Lake Express' 2024 Travel Season Begins

Schulz said the high-speed automated passenger ferry is the first of its type and the only one of its kind in the United States.

MUSKEGON, MI — The Lake Express crossed Lake Michigan for the first time on Friday, kicking off the 2024 season. Although it's still spring for some, Lake Express Senior Vice President Aaron Schultz said the start of the travel season feels like the start of summer.

“We already had a huge turnout,” Schultz said. “Lake Express is unique nationally, but familiar here.”

Schulz said the high-speed automated passenger ferry is the first of its type and the only one of its kind in the United States. He said his favorite thing about the ferry is experiencing Lake Michigan.

“I think I'm getting used to it little by little,” Schultz said. “But when you go out in the middle of the lake, you see the weather change and you're surrounded by this blue and you feel like something amazing is happening. This morning there was a sunrise, but it was foggy. It was brought up. ”

Schultz said the views across the lake on the ferry are much better than those seen on the highway.

“I don't think you can put a price on that,” Schultz said. “As opposed to looking at the taillights and saying, “Are we there yet?” Enjoy the freedom of sitting around the table with your kids. But I think the Lake Michigan experience is what keeps people coming back. ”

And people are coming back for the first time in almost 20 years. June 1st marks the 20th anniversary of the ship's first voyage.

The Lake Express makes four round trips around the lake each day. The first boat departs at 6am. On any given day this summer, the ship will make six voyages, including an evening sail.

For boat schedules, rates and more, visit lake-express.com.