Want to let your kids’ imaginations run wild? Step aboard one of these pirate adventures in NJ for a swashbuckling family adventure along the Jersey Shore. These themed cruises offer fun-filled trips out on the open sea where your kids can dress as pirates, learn the lingo, and hunt for buried treasure for a memorable and adventuresome experience. Read on for 4 places to hop aboard for fun on one of these pirate adventures in NJ—yo, ho, ho! And don’t forget to check out our NJMOM summer bucket list for more things to do this summer (featured photo credit: Jersey Shore Pirates via Jersey Shore In Motion)
Hop aboard one of these pirate adventures in NJ
Pirate Adventure Jersey Shore – Jersey Shore Pirates
Embark on the Sea Gypsy II—an excellent replica of an authentic old-world pirate ship— as it sets sail along the Metedeconk River. Kids will love dressing up as pirates, especially with fake tattoos, and learn some arrr-some pirate phrases. The interactive treasure hunt starts with a secret message in a bottle, leading them on an adventure to defeat Pirate Pete, an enemy pirate with the keys to a hidden treasure. Once the keys are retrieved, kids will complete the trip when they find an X to mark the spot of the treasure chest.
Trip length: 75 minutes
Tickets: $29 per person (age 3 and older), $14 for children age 2 and younger. One adult must accompany the child(ren)
281 Princeton Ave., Brick Township, NJ 08724
Pirate Adventures on Dark Star Cruises
Part of the Starlight Fleet of charter boats, the Dark Star is a 50-foot modern-day pirate ship that cruises along Sunset Lake. Little pirates aboard receive an eye patch, temporary tattoos, and a letter of marque certificate. They will also enjoy pirate stories, a treasure hunt to find some pirate loot and music. Got older kids? Try one of the ghost tours for a spooky good time.
Trip length: 1 hour
Tickets: $25 per person. Upgrades, including pirate hats, swords, hooks, bandanas, and T-shirts, are available.
6200 Park Blvd., Wildwood Crest, NJ 08260
Black Pearl Pirate Tours
Not to be confused with the Black Pearl from Pirates of the Caribbean, this pirate ship docked in Beach Haven on Long Beach Island sails along the waters of Little Egg Harbor, looking for hidden booty. Little buccaneers aboard will learn to talk, sing, and dance like a real pirate and then confront Pirate Pete—a swashbucklin’ scallywag with the stolen keys to open the treasure chest—and fire water cannons at him and his crew. Once found, everyone gets to enjoy the pirate treasure.
Trip length: 1 hour
Tickets: $28 per person and $15 for ages 2 and under
100 Northwest Ave., Beach Haven, NJ 08008
Pirate Voyages
Yo, ho, ho—it’s on to the Sea Dragon we go. This handcrafted, locally built pirate ship takes new sailors and sea dogs on an adventure in the back bay waters of Ocean City with face painting, sea chanteys (pirate songs), stories, and more. Your pint-size swashbuckling pirates will help decode a secret map to find an underwater treasure. You’ll surely hear, “Fire in the hole!” as one of the 16 water cannons shoots at enemy pirates and stowaways and maybe even see a few who walk the plank.
Trip length: 1 hour
Tickets: $30 per person; $11 for children younger than age 2
232 Bay Ave., Ocean City, NJ 08226
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