by delaying departure, or even offered to cancel and get us on the boat the next day if we didn't feel comfortable going. We were really amazed at how nice they were about it and we didn't feel pressured at all. Amazingly, the weather cleared right up and it was a perfect day for our sail! We were able to hook up to the bluetooth speaker, we brought mimosas and charcuterie and sailed around the lake. Everything worked out perfectly thanks to all the staff at Sunshine Charters! Everyone was so kind and flexible, we really appreciated all their hard work and clear dedication. Would 10/10 recommend, you won't be disappointed. Thank you Sunshine Charters! read more

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!! read more

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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! read more

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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! read more

Sunshine Charters - Boat Charters Near Me - Charlevoix, Michigan

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! read more

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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! read more

Sunshine Charters - Boat Charters Near Me - Charlevoix, Michigan

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. read more

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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 read more

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HIGHLY recommend trying out Sunshine Charters if you are visiting Charlevoix or the surrounding area! The experience was amazing. I'm not a huge fan of boats normally, but I felt very comfortable on the charter. The captain and crew were fun and caring. Great experience for everybody :) read more

Had a great time sailing with Sunset Charters! Perfect day for sailing on lake Charlevoix & Lake Michigan. The captain & first mate are very knowledgeable & engaging. Highly recommend this charter company. read more

We went on a sunset cruise over Labor Day and it was a very nice trip. We lucked out and got the prime seats along the back of the boat so it definitely paid off to get there early and snag the best seats. The captain and skipper were so friendly and made sure we enjoyed our trip. The time on Lake Charlevoix was very comfortable but Lake Michigan was pretty rocky so we didn't stay out long which was fine by me. I recommend this charter for a family outing or date night. read more

We had a great time on our trip. You get to sail in lake Charlevoix and Lake Michigan. It was to rough for us to go in Lake Michigan but we an amazing time. The crew is super nice and attentive. A most do while in Charlevoix! read more

Sonia and Josh were great hosts! We reserved spaces for a bachelorette party and toted our own coolers and booze on board. The catamaran trip was a blast - 2 hours around Lake Charlevoix, through the raised bridges, and into Lake Michigan. The boat is very nice and the crew provides water and soda, plus allows you to BYOB. They also have a great knowledge of the area and local history. Our party had such a fun time and I highly recommend Sunshine for a small group excursion. read more

Sunshine Charters - Josh and Sonia - the owners - Boat Charters Near Me - Charlevoix, Michigan

OK, Need to know one thing before getting on this cruise. If you drank too much beer, have a big prostate or have had too many kids, pee before boarding or wear a diaper. There is a "head" but this is an option only for the young and limber and number 2 is a big no-no. Trust me you don't want to go there. Otherwise awesome and highly recommend. Biggest downside is that you'll see Betsy Devos' mansion on the water which many of us wanted to firebomb. read more

Our family, ages 7, 11,44,64, & 65, had a great experience with Captain Josh, Sonja, and Jane. Sailing in light winds on June 27th, we skimmed around Lake Charlevoix for nearly 2 hours. As sunset neared, we slipped through the channel, under the drawbridge, and out into lake Michigan at 9pm or 9:15pm. We watched the sun go down over lake Michigan, then motored back into the harbor before dark. The staff was very, very patient with our inquisitive 7 year old. The child was able to steer the boat for a bit. Sodas and water were provided. You are encouraged to BYOB. They have a website, but you'll see the most recent information on their Facebook page. One note of caution- We had trouble finding a place to eat at 9:30 on a Wednesday evening. There are several restaurants in Charlevoix, but they close early. Even the Pizza Hut closes at 10pm. Make your plans in advance of your cruise. If you 'wing it', you might end up at Burger King. The sunset cruise was $40 per adult and $30 per child. That price is high enough to make me hesitate a bit. However, I'm so glad that we had the experience. Considering all the disposable, Chinese junk and electronics that I buy, this charter was well worth the money. These are really nice folks. One can't help but hope for their success. read more

We took the Sunset Cruise last night and it was wonderful. Josh and Nate were both very friendly and fun to talk to. Hearing the history of the boat from Josh was very interesting. I highly recommend taking a cruise with Sunshine Charters, we will definitely go again next time we're in the area! read more

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

My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed the sunset cruise that Sunshine provides. Josh was a fun yet professional captain with a lot of sailing knowledge. I highly recommend this to anyone visiting beautiful Charlevoix! read more

I was impressed by Josh and Emma. They were particularly helpful and kind in assisting my 89 year old in-laws on and off the boat. Great in dealing with our 4 and 6 year old grandchildren. It was a thrill for them to steer the boat. My grandson said it all, "it's not just a surprise, it was a Hurray Surprise! read more

We took this boat tour of Lake Charlevoix on Wednesday and it was wonderful! Both the captain and his assistant, Elizabeth were amazing. The whole trip was fun and casual with lots of waves and fun things to see (like the mushroom houses). I highly recommend this trip if you are in the area. read more

Josh was great with the kids. We were trying to decide between renting a boat or jumping on a tour. In hindsight we definitely made the right decision. The boat has tons of space and could easily hold dozens of people. Must try!!! read more

Went with my family (group of 9 adults) on a sunset cruise. Crew is laid back but also very accommodating (it was August but got chilly on the water so they provided blankets.) They let us bring food and wine on board and even picked up our trash. They brought extra pillows and cushions so we could all sit together at the front of the boat. A great trip, and an excellent value! We were on the water for over two hours and and got incredible sunset views over Lake Michigan for $40 per person. Would definitely do it again. read more

My family makes this a must-do every summer when visiting Charlevoix. What a relaxing way to take in the beautiful scenery, and great captain and first mate to put your mind at ease while sailing. Looking forward to our upcoming sail! Schedule fills up quickly so definitely book in advance! read more

Our family has been visiting Sunshine Charters for 5 years and we couldn't think of a better spot to spend our "down time". The boat is kept in excellent condition, the crew knowledgeable of local areas/events and are always a pleasure to be around. In more recent years, the owner has upgraded to a 40ft catamaran, and although we loved the original yellow boat, the catamaran is a smoother ride and provides more room to move around and seems to be a better fit for those who are hesitant. This is always on the "must do" list for our family. read more

My wife and I had the pleasure of spending a couple hours on the Sunshine. I have to be honest and let you know that we have been personal friends of Josh & Sonja for many years so I was very much looking forward to a cruise on the Sunshine---their new business adventure. It was quite evident that they are doing something they both love to do. You can see it in the way they treat the guests on their boat. And they definitely made everyone aboard feel like their guest not their customer. From the moment you arrive until the moment you leave they treat you with professionalism, enthusiasm, and friendliness. Josh is a very capable captain and has an amazing working relationship with his crew. They are all knowledgeable of the many shoreline sights that are a part of the cruise. And the cruise itself ----beautiful. They have a way of making you feel relaxed and "at home." I would highly recommend the cruise to anyone wishing to see the beauty of the lakes and the surrounding area while enjoying the sunshine. I've seen many sunsets over the lake, but to be able to enjoy one from the peaceful surroundings while on-board their sailboat is one I am looking forward to again this season. Don't leave the area without the memories that you'll have after a relaxing cruise aboard the Sunshine. The price of the cruise is very reasonable and the memories are----priceless. I know you'll enjoy your cruise. Thank you Josh & Sonja. read more