Pirates of Charleston: Water Cannon Battle Cruise for Kids

You get water cannons and a real pirate crew to fight with.

Pirates of Charleston is a 90-minute pirate adventure cruise aboard the Black Ghost, a 45-foot wooden ship sailing Charleston harbor and nearby creeks. Kids receive pirate names, learn pirate speech, hunt for treasure, and fire water cannons at the rogue Sneaky Pete to reclaim the crew's sunken loot. A live English-speaking guide leads the adventure, and all water cannons are accessible to every crew member.

The experience

The first 15 minutes happen on deck: your kids get outfitted with pirate attire (optional) and schooled in pirate speak by the Captain before the Black Ghost sets sail into the Ashley River toward Wappoo Creek. Every child is officially inducted into the Black Ghost Crew, assigned their own pirate name, and briefed on what's ahead. The ship carries the whole crew through Charleston's waterways, and there's no standing around: sea shanties, treasure maps to decipher, and the constant watch for Sneaky Pete fill the time.

The centerpiece is the water cannon battle. Sneaky Pete steals the key to the submerged treasure, and the crew's job is to blast him with water cannons to reclaim it. Every child gets access to the cannons, so there's no sitting out. The battle is the payoff to the hunt, and victory is always theirs: the adventure ends with the crew divvying up gold and jewels and reveling in their pirate haul.

The ship is wheelchair accessible, and infants or small children can ride in a pram or stroller. Service animals are welcome. Public transportation options are nearby if you need them to reach the dock. The whole experience runs 90 minutes, which is long enough to feel like a real voyage but short enough to hold kids' attention without a break.

What’s included

• Pirate attire (optional).
• water cannons for the entire crew.
• pirate name assignment.
• sea shanties and treasure maps.
• gold and jewels to divvy up.
• live English-speaking guide throughout the 90-minute cruise.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 1 Jun 2027

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (2 to 17 years) · Infant (under 2)

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Pirates of Charleston

Is this one for you?The water cannons and the battle with Sneaky Pete are the core of the adventure, so this works best for kids who want to be active and get wet rather than sit and watch. The 90 minutes keeps the pace moving and the excitement high without requiring a long attention span.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 17 years); Infant (under 2).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the Pirates of Charleston pirate cruise?

The cruise runs 90 minutes total, with the first 15 minutes spent on deck getting outfitted with pirate attire and learning pirate speech before the Black Ghost sets sail into Charleston harbor and the nearby creeks.

Where does the Pirates of Charleston ship sail?

The Black Ghost sails through Charleston harbor, the Ashley River, and nearby creeks like Wappoo Creek, offering views of the Charleston waterways throughout the adventure.