Taking a pirate ship cruise in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico will take your breath away. The action-packed high seas adventure is filled with thrills, chills and a whole lot of fun.
Marigalante Pirate Ship Cruise
From mock kidnappings to authentic sword fights, dinner, dancing and rowdy swashbuckling, Marigalante Pirate Ship Tours offers non-stop action and adventure for passengers of all ages. The floating pirate adventure is one of the most popular tours in Puerto Vallarta, and for good reason. The cruises feature entertainment galore in a setting that can't be beat.
The Ship
The Marigalante is a historic vessel, which has sailed the seven seas, and logged a total of 52,000 nautical miles. That's equivalent to circling the globe nearly two-and-a half times. The stunning ship is an exact replica of the Santa Maria, the vessel Christopher Columbus used on his first voyage to America more than 500 years ago. The Marigalante made its first voyage in 1987 from Mexico to Spain, and has since visited more than 85 ports around the world. Today, it is used primarily to host the pirate ship cruise in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
What You Need to Know About Pirate Ship Cruises in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Marigalante Pirate Ship tours offer two distinct adventures for cruisers:
"Pirates of the Bay" Dinner Cruise
This memorable all-inclusive dinner cruise is designed specifically for mature audiences, and is not recommend for children under 10. The sunset cruise departs nightly from Marina Terminal in Puerto Vallarta and tours the Banderas Bay. While the views from the ship are breathtaking, all eyes are typically focused on the incredible action that begins the moment you step foot onboard the wooden vessel.Highlights of the five-hour cruise include:
- Pre-Hispanic cultural show featuring Spanish speaking pirates
- Mock kidnapping of all female guests by pirates, who swoop down to the deck from the ship's crow's nests
- Pirate-style Spanish lesson contest
- Dinner featuring Medallions of Beef in mushroom sauce and Shrimp "al Achiote" accompanied by fresh salad, vegetables, rice, and Chilean wine
- Open bar
- Action-packed pirate show complete with a shipboard "invasion," authentic sword fighting, battling swashbucklers, and exploding cannons
- Incredible fireworks display
The evening dinner cruise is all-inclusive, however you may want to bring along the following:
- Extra money for tips, souvenirs, and individual pictures with the pirates
- Camera
- Light jacket or sweater
- Comfortable shoes for dancing
"Pirate Land" Day Cruise
This all-inclusive day cruise caters to families with younger children and features two meals. The seven-and-a-hour adventure departs from Maritime Terminal in Puerto Vallarta and cruises across Banderas Bay to Playa Majahuitas, where the Marigalante anchors just offshore. Passengers can then snorkel and swim in the crystal-clear Mexican waters before returning to port.
In addition to the underwater adventures, pint-sized passengers and their parents are treated to pirate pandemonium on the high seas. The cruise includes:
- Choreographed welcome reception from "kooky" pirates
- Breakfast featuring juice, coffee, fresh fruit, scrambled eggs with chilaquiles and refried beans
- Fun-filled aerobics session based on help signals
- "Pirate Torture" contest, using a mock "torture" rack and a pair of giant feet
- Acrobatic pirate show complete with naval battle
- Onboard snorkeling tutorial
- Two-hour visit to one Playa Majahuitas, one of Mexico's top ecological reserves where passengers may snorkel and swim.
- Transportation to Playa Majahuitas' beach where you can ride banana boats, kayak, boogie board, or enter volleyball tournaments or sand sculpture contests
- Lunch aboard the Marigalante, featuring barbeque chicken and ribs, rice, salad, and corn on the cob
- Onboard contests for kids with prizes
- Open bar
This pirate ship cruise in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico is more fun than scary, and is a proven crowd-pleaser with children of all ages.
How to Book a Pirate Ship Cruise
Reservations are required for both Marigalante Pirate Ship tours. You can reserve a spot on the company's website or purchase tickets from Puerto Vallarta Tours.
