Jr. Capt. Gabriel’s SS Badger ferry adventure
SS Badger Entertainer Todd Hansen with Jr. Capt. Gabriel
Mary Svacina has had a tradition of taking each of her grandsons on a Round Trip Mini Cruise on the SS Badger ever since they each turned 5 years old. Last summer, she took her youngest grandson, Gabriel.
Svacina, 71, lives in Grimms, Wis., located in Manitowoc County, about 15 miles from the Badger’s Manitowoc dock. She said the Lake Michigan car ferries have been part of her life since she was a little girl.
“My mom used to love dressing me in sailor dresses,” she said. “I did the same thing with my daughter. Then, she had three boys. So, I started a tradition of dressing them in a captain’s uniform when they were each 5.”
Each of the boys, Portland, 10, Rowan, 9, and Gabriel, 5, have sailed on the cross-lake ferry with their grandmother.
“We left Manitowoc in the afternoon and arrived in Ludington that evening,” Mary said. “On the cruise, Gabriel drew a lot of attention, even from the captain (Capt. Ed Wiltse). He made a special effort to speak to Gabriel. It was certainly a highlight.”
After arriving in Ludington at 7 p.m. (EDT), Mary and Gabriel, and Mary’s friend, Barbara Gelhausen, of Manitowoc, needed to be back at the dock to catch the boat leaving before the 8:45 p.m. (ET) ferry departure back to Wisconsin — just enough time to get ice cream at House of Flavors Restaurant — a Ludington tradition. Thanks to a friendly cab driver, and the great service of House of Flavors, they were back in plenty of time.
“Visiting Ludington is always a great experience,” Mary said. “Everyone is very friendly. The cab drivers were so kind. He went into the restaurant and let the staff at House of Flavors know that we were in between sailings of the Badger. They made sure we were served right away. Then, we didn’t even have to call for the cab. He was there waiting for us and got us back to the dock in plenty of time for the evening departure.”
The only disappointment of the trip for Jr. Capt. Gabriel was that he fell asleep on the return voyage to Manitowoc. “He really wanted to see the stars over Lake Michigan, but just couldn’t stay awake,” Mary said.
Mary Scacina, right, with her friend, Barabara Gelhausen, and Gabriel on the deck of the SS Badger.
The S.S. Badger and its former sister vessels have special meaning for Mary.
“I grew up in Manitowoc so the ferries were a big part of our town,” Mary said. “Back then, the ferries would come up the river, requiring the two bridges to be raised. It was always a thrill when the bridges went up.
“My first trip on a car ferry was on the City of Midland the summer after my dad died,” Mary said. “I was 8 when my dad passed away and my mom wanted to do something special for my siblings and me. In those days, there were sit-down dinners on the boats and it was very fancy. I remember we were in the dock in Ludington and my mom hadn’t remembered which ship we had taken over from Manitowoc. But, we figured it out and made it back to the right dock.”
During that time, eight cross lake car ferries operated out of Ludington, transporting rail freight, automobiles, and passengers to the Wisconsin ports of Manitowoc, Milwaukee, and Kewaunee.
Mary said she will wait a few years to take the boys on the Badger again.
“I am waiting until they are older and more independent will give them an entirely different experience on the Badger.”
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Round Trip Mini Cruises on the SS Badger ferry are available throughout the sailing season, May 16 to Oct. 12. To take the Cruise, and to return the same day, such as what Mary did, passage must take place during double sailings, which are June 20 to Sept. 1.
This Cruise offers passengers the opportunity to travel at a discounted rate of $108 per adult without a vehicle, returning within 48 hours. Passage is free for two children up to age 15; each additional child between the ages of 5-15 is $62; children under 5 are free for any cross-lake ferry passage.
Passengers wishing to take the Mini Cruise must call the Badger’s Reservation Office at 800-841-4243 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (EDT). All other passage can be booked by calling or online at ssbadger.com.
Do you have a special memory about the SS Badger? Please email your story and photos to media@ssbadger.com.
SS Badger Capt. Ed Wiltse with Jr. Capt. Gabriel.
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Lake Michigan Carferry operates the S.S. Badger, the largest cross-lake passenger and car ferry service on the Great Lakes. Designated a National Historic Landmark, the Badger is a key part of US-10 highway connecting the cities of Ludington, Mich., and Manitowoc, Wis. A vital link across Lake Michigan, the Badger can accommodate 600 passengers and 180 vehicles, including RVs, motorcycles, motorcoaches, and commercial trucks and oversized loads in one single trip. www.ssbadger.com
Interlake Maritime Services is a family of companies with nearly 300 years of collective service on the Great Lakes. A family-owned and -led company in its second generation, Interlake Maritime and its more than 50 shoreside employees manage The Interlake Steamship Company, Interlake Logistics Solutions, Lake Michigan Carferry, Soo Maritime Services and Interlake Port Services from its corporate headquarters in Middleburg Heights, a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, and additional regional offices in Ludington, Mich., and Sault Sainte Marie, Mich. www.interlakemaritimeservices.com
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