Additional Coverage:
- I spent $279 to travel first class on a ferry across Lake Michigan. I got so seasick that I enjoyed none of the perks. (businessinsider.com)
My Great Lakes Misadventure: A Ferry Tale of Seasickness and Regret
My recent attempt to conquer Lake Michigan by ferry turned into a comedy of errors, complete with barf bags and a hefty rental car bill. Hoping to shave hours off a trip from Milwaukee to Muskegon, Michigan, I booked a premier cabin on the Lake Express ferry.
What could go wrong? Famous last words.
Turns out, Lake Michigan, the fifth largest lake in the world, isn’t a placid pond. Despite pre-trip forecasts of calm waters, I was handed a motion sickness pill upon check-in – a clear omen of the rough ride ahead. Even the free coffee in the terminal couldn’t calm my growing unease.
While the ferry itself was surprisingly spacious, both the classic and premier cabins, my $279 premier ticket proved to be a waste. The perks, like table service and extra legroom, were lost on me as seasickness took hold.
I spent most of the journey horizontal, clutching a barf bag like a lifeline, the gentle rocking of the ferry feeling more like a violent rollercoaster. The attentive crew, veterans of seasick passengers, plied me with ginger ale, ginger chews, and wristbands, but nothing could quell the nausea.
Reaching Muskegon, I disembarked with a newfound appreciation for solid ground. A visit to the USS Silversides Submarine Museum offered an ironic twist – a landlocked exhibit about underwater vessels while I was recovering from my own nautical nightmare. A chat with my Navy veteran Lyft driver, who shared tales of seasick sailors, offered a sliver of comfort.
Faced with a return journey, the thought of re-boarding the ferry sent shivers down my spine (and other unpleasant sensations to my stomach). Despite the non-refundable ticket, I opted for a $123 rental car and a 4.5-hour drive back to Milwaukee. It was a small price to pay for the sweet relief of terra firma.
Lesson learned: Lake Michigan is best admired from dry land, especially if, like me, your genetics have a predisposition for motion sickness. So, fellow travelers, heed my warning: check the wave forecast, skip the fancy cabin, and always have a backup plan. You might just need it.