Today we’d like to introduce you to Miranda Krueger. Them and their team share their story with us below:
It all begins with an idea. While Miranda was living in the Florida Keys in 2019, she studied and became a US Coast Guard licensed Captain. Miranda grew up on Put-in-Bay and has been boating the waters of the Lake Erie islands her whole life. She wanted people visiting the island to have the opportunity to enjoy the waters that she grew up enjoying. In May of 2021, her dream became a reality and the Floating Tiki officially launched. She can’t wait to show you the beautiful sights of her hometown from the water!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I love what I do for a living. I enjoy being out on the water as much as possible. The only thing that makes this job stressful is the weather and having to make the call of whether or not to run a trip based on current wind and rain conditions. I always want what is safest for everyone, but it is hard for me to have to cancel on people when I know they are looking forward to their cruise and have had it planned for weeks and sometimes months in advance! Obviously, weather is out of my control, but it causes me a lot of stress even so.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Whether you’re exploring the beautiful waters of Lake Erie or floating with friends for a fun time, you can’t beat the Tiki Barge experience. We offer 60-minute cruises around the harbor of Put-in-Bay. There are daytime and sunset cruises available. Sunset cruises are our most popular option, and we truly get some of the best sunsets in the world on Lake Erie! Private charters are available for those seeking an exclusive excursion. Give your friend an unforgettable Bachelor or Bachelorette party, celebrate your birthday or anniversary with your closest friends with a private charter! We can accommodate 6 passengers maximum per cruise, all ages welcome. It is BYOB, but we have a cooler with ice on board ready for you! You are also welcome to bring snacks and food on board! Enjoy your relaxing float in the Put-in-Bay harbor, listen to your favorite tunes, and crack open a cold one on our 60-minute cruises.
What were you like growing up?
I grew up on Put-in-Bay boating the waters of Lake Erie my whole life. I have always enjoyed being on the water as much as possible. I love cliff jumping, wakeboarding, jet skiing, and just floating on the lake. I went to Put-in-Bay High School and graduated with a class of 3 people. I loved playing as a Put-in-Bay Panther on the volleyball and basketball teams. After high school, I went to Ohio State and studied Hospitality Management and Business. The one summer of my life that was not spent on Put-in-Bay was spent bicycling across the United States to raise money and awareness for affordable housing. We started in Jacksonville, FL, and finished in Santa Cruz, CA. It was one of the most challenging but rewarding experiences of my life that I am so happy to have accomplished. I enjoy traveling in the off-season. A few of my favorite places I’ve visited include Scotland, New Zealand, and Santorini Greece.
Pricing:
- Daytime Cruise starts at $45/person
- Sunset cruise starts at $50/person
Contact Info:
- Website: https://pibfloatingtiki.com
- Instagram: pibfloatingtiki
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pibfloatingtiki
