Jet Express Excursions

Excerpts from 2008 Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority news release:

TOLEDO, Ohio, May 29, 2008 – The Put-in-Bay Jet Express departs on its maiden voyage from the Toledo Maritime Center in the Marina District on Friday May 30 at 9:30 a.m. The trip, hosted by WVKS-KISS FM and WIOT in conjunction with Pepsi and The Jet Express, will ferry radio contest winners on the 90-minute journey to Put-in-Bay for the day.

The passengers will consist mainly of winners of the radio stations and Pepsi’s promotion. There is a limited amount of seats available for sale to the public for $55 per person. Full bar service will be offered on board.

The Toledo Maritime Center was developed to provide passenger ferry and cruise ship service to U. S. and Canadian ports across the Great Lakes. This will be the first major charter utilizing the services of the Toledo Maritime Center. Additional trips from the Toledo Maritime Center to Put-in-Bay and gambling excursions from Toledo to Detroit-Windsor are being considered by The Jet Express.

In 2009, at least two Jet Express trips were offered from Toledo to South Bass Island (Put-in-Bay).

• Fri, Jun 5, 2009 - "WIOT is sending a boatload of listeners to Put in Bay. Tickets are available for purchase for $50 roundtrip. The Jet Express will leave from the Maritime Center @ 9:30 a.m. and return @ 7:30 p.m."

• Sun, Aug 23, 2009 - "Toledo to Put-in-Bay Animal Shelter Fundraiser. Depart Toledo: 9:00 am Arrive Put-in-Bay: 10:30 am Depart Put-in-Bay: 7:00 pm Arrive Toledo: 8:30 pm. Enjoy an entire day at Put-in-Bay and support the Toledo Animal Shelter at the same time. Cost is $60.00 per person."

At the Jet Express website, I believe these were their 2013 special excursions :

• Lorain Port Authority Cruises
• Pt. Pelee Birdwatching, Canada
• 55th Annual Target Fireworks, Detroit
• Pelee Island Wine Tasting & Dinner
• Lighthouse & Islands Tour
• Winetasting Adventure, Essex County, Canada
• Pt. Pelee Birds & Butterfly Cruise (Fall Migration)
• St. Clair, MI Sightseeing Cruise

On several occasions, I've taken the Jet Express from Port Clinton to Leamington, Ontario Canada for birdwatching at Pt. Pelee National Park.

On the way over, we stopped at South Bass Island to pick up more people. On the return trip, we went straight to Port Clinton for customs. I think the one-way trips took 50 to 75 minutes, depending upon the weather and which way were going.

These were mainly trips in the month of May. A couple times on the trip to Canada, the fog was so thick that visibility was nothing, so the captain traveled much slower than normal. One early morning trip to Canada was "bumpy," which slowed the trip down, and several passengers turned green. But mostly, it's a smooth, zippy trip.

On one of these birdwatching excursions back in May 2005 or 2006, Lake Erie was too rough for a return trip, so they got stranded in Canada. The Jet Express captain attempted to return, but he had to turn around.

#greatlakes