Pirates of the Caribbean - Fan Trip

April 2005

Looking for a totally out-of-the-ordinary vacation?

Yo-ho, yo-ho, it's the pirate's life for me"...

Beyond Boundaries Travel - a company specializing in literary and movie-themed tours-- has put together a fantasy vacation inspired by Pirates of the Caribbean.

For starters, the company has chartered one of the tall ships belonging to Windjammer Cruises. (What's a "tall ship"? Picture a sailing ship of yore with a dozen sails.)

Pirates were a very real -- and bloodthirsty-- part of the history of the Caribbean, where the fortunes of Europe rose and fell, so there is in fact much to learn on a pirate trip. But of course the main aim of the trip is fun.

Features of the Pirates of the Caribbean Fan Trip:

• nine-day journey, from June 10-18, 2005, departs from Miami for the Bahamas and Jamaica
• additional dates are planned for the future
• five of the nights on the trip are land-based

• historical venues include Spanish Town; Fort Charles, which served as the mode for the fort in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie; pirate stronghold Port Royal; Gallow’s Point, where many convicted pirates were hanged; and the estate of Sir Henry Morgan, pirate turned lieutenant governor of Jamaica

• special events include a private dinner and tour at the Pirate’s Museum in Nassau; special viewing in Port Royal of articles that Sir Henry Morgan "acquired" from a raid on a Spanish ship; educational tour of Green Grotto Caves--used by pirates, Spanish, and Tainos-- followed by pirate stories

• aboard the tall ship, pirate hosts serve as storytellers, musicians, historians. Guests will learn swordplay, treasure-hunt on deserted islands, hear tall tales and live pirate theater.

Price is $1999.00 per person for adults, based on double occupancy) ; $1499 per child 12 and under, only in a triple. (Not a bad price, for a "family adventure" type of vacation.) For more than 3 people, call Beyond Boundaries Travel at 1-800-487-1136: the ship has only a few quad cabins, "but there are other ways to accommodate families and larger groups".

NEW: a 4-day /3 night weekend option lets guests participate only in the cruise portion of the trip.

Read more at Beyond Boundaries Travel's pages on the Pirates of the Caribbean Fan Trip. You may also be interested in other tours by Beyond Boundaries Travel, such as Harry Potter Fan Club trips.

^{*photo courtesy of Beyond Boundaries Travel}

Note: this brief profile is meant to introduce this vacation idea to family travelers; please note that the writer has not done this trip in person. Always check the company website for updated prices and dates.