Boat Cruise - North Shore to Death’s Door Crossing
Recommended by 94% of travelers
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Green Bay & Door County, USA
+2
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Jutting into Lake Michigan, Door County has hundreds of miles of great views—and they’re all greatest from the water. You’ll get to sit back and enjoy them on this leisurely cruise along Sister Bay's north shore, witnessing towering bluffs, bird rookeries, tiny islands, and more. Your captain will also regale you with tales of the area’s fishing heritage and wild shipwrecks, deepening your appreciation of this gorgeous Wisconsin spot.
- Snacks, drinks, and restrooms available onboard
- Catch fabulous scenery, like Ellison Bluff State Natural Area and Gills Rock
- Get close to Plum Island Lighthouse and the famous "Death's Door" crossing
- Learn about Door County's fishing heritage, ancient battles, and more
What's Included
- Restroom on board
- No free snacks or drinks, but drinks and snacks are available for purchase (reasonably priced).
- Optional Gratuity
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 10707 N Bay Shore Dr, Sister Bay, WI 54234, USA
Come to the ticket office right in front of the boat in which you will be touring.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
Sister Bay (Pass By)
Ellison Bay (Pass By)
Gills Rock (Pass By)
Ellison Bluff State Natural Area (Pass By)
Washington Island (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Infant seats available
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Stroller accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- Wheelchair accessible
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 125 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.8
based on 162 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Best to go when not really windy. The water was too choppy for us to go the route we chose. It was still fun and they automatically refunded the difference in cist
When you visit Door County you absolutely must see The Door from the water.
The crew was fabulous. Thanks for a great, informative tour.
a very enjoyable ride along The door county peninsula and into desk door with our very entertaining tour guide Chuck.
Scenic view in the right - the views are very similar thru out.
Rough water before turn around..
It’s a nice ride to relax.
Staff are friendly & knowledgeable.
Beautiful time on the water, and our guide Chuck was super informative and funny! Loved it! After getting back to shore, we drove the short jaunt up to Northport as well to see the same pier and lighthouse from land that we saw from the water. Knew exactly what to look out for because of Chuck. A perfect day out with friends!
We did enjoy the boat ride, but I need to say something about using the word Winnebago. They are not Winnebago, they are Ho-Chunk. I'm bringing this up because my grandaughter and grandson are Ho-Chunk. The tribe get very upset at the word Winnebago.
Tour was good and informative. Very punctual as well. The boat was fast but steady. The staff was very friendly.
Useful information for the traveling, nice out people on the road .need more activity for my children on the fishing boat .
Great way to learn history and see the lake. The crew was great and even let the kids drive the boat.
It is FUN, ENTERTAINING, EDUCATIONAL. Great opportunity to take wonderful pictures. We will definitely come back for the other tours you offer.
Boat tour of deaths door was very well done by the boat staff. Two hours of interesting facts dnd beautiful scenery well worth your time and money.
Very enjoyable, interesting history, pelicans, eagles, amazing crew, a great experience for my husband and me
The boat was well maintained and clean. I loved the option of sitting up stairs in the open air and having an enclosed area downstairs to get out of the wind. The crew was curtious and knowledgeable. The information that was shared about the area was interesting and entertaining.
Very much enjoyed the tour. We got a lot of historical fax and information which I really enjoyed beautiful scenery. Very good tour guide. Connie did an amazing job.
Fun ride. It was very relaxing and the guide was great! We sat on top level and the view was amazing.
The boat tour was a lot of fun. Everyone was so nice and the information was very interesting. We had a great time.
Bring a jacket! Beautiful views, but hard to hear the narrator due to going at high rate of speed. Paused a few times to point out some highlights. Nice guys running the show, good with kids.
Deaths Door tour was amazing! Chuck was our narrator and he was very funny and informative. Everyone was very nice! The driver would slow down or stop so we could see things. And definitely bring a jacket. It was 75 degrees when we left and you could feel the cold air coming off the water, I froze even with a sweatshirt. It’s warm underneath though. The boat rocked a little but not enough to make you sick. I highly recommend and will be going on more tours with them!
Very nice 2 hour ride from Sister Bay all the way over to Lake Michigan. Great way to see the peninsula.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
We’re glad you enjoyed the ride, Michael.
That stretch from Sister Bay up toward Death’s Door and out toward Lake Michigan really does show off a side of the peninsula you just can’t fully appreciate from the road. Being out on the water gives you a whole different perspective of the bluffs, shoreline, and open passage.
We appreciate you choosing to spend a couple hours with us and hope we get to welcome you back again on a future visit.
Great way to see Door County from the water. Crew was fun and knowledgeable. Boat was comfortable and safe.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Jim, we’re glad you enjoyed seeing Door County from the water.
That northern shoreline really does offer a perspective you just can’t get from land. It’s great to hear the crew made the experience both fun and informative — we’re fortunate to have a team that truly enjoys sharing the history and stories of the area.
We also appreciate you mentioning the comfort and safety of the boat. That’s something we take seriously every day.
Thank you for the 5-star review. We hope we’ll have the chance to welcome you back on another cruise in the future.
Fabulous narrration by Chuck! Great history. And some fun stories!! I took my friends Deb and Terry from New Glarus. They said it was a great trip!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Virginia, this made us smile — I’ll be sure Chuck hears about the “nice white beards” comment!
We’re so glad you and your friends enjoyed the cruise. Chuck truly has a gift for blending history with those fun local stories that make the shoreline come alive. It’s always great to hear when guests from around Wisconsin — like Deb and Terry from New Glarus — have a memorable time out on the water.
Thanks for bringing your friends along and for sharing your experience. We hope we’ll see all of you back aboard again sometime.
Bring a light jacket. Enjoyable boat ride and learning some local History. You can bring a cooler and sandwich if you like.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Gretchen, that’s solid advice.
Even on nice days, it can feel cooler once you’re out on the water — especially as you head north toward Death’s Door. A light jacket definitely makes the ride more comfortable.
We’re glad you enjoyed the cruise and the local history along the way. And yes, bringing a cooler and sandwich is a great way to make the trip your own and settle in for a relaxing couple of hours on the bay.
Thanks for sharing your experience — we hope to see you back aboard again.
Our tour was canceled due to boat issues. Viator was notified but hasn’t given me a refund as of yet 48 hrs later. When I called the tour company they told me everyone else had gotten a refund
Response from Host, Aug 2025
We are very sorry you did not get to enjoy Door County with us by water. The mechanical issue was solved, and we are back to providing an amazing time on the water. Please reach out if you have not received your refund. It sometimes takes a little bit of time to process. We are sorry for any inconvenience.
Enjoyable cruise along shoreline. Captain shared stories about region. Bring layers because weather can be chaneable
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thomas, we’re glad you enjoyed the cruise along the shoreline.
There’s something special about hearing the region’s stories while actually seeing the places where they happened. It really adds depth to the experience.
And that’s good advice about bringing layers — the weather can definitely shift once you’re out on the water, even on an otherwise beautiful day.
We appreciate you joining us and hope we’ll see you back aboard again in the future.
Great family activity up the coast of Dood County! Crew was terrific with historical facts of the area.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Tracy, we’re glad your family enjoyed cruising up the coast of Door County with us.
That northern stretch really offers a unique perspective, and it’s great to hear the crew helped bring the area’s history to life. We work hard to make it engaging for all ages, so it’s wonderful to know it felt like a great family activity.
Thank you for the 5-star review. We hope we’ll see you and your family back on the water again soon.
Worth it! Very interesting. Our guides “Little Chuckie” and Tom made the history of the peninsula very interesting and entertaining to listen to. They were upbeat and are locals that love their job and a proud of their area! DO IT!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Mark, we love the enthusiasm!
It’s great to hear that “Little Chuckie” and Tom made the history come alive for you. Having a narrator who grew up here and genuinely care about the area really does add something extra to the experience.
We’re glad you found it interesting, entertaining, and worth it — that’s exactly what we aim for. We appreciate you encouraging others to “DO IT!” and hope we’ll see you back on the water again soon.
Be sure to ask if there have been any changes in the tour when you check in. Our tour was changed from going north to Deaths Door to going South which you were just looking at houses. We were not told of the changes until he was taking tickets. .our friend from the area was disappointed.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
It was an unfortunate situation that we could not control. We did know about this and tried contacting each person booked several hours before the cruise by text, phone call, and email. I am sorry you did not get the message. This is the first time in at least 3 years that we had to make a change like that. This is the exception, not the norm.
The tour featured gnomes at the bottom of Porcupine Bay (pollution?) Why should a few private divers have the right to violate the lake’s natural environment? Also featured was a hero worship of wealthy individuals who own the rights to much of the beach and waterfront property. Ordinary Americans are featured only for opening their wallets.
The tour was expensive and still the crew begged for tips. Clearly in Door County, money makes the world go round :(
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. We’d like to clarify that the gnomes in Porcupine Bay are a lighthearted local tradition created by divers, not pollution. Door County’s shoreline is a mix of public parks, historic sites, and private homes, and our narration aims to share both history and natural beauty. We understand not every perspective resonates with every guest, but we do respect your concerns. As for tipping, it’s always optional—our crew never intends to make anyone feel pressured and the guideline is that the crew informs the guests once, otherwise people ask if they can tip. We appreciate your feedback and will use it to ensure we’re providing an experience that reflects the best of Door County.
Good tour but hard seating. Seats on top deck face the sides so it was hard to comfortably view the shoreline.. I would recommend bringing a cushion.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Jim, thank you for sharing your feedback.
We’re glad you enjoyed the tour itself. We also understand how seating comfort can impact the experience, especially on a two-hour cruise. The upper deck benches are built for durability and visibility, but they are firmer than some guests prefer.
For anyone who would like a little extra comfort, we do offer seat cushions as an optional add-on rental when booking. And as you mentioned, bringing your own cushion is another easy solution.
We appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts and hope we’ll have the chance to welcome you back aboard again.
Weather was beautiful and staff was excellent. They were from the area and new alot of history about the area and told great stories.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Rodger, we’re glad you had such a beautiful day out on the water.
It’s great to hear the crew stood out to you. Having staff who are from the area and genuinely care about its history really adds something special to the experience. Those local stories and personal connections are part of what make the North Shore cruise unique.
We appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts and hope we’ll see you back aboard again soon.
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From $52.00
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