Question 1: Where are you located?
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Answer.... Our
mainland office is in downtown CHARLEVOIX.
Heading
South: You'll come into Charlevoix on US-31 South. Once
you're in downtown, you'll immediately cross the bridge. We are
the first driveway on the left past the bridge.
Heading
North:
From I-75: At Grayling, take M-72
West. M-72 will bring you into Kalkaska (unless you find CR 571 North
("the
Mancelona cut-off") first, which will take you directly into
Mancelona), where you
will take
US-131/M-66 North. Proceed with the directions below, "From
US-131/M-66."
Note: You can also take I-75 to Gaylord, then take M-32 West through
East Jordan to M-66 North.
From US-131/M-66: At the North end of Mancelona
you will come to a McDonald's on your left. Turn left onto M-66 North
(just before McDonald's, at a blinking yellow traffic light.) Follow
M-66 straight through (~30 miles) until it T's at US-31. Turn right
onto US-31 North. Once you're in downtown Charlevoix, you will come to
a bridge - DO NOT CROSS IT! We are the last driveway on the
right, before the bridge.
To get directions from your home - click HERE. |
Question 2: Do we need to make reservations? How can we
do that?
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| Answer.... We only take reservations
for vehicles that need to go on the boat or if you would like to take a
TOUR. Passenger space is first
come, first
served. To make a vehicle or tour reservation, or just for
availability,
call us at (231) 547-2311 or toll free at (888) 446-4095. Note that
tours may still be available without reservations. In the summer, you
can call the tour office directly at (231)448-2500 for reservations. We
do NOT make
reservations by e-mail. |
Question 3: How soon should we call to reserve space
for our car?
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Answer.... We generally begin taking
reservations in the middle of January. For hunting season, we allow
reservations to be made before the new year. Otherwise, we can make
reservations for the whole year, so calling us ASAP is the best
idea.
NOTE: If you plan on traveling with a vehicle on any Saturday
(especially during June, July or August) you should plan on making your
vehicle reservations ASAP (I.e. In January or February) to get a space.
Yes, spaces do fill up that quick. Check the scrolling information box
on the main page for important
dates and information.
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Question 4: Do you have a waiting list for vehicles?
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Answer.... We do not have a
waiting list for open vehicle spaces on the boat. What we do have
is called "stand-by" and requires a confirmed reservation following the date of the stand-by
reservation. EXAMPLE: You would like to take your vehicle on
Monday at 8:30am, but the boat is booked full. The next available
space is Tuesday at 2:30pm, so what we can do is put you on stand-by
for Monday at 8:30am and confirm your space on Tuesday at 2:30pm.
As a stand-by, your vehicle will be considered for loading if there is
space left over after confirmed vehicles and freight are loaded. Most
times in the summer, multiple stand-by vehicles can be loaded. If yours
doesn't fit as a stand-by on the Monday 8:30am departure, then it will automatically be placed as a
stand-by on the next departure (whichever boat is next), similarly so
until your confirmed
departure of Tuesday at 2:30pm. Canceling or missing a stand-by
reservation will result in the same penalties as missing a confirmed
booking. You need not travel on the same boat as your vehicle, but are
responsible for removing your vehicle from our dock immediately
following its arrival. IMPORTANT: The difference between a wait list
and our stand-by system is that we need not call you when a space opens
up on a boat that which you are booked stand-by. I.e., you may
arrive expecting to be a stand-by and find out your vehicle has a
confirmed space. So don't think that since you're only a
stand-by and not confirmed that you don't have to show up!
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Question 5: What's there to do on Beaver Island?
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Answer.... Beaver Island is home to
2 lighthouses, 7 inland lakes, 2
campgrounds, hiking & biking trails, fishing, 2 museums, 7
hotels/B&B's,
6 restaurants, various shops and numerous rental cottages. You
can rent kayaks, bikes and cars; go golfing,
SCUBA
diving; charter a boat to the outer islands of the
Beaver Archipelago or take one of our GUIDED ISLAND TOURS to see
the
island. Beaver Island is 53 square miles and has over 100 miles
of roads, so there is plenty to see!
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Question 6: How long is the boat ride?
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| Answer.... It takes just over 2
hours to make the 32 mile trip across. |
Question 7: Are your boats handicap accessible?
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| Answer.... We have two boats, the
M/V Beaver Islander and the
M/V Emerald Isle. The Emerald Isle is the newer of the
two and is handicap accessible, with a chair lift to the first
passenger deck, handicap accessible restroom and holds in the deck of
passenger areas for wheelchairs. |
Question 8: Are pets allowed onboard?
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| Answer.... Yes, pets are allowed on
our boats if they are on a short leash and kept away from other
passengers for $10, one-way. Pets are not allowed inside the passenger
cabin. We also have a limited number of kennels that are kept on the
car deck, for the same price. You do not have access to the car deck
while the boat is underway. You may also leave your pet in your vehicle
- away from our driver - at no charge. Please also note that pets are
not allowed in our indoor waiting area or on the shuttle bus. Beaver
Island Boat Company assumes no responsibility for the actions of pets.
We also have PET POLICY BROCHURES upon
request. |
Question 9: Is there food and drink onboard?
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| Answer.... We have vending machines
with water, candy, pop, chips, sandwiches and other vending-type items
for sale. You are welcome to bring food items aboard. There is a
drinking fountain on board and alcoholic beverages are allowed. |
Question 10: What is considered freight? What do you
charge for freight?
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Answer.... Ticketed persons
traveling on the same trip that items are being shipped are allowed up
to fifty (50) pounds of luggage. Excess freight is $0.07 per pound
($1.50 minimum charge.) Each passenger is also allowed one (1)
backpack-size carry-on. Most, but not all items placed on the luggage
rack are charged according to weight. BIBCo reserves the right to
charge itemized price or charge by weight, and also to adjust charges
according to item value. For extensive amounts of freight/luggage,
arrive 1 ½
hours before the departure and you may purchase a "cage"
(4'x'4'x6') for $49.25. Cages are first come, first serve. See our FREIGHT page more information. Note
that any and all luggage will be charged as freight to customers not
taking the same boat.
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