Captain Chris West and his family welcome you aboard Ugly Anne II for an unforgettable voyage beneath the mighty Mackinac Bridge. What began with a lovingly restored Maine lobster boat is now a family-run tour that marries maritim...
Captain Chris West and his family welcome you aboard Ugly Anne II for an unforgettable voyage beneath the mighty Mackinac Bridge. What began with a lovingly restored Maine lobster boat is now a family-run tour that marries maritim...
This consistently tops the charts as a must-do Mackinaw City experience, and it's easy to see why. The cruise takes you right under the magnificent Mackinac Bridge, with sunset tours being particularly popular among visitors. What really stands out is how the crew genuinely cares about their passengers. Multiple reviewers mentioned staff going above and beyond, from offering seasickness medication to checking in on guests throughout the trip, to maneuvering the boat multiple times so everyone gets perfect photo opportunities. The staff earns universal praise for being friendly, humorous, and knowledgeable about local history. Families love it, couples find it romantic, and even first-time boaters who were nervous report feeling comfortable and welcomed. The tours hit that sweet spot of being just the right length while delivering beautiful views and interesting commentary. Returning customers say they look forward to booking again each visit, which speaks volumes about the quality and consistency of the experience.
This is a must-do if you are spending time in Mackinaw City. We ended up on the sunset cruise, which was spectacular for the views and the overall enjoyable experience. As you can see from my pics, we had plenty of time to take pictures under the Mackinac Bridge from different angles. The deckhands served drinks (inexpensive!) while helping to make sure we had a good time (Katie even went around to take pictures for people). It was really the highlight of our time in the area, which included a full day at Mackinac Island. I cannot say enough about the great service from the Ugly Anne folks. On the day we initially booked, late rain wiped out our scheduled cruise--Sue offered us the option to try the later cruise or take a refund. When the later cruise was also canceled due to weather, Sue called me directly and rebooted us for the next day (which ended up having perfect weather!). The whole team was friendly, and Chris, the captain, gave the passengers some good info about the history of the boat itself as well as the history of the bridge and the islands of the Mackinac Straits. All in all, it was an excellent value, and one I would absolutely do again if I'm in the area again.
Bryan Wilson
June 29, 2025
This is a must-do if you are spending time in Mackinaw City. We ended up on the sunset cruise, which was spectacular for the views and the overall enjoyable experience. As you can see from my pics, we had plenty of time to take pictures under the Mackinac Bridge from different angles. The deckhands served drinks (inexpensive!) while helping to make sure we had a good time (Katie even went around to take pictures for people). It was really the highlight of our time in the area, which included a full day at Mackinac Island. I cannot say enough about the great service from the Ugly Anne folks. On the day we initially booked, late rain wiped out our scheduled cruise--Sue offered us the option to try the later cruise or take a refund. When the later cruise was also canceled due to weather, Sue called me directly and rebooted us for the next day (which ended up having perfect weather!). The whole team was friendly, and Chris, the captain, gave the passengers some good info about the history of the boat itself as well as the history of the bridge and the islands of the Mackinac Straits. All in all, it was an excellent value, and one I would absolutely do again if I'm in the area again.
Bryan Wilson
June 29, 2025