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Harbor Princess makes nostalgic return to Charlevoix for fall color boat tours

• Published: Sep. 17, 2024, 7:01 p.m.

The Harbor Princess is the newest fleet member of the Little Traverse Bay Ferry Company.

• Tanda Gmiter | [email protected]

CHARLEVOIX, MI - The Harbor Princess cruise boat will motor over to Charlevoix next month for a nostalgic homecoming that’s designed to offer new fall color tours from the water.

The Harbor Princess normally does day cruises and sunset trips out of Petoskey, where it’s part of the Little Traverse Bay Ferry Company fleet. But from Oct. 3-13, it will be making Round Lake and Lake Charlevoix its home port while its crew offers daytime autumn color trips, kids-themed trips, and evening sunset cruises in this picturesque spot.

Tickets can be purchased in advance online here.

“Northern Michigan is renowned for its spectacular fall colors, as the area transforms into a vibrant tapestry of reds, oranges, and yellows that attracts visitors from across the country,” the cruise boat company said. “This year, visitors can board the Harbor Princess for a picturesque cruise and take in the stunning fall foliage of Northern Michigan in a truly unique way.”

The Harbor Princess will do color tours, sunset cruises and kid-friendly cruises in the Charlevoix area in October. Little Traverse Ferry Co.

So why is the return of the Harbor Princess to the Charlevoix area such a celebrated homecoming? It’s because that’s where this historic boat started her Great Lakes journey nearly 70 years ago.

The Princess used to be known as the Emerald Isle and it was tailor-built in 1955 to run the Charlevoix to Beaver Island route, bringing islanders and vacationers back and forth between the island and the mainland port.

“The Harbor Princess invokes nostalgia in many locals and visitors who remember her as the Emerald Isle, so we’re excited to bring her home and offer guests the opportunity to experience this little piece of Northern Michigan history against the backdrop of the breathtaking fall foliage our area is known for,” said Chris Chamberlain, the captain and fleet owner.

The Harbor Princess has double decks as well as covered seating areas. The trips come with some perks, too. The kids-themed cruises offer free cider and donuts. The other color tours and sunset cruises will offer a spiked cider drink for purchase.

These trips will come with a side of history. The captain will narrate parts of the cruise, even tossing in a little shipwreck lore if you ask.

If You Go: Fall Color Tour Details

Date/Time: October 3-13. Check the website here to view the schedule and make a reservation.

Departure Location: 103 Bridge Park Drive in Charlevoix .

Tickets: Prices range from $10-$37 depending on the passengers’ age and cruise selected.

Little Traverse Bay Ferry Company's newest boat is the Harbor Princess.

Cruise With History

The Harbor Princess arrived in Northern Michigan to join the Little Traverse Bay Ferry fleet last summer. People familiar with tour boats that ply the Great Lakes know that vessels can change hands and change names several times over the decades they are on the water. The same is true of the Princess. This boat has a pretty cool history that includes two well-known islands and Michigan’s biggest city.

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Built for the Beaver Island Boat Company, the 65-foot vessel could carry up to 125 passengers and nine vehicles between that remote island in northern Lake Michigan and Charlevoix, its mainland port. It was later bought by the Arnold Transit line to ferry people, horses and other cargo between Mackinac Island and mainland docks in the Straits of Mackinac. Its most recent incarnation under Chamberlain and his team was as the Diamond Jack, a dinner and river cruise boat in Detroit.

After heading north to St. Ignace, where it spent a stint in dry dock for a little refurbishing last year, the boat left as the Harbor Princess and joined the ferry company in Petoskey last summer for its next chapter on the water.

“The Harbor Princess carries a rich history that unfolds with every voyage,” Chamberlain said. “From her beginnings as the legendary Emerald Isle, tailored specifically for the Charlevoix to Beaver Island route, to a Mackinac Island ferry for Arnold Line, then as the beloved Diamond Jack touring the heart of Detroit. Her journey is a special testament of maritime history around the state of Michigan.”

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California Coast Cruise Shore Excursions

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Highlights of things to see and do on shore

Astoria, Oregon

Enjoy a narrated drive around Astoria, and visit the Astoria Column, view the Flavel House and many picturesque homes, hotels and neighborhoods that have been featured in movies like The Goonies , Short Circuit , Benji the Hunted and others. Take in the views and brews of some Astoria's finest craft beers while looking out over the scenic Columbia River.

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Los Angeles, California

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Monterey, California

Embrace the enduring allure of beautiful Monterey. Take the coastal 17-Mile Drive, and admire glamorous mansions overlooking ocean vistas. Stroll the fabled waterfront district of Cannery Row, made famous by John Steinbeck. Today, this fabled waterfront district is an eclectic blend of specialty shops, local artists’ galleries, restaurants and the renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium, home to more than 600 species including those native to California.

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San Diego, California

Relax on a sun-soaked beach. Take a tour of the county’s thriving wineries. ‘Ooh’ and ‘aah’ over the 4,000 rare animal breeds that call the San Diego Zoo their home. Watch thrilling shows featuring bottlenose dolphins at Sea World Adventure Park. Enjoy that south-of-the-border feeling with a stroll through Old Town. Sample the nightlife – all Classic California Coast cruises stay here until 11 p.m.

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San Francisco, California

You just may leave your heart in this iconic city. Home to cable cars, fog and world-class food, San Francisco is a cosmopolitan city with hip neighborhoods, parks and gardens and a relaxed atmosphere. Take a stroll down Lombard Street, the “most crooked” street in the world. Watch interesting characters flow through Union Square from a coffee shop window. Appreciate 1,000-year-old redwood trees at Muir Woods National Monument.

View cruises with San Francisco | View shore excursions | View hotel packages | Learn more

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Nicknamed “America’s Riviera,” Santa Barbara boasts whitewashed houses draped with bougainvillea, sapphire-blue water rolling up a rocky coast and palm-lined beaches. Even with all of that beauty, wine and whales may be the stars of this charming coastal city. Journey to the quaint Danish village of Solvang for wine tasting. Step aboard a high-speed catamaran and cruise out to the glistening waters of the Channel Islands to watch whales and dolphins frolic.

View cruises with Santa Barbara | View shore excursions

Seattle, Washington

At 110 years old, Seattle’s Pike Place Market is the country’s oldest continuously operated public farmers' market. It’s also home to the original Starbucks, where javaphiles toast to the legendary coffeehouse. Let your eye guide you to local art, and your nose to hole-in-the-wall eateries, along eclectic streets. Tour and sample the wines hidden away in the state’s most popular wineries’ private cellars.

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Vancouver, B.C.

If you’re looking for adventure in Vancouver, gather up your courage for a daring walk across the nearby Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge swaying 50 meters high. Stop and smell the cherry blossoms in world-famous Stanley Park, a West Coast rainforest fittingly dubbed the “Green Heart” of Vancouver. Ascend Grouse Mountain in the Super SkyRide tramway for a postcard-worthy view of the city over rolling hills of Douglas firs.

View cruises with Vancouver | View shore excursions | View hotel packages | Learn more

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Cruise Plus Hotel Packages

Add peace of mind and a sense of security to your vacation with a Cruise Plus® Hotel Package. Give yourself a few days to relax either before or after your California Coast cruise and take in the sights of a sensational city. Princess handles all the details – including transfers and baggage handling – with accommodations selected for their incredible locations and excellent service.

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