SS Badger

It was enjoyable. It was big and Comfortable. It was easy to bring either your car or motorcycle across and the price was reasonable. They offered rooms for an extra cost but it looked like the rooms were pretty small. We didn’t get one. They had lots of lawn chairs to lay on but bring a blanket. It gets cold. There was a little gift shop, food area and a movie area for the kids.

They were good to deal with bringing a motorcycle across. Pleasant trip overall. Staterooms are small. Food is pretty good. Movie theater is a medium size tv but it’s great for kids.

A nice way to sit back and sip a few cocktails (with time to sober up, of course). Nice amenities, movie theater, bingo, bar, snacks, quiet rooms, gift shops and the beautiful views of Lake Michigan.

A trip that all should take at least once.
Took the boat from MI to WI at 8:30am. Boat left on time and arrived 4 hours latter. All the crew were friendly and careful.
The boat appeared to be clean and in good shape. Some inside activities and walking the deck to pass the time.
Food cost are a little high but they allow you to carry on food (not liquor).
There is a slight smell that I believe was the coal smoke. Some of the upper deck chairs had a black dust (coal dust probable).

Not bad to get from
Wisconsin to Michigan
or vice versa, as well
Little bit spendy. About sixty bucks per person and sixty six for a car. The ride across the Lake takes about four hours. Max speed of less than twenty miles per hour. Beats the hell out of dealing with Chicago traffic. You could also go up and over the U.P., but the Badger probably saves you some time. We drove across the U.P. on the way back to the Twin Cities. If we decided to push it, the drive from Traverse City to the TC metro could be done in a long, long day. Bunked down in Marinette for the night, so it is probably a wash on cost unless you are a road warrior.
Plenty to keep you entertained on the ship. NTN trivia, bingo, movies and a full bar. They also have sleeping cabins available if you are in need. I like to do the Badger one way and drive the other and get the best of both worlds. I think you do get a discount, though, if you book round trip on the Badger.

Definitely the best way to travel across the lake. It is not much faster than driving, but is so much better without dealing with traffic or being cramped up in your car.
Badger Bingo is definitely a fun way to pass the time, the host is always funny plus you can win some cool badger gear.

Hands down the best route to avoid driving through Chicago into Michigan or Wisconsin. If you’re planning a road trip, I’d definitely recommend routing yourself to take this steamboat!
My family took the S.S. Badger back in the late ‘90s/​early 2000’s as part of a family vacation. I remember loving it then. Just taking it recently, I still love it now as a young professional.
There’s plenty to do for everyone. They have a game room for kids, a movie room, and two TV rooms. They even have Bingo with prizes! And there’s even a gift shop if you can’t win anything. If you’re going late night, you can also get state rooms to sleep, but the top deck has plenty of pool chairs to sleep or watch the stars!
Great, great, great alternative to driving through Chicago! I booked online, and had no issues in boarding at all!

The turtle of the lakes. Sure, it’s slower. Of course it’s older. Not surprisingly, it’s cheaper! It’s also a lot of fun. Driving around Chicago is hassle, so saving a couple hours on a boat is a great alternative. Take in the scenery and relax for a bit. In 4 hours, you’ll be where you wanted to go.

One of the greatest escape routes out of the universal suck-​hole called Michigan. Very accommodating, this is a great way to cross Lake Michigan in a stylish and time efficient manner.

This is a ship rich in history! We do a trip each year on this boat! even got to see her engines on a quick tour from the Chief Engineer one trip, All I can say WOW! her engine room is spotless and the crew proud of this ship,
Now to the ship;
THE Last coal burrning pasanger ship on the great lakes!
Foods good,
staff great !
This is a great trip for kids!
It may not be long before the enviromental groups and the competition try to shut this ship down!

Doing a ½ circle tour of Lake Michigan, we had an absolutely spectacular trip back to Sconnie aboard this national historic register (just listed) coal-​fired steamship car ferry across Lake Michigan. We had pooch with us and they park the cars with pets in the back for open air, so no worries there.
This is an oldie but goodie. Restored out of bankruptcy by the late Mr. Conrad in the early 90s, the SS Badger is a great way to avoid Chicago (tho I love the lake’s south shore) and to travel to/​fro the fantastic up north Michigan and the UP. The Beaches in Manitowoc/​Two Rivers Wis are not to be missed, either.
The main room has bingo and a tummler-​emcee who makes the ship history fun, there’s a couple of TV lounges, gift shop and a movie theater, museum, and game room plus a kids play area. Staterooms are $ 39 a trip and old school cool. The buffet restaurant as reported by some Twin Cities acquaintance we ran into (!) has a solid breakfast, and the popcorn, drinks and snacks are not overpriced like you’d expect. There’s much to explore, and the port deck is filled with lawn chairs and recliners where you can savor the fresh air from the great lake.
A definite addition to the bucket list for any boater, great lakes buff, city slicker, road tripper etc.
PS When the ship is close to Manitowoc, lurk the halls by the staterooms to hear the staff knock on doors and repeat «20 minutes to Maniotowoc» in sing-​song reminiscent of the Twilight Zone’s episode, where the train conductor repeats «Next Stop is Willoughby.»

Right here on Lake Michigan you can experience the romance of steamship travel. I gave it five stars and will defend that, although there were some issues. It is the flavor of a late night crossing of the Lake, sitting on the bow and starring deep into the Milky Way and smelling the true smell of the Lake that sold me. It was a crew that was fast and friendly, although our cruise, on the Sunday evening of Labor Day weekend, was not overbooked. And it was the disappointment in not being able to use the dining room (closed on the night cruises) and the delight in finding a reasonably priced salad for sale in the cafeteria instead that sold me.
This is a four hour cruise between Manitowoc, WI and Ludington, MI. From the view of how good is this service at what it promotes it does, it left the dock on time and arrived within a few minutes of schedule. The staterooms look to be somewhat spartan.
Living in Chicago, this means of avoiding my end of the Lake is not really relevant. However, I’m told that people crossing through the area and wishing to avoid the constant Chicago traffic hastles, and related tolls, should give serious consideration to this.
The boat and the Lake do interact and you may be prone to sea sickness. In addition, I’ve never been on a ferry that wasn’t cold. The wind whips through open areas at a constant high speed. There is spray and… well, look, even in high summer, prepare for a cold crossing.
I found the mens room to be clean. The ladies room, I’m told, was okay but not overly clean. All that water rushing around, you will use the head during the journey. LOL
All that said, I found the staff was very friendly. They kept on top of the tables in the galley, keeping them clear and clean. They move your car onto and off of the ferry.
It is romantic and it is efficient. And it is an old ship. Thumbs up.