All aboard. A new passenger yacht has hit Gull Lake in the Brainerd Lakes Area. Destiny Cruises launched their North Star ship in Nisswa Tuesday. They’ll offer four cruises a day, a breakfast, lunch and dinner cruise as well as a twilight cruise around Gull Lake.
Destiny Cruises co-president, Liz Diedrich, says, “We wanted to be an amenities that is not currently here and add as an attraction to the rest of the good things and resorts that are up here.”
Jerry Johnson, Destiny Cruises V.P. of Operations, says, “The thing we’re looking to do is give another entertainment option for people in the Brainerd Lakes Area to really have fun.”
While there are many lakes around Minnesota with similar yachts, Destiny Cruises says theirs is the only one like it that serves the Brainerd Lakes Area.
Johnson says, “Think of Lake Minnetonka there’s 19 of these vessels there’s only 1 here. And we think it’s going to be a very special event and a very special time for people here.”
Reid Porter, co-owner of Destiny Cruises, says, “We think we have the right combination of partners and frankly a much nicer boat than that to be a great success on the lake.”
Destiny Cruises says they’ve teamed up with some of the resorts on Gull Lake to add to the draw for tourists thinking about vacationing in Brainerd Lakes.
Diedrich says, “We’re partnering with the resorts and selling charters with them and that’s been really fun.”
Porter says, “Now we dock [at Ernier’s on Gull], we can dock at Grand View, and hopefully we’ll be able to dock at other places in the future.”
The North Star is also available for private parties for special events. The passenger yatch plans to cater themselves to best serve Gull Lakes and the Brainerd Lakes Area.
Diedrich says, “People are already booking charters. 30% of what he had projected for charters this season are already booked. And we’re getting weddings and groom’s dinners. But we want to offer something for everybody here on Gull Lake.”
Johnson says, “I think people are going to be even more impressed when they get on the boat than they are just seeing it go by or hearing about it.”
They say the first lake cruise launches next weekend. For more information about prices and scheduling visit their website: http://www.destinycruisesllc.com

By — Lakeland PBS

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