| About Us | Schedules | Rates | Tours/Island Info | Passenger / Freight Info | F.A.Q. | Contact Us |
|
|
| Click here to view 2010 Brochure! |
| Frequently Asked Questions Where are you located? Do we need to make reservations? How can we do that? How soon should we call to reserve space for our car? Do you have a waiting list for vehicles? How long is the boat ride? Are your boats handicap accessible? Are pets allowed onboard? Is there food and drink onboard? What is considered freight? What do you charge for freight? What's there to do on Beaver Island? Where are you located? Our mainland office is in downtown Charlevoix. Please see map below, or Contact Us for more information. Get directions from you house by clicking here.  Do we need to make reservations? How can we do that? 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. [Back to Top] How soon should we call to reserve space for our car? 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. [Back to Top] Do you have a waiting list for vehicles? 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! [Back to Top] How long is the boat ride? It takes just over 2 hours to make the 32 mile trip. [Back to Top] Are your boats handicap accessible? 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. [Back to Top] Are pets allowed onboard? Yes, pets are allowed on our boats if they are on a short leash and kept away from other passengers. Pets under 10 pounds are free with the purchase of a passenger ticket. Pets over 10 pounds are $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. [Back to Top] Is there food and drink onboard? 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. [Back to Top] What is considered freight? What do you charge for freight? Ticketed persons traveling on the same trip that items are being shipped are allowed up to fifty (50) pounds of luggage. Excess freight is $0.08 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 1½ hours before the departure and you may purchase a "cage" (4'x'4'x6') for $51.70. 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. [Back to Top] What is there to do on Beaver Island? 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! [Back to Top] |
