Pirate Ship Invades Munising Near Pictured Rocks in 2018

In 2017, a pirate ship could be spotted near Mackinaw City. Those lucky enough to book tickets got to board this one of a kind pirate ship on an eighty minute cruise. The Good Fortune, as the pirate ship is known, sailed under the Mackinac Bridge and offered pirate activities for those on board. The Good Fortune will be leaving Mackinaw City and instead sail out of another popular Michigan tourist destination.

The Good Fortune heads to Munising, where the boat will cruise in Munising Bay near Grand Island. Be sure to check out the new Munising Pirate Cruises Facebook page. The boat cruise time runs around one hour and fifteen minutes. An adult themed nighttime cruise runs a little longer at one and a half hours. We had the chance to talk to Deidre Phillipson, the Manager of Munising Pirate Cruises, to answer questions we had and share with our readers this new exciting venture.

One of the things that impressed me the most while looking up Pirate Cruises was their strong positive reviews online and also their dedication to respond to guests’ compliments and complaints. A look at TripAdvisor shows 19 reviews for Pirate Cruises (Mackinaw). The company gets 16 excellent ratings, 1 very good, 1 average, and 1 terrible. The poor reviews ware addressed and responded too and it looks like the guest thought the boat went around Mackinac Island, which it did not advertise, and also a poor review for a storm on the lake.

Here’s a sampling from some of these reviews:

“the crew did a great job of adding in some neat adult history”

“crew members fun and enthusiastic”

“did an awesome job of getting all passengers involved and making you feel like a pirate”

“the crew is friendly with and great with kids”

The company also has 65 reviews on Facebook from its operations in Mackinaw City in 2017. Customers left 64 five star and 1 four star reviews. That’s a pretty solid word of mouth rating for this company and its venture.

We asked Phillopson why it was so important to respond to both the good and bad reviews on sites like TripAdvisor. “I feel that it is important to engage with customers. If they are going to take the time to let the world know about their experience, I am going to take that time to thank them – good and bad,” she said. Sounds like great customer service to me.

As mentioned there was one bad review related to the weather. The good news is the move to Munising should actually play in the company’s favor. Phillopson tells us “Munising Bay is very protected by Grand Island. We have different route options depending on the wind. Since we do not leave Munising Bay, we do not expect to have the same cancellation of some other cruises that are exposed to the full elements.”

With that being said, Munising Pirate Cruises offers a full refund or a trip on the next available cruise if one is cancelled. The company works hard to communicate cancellations through Facebook and also asks for an email address to update on any cancellations.

While on the Pirate Cruise, the following will occur:

• Start your voyage at the dock learning to talk like a pirate
• Sail across the Munising Bay to discover treasure buried in the deep
• Swab the deck as you learn pirate songs with the crew
• Fire water cannons from the boat
• Celebrate your adventure on the open water with pirate games

The highlight of the Pirate Cruise in Munising is Grand Island. Grand Island, which is 13,500 acres, is one of the ten largest islands in all of Michigan. This island is a popular tourist destination as several boat trips around Pictured Rocks show the island up close. One of the highlights of the island is the Grand Island East Channel Lighthouse, which is often featured in photographs of the Upper Peninsula and Pictured Rocks area. The island also features another lighthouse on the north side, which is only viewable by riding the Riptide Ride.

We have highlighted several of the boat services available in the Pictured Rocks area. Each one offers some unique features. Phillopson tells us, “We are the only full entertainment boat geared towards a family adventure. We teach the pirate ways and are dancing and singing, along with sword fights and shooting of the water cannons. The crew are dressed as pirates and we encourage guests to dress up as well. We will give a history of Munising and point out some historic spots while keeping everyone entertained thru the entire pirate experience.”

While on The Good Fortune, guests are able to purchase snacks like chips and candy bars. Beverages of water, juice, and soda are also available. A selection of beer, wine, and liquor are available for those of legal age. The sunset cruise is for adults 21 or older and features a longer cruise to enjoy Lake Superior and the sunset.

The Good Fortune will sail daily out of Munising beginning in late June and going through Labor Day weekend. Stay tuned to the company’s website and Facebook page for more details on dates and times. The company is also seeking employees for the summer venture. Those interested in becoming a pirate can email munisingpiratecruises@gmail.com

The Good Fortune follows the owners of the venture back home to Munising. We were told that the owners and manager are from Munising and they believed it was the perfect time to bring the ship back home. Phillopson tells us, “The beauty of Pictured Rocks has really brought people to the area. It is an amazing place to be in the summer and Munising Pirate Cruises is offering a unique family experience to the mix.”

Grand Island, which is 13,500 acres, is one of the ten largest islands in all of Michigan. This island is a popular tourist destination as several boat trips around Pictured Rocks show the island up close. One of the highlights of the island is the Grand Island East Channel Lighthouse, which is often featured in photographs of the Upper Peninsula and Pictured Rocks area. The island also features another lighthouse on the north side, which is only viewable by riding the Riptide Ride.

If you are planning a vacation or to stay in the Munising area, I have to recommend the Tourist Park Campground. We have stayed here several times and continue to love this campground. If you’re lucky enough to get a site on the water, you can view Grand Island and also catch a gorgeous sunset.

While in Munising, be sure to check out our guide to 15 family friendly things, which includes waterfalls, beaches, boat rides, lighthouses, the popular Miners Castle, camping, and restaurants. Check out our other favorite Upper Peninsula Family Friendly Destinations here.

Big thanks to Deidre for taking the time to answer our questions.

*Photos of The Good Fortune come from Munising Pirate Cruises Facebook page*