Avast, Lubbers! All Aboard for the Buccaneer Queen’s New Luau-Themed Pirate Cruise
When what lies beneath isn’t Davy Jones’ Locker but the fish rich waters of Chileno Bay, why not walk the plank? Of course, an unforgettable snorkeling adventure is only part of the attraction of the Buccaneer Queen’s new luau-themed cruise, offered each Wednesday from noon to 3:30 p.m. And the plank isn’t a metaphor. There be pirates aboard the Buccaneer Queen, a replica vessel that looks as if it could have sailed the Spanish Main or served as a setting in one of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies.
The Buccaneer Queen’s new luau-themed cruise gets under way at noon every Wednesday.
The Buccaneer Queen has long been among the most popular options for those seeking to sail the local waters, and the ship’s latest tour offering showcases many features that will be familiar to return guests: fun-filled activities like sword fights and contests with the scurvy crew, up-close looks at Land’s End features like the arch, and an extended snorkeling session off beautiful Chileno Beach. It’s a perfect tour for children and adults. Kids can enjoy the swashbuckling sword fights and rope swing, grown-ups the open bar and generous buffet.
The seagoing merriment begins with a slow cruise along the granitic monuments that form the southernmost point of the Baja California Peninsula, with a guided tour of local landmarks like Pelican Rock, Neptune’s Finger, and Scooby Doo Rock, as well as Lover’s Beach, the Window to the Pacific, and Cabo San Lucas’s most famous natural rock formation, El Arco. The grog is flowing pretty freely by this point, although in a concession to contemporary tastes and local culture, Tecate and tequila are more prominently featured than tots of rum.
After the captain swings around to give port and starboard seated passengers equal access to quality photo ops, the boat cruises up the coast towards Chileno Bay. While en route, the crew keeps things interesting with some interactive entertainment, the highlight of which is a contest between a piratical crewmember and a guest volunteer. What follows is a memorable sequence that can’t adequately be described, except to say it involves tequila shots and a surprise ending.
Pirate themed cruises aren’t all plank walking and sword fight. There’s also plenty of time for dining, drinking and dancing.
For all the salty trappings, the crew’s good-natured energy and exuberance provide a good deal of tour’s appeal. Pirate crew members dance while they dispense drinks, dance in unison on an elevated deck, grab guests for line dancing and conga lines, and get in sword fights with each other at the least provocation. The Buccaneer Queen’s sails are decorative, so rather than spending time attending to nautical duties, the crew is free to devote their time to food and beverages service, and keeping the crowd engaged with a series of staged spectacles. Few local tours devote so much time and attention to ensuring the happiness of their guests.
If the crew is what makes the voyage out to Chileno Bay and back so interesting, the snorkel trip and the scenery is what makes it special. Chileno Bay is a popular destination for snorkelers, and with good reason. The pristine waters are home to an abundance of colorful marine life, and the time in the water offers guests a peek at an underwater fantasia, the perfect interlude before the buffet tables are rolled out for a luncheon feast of comfort food favorites like hot dogs, pasta, and chips and salsa.
Buccaneer Queen, Dock 1, Cabo San Lucas Marina, Cabo San Lucas, (624) 144-4217, www.buccaneerloscabos.com. MasterCard and Visa accepted. V $$
To learn more about discounted prepaid vouches for the Buccaneer Queen, click here.