Pelee Island Ferry Service

My inaugural voyage on the ferry to Pelee Island was a truly remarkable experience! The culinary offerings aboard the ferry were exceptional, with the boat soup standing out as a particular highlight. The staff were incredibly welcoming, and I must extend a heartfelt thank you to Devon, one of the deck hands, whose exceptional service elevated my journey to Pelee Island into an unforgettable and extraordinary experience.

Great ride going over to Peele Island . Staff very nice and answer any questions. Nice to know my bikes were secured on car level and no one being able to tamper with during trip. Boat is fun equipped with a covered dog park. Seating indoors or out gives you a choice at any time of the voyage. The terminal on the main line is spacious with clean bathrooms, covered bike rack with great information centre.

The crew on land and the process on land was inefficient and unprofessional. The dock in Kingsville has about 50% of the parking it requires causing dozens of cars to be parked in areas that block access for emergency crews and those with disabilities. When you book online or over the phone and receive email confirmation it's not immediately clear upon arrival (once parking is sorted) if you still need to get a boarding pass or if the email confirmation and QR code will suffice. If you try to ask the lady behind the counter she'll just ignore you and other passengers standing there talking to her. Once you get your boarding pass you learn you have to get return boarding passes from the Pelee Island dock instead of just giving them at the Kingsville office for those with return tickets. Once on the ferry the staff are very polite and professional but efficiency is still lacking. The ferry staff on the upper deck waited for everyone to be seated and the ferry to be moving for about 10 mins to tell passengers they would have to move because they were going to be spraying down the deck (why allow people to get seated if you're going to be immediately spraying it down?). The food on the ferry on the ride to the island was higher quality and lower price than expected. On the ride back no hot food is available, it's basically just small bags of chips. If you take the ferry on the last return trip of the day to Kingsville the seating is very limited.

Highly inefficient, as if run by inexperienced people from a different time.

1. Getting a ticket on line? You have to create a totally useless account on their website first to book passage, even as a pedestrian. Upon arrival, you still have to line up, show the email confirmation at the ticket booth to receive your physical printed ticket.

2. Walk-on on day of sailing? You have to fill out a small slip with name, phone number and email, and give them your Credit Card. They take it to a back room, process your ticket request, and if there is room, they send you an email with a PDF. You then have to go back to the ticket booth, show them the PDF, and they give you the tickets and return your credit card. You then simply hand the ticket to someone just before boarding. Handing your credit card to a stranger who works in a small room opens up potential credit card fraud.

3. This is a new ship. Yet terrible and inefficient design. Stairwells are steep and narrow. Upon arrival, passengers have to wait 15 minutes while vehicles disembark first. No separate/secure walkways. I've been on similar ferries around the world and this has never been an issue anywhere else.

4. When returning to the mainland, you have to go to the island ticket office, and either show them the email PDF confirmation, or give your name, where they print out tickets. These are then handed to an agent by the ferry when boarding. She will then, oh, see #5.

5. When returning from Pelee Island to the mainland, all purchased wine is confiscated. Any bottles in your backpacks? Your backpack will be confiscated and returned to you, along with cases purchased, after docking on the mainland. This also holds true for coolers containing any alcoholic beverages you bring from the mainland when boarding. Taken away and returned when arriving at the island.

6. I've been on multiple ferries in the US, Europe, Middle East and Asia. During the crossing, the canteen sells beer and wine. Not on this ferry. Completely forbidden. Announcements warn consumption of alcohol during the crossing is strictly forbidden. Canada, Eh?

7. Outside benches are the most uncomfortable anywhere.

The island itself is underdeveloped with very little to do. You can rent a golf cart for $200 for an afternoon. One restaurant near the dock that sells typical pub food.

If really curious, do this once to say you've done it, then go elsewhere next time.

What a beautiful place. Huge beach area. Perfect for swimming and outdoor picnic.

This ferry prioritizes drivers beyond everything. Pedestrians and cyclists are treated secondary and are last to get off the ferry. You must leave your bikes on the car deck, which is inaccessible during the trip. The bike racks are decent.

I was shocked at the lack of respect for people chosing active transportation for get around on an island with limited resources.

We had a nice experience with the ferry service. The staff were friendly. Had no issues with boarding on and off the car.

If you want to take your car to Pelee island, you'll have to book early as it gets full quickly. Walk on ticklers are easy to get though. Snack bar was open when we went, offering coffee, and some cold drinks along with some snacks.